‘Nathan doesn’t know the password for her computer. Her social media accounts have been checked as far as possible, but he doesn’t know her friends and everything’s locked down to outsiders. Because of the low risk level, her laptop won’t have been sent for investigation. It’s expensive to do and not a priority.’

‘You’d better get it to me then,’ Jack said, as if that was going to be the easiest thing in the world to do.

‘I can’t do that, Jack – it’s not my case.’

‘So phone Nathan and tell him you’ve got a friend who’s a bit of a dab hand at getting into other people’s computers.’

Tom laughed. ‘Nathan’s got plenty of money. I’m sure he’ll have hired someone to try to hack her computer.’

‘Well, he hasn’t employed the best, has he?’

‘I see you’re as arrogant as ever,’ Tom said, raising an eyebrow at his brother.

Jack grinned. ‘Come on, Tom. A laptop isn’t going to be a problem for me, is it? What have you got to lose?’

‘I’ll think about it,’ he said, staring at the golden liquid in his glass.

The problem with Jack was that he always made Tom question his own ethics. In his career as a policeman he hadn’t always followed the rules, sometimes allowing his belief in justice for the individual to override the laws he was supposed to be upholding. But Jack took this further, arguing that the end often justified the means. It was how he had rationalised some of his past illegal enterprises, which he still maintained had benefited his victims.

Knowing Jack had committed crimes didn’t in any way diminish Tom’s affection for his brother, which came from the heart, not the head. But sometimes Tom found it difficult to know where to draw the line – when to deny Jack what he asked for. And this was one of those times.

CHAPTER 42

42

Last night Thea came for me again, and I felt myself shaking at the thought that I had to go for another treatment. But I wasn’t ushered into the doctor’s study. He was waiting in the corridor at the top of the stairs, no more than a silhouette, backlit by the dim wall lights. They demanded to know if I had made a decision. Was I going to stay, or was I going to take my chances and leave?

I had thought of nothing else. Neither option felt good, but it would feel no better if I had another day, a week or even a year to consider it. They weren’t prepared to give me any more time. I had to make a decision on the spot, so I told them I would stay. I couldn’t see any other option. They seemed pleased, and I felt guilty about not being more grateful.