When Newt went to get the car keys, River stopped him picking up the one for the Mercedes and gave him the key for the Aston Martin.
“Are you sure? We’ll stand out more in that one.”
River took the mask out of his pocket and waved it.
Newt smiled. “The Aston then. Are you driving?”
“No. You. Auto…mat…ic.”
“Good.”
The car was a delight to drive. As much as Newt hadn’t been into cars when he’d been a youngster, his father had never got his hands on an Aston Martin. If he had, it would have been passed on quickly, probably shipped abroad the same night.
“What did you think about the press knowing where you live?”
“Shit.”
“Have you thought about how they might have found out?” He glanced at River.
“No. You know?”
“How many people know it’s your house? Max and a few of his team. Dila and co. Anyone who’s been to work here and seen you, including Jorge who has a reason to be pissed off with both of us. Max’s parents but they wouldn’t say anything. The postman who saw those letters addressed to you. I guess that’s quite a lot of people when it comes down toit.”
“Yes.” River gave a heavy sigh.
“Living out in the middle of nowhere with another name on your official docs should have kept you safe…safer. I assume you opted to keep your name private on the electoral roll. But some people will know your name and address. But I don’t think you were discovered from any official documents.”
“How then?”
“I looked it up and it’s illegal to tell the press where someone lives. Searching for and putting private information about someone on the internet, especially for malicious reasons, is called doxing. I’d not heard that word before. Add in the hate mail and Max is right, we need to be careful. If you found out who told the press, you could make a claim for damages.”
“Right.”
“The thing is, I don’t think someone did it for money. It’s too risky. The press would be in trouble if they’d paid someone, but if they acted on a tip off? There were only two photographers and they could have been chosen specifically.”
“So…what does…that…? Hmm…means what?”
“I have a feeling Max told the press where you live. And I think Dila knew they were coming. Jesse too.”
A glance at River’s face showed Newt he was shocked.
“The photographers hadn’t asked about her, though if they had, I’d still have thought the same. She was ready for a photoshoot. Makeup, hair, clothes and now she’s gone after a day here. You told Max you’d had enough of the relationship. For whatever reason, he wants it to go on longer. Maybe… Maybe he thinks we’re getting too attached.”
River slid his hand onto Newt’s knee. “Fuck Max.”
“Not my type.”
River chuckled.
“Do you still feel safe in the house?” Newt asked. “Because if you don’t, we shouldn’t stay here.”
“Safe. With you.”
But Newt wouldn’t be there forever.
“Why do you think Dila wants this fake relationship?”
“I’m not…a catch?” River pouted. “She had…not good reasons… Shit. Not reasons…re…revise…reviews for last album. I distract from that.”
