Going Up - Now On Amazon

Chapter Forty - Nick POV

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I discharged myself from the hospital shortly after I’d narrowed down the suspects. I went straight back to my apartment to research. Luckily I’d always been a big believer in backing up hard copies on my webservers.

Before I re-opened my four suspects’ files I called Amelia. I had to be certain.

“Amelia Ann speaking”

“Amelia, its Nick”

“Oh, um hi”

“Look I need to ask you something… your father isn’t planning revenge on me is he?” I said as quickly as I could

“I wouldn’t know Nick. We don’t speak. I doubt it though, after the trouble I’ve caused him business wise he’s keeping a low profile.”

“Trouble?”

“I went to the authorities on some of his double dealings Nick. Your girlfriend’s strength honest and integrity inspired me to be a better person”

My heart ached at the mere mention of Sarah. Oh god how I wished I could go and hold her. My arms and heart felt empty without her.

“She’s special” I murmured softly “That’s for sure”

“Well, when you see her next tell her I said thank you again… and that everything else is okay too” Amelia replied, her voice sounded happy, a tone I’d never really gotten used to.

"Again?"

"She didn't tell you did she?"

"what?"

"I'm pregnant, about four months. she was a shoulder and an ear for me. You're a lucky man"

“I know, thanks Amelia. I'll pass on your message. Congratulations on the baby”

“Seeya”

I hung up my phone and turned back to stare at the screen. With Amelia’s father being watched by the authorities (even though I knew at least one cop was crooked) meant that he had tabs on him. He’d not do anything silly that could lead back to him.  It had to be one of the four after all.

Janie’s file was flawless. There wasn’t one thing I could nit-pick any further than it already had been. Her meticulous eye for details had been the very reason I’d given her the job in the first place. I looked through Dj’s file next. Technically even though he’d never been an employee I’d gathered info because I wanted to know that he was trust worthy. 

Of course we’d formed a solid friendship from there and until now I’d never once suspected him of anything untoward. In fact the only reason he and Janie were included in my list of suspects was because they know Sarah and they know I love Sarah.

That only left Marc and Josh. Marc’s file painted a sad picture. He’d been orphaned at 10 and had lived his entire life with his Aunt Louise. Like the others though despite relentless searching, I found nothing I didn’t already know.

Josh had been a relatively new addition to the team. He’d been with us for 2 years. Initially I’d hired him because he came recommended to me via a company I’d worked alongside during our first couple of years. Perhaps a little naively I took the letter of reference I’d received from them at face value. I pulled up google and typed in the IT companies name and josh’s name. Sure enough an archived page with a small thumbnail of josh stared back at me.