Page 100 of Forbidden Forward

My attention turns to said state of unemployment, and I check my email. Yesterday, after not hearing back from Jeff, I sent him a follow-up message. His reply sits in my in-box, telling me he’ll call me at ten my time, seven his.

He’s true to his word, and I answer on the first ring, tamping down my nerves. “Hey, thanks for getting back to me.”

“You’re welcome, though I’m not sure this is going to help much. I asked Legal to check into it, and they got back to me last night. They have no knowledge of any demand letter. I asked if they would have used an outside law firm, and they said it was unlikely, but they did follow up with two firms they might have used. Both denied sending a letter.” He clears his throat. “Legal asked if you can get a hold of the letter, or at least give them the name of the firm that sent it.”

“I haven’t been able to so far.”

“See if you can. This has all of Legal’s attention. They don’t like the idea of a letter going out from a Roscoe representative that they don’t know about.”

“On it.”

When we hang up, I immediately call Peggy. To my surprise, she picks up. “How are you?” she asks, sounding genuinely concerned.

“I’ve been better,” I admit, “but I’ve been in touch with my former employer, and they know nothing about the demand letter. Their legal department has asked for a copy. Do you think you could scan me a copy?”

She ponders for a moment. “I’ll check with our attorney. If I can’t get you a copy, maybe we can send it to your old company’s legal folks.”

I’m on tenterhooks, afraid to move from my phone to shower, when Donny drags in the door from his road trip. One look at me, and his expression morphs from fatigued to stricken. My face must still be swollen from ugly crying. “You all right, Jack?”

“I’m great,” I lie.

The freeze between my brother and me has thawed a bit. He hasn’t said anything more about Colby or about me moving out. Nonetheless, I’m looking for my own place. I might even go home for an extended visit with the parents. I could pretend I’ve got time off and stay with them until things with New Horizons clear up, for better or for worse. The thought is depressing as hell, but it’s one alternative, and I’m all about backup plans.

My brother drops his bag beside the door and strolls toward me, a skeptical frown on his face. He lowers himself beside me, and I fill him in on what I’ve uncovered so far.

“So no one knows about this letter?” he asks.

“Not the parties supposedly involved.”

“Then who sent it, and why?”

“I have a theory,” I say.

His eyes widen. “Grubbs?”

My phone rings, and before I answer, I put it on speaker. It’s an attorney from Roscoe Biotech, and he’s looking at the infamous letter. “This communication did not come from us, Ms. Harper, nor did we authorize anyone to send it. Furthermore, we’re a bit puzzled since our claims against you were settled. Did you ask someone to send this on your behalf?”

“Absolutely not! That makes no sense,” I blurt. Why would I ask a law firm to freeze my records at New Horizons? “I haven’t even seen it, though I’ve been asking.”

He’s quiet for a moment. “Let me check with my department and find out if I can forward you a copy.”

When we hang up, Donny gawks at me. “Jack, you might want to hire your own lawyer.”

Excitement, laced with hope, percolates inside me for the first time in days. The quest to slay a dragon has begun in earnest.

Several hours go by, and I’m showered and talking to my attorney, Nate Johnson—the same one who represented me during the original Roscoe Biotech debacle—while Donny lurks close by. Nate and I each have a copy of the letter, and Nate placed a call to the North Carolina law firm on the letterhead with me on the line. They claimed to know nothing about it and denied sending it. Just as Roscoe had never heard of them, they hadn’t heard of Roscoe, and their alarm levels rose during the call. Having someone impersonate them isn’t only a bad look and could damage their reputation, it’s illegal.

My suspicions have been mounting for a while, and God, I hope I’m right—that Randy’s behind this hoax. I want to see his ass nailed to the wall.

“Everyone involved denies having any part in it,” Nate remarks, “we all agree it makes no sense, and yet someone sent it.”

“What are the next steps?” I ask. “Should we set up a conference call between all of us—Roscoe, New Horizons, this law firm, and us? Compare what we know? There’s a bad actor out there affecting all of us.” And there’s only one person who has something to gain in this scenario. I just need proof.

“Hang on. I’m getting a call from the firm in North Carolina. I’ll call you back.”

Donny shakes his head. “Things get curiouser and curiouser, sis. You really think your ex is behind this?”

I nod. “Randy Grubbs, king of con men everywhere. If it turns out to be him, I’d happily go after the asshole, but he probably doesn’t have anything to go after.”