‘I know you could never do a thing like that,’ he said. ‘You love kids, don’t you? And you’re gentle, you’re kind. Anyway, there’s no real evidence.’

‘They said no one else could have done it. And all the other stuff, the stupid forum posts, the prints on the gun . . .’

He waved a hand. ‘Circumstantial, all of it. You gave explanations. No, it should never have been enough to convict you. There was no motive, for a start. No blood on your clothes.’

I was gulping this in like water. ‘You really believe that?’

‘Of course.’ His eyes were the faithful brown of a puppy dog. ‘Case, I promise I’ll do everything I can to clear your name. I’m working on it right now, talking to private investigators, checking all the so-called evidence again. I’ll talk to the neighbours, I’ll get into the house – I swear it.’

‘But – how? Are you allowed to be in the States?’

‘For three months. That’s long enough, if I work at it.’

‘Your job, though?’

He beamed. ‘Actually, I’ve quit. This is more important.’

I was amazed. This man I barely remembered from my college days, he had dropped everything for me, a convicted murderer.

‘How will you live?’

‘Oh, the website brings in some money, advertising and stuff. And I’ve arranged to cover the case for a few papers back home.’

Jeremy, for all his other-worldliness, was good at practical things like that. I think because he felt no shame asking for things.

‘But – why?’ I was bewildered. The guard looked at the clock and I knew she’d take me back any minute now. ‘Why would you do this for me?’

He hesitated, and I saw in his open, guileless face exactly why. Jeremy was in love with me. And suddenly I recalled other incidents – mix CDs he’d made for me, snakebites he’d bought me and never taken money for, since bartenders always assumed he was at least twenty-five. Jeremy Caldwell was in love with me. Oh God. ‘It’s really a shame you didn’t get my letters,’ he said, blushing. ‘I sent quite a few.’

‘I’m sorry. I’ll ask them about it.’ The guard tapped her watch at me and I stood up reluctantly. ‘I have to go. Thank you, Jeremy! Thank you so much. I’ll put you on my call list and then we can talk. They have to allow that.’