Chapter 21

“I have done, but all of them severed ties with me, telling me not to bother them again. A couple of them sent a cease and desist letter after just one phone call.”

“You think someone’s been beating them up for you?”

“Or because of me.” Deepan shook his head. “Of all the things I’d have collected in my life, I never foresaw a jealous stalker.”

Karl didn’t respond to that. He piled the files together.

“I’ll need to take these with me.”

“Of course. Karl?”

Karl looked up. Deepan was watching him with a nervous expression. Karl wanted to reach over and hug him, assure him things were going to be okay. But he stopped himself.

“Do you think if I’d brought these to you earlier, Zafar would still be alive?”

“He’s the only one who’s died, Deepan. Nobody could have foreseen the stalker escalating. Zafar’s the type to fight back, and maybe it just went too far.” Karl reached out and squeezed Deepan’s arm. “Things will be okay.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better.” Deepan grumbled.