James

Adam is safely born. Beth is asleep. Richard too…

Nervous exhaustion?

Lol!

It’s quiet. And it’s dark.

And it’s the first real chance I’ve had to sit quietly. To think…

… To consider what Charlotte said.

But… but… you sent me an email, with the link to the site and that photo. I went right through it. They had some lovely things. But I knew you liked that corset so I bought it.

I turn the words over in my head.

Not like her to fall for something like that… Way too canny…

Too suspicious…

So it must have been good.

?

It seemed to come from me…

So, someone had my email address…

And baited the message with something so perfect Charlotte had no reason to doubt it…

And they… they…

… they what?

They sold her a corset…

?

?

Weird or what…

Yes… What?

How could they know her that well? To target her so well?

*****

“Charlotte, do you still have that email? The one you said I sent you. Or have you wiped it?”

She glances up from her laptop. “I was just about to wipe it. Why?”

“I’d like to see it. And the invoice for the corset if you still have it. And the packing slip.”

face clears. “Sure. Gimme

sheets. “Invoice and delivery note.” Shaking her head slightly,

at your being targeted. The thing is, this has all the hallmarks of a scam, except that all it appears to have achieved is to sell you an

have achieved?” She swallows. “I’ve not done something stupid,

so. But someone else has gone to a great deal of trouble if the only intention was to sell you expensive underwear.” I snap my fingers at the sheets in her

I’m looking for, but somewhere in

*****

head. The lingerie company appears to be a perfectly legitimate business. It’s been trading

check with the registrar reveals that the company listed on the paperwork is the same one as is connected with the website. A further search shows that the directors are

alarm bells are

a newsletter. So, making a couple of adjustments to my online security first, I sign up and wait to see what

my inbox within two minutes. Welcome to Arcadia Lingerie! We’re thrilled to have you

I read on…

but since they’re selling a quality product that speaks for itself, they’re doing

in my seat,

I

my chair, but it’s only

not surprised. Yes, of course.

me. An inch of amber

“Beth alright? And Adam?”

on their sleep.”

the paperwork Charlotte gave me to him, along with some of the print-offs I’ve

“What’s so exciting

sip the malt, then

trying to sell her this or that:

in-box

comes from one of the How To Spend It outlets. Usually trying to persuade her that I need a new

professed to

“Personal email address?”

“No, work address.”

that’s public information. Anyone taking a ten-second look at a Haswell corporation

why the personal connection to

wrong end. What did that email lead Charlotte to do? It purported

common enough tactic with hackers, but this link was to a legitimate company,

enough of a tech man to know but, just because a company is legitimate… It’s website too, perhaps… Does that necessarily mean that an individual page or

it fucking

you take a close look at the link and page together? Perhaps I can ask some numbskull questions that

up Charlotte’s email onto the screen, ‘from

browse this site. Find something

can’t match Charlotte for looks, but the suggestion is there: a red-headed girl in sexy underwear which, had I really sent this message,

whoever they are. This is no random spam. It’s targeted… at

I already know what I’ll find, I’ve done it three times already. The link

home page of the target website. There’s not even that attached tagging that tells the more alert reader that

page, looking for anything out of

would she go next? How about the

link on the email doesn’t lead her…” And I swallow my words

the link doesn’t lead

sent her a request to buy that

Christ!

searched through to find it, scoured

would have

one hand, with the other I mouse through menus until I find the image from the

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255