Blazing Obsession Read Free

sure they’d got to the cottage safely and then went to bed about 10.30.”
    â€œAnd why didn’t you go down to the cottage with them?”
    â€œI had an important business meeting early the next morning. As I told your uniformed guys, I was about to leave for Lymington when they came to my office and broke the news.”
    â€œI see. Do you normally go down separately?”
    â€œWell, actually, no. This is the first time it’s happened. Usually I drive down with my family on a Thursday evening and we drive back together on Sunday.”
    â€œSo this is the first time your family slept at the cottage without you being present?”
    His accusative tone caused blood to rush to my head.
    â€œWhat are you implying?”
    He remained silent and stared at me.
    I snapped, “Don’t be bloody ridiculous!”
    â€œMr Hamilton, we’re ruling nothing out at this stage. We’re treating this as a possible murder case. Would you mind if we carried out a search of your home? You can agree voluntarily or I could get a warrant.”
    I thought if I’d said I was anything less than being happy to have them search my home, they’d handcuff me and take me in for further questioning.
    I stood up, threw my arms in the air and said, “Fine, go ahead.”
    â€œWe’d like to take away any computers belonging to you and your wife. Our technical team will look at them; see if they can find out any info to help us discover the perpetrator.”
    â€œTake whatever you like. What else are you doing to find the person who did this?”
    â€œWe’ve got several scenes of crime officers down at Lymington looking for DNA evidence or any other clues.”
    â€œAnd how long will it take?”
    â€œIt’s a major priority. We also have DCs from the Major Crime Team interviewing possible witnesses. If there’s any more news I can release to you, I’ll let you know as soon as I can.”
    As they both got up to commence their search, he turned to me and said, “There’s just one more question I’d like to ask you. Is there anybody you know who’d be motivated enough to carry out this arson attack?”
    I didn’t need to think too deeply.
    There could only be one candidate… but he was in jail.

PART ONE

CHAPTER ONE

    I first met Lynne in September 1995. She worked as a sales manager in a Mercedes dealership I’d bought to add to my burgeoning group of prestige car dealerships, including BMW, Jaguar and Porsche. With turnover now approaching £200 million, I felt that at last I’d joined the big boys’ table.
    Bill Rogers, the general manager we’d inherited, introduced us.
    As we shook hands, her smoky-blue eyes locked onto mine. I couldn’t bring myself to look away first. A tremor passed through my body.
    Meticulously applied make-up enhanced her exquisite chiselled features. A smile I’d defy anyone to resist returning and an immaculate blonde bob completed her allure.
    She wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.
    â€œSince we found out about the takeover, I’ve looked forward to meeting you. I have loads of ideas. Can I go through them now?”
    The intensity of the energy transmitting itself across the desk left me reeling. Some of the ideas were great, too. We spent over an hour discussing them.
    I spent the rest of the day talking to the other managers. From previous acquisitions, I’d learned the importance of getting to know them well early on and discussing how we operated. Some managers wouldn’t cope so we’d replace them. But I prided myself on always doing it compassionately and with a generous payoff.
    However, my first impressions of the other managers were good. One in particular impressed me.
    John Hartley, manager of the leasing department, didn’t lack confidence or charm.
    â€œSuch a pleasure to meet you. Heard a lot of good things about your company,” he said,