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Back The Jump Save as PDF
Chapters (52)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Acknowledgements
  5. BOOK ONE
  6. Chapter One
  7. Chapter Two
  8. Chapter Three
  9. Chapter Four
  10. Chapter Five
  11. Chapter Six
  12. Chapter Seven
  13. Chapter Eight
  14. Chapter Nine
  15. Chapter Ten
  16. Chapter Eleven
  17. Chapter Twelve
  18. Chapter Thirteen
  19. Chapter Fourteen
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-One
  27. Chapter Twenty-Two
  28. Chapter Twenty-Three
  29. Chapter Twenty-Four
  30. Chapter Twenty-Five
  31. BOOK TWO
  32. Chapter Twenty-Six
  33. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  34. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  35. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Chapter Thirty-Four
  41. Chapter Thirty-Five
  42. Chapter Thirty-Six
  43. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  44. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  45. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  46. BOOK THREE
  47. Chapter Forty
  48. Chapter Forty-One
  49. Chapter Forty-Two
  50. Chapter Forty-Three
  51. Chapter Forty-Four
  52. Epilogue

Mark interrupted her, his voice impatient. ‘I assume your husband can see what the weather’s like from his new abode? It’s been raining. The planning officer wouldn’t let us sink the concrete until the footings had been bailed out. Anyway, we’re not over schedule. The work’s picked up now the warmer weather’s here. The houses will be built on time, I can assure you of that. Now, if that’s all?’ He raised thick red eyebrows and Donna felt her stomach lurch at his rude attitude.

Pulling herself up to her full height, she said with as much dignity as she could muster, ‘Actually, that’s not all. I received the invoices for the cement and it seems we ordered three hundred yards more than anticipated. As we are building four detached three-bedroomed houses and not a whole council estate, perhaps you would be so kind as to enlighten me as to exactly where the other concrete has gone? Also, I would like the names and addresses of the so-called lumpers employed. Two plastering firms have already been paid and the brickies aren’t even up to the damp course yet, so I assume they have been paid in advance? Would you like me to carry on, or shall we go to your office and finish this conversation there?’

Mark stared into her face, his eyes bright with malice. He stormed past her and Donna had to run to keep up as she followed him. But she was aware of the workmen’s laughter, and knew that this time it wasn’t directed at her.

Her heart was in her mouth at her own audacity, her daring. Mario had pointed out discrepancies in the invoicing, and explained everything to her as he saw it. There was an inordinate amount of ripping off going on at the different sites. Donna had told him she would sort it out. She was supposed to be looking out for her husband’s interests and she was determined that she would. It was this that gave her the courage needed to take on men like Mark Hancock. Also, the knowledge that Mario was ready to back her up whenever she needed it. In the last six weeks her life had been turned upside down, yet there was an up side too. She had actually started looking forward to getting out of bed.

Inside the office she smiled sweetly at Hancock, and was gratified to see he was looking decidedly worried.

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Paddy Donovon was enormous, over eighteen stone, but as his height was nearer seven feet than six, he could carry it. His huge leonine head was covered in reddish curls, with a liberal sprinkling of grey. His beard was long, bushy, and also going grey. His eyes were slate-blue, steely, and surrounded by sandy lashes.