Over the next few days the flirting continued, whenever they met up. Though it was a bit of a walk from one property to the other, the two of them encountered one another frequently. It hadn't gone beyond flirting. Not through any reticence on Jamie's part. He was all for recreational sex between consenting adults. Forcing himself upon any woman was never an option. The main reason he didn't push being, he didn't want to spoil what was developing into a real friendship. Liz had lived the high life he'd only glimpsed. Pulling in a 6 figure salary, plus bonuses. She'd become quite wealthy before her career had the brakes applied to it by others. Liz wasn't bitter about it though. Sure she'd have liked those responsible to be punished for their transgressions, but she didn't see the need to go scorched earth with revenge. Justice, that's all she required.
Although they were in a fairly isolated area there was phone reception. Not great. Adequate for calls, texts and emails. For that reason Jamie kept his phone switched off most of the time. Although his GPS was switched off and there was no tracking software, he knew it would be possible to triangulate his approximate position using cell towers. Up here it would only be accurate to within a few miles. That was close enough to concern him. Sophie left him a voicemail. He really appreciated that. Dale was now effectively brain dead after multiple organ failure, yet she'd kept him in the loop when there was no need or obligation. None she knew of anyway. Members of their families and close friends were now making their way to the hospital to say their farewells to a man who was already effectively dead.
There would be no funeral. Dale had donated his body for research into his condition, ever the scientist. A memorial service was being planned. From the tenor of the call Jamie deduced Sophie didn't expect him to attend. An assumption that could have offended him. Under the circumstances he understood her position. Sophie was dealing with things he had no experience of. Doing the best she could in stressful times. Having borne her no animosity for the theft of his half of Dale's hard work, Jamie saw no need to look for insults. Whether intended or not. He'd made up his mind to attend. There was a risk with this of course. As long as he maintained a low profile he should be fine. It wasn't as though he was well known by anyone who might attend.
In one of their engineered encounters, Liz invited Jamie over for lunch. After checking his business and social calendars he found a suitable window that very day. She was easy to talk to. amie supposed this was partly her personality and partly her isolated lifestyle. From what she told him he knew she binged on socializing every few months. Spending the majority of her time in seclusion. Avoiding company in general, without being misanthropic. Lunch led to spending the afternoon together, which led to dinner. They shared a bottle of wine over some fine cooking. The alcohol lowered both their inhibitions. Not in the sexual sense, their flirting was innocent in nature. Jamie told her what he knew of what had happened. Including the fact Sophie had purloined the safety deposit box key from him. How she knew where it was had to be down to flaws in his security.
Liz asked a few questions. The majority of which he had no answers for. It was good to talk it through with someone else. It gave him a different perspective. It told him how idiotically naive he'd been throughout the entire enterprise. Signing things he hadn't read. The precise details of the contracts and undertakings of all parties was a closed book to him. He'd been along for the ride. A passenger throughout his entire ego trip. It was fun while it lasted. What 20 year old would turn his nose up at fun? By the time he'd told his story they'd moved to the living room, where Liz did that woman thing of folding her legs up onto her chair. She took a sip of her wine, emptying the last dregs from the bottle into both their glasses before she spoke.
"The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must." She opened chuckling ruefully. "You and your friend Dale were set up. I don't know the exact details, but I can make a stab at what happened. They'll have tied his patents and research up in legal knots. My guess would be that somewhere in the contracts they'd have hidden a few clauses which under certain circumstances gave them the rights. You'll both have been working for the Kreuz corporation in some capacity although neither of you knew it. The thing is it would be a legal mess. One that could have taken years to sort out through the courts. They might well have ruled in your favor. It's a coin toss in most of these cases. For some reason they needed all the information contained in those encrypted files. My guess would be so they could check to see which resources Dale used that belonged to them. Then they could use that to suggest Dale couldn't have come up with what he did without using their technology. It's a guess like I said. An educated one. It, or something like it, will have been the case."
It wasn't a lot, but it made some kind of sense he supposed.
"I'm going to be selfish here. How much trouble might I be in?"
Liz gazed at her glass as she twisted it in her hand.
"Well that all depends. I think you'd certainly be classed as having possibly committed fraud. The contracts would have been laid out with that intention I'm guessing. Again." She gave him a small smile her eyebrows raised. "It's not something the police or Feds would normally prosecute. Not unless the allegedly defrauded party made a criminal claim. The usual practice in this kind of situation is to use that as a stick while pursuing a claim through the civil courts for redress. meaning they would want their money back. I'm guessing you couldn't pay it. The claim would be used to discredit you. I don't think the police will be kicking down your door, but you should be wary of process servers."
"How bad could it get? Again for me. The only person I've ever cared for."
"Worst case scenario?" He nodded. "It could go on your personal record making it extremely unlikely you'd be able to find a professional position. You'd be reduced to doing minimum wage work. Fraud means you're dishonest and even the accusation can ruin someone."
He scrubbed his face in his palms.
"There's no one else to blame but me. I am such an idiot."
Liz leaned across, rubbing his arm softly.
"You're 20 years old. Thanks to your parent you led a sheltered life. You've called yourself cold hearted and distant. I think you're being too hard on yourself. It's not like you set out to hurt people."
"I still have though. Malice would be a decent excuse. Being completely unaware isn't. I should have looked into the whole thing. I could hardly expect Dale to take care of every detail, but that's what I did. I don't blame Bradley Kreuz for hating me. I'm not that likeable. He must have spotted my total disregard for everyone else's wellbeing."
She was still comforting him.
"No I've met men like him. It's all about status. Who's got the biggest dick. You said you had some kind of fight in college. Well you disrespected him and when he responded violently you humiliated him in front of his own friends. I'd lay money he and Kelly are still doing the horizontal Samba."
"It would explain the no sex until we're married."
"Their plan smacks of desperation. It's a high risk strategy they're using even if I'm wrong. If you had fought them through the courts it would have cost them. Kelly was there to distract you and get the location of the data you split with Dale. I'd imagine she kept you away from those who might reveal their plans or arouse your suspicions."
He gave a humorless laugh.
"I don't think I'd have noticed a twenty foot tall neon sign telling me I was being conned. Too busy chasing the ladies and living a life of luxury. It was fun while it lasted anyway. Why do you think Sophie turned traitor? I don't think she set out to do it. My judgement of character and motivations is poor at best I should add."
"No I think they obtained some kind of leverage over her. Dale being taken ill was lucky for them... They have ruled out foul play haven't they?"
"I haven't asked. Dale has been getting sicker for months now. He had spells like that in the past. Sometimes the effects were temporary, sometimes permanent. He was dying in little pieces as he put it. Dale was well aware he wouldn't see 50. I don't know the exact circumstances. I was busy jet setting. I hate to admit it, but I didn't pay much attention. I felt bad for the guy of course. Not bad enough to check on him and Sophie or keep an eye them." He stretched his limbs. "Holy crap. It's almost 1 in the morning. I should be getting back to the cabin."
Liz shook her head.
"That wouldn't be a good idea. Even with a flashlight negotiating these woods at night is risky. Too risky for someone who's a relative stranger to the risks. You can stay here overnight, go home in the morning." Liz paused. "You'll be sleeping on the couch."
Hs face cracked.
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks Liz. You've been a far better friend than I deserve. If there's anything I can do for you."
"Don't hesitate to get lost?"
They both laughed.
"I'm a poor excuse for a human being aren't I." She stood up, to fetch a blanket and pillows. "This is the part where you tell me I'm wonderful." He chuckled.
"I still haven't made up my mind about you. I'll sleep on it. Do I need to lock my door?"
She handed him the bedding.
"No, it's okay I trust you not to attack me."
"Your people judging skills have let you down again."