When the Devil Drives

'Perhaps,' Joanna said evenly. 'But feuds are such a waste of time, andlike most quarrels no one can ever really remember how they began.''I see,' said Philip, as if he did. 'Well, I felt I had to ask. After all, ifwe're going to be seeing something of each other...'Joanna stared at him. 'I agreed to have dinner with you,' she said,'nothing more.''Oh, naturally,' Philip said hastily. 'But all the same, you can't deny itwould be altogether a bad thing if we decided in due course...' Hestumbled to a halt. 'I mean, Si and Fiona would be delighted.''Your mother too,' Joanna agreed, dead-pan, while inwardly sherecoiled, shrieking.'Oh—er—yes.' For a minute he looked totally blank, to Joanna'ssecret delight. But this was a line of conversation she had no wish toencourage, she decided. She reached for her bag. 'If you'll excuse mefor a while, Philip, I think I need some air.''You're going out? But what if Simon rings?'Joanna shrugged, evincing a nonchalance she was far from feeling.'Then he can leave a message. After all, we can't sit here foreverwaiting for his call.''I suppose not,' Philip agreed reluctantly. 'But I think I'll hang on here,if that's all right. In case something crops up,' he added uneasily.'Please do,' Joanna said cordially.She drove straight to the Craft Company, and parked, staring in frankdisbelief through the windscreen. Although she'd been warned whatto expect, she still hadn't anticipated quite this level of damage. Allthat remained of the building was a blackened shell.