‘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, and as 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!’
‘I’m not saying the fire wasn’t awful – not for a second – but just because it was Jago’s – or Jonathan’s – uncle’s firm, it doesn’t mean he had anything to do with it.’
‘Then why change his identity? Is that what normal, innocent people do?’
‘Well, maybe! Maybe having that name meant he couldn’t get work, or start a business or anything.’
‘I don’t know, Ames. I just don’t know. I just feel terribly let down.’
‘But he’s been lovely to you—’
‘But who has been lovely to me? And why? Is it Jago or Jonathan?’
‘He won’t have a hidden agenda. What has he got to gain from being nice to you?’
‘He has a hidden past, why not a hidden agenda? I just feel I’m in the middle of a bog and everywhere I put my foot it just sinks in. I have to get away.’
‘You’re not being logical!’ said Amy.
‘Well, sorry!’ said Helena. ‘The man I’ve been living with – the man I thought I loved – has turned out to be someone completely different. Sorry I can’t react in a calm and reasoned way.’
Amy was getting fed up. ‘OK, I’m going to make tea and toast. We’re going to eat it and then go to bed. I promise you, this will look better in the morning.’
‘You sound just like my mum.’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment. Your mum talks a lot of good sense.’
‘I’ll sort out some sheets for your bed,’ said Helena. ‘If I think of this as a sleepover, maybe I won’t feel so utterly miserable.’
After a drawn-out breakfast, Amy had persuaded Helena not to do anything rash until she had talked to Jago.
‘He’s entitled to give his side of the story,’ she said. ‘You’ve just seen a lot of stuff on the internet. We all know you can’t trust everything you see on there.’
‘I do get that,’ said Helena, although she was still reluctant to accept it. ‘But how do I speak to him when I don’t know where he is, and can’t contact him? I don’t know how long he’s going to be away for and, frankly, I can’t cope with waiting for him to get home. “Hi Jago, or should I say Jonathan?”’
‘No, I get that, too. I think you have to find him.’
‘But I don’t know where he is!’
‘I bet James does,’ said Amy. ‘They go back years and they’re best friends. Ask him.’
‘I hardly know him!’
‘Do you want to find out where Jago is, or not?’
Helena made a face. ‘I do but I’m also really nervous. Supposing I find out he’s an insurance-swindling arsonist or whatever? Maybe I’m better off not knowing.’
‘No, you’re not. You can’t spend the rest of your life wondering if you let the best man you’re likely to meet go because of stuff you saw on Google, without ever giving him a chance to put his point of view.’
Helena knew Amy was right. She didn’t want her to be right, but she was. ‘I’ve just thought of something.’
‘What?’
‘James might not believe me about the picture on Facebook. You know? Me being a super-recogniser? I’ll need proof I’ve seen him.’
‘You don’t need to tell him how you came to find out Jago’s changed identity. Just ask him where he is! Right.’ Amy looked at her phone to check the time. ‘I’ve got to see someone about a workshop. I can leave you my computer with my Facebook page open. I’ll be back at three to fetch it and find out how you’ve got on. Is that OK?’
‘Yes, that will be brilliant. OK, I’ll get in touch with James.’ Helena didn’t move.
‘Do you want me to do it for you?’
Helena shook her head. ‘It’s a kind offer but I think I need to do this when I’m on my own.’
‘But you will do it? Promise?’
‘Absolutely promise.’
‘Fair enough, but tell me everything as soon as you can. Call me.’
‘I will.’
‘Are you going to tell your mum about this?’
Helena shook her head. ‘Not until it’s resolved. There’s no point in worrying her.’