Girl on the Run by Rhoda Baxter

wanting to be recognised, though. Best to respect her wishes. M.
     
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    From: Stevie , To: Marshall
    Does it bother you? The girl you fancy is famous!
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    From: Marshall , To: Stevie
    Why should it bother me that she went out with someone rich and famous and talented? Marsh.
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    From: Stevie, To: James, Louise
    Ok , I Googled Jane. Turns out she's famous. She used to go out with Ashby Thornton. She was all over the magazines when she and Ashby split up. He cheated on her with a girl from Hollyoaks . It was a TOTAL scandal. The mags said she'd disappeared. Looks like she reappeared in your office! Wow! Although, I'm worried now. What does a glamorous ex-WAG want with my brother??? Stevie.
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    From: James Edwards, To: Stevie, Louise
    Who the hell is Ashby Thornton?
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    From: Louise , To: James, Stevie
    Jim, do try and keep up. Ashby Thornton is a pop singer. He's the latest thing, according to all the celebrity mags. Stevie, don't worry about it. Just because Jane used to be in the public eye, doesn't mean she's going to hurt Marsh . 　As for what she sees him – what are you talking about? He's gorgeous, he's successful, he owns his own flat and to top it all off, he's a lovely man. What's not to like? Lou.
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    From: James, To: Louise, Stevie
    Oi , wife, I AM reading this you know. A man doesn't need to hear that his wife thinks his best mate is gorgeous! Stevie, from what I've seen of Jane, she's a nice person and doesn't really fit the 'glamorous ex-WAG' bill. If she was that sort of a person, she would have sold her story to the Daily Mail and made some money out of it. It sounds to me like she's trying to get on with her life . 　First you worry that he WON'T go out with her, thenyou worry that he WILL. You women perplex me . 　Jim.
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    From: Louise, To: James
    Don't worry , darling. You are, were and always will be, the love of my life. What do I need a good-looking man for, when I've got you ? 　Lou.
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    From: James, To: Louise
    Dammit woman, you always win me over with your sweet talk. I love you too. Jim.

Chapter Ten
     
    From: Polly, To: Jane
    Where are you? Are you working late AGAIN? It's no fun watching Desperate Housewives on my own ! 　Pol.
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    From: Jane, To: Polly
    Sorry! We've only got four days until we have to report to Susan and I still haven't found anything that Marsh can use. I've got about thirty articles to look through in the hope that one of them has a throwaway comment about combining drugs . 　To make things worse, I can't keep my mind off Marsh. It's really quiet at this time of night and the office walls are so thin that I can hear him talking into his Dictaphone. Just knowing that he's so close is driving me insane. And my head hurts . 　Jane.
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    From: Polly, To: Jane
    You're working too hard. That's why your head hurts . 　Come home. Have a glass of wine and watch Desperate Housewives with me . 　Pol.
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    From: Jane, To: Polly
    Maybe you're right. I'll go pick up the last research paper I've printed out and I'll call it a day . 　See you in a bit . 　Jane.
    * * *
    Jane stood and stretched. Her back was stiff from sitting still. She rolled her shoulders, trying to loosen them. The walk to the shared printer in a room around the corner would do her good.
    The floor was quiet. Everyone else seemed to have gone home. It seemed strange to see the place so still, when it was normally buzzing with people. She heard a door shut somewhere. So, there were others working late.
    She paused at a window. It was another cold night and the beginnings of fog were starting to thread through the streetlights down below. She shuddered, and forced herself to look away from the street, up at the other tower blocks. A number of them had lights on here and there.
    She ran a hand over her tired eyes. She didn't know which was more depressing, seeing the enormous amount of reading she had to do, or nearing the end of the list and still not finding anything of any use. Once she got home, the last