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'I'll be back；' Darren Hurst tried to shake off his misgivings。 He was a very frightened man。
Lola appreciated the opportunity to savour her new home while Darren was away。 This luxurious town house was a good step up from the flat her lover had bought her。 Really spacious； it gave one the opportunity to relax。 After Darren had left for London she spent most of the evening arranging things how she wanted them。 There were a lot of Marion's things that would have to be thrown out before she could finally think of the place as her own。 Lola smiled her satisfaction into the hall mirror； she wasn't going to bee any Second hand Rose！
She was thirty…seven。 Darren still believed she was thirty…four； what did three years matter except to herself？ Her long blonde hair would disguise any premature flecks of grey for a few years yet。 She was fortunate in that she'd always had a good figure without having to go on any of those stupid diets which most women seemed to be obsessed with。 She ate and drank what she liked and as much as she liked。 And men still fawned around her。 She certainly got all she wanted out of life！
Her pale blue eyes narrowed； maybe she was getting tired of Darren。 Certainly he was being neurotic lately。 One could argue that he had just cause； but on the other hand they had seriously discussed removing Marion from the scene。 Lola recalled their conversation of only a few nights ago when they had lain naked and satisfied in the bed at the flat。 Darren had had a 'foolproof idea for getting rid of his wife。 He would take her out one evening to a local beauty spot； a lake where picnickers and lovers ran their cars down to the water's edge。 There was a slight incline and no barrier； the council seemed oblivious to the danger。 It would take an accident； a drowning； to get any kind of action out of them。 Well； they were due to have their first one soon！ Darren would ensure that all the car doors were locked except the driver's。 He'd get the car rolling； jump out at the last second before they hit the water。 It was deep just there and Marion couldn't swim； anyway； even if she managed to escape from the vehicle。 He'd make sure he got a ducking himself before he went for help。 It couldn't go wrong。
Lola laughed aloud。 Christ； he didn't appreciate how lucky he was。 Somebody had done the job for him and he didn't even run the risk of a murder rap。 And if he had a conscience； which she doubted； there would be nothing to plague him for the rest of his life and he could tell himself that he had not intended to go through with it anyway。 So why was the idiot getting all worked up？ Okay； there had to be a killer at large but Marion had apparently gone to the churchyard voluntarily so one could only conclude that she'd had a date with him。 It looked as if it was the same guy who had burned that curate up。 As for Stone； he'd been cooked in a fire at his own house； a pure accident that would in no way be connected。 And again it was an ill wind 。 。 。 Darren wouldn't have to pay Stone out for fixing the planning permission now。 Just the bishop； but they needed Boyce to remain alive until contracts were exchanged； otherwise some of the other church hierarchy might go and concede to public opinion and call the whole thing off。
Lola concluded that she had a lot to look forward to。 In a way it would be nice to be without Darren and his vivid； frightened imagination tonight。 There was nothing to be scared of。
All the same； she jumped when the front door knocker sent its deep； vibrant tones throughout the house。 She tensed； wondered who the hell it could be。 It might be the police。 Surely they didn't think Darren had murdered Marion； Lola had already told them that he had been with her the whole of that night。 Maybe they had e round to give her a grilling； hoping that she might change her story。 You couldn't trust the cops； they'd been real bastards back in her hooker days。
It might be Bishop Boyce； crapping himself with fright。 。 。 。
The knocker banged again； insistently； louder than before； and with her stomach muscles tightening into a ball； and her shapely legs suddenly feeling decidedly rubbery； Lola went to answer it。
For some seconds she just stood and stared at the man on the threshold。 A little quiver ran up her spine。 There was something so goddamned rugged about his features； that vivid cheek scar； the moustache； his eyes； his powerful build and a score of other things besides。 You got the feeling that if you didn't know him already then you damned well should as soon as possible。
'Good evening；' his smile； those eyes had her catching her breath because she knew he was mentally undressing her。 Tin looking for Mr Hurst。'
'I 。。。 I'm afraid he's not in。' For Christ's sake don't tell a stranger that you'll be all alone in the house tonight。
'Perhaps I could e inside and wait。'
She wanted to say 'no； you bloody well can't' but somehow the words wouldn't e。 God； this was a real hunk of a man and she was curious to find out more。
'I don't even know your name； Mr。 。 。 。 ' the words came out with a slight tremble in her tone。
'Sabat！'
The name hit her like a rush of hot air bringing an immediate flush to her cheeks。 Those legs felt even weaker and her heart was starting to pound。 So this was the guy in question！ She'd imagined him to be some kind of white…haired fifteenth century witchfinder。 Instead。 。 。 。
'e in； Sabat。' Somehow 'mister' seemed out of place。
Suddenly it was as though she had lost control of the situation。 She was holding the door wide for him to step into the hall； closing it after him； when she should have slammed it in his face at the outset。
'I'm Lola；' it sounded trite； a meaningless introduction。
'I know。' He smiled again。 'I knew I'd find you here but all the same I wanted to have a word with Darren。'
'He won't be back until tomorrow。'
'Oh； I see。' Sabat concealed his annoyance； time was running out。 April 29； two nights until the deadline set by the Cult of the Severed Head。 Maybe he should have gone for the bishop first。 'I realise it isn't an opportune time to call； in view of recent happenings。 。 。 。 '
'Oh； Darren's okay；' she laughed。 'Would you like a drink？'
'I could use a whisky and pep；' he followed her into the lounge； noting the way her buttocks wiggled。 It was natural； not put on for his benefit。 The kind of woman who was a natural turn…on。
'Darren's gone to London；' she handed him his drink。 'A Federation meeting or something boring like that。'
'I would've thought he'd've had more fun staying at home。' Sabat drew her gaze again and her eyes told him everything he wanted to know。 Marion Hurst wasn't a bitter bereavement by any means。 The Oke Priests had got the builder over one hurdle but there were even bigger ones looming up ahead。
Those eyes； Lola decided； were like dark mysterious pools that you had to keep gazing into。 'Did you want to see him about anything？ Anything in particular？'
'As a matter