When the Devil Drives

'And having my private affairs chewed over behind my back isn'ttotally acceptable either,' Simon retorted furiously. 'You should haverefused to listen— referred him straight to me, instead of meddling inwhat doesn't concern you.'Joanna held on to her temper with an effort. 'If you're charged withembezzlement, it will concern me very closely,' she said evenly. 'Itwill concern us all. And imagine the effect it could have on Daddy.''Oh, yes, let's.' Simon's face was stony. 'Look, everyone, Simon'sbeen a naughty boy. And Joanna's the blue-eyed girl who's going toput everything right. Well, bloody good luck to you!' He glared at her.'What a pity you didn't stay here and pitch in after Martin died,instead of swanning off to the States. Things might have beendifferent then.' He scraped his chair back and rose. 'I'm going back tothe nursing home to stay with Fiona. Have your high-level conferencewith Blackstone, sister dear, and get everything sorted. Feel free to letme know some time what's been decided for me.'He went out, banging the door behind him, and seconds later sheheard the front door slam too, and his car start up and drive away.Joanna leaned back in her chair, trembling a little. She knew Simon ofold. Once offended, he would sulk unreasonably for days, and shewouldn't be able to get a sensible word out of him.He would come round eventually, she thought, but she didn't havethat kind of time. All she had was twenty-four hours, and they werefast running out.Even after Martin's accident, she had never felt so helpless, soalone—so vulnerable.She thought, What am I going to do? And, fiercely, What can I do?