This Careless Life. Rachel McIntyre

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      For Tim

      CONTENTS

       Cover

       Title Page

       Copyright

       Dedication

1 LIV

2 LIV

       3 LIV

       4 LIV

       5 HETTY

       6 HETTY

       7 HETTY

       8 HETTY

       9 JEZ

       10 JEZ

       11 DUFF

       12 DUFF

       13 LIV

       14 LIV

       15 LIV

       16 EVANGELINA

       17 LIV

       18 CASSANDRA

1 LIV

      1 July, 10 a.m.

      When Olivia Dawson-Hill opened the front door she had no idea what she was letting herself in for.

      ‘I’m Cass,’ the woman on the step said. She held out a business card between elegantly manicured fingers. ‘And you must be Liv.’

      Liv took the card. Read it. Frowned.

       Cassandra Verity

       Assistant Director

       Pretty Vacant Productions

      ‘But I spoke to Tony last night. He said we were all fixed for this afternoon.’

      ‘There’s been a change of plan. He’s going to call you later.’

      The woman smiled.

      Liv assessed the visitor with an expert eye: flawless skin, discreet make-up, glossy deep brown hair. White linen dress, understated but expensive. High-end high street? Leather sandals, definitely designer, and by them a large black and silver case.

      The woman pulled her handbag higher on her shoulder and Liv’s mouth, poised to utter, What change of plan? dropped open at the sight of the distinctive gold P dangling from the strap.

      ‘Oh. My. God. Is that a genuine Pandora?’ she said in hushed tones, reaching out a tentative hand. ‘I mean, I’ve been on the waiting list since it opened, but even so, they said at least Christmas. How did you . . .?’

      ‘Beautiful, isn’t it? I guess you could say I’ve got friends in high places.’ The woman held the soft tan leather up as though it were some holy artefact. ‘Now is it OK if I bring this inside?’

      ‘This’ was the large black case. Plastered in wasp-striped stickers that read Fragile Audio-visual Equipment. A dizzying flare of excitement shot through Liv.

       This was it!

      Right now, waiting inside that black vinyl box was The Future.

      Tucking the business card in the pocket of her jumpsuit, Liv paused, holding it there for one . . . two . . . in an attempt to disguise the sudden trembling in her fingers.

      Deep breath.

      Smile.

      ‘Of course. Come in.’

      Cass stepped forward, bringing with her a drift of some ultra-subtle fragrance Liv recognised. Like wild herbs and sea air and sunshine mixed up together. So familiar. What was it called?

      But the answer dangled stubbornly out of reach, vanishing entirely as Liv caught sight of Jez’s precision parked BMW, and behind it . . .

      Bloody Jez! He knew not to leave the gates open. She tutted, flipping the security panel open to key in the code. The gate mechanism groaned; two Rottweilers hurtled across the walled courtyard, clattering their long chains over the cobbles.

      Beyond СКАЧАТЬ