When the Devil Drives

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'Oh, we've been in touch with Mr Driscoll. He's been down at thescene of the fire for the past hour, together with Mr CallumBlackstone, who's got a major financial interest, I understand.''Why—yes,' Joanna said slowly. 'But that isn't generally known. Whocontacted him?''No one, madam. He's the one who reported the fire in the firstinstance. He happened to be driving past and realised something waswrong,''I—see,' Joanna said slowly Mid untruthfully. 'How fortunate.''Joanna?' Fiona's voice sounded from the doorway. 'What's going on?What's wrong?' Her eyes widened as she saw the policeman. 'Oh!'Her hand went up to clutch at her throat. 'It's Simon, isn't it? There'sbeen some terrible accident...''No, of course not.' Joanna moved to her side.'Oh, thank heavens!' Fiona looked at the policeman. 'I've been soworried, officer. My husband simply vanished today, and none of usknows where he is. You couldn't find him for me, I suppose?''Not unless he's been reported as a missing person, madam, and thatwould seem slightly premature.' But the policeman was frowning.Joanna intervened swiftly. 'My brother's away on business, officer.He tends to be a little vague about his movements sometimes.''So what has happened?' Fiona demanded.'There's been a fire at the Craft Company—a pretty extensive one,'Joanna told her.'Oh, is that all?' Fiona shrugged her shoulders.
'All?' Joanna was appalled. 'Fiona—our business premises have beenjust about destroyed.''But the insurance will cover it. Simon increased it only recently. Hetold me so.'There was a silence. The policeman's frown deepened. 'Did heindeed, madam? Well, that was very far-sighted of him. Quiteprovidential, in fact. Let's hope that any claim that's made is perfectlystraightforward.''Is there any reason why it shouldn't be?' Joanna did her best to soundcasual, but her heart was thudding uncomfortably.The policeman gave her a long, unwavering look. 'There's someevidence that a fire was deliberately started on the premises, madam,so naturally there will have to be a strict investigation. That's why MrBlackstone disclosed his financial interest in the company to us.Quite understandably, he wishes to be kept fully informed about ourenquiries.' He paused. 'Perhaps you can see now, madam, why we'reso keen to have a word with Mr Simon Chalfont.'Simon's words came floating back into Joanna's head. 'He'll takenothing else—I'll make sure of that.' He'd said he'd do whatever hehad to, she thought numbly. He'd said he was desperate. The roomswayed around her.Needs must when the devil drives.Fiona gave a shrill laugh. 'Good heavens, constable! You surely don'tthink my husband burned down his own business?'The room was spinning now, faster and faster, out of control. Whenthe devil drives, thought Joanna, and fainted.
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WHEN THE DEVILDRIVESSara Craven
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CHAPTER ONE'SIMON, you don't—you
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Because Cal Blackstone wasn't inter
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Joanna bit her lip hard. It was Phi
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ack in his face, for God's sake.' H
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'Here?' Joanna stared at him, appal
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Know your enemy, had been one of Jo
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By the time she'd fetched the jack,
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Joanna sniffed delicately, grimacin
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Cal Blackstone threw back his head
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'Ah, but it will,' he said softly.
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CHAPTER TWOTHE mist swirled thickly
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'After all,' Fiona had often pouted
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As she heard the doorbell peal, she
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held together by an elastic band. H
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She didn't want to hear any more. H
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'And so it will be soon,' he said s
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'I don't need twenty-four seconds,'
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Why the hell was she worrying about
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'Not yours to that extent. Simon, a
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'And having my private affairs chew
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CHAPTER THREEDOWN by the reservoir,
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She started violently. She'd been s
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'Isn't that what all men want?'He s
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Joanna's watch said eight o'clock p
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the wedding ceremony, even in the n
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'I wouldn't blame it,' he said dril
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She sat rigidly on the edge of the
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'It's all right, sweetie,' her fath
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'You don't need to make excuses for
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His hand slid under her hair, lifti
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CHAPTER FOURJOANNA awoke from sleep
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'You were clearly in a highly nervo
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'You intend to go on with this—ob
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The living-room, she found, had alr
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Her smile was civil but totally dis
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'No one would ever regard your gran
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on your wedding night? Did you keep
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line of her throat to his mouth. He
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He moved out of the doorway, allowi
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Because she knew now, quite unequiv
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action would be to hire a business
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of some way by now to keep him off
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CHAPTER FIVEJOANNA felt better afte
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'How very good of you.' Joanna's fa
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And the trouble is it could all be
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with you to show you a cottage at N
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lavish arrangement of dried flowers
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There was a sudden burning ache in
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'Where do you think you're going?'
Page 104 and 105: thought about us. She assumed that
Page 106 and 107: She slid into the driving seat and
Page 108 and 109: Somehow, against all logic and all
Page 110 and 111: else around. She could not have bor
Page 112 and 113: Joanna had accepted his occasional
Page 114 and 115: Joanna had felt nauseated, close to
Page 116 and 117: She drew a deep, quivering sigh, an
Page 118 and 119: There was a moment of silence, tota
Page 120 and 121: 'I found out while you were in Amer
Page 122 and 123: She shivered as she remembered the
Page 124 and 125: CHAPTER SEVENJOANNA spent the follo
Page 126 and 127: Callum Blackstone had wanted Joanna
Page 128 and 129: How marvellous to be able to map ou
Page 130 and 131: The envelope was lying on the carpe
Page 132 and 133: using for the kitchen units. We've
Page 134 and 135: 'Maybe we should.' Cal's eyes dwell
Page 136 and 137: 'That's our business.' Joanna wonde
Page 138 and 139: 'He never will.' She was hurting so
Page 140 and 141: She could taste blood in her mouth,
Page 142 and 143: At the same time, Joanna was sane e
Page 144 and 145: 'That woman has got to go,' Mrs Dri
Page 146 and 147: Once I would simply have blamed the
Page 148 and 149: Anthony Chalfont stirred in his une
Page 150 and 151: traumatic thing. You were his nanny
Page 152 and 153: from then on.' She sighed. 'He'd ha
Page 156 and 157: CHAPTER NINETHERE was darkness all
Page 158 and 159: Cal carried Joanna out into the hal
Page 160 and 161: A moment later the front door bange
Page 162 and 163: Needless to say, her father had bee
Page 164 and 165: 'Perhaps,' Joanna said evenly. 'But
Page 166 and 167: It was the same receptionist at the
Page 168 and 169: She stared at him. 'Why—everythin
Page 170 and 171: When she was alone, she glanced rou
Page 172 and 173: een sheer hell for them both. He pr
Page 174 and 175: In between kisses, they spoke the f
Page 176 and 177: 'There's no need.' His hand gently
Page 178 and 179: 'No, my darling.' Cal looked at her
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