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Right now, I really love Jessica because despite everything, she is the first person who has been on my side.
“Not long ago, he tried to sue me. He hired expensive lawyers and tried to make out I had stolen his idea. The fact I had all my notes and emails from software developers went against him and it boiled down to his word against mine. The courts threw it out, but many were on his side and considered he’d been robbed.”
“How is any of this your fault?” She stares at me incredulously. “You made the decision to put business before socialising. Why does he think he can have it all ways?”
“I agree, but it doesn’t excuse the fact I cut him off. It was an idea we discussed many times and if I’m honest, he did come up with some of them, but he never did anything more than that.”
She falls silent and yet I know her mind is working hard and then she says firmly, “This ex-friend of yours. He knows about the software and the tracking algorithm installed on it. How many search engines and email providers currently use it, or an incarnation of it?”
“Most of them.”
“I see.”
“What are you thinking?” I can almost hear Jessica’s mind working as she asks, “When was the last time you spoke to him?”
“I haven’t, not since before the court case.”
“When was that?”
“September.”
“This September?”
“Yes.”
“I see.” She looks at me with a hint of excitement in her eyes. “So, somebody with a grudge against you, who knows he could be tracked if he used the internet, may well consider getting even by a more old-fashioned form of intimidation.”
“You believe he’s the postman?”
I shake my head. “I considered that, but when I last heard of Sam, he was working in Dubai. These cards are postmarked London. It can’t be him and anyway, what does it achieve?”
“Who knows how the mind of a master criminal works?”
She shrugs. “I’ll need all his details. The company he works for, any contact you’ve had, a sworn statement telling me what you just said and details of all his friends and family. If your ex-friend Sam is the postman, he’s going to be sewing mailbags in Pentonville before the Spring arrives.”
CHAPTER27
JESSICA
Finally, there is a breakthrough. I can’t believe I passed this hot lead by, but it came to me when we were sitting side by side. It must be Sam. The story fits and…
“I think you’re wrong.”
Robert cuts into my thoughts, and I stare at him in surprise. “Why?”
“If it was Sam, then why involve my parents? He never met them, at least I don’t think he did, and it doesn’t add up.”
He does have a point, but something is telling me Sam is our man, so I reach for his mug and stand.
“We should call it a night; it’s been a long day. I can show you to the spare room if you like.”
I hate that he shakes his head and says with a sigh, “It’s fine. I should head home and catch up on some work. I’ll pass by the office tomorrow morning and cancel my meetings, then I’ll pick you up for the nativity if you text me the time.”
“You’re coming – to the play?”
I’m astonished and he runs his fingers through his hair, looking so tired I feel bad for keeping him here.
“I wouldn’t miss it, and I did promise Brad. Plus…” he grins. “You invited my mother, and I wouldn’t leave you to deal with that pleasure on your own, no matter how low your opinion is of me.” He makes to leave, and I say quickly, “I don’t have a low opinion of you, Robert. Quite the opposite, in fact.”
