‘You need to be QUIET!’ Shouting, Danny found himself standing straighter; the ferocity ripped at his throat, freeing up some fluid that he had to spit out. It moved him forward too, closer to Marcus Olsen. He waited, forcing the man to lock eyes with him, which he did but just for a moment. Then the man’s eyes angled down and Danny followed their trajectory to see where he was looking. He felt his face twist into a wide smile.

‘Didn’t even know I’d done that.’ Marcus Olsen was staring at the shotgun, specifically where Danny’s right index finger now rested against the trigger while his left hand had taken hold of the stubby barrel close to where it met his lips, like he might be holding it steady. He focused on the feeling of the trigger against his finger. It had some slack in it. He pulled it back until there was resistance. Suddenly he felt good; powerful. This man was at his mercy. Exactly as he should be.

‘Shall we see if there’s anything else in there? Maybe there’s another page explaining how this was all a terrible mistake after all!’ Danny used his left hand to scoop it back up. The next page was a different format. It was made up of screenshots from typed conversations involving his daughter. Callie’s words were labelled with her name this time, and every time he read it he felt himself grimace. He had to step back and straighten up to be able to breathe, letting go of the weapon in the process.

The messages laid bare his daughter’s desperation. She was asking to be left alone – begging. Begging for nothing to be done with the photos and videos she had sent. Begging that her parents would not be told. The conversation with ‘Sophie Cummings’ was shown too. Callie’s desperation was even clearer here. She was more candid; it was clear she trusted this person. And why shouldn’t she? She believed they had a connection – two women going through the same trauma. Danny turned the page. There was only one message on here. It showed the last exchange between Callie and Sophie Cummings. The final reply stood out behind yellow highlighter:

Kill yourself, Callie.

It was dated 3 January. A day that would always be etched in his memory. The day his fifteen-year-old daughter had silently taken a taxi to a park she loved, where Danny had pushed her on the swings as a baby. And their lives were changed for ever.

Danny paused to fix again on the man responsible. After all this time, here he was. Helpless. Vulnerable. Danny must have blocked everything out completely because he was suddenly aware that the man was shaking his head and moaning. Danny was sure he would be calling for mercy, begging to be left alone.

Just like Callie had.