Page 81 of Feared

“With whom did you attend?”

“I went with Jim and Sanjay.”

“And by Jim and Sanjay, do you mean the owners of London Technologies?”

“Yes.”

“How long did the conference last?”

“Two days.”

“Mr. Chen, did there come a time after a breakout session, when you spoke with Jeremy Dietl, president of Home Hacks, one of the defendants in this matter?”

“Yes.”

“And how did that come about?”

“At the end of the breakout session, we ran into one another at the coffee station set up outside the main room.”

“And did you have a conversation with Mr. Dietl at that time?”

Chen frowned. “It wasn’t a conversation. It was a threat.”

Mary smiled inwardly, but said nothing. She hadn’t had to rehearse Chen for that line earlier, because he was dying to get it on the record. Dietl’s statement was a critical proof of their case, showing that EXMS and Home Hacks intended to put London Technologies out of business.

“Was anyone else present for that, er, discussion?”

“No.”

Benedict consulted his notes. “Before we go forward, how many people were at that breakout session, would you say?”

“If you know,” Mary interjected, just to remind Chen that they were entering enemy territory.

“I happen to know it was about 120.”

Benedict nodded, pursing his lips, which wrinkled deeply at the corners. “How is it that you came to be speaking alone with Mr. Dietl, in the crowd of 120 people?If you know.”

“I was looking for green tea and so was he. It wasn’t on the regular coffee setup, only on the one that was out-of-the-way.”

“How long was your conversation, er, discussion with Mr. Dietl?”

“Approximately two minutes.”

“And what was its substance?”

“You mean what was the threat he made to me?”

“Yes, your words.”

Chen straightened in his chair. “Mr. Dietl said, and I quote, ‘If you keep undercutting us in the subscription market, we’ll disable the logins of any dealer who works with you. We’ll cut you off at the knees.’”

Mary kept on her professional mask, though she was cheering inwardly. Chen’s testimony had the absolute ring of truth, and he would be a great witness if the case ever went to trial.

Benedict’s eyelids fluttered behind his bifocals. “Mr. Chen, do you remember that he said those words exactly?”

“Yes I do.”

“How do you remember that, though it occurred so many years ago?”