When the Devil Drives

'I don't need twenty-four seconds,' she said bitingly. 'You can do yourworst, Mr Blackstone, and go to hell!''I shall probably end there, Mrs Bentham,' he said too courteously.'But first I mean to order that independent audit I mentioned into theCraft Company's accounts.' He paused. 'Simon may well find himselffacing more than a bankruptcy court. How will the Chalfont pridecope with that, I wonder?''I don't believe you. He wouldn't do such a thing.' Her voice shookwith the force of her conviction.'Ask him,' he said. 'Some time' during the next twenty-four hours.Then call me with your final answer.''You've had all the answer you're getting, you bastard!' she said. 'I'llsee you damned before I do what you want!'He gave her a sardonic look, as he retrieved the papers from thecoffee-table and slipped them back into his pocket. 'Don't count on it,beauty. I promise one thing—when you do call, I won't say that I toldyou so.'Knuckles pressed to her mouth, Joanna stood like a statue as he madehis way across the room to the door. As it closed behind him, she bentand snatched up a cut glass posy bowl, hurling it with all the force ofher arm at the solid panels.'The swine!' she sobbed, as it shattered. 'Oh, God, the unutterablebloody swine!'She was like a cat on hot bricks for the rest of the day waiting forSimon to return. It took all her self- control not to drive over to thenursing home and confront him there. She was sorely tempted, too, to