James frowned. ‘I know it’s him but how the hell do you know?’
‘I have a gift – a curse a lot of the time – which means I can recognise people in a way other people can’t. It’s weird; I can’t explain it.’
‘But he’s wearing skiing gear! He’s not even looking at the camera.’
‘Are you saying it’s not him?’
James’s indignation subsided. ‘No. It’s him. But how anyone could recognise him …’
‘Well, I have. And he’s tagged with a completely different name. Maybe you could explain that?’
James chewed his sandwich with agonizing slowness.
‘It’s not my story to tell.’
‘But I can’t live with all this stuff I’ve read about him on the internet and not find out more.’
‘He should tell you about it, not me.’
‘Of course he should!’ Amy had gone on about this long enough for Helena to be convinced. ‘But I don’t know where he is. I can’t get in touch with him!’ She took a breath. ‘Doyouknow where he is?’
James nodded. ‘I do. And I’ll tell you.’
Chapter Twenty-nine
Helena and James were looking at Maps to find out exactly where the address Jago had given James actually was.
‘The trouble is,’ said James, ‘postcodes in these remote areas are enormous so they don’t help much.’
‘I don’t know the Wye Valley at all,’ said Helena.
‘It’s very beautiful, I know that.’
‘But if he didn’t do anything wrong – I’m assuming he didn’t do anything wrong—?’ Helena broke off, hoping James didn’t feel trapped into saying what she wanted to hear.
‘Look, I’ve said, it’s not my tale to tell. I’m the only person he’s stayed friends with from those days. We knew each other at school. Let’s just say I’m not surprised he wanted to cut himself off from everyone else.’
‘And you didn’t want to cut yourself off from him?’
‘Nope. He’s a good guy.’
A modicum of relief relaxed Helena’s shoulders a little. ‘Well, that’s something, at least.’
‘He’d probably kill me if he knew I’d said that,’ said James, frowning as he studied Maps on Amy’s computer.
‘Why? Why would he mind you saying he was a good guy?’
‘Because he doesn’t feel like a good guy.’ James took his fingers off the keys. ‘Helena? I need a proper map. Satnav and all that are OK as far as they go, but they don’t give you a chance to plan or see where you’re headed.’
‘My mother would have one.’
‘Could you borrow it?’
‘I’m sure I can.’
‘Would she ask why you wanted it? Where you’re going?’
Helena nodded. ‘I hadn’t planned to tell her until it was all over. She’s a bit of a worrier. But I will have to tell her if I need a mapbook.’
