‘You know what they say about people who watch true crime in their leisure time?’ she joked.
‘Psychopaths? Yes, I’ve heard that. Well, I won’t tell if you don’t.’ He winked at her. She yawned.
‘Is it too late?’ he asked.
She got up and flicked on the TV in answer and searched for the correct link. They were on part three of a seven-part series.
‘Do you often wonder why these things are so popular?’ she asked him.
He thought for a bit and then sipped some more wine. ‘I think people love the brutality and the drama. Netflix is our circus.’
‘Our circus?’ she asked.
‘You know, give the masses bread and circuses… It keeps them in check and all that. The Romans… People attribute it to Cicero, but I think it was Juvenal.’
‘Who?’
‘A satirist.’
‘Hmm,’ Kelly pondered.
‘What are you thinking about?’ he asked her.
She finished her drink and started the credits of the third episode. ‘Conspiracy theorists.’
‘Oh dear.’
‘Aren’t they the modern-day social commentators, a bit like your Juvenal? Social media rebels who challenge the establishment? After all, plenty of them talk about placating the masses.’
He stared at her, and she laughed.
‘I know, right? This case has got to me. I did a bit of research on Hampton-Dent, and guess what I found?’
Ted waited. Kelly paused the TV.
‘There’s one podcaster in particular who is a thorn in the side of these big pharmaceutical companies. He has millions of followers; he’s called the DiggerMan because he won’t stop digging until he gets to the truth,’ Kelly said with a grin.
‘I like him already,’ Ted said.
‘I know, right? Well, he goes for Hampton-Dent regularly and they hate him. There have been a few lawsuits but he has money behind him and they haven’t been able to silence him yet.’
‘Silence him for what?’
‘Accusing them of corporate manslaughter, illegal clinical trials, dodgy patents, it’s all conspiracy stuff which can’t really be proved.’
‘So he’s playing with fire.’
‘Yes, but don’t you find it interesting? I searched Jamie Robbins’ name and he came up a few times; Joe Folly appealed to him publicly to be a guest on his podcast. Coincidence?’
Ted raised his tired eyebrows. ‘I think it’s time for my bed.’
‘It’s potential motive, Dad. Do you think there are people out there powerful enough to kill people who get in their way?’
‘I think you’re getting ahead of yourself. You don’t seem to have a break from work nowadays.’
‘Is this your way of telling me I’m turning into a sad loner who watches too much Netflix?’
He laughed. ‘Perhaps.’
