‘There. Look.’ Helena touched the screen with her finger.
‘Helly! He’s wearing a big hairband, ski goggles and is looking away from the camera. How on earth can you tell?’
‘Well, I just know. It’s him. I know it is.’
‘You and your spooky “super-recogniser” stuff!’ Amy was dismissive but indulgent.
Now it was her man in the photos Helena was a bit more interested. ‘But that’s weird. He’s tagged wrongly. You’d think James would get his best mate’s name right.’
‘It might not be him. And anyway, he may not have put the photo up there.’
‘But it is him. And apparently he’s called Jonathan Relto.’ Something stirred in Helena’s memory. ‘Wasn’t Relto the name of that company that was responsible for all those people nearly dying in a fire? There was a dramatic rescue and several fireman got medals for gallantry.’
‘No idea,’ said Amy. ‘Let’s google him.’
Helena’s legs turned to rubber. She felt as if all her life force was escaping out of her body as she read. There were many more pictures of Jago available, ones that even Amy had no problem in recognising. Only he wasn’t Jago, the man she loved. He was Jonathan Relto, nephew of one of the worst landlords in history. His uncle had only missed going to prison because of a very clever lawyer. Worst of all, Jago had worked for him. She developed a cold sweat and her mouth went so dry she couldn’t speak.
‘Oh, Helly,’ said Amy, looking at her friend with concern. ‘Would you like some water?’
Helena nodded. While Amy went to fetch her some, she tried to get her brain to work. Amy came back with water, she sipped some and managed to speak. ‘I don’t know what to do.’
‘Is there any brandy in the house?’ asked Amy.
‘You’re not supposed to give brandy for shock. It gives you hypothermia or something.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ Amy was dismissive of this namby-pamby response. ‘I’ll find the brandy. It’ll make you feel a bit more in control.’
Helena remembered the first time Jago had offered her brandy, after she had rescued the kitten. That time she had asked for tea instead, but this required something stronger.
Amy had obviously managed to find it and held out a glass to her. Helena took it and sipped, andas she felt the strong liquor reach her bloodstream she realised that Amy was right, her limbs did feel more connected to her body. ‘I feel as if I’ve been run over by a train,’ she said.
‘It must be awful. I’m so sorry!’ said Amy.
‘Jago – the man I thought I loved – is not who he said he was. He’s this other, horrible person, very nearly responsible for people dying!’
‘They didn’t die though. And you don’t know how much he had to do with it. He may have worked for the company but he could have been a caretaker or something.’ Amy sounded as if she was desperate to say something comforting but couldn’t think of anything sensible. ‘If he was responsible, he’d have gone to jail and his uncle avoided that,’ she added.
‘Oh, come on! As if! Besides, he’s lied to me. I can’t forgive him. I’m leaving here.’ She paused and looked at her glass. ‘Tomorrow. I’m over the limit now.’
‘You were over the limit a few glasses of Prosecco ago,’ said Amy. ‘And don’t overreact. Jago didn’t lie to you; he just didn’t tell you everything.’
‘That’s as good as lying, isn’t it?’
‘Not really. I know you’re living together but you haven’t known him that long. It wouldn’t be an easy thing to bring up. “By the way, my uncle’s company was responsible for that awful fire, when people nearly died, years ago.”’
‘But when would he have told me? Soon? Never?’ Helena still felt horribly deceived.
‘I don’t know, Hells, but you can’t think badly of him because he didn’t blurt it out when you first met. Have you told him everything about you?’
‘I may have kept quiet about some unfortunate music preferences when I was twelve, but mostly, yes. He knows all about my parents’ divorce and how it affected me. He knows everything remotely important.’
Amy put her hand on Helena’s arm. ‘It needn’t be a deal-breaker, Hel.’
Helena shook her head, still in despair. ‘We haven’t actually made any sort of deal. I just moved in as a lodger and then changed bedrooms. I feel such a fool! I feel I’ve shacked up with a complete stranger. I just fell in love and followed my heart and my lust.’
‘I think you are overreacting.’
‘Amy, you saw what was on Google!’
