Free Girl on the Run by Rhoda Baxter Page B

to let you know. Jane and I are going out to dinner next week. She wanted to buy me a meal to say thank you . 　Marsh.
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    From: Stevie, To: Marshall
    YAY!!! I'm very excited for you. You'd better kiss her this time ! 　You'll have to give me a full report the next day. Ok, maybe not a FULL report. There are some things I don't need to know about my big brother . 　Lov e 　Stevie.
    * * *
    Jane stared at her computer screen and tapped a nail on the edge of the keyboard. The night before, she had been convinced that Marshall liked her, but now she wasn't so sure. His reluctance to accept her invitation had surprised and upset her. No wonder he had been such a gentleman the night before. It was easy to be chivalrous if you're not tempted to go any further.
    Thank goodness she hadn't thrown herself at him. That would have been terribly embarrassing. The trouble was, she still fancied him and she would have to sit through dinner, knowing he was just being friendly. She just knew she wouldn't be able to stop thinking about kissing him the whole time. It made her warm just thinking about it.
    She placed her hand against her cheek. It was a major disadvantage having such pale skin.
    * * *
    From: Jane , 　To: Polly
    Well, I asked him out. He didn't seem all that keen. I'm all embarrassed now . 　Jane
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    From: Polly , 　To: Jane
    Ouch. That doesn't sound good. I bet he's gay.
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    From: Jane , To: Polly
    You're not helping.
    * * *
    There was a knock on the door. It was Keith. He ignored Ruth and looked at Jane. ‘I heard you got mugged. Are you Ok?’
    Jane frowned. It had been less than half an hour since she'd told Ruth. Gossip travel led really fast in the office.
    She didn't want any more attention. ‘It wasn't such a big deal. More of a bag snatching, really.’
    Had Marsh been telling everyone about how he rescued her? She hadn't thought he would be the sort, but then she'd been wrong about people before.
    She had been wrong about Ashby.
    ‘ I thought it was more serious than that,’ said Keith. ‘Mind you, Sally does tend to exaggerate.’
    Jane forced a little laugh. ‘No. No big deal at all.’ She wondered how Sally knew.
    ‘ Well, if you need anything, my door is always open.’ He turned to leave. ‘I'll see you later.’
    When Keith had left, Ruth popped her head above the partition. ‘I'm sorry. I didn't realise you didn't want people to know. I mentioned it to Val when I gave her my last set of dictation notes. She must have told Sally.’
    Jane sighed. Val was Marsh's secretary. Sally was Keith's. If the secretaries were talking about it, then the whole company probably knew by now. The last thing she wanted was people taking an interest in her life again. At least this time they'd be asking her how she was and not talking in hushed whispers when she passed. And there would be no photographers waiting to snap when she was least expecting it.
    ‘It's Ok,’ she said. ‘It really wasn't anything major. Just a bit of hassle to lose my cards and phone. That's all.’ At least now she knew it wasn't Marsh telling people about what had happened.
    Ruth sank back down into her chair, mouthing ‘Sorry’ again.
    Jane waved the apology aside. She opened up the file she was working on and got back to work.
    * * *
    From: Stevie , To: Marshall
    Marsh, I've just Googled your friend Jane. Turns out there'sanother Jane Porter, from Manchester. That Jane used to go out with Ashby Thornton. Isn't that a weird coincidence ? 　Stevie.
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    From: Marshall, To: Stevie
    Oh, I see what you mean. They do look similar.
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    From: Marshall , To: Stevie
    I did a little digging. Comparing Jane’s Linke dIn profile to the various bits of information from articles about Ashby Thornton’s girlfriend, it would seem they both went to the same university. It seems too much of a coincidence. So, I think they’re the same person, but she seems to have changed her appearance a fair bit. I’m sure she has a good reason for not