As midnight inevitably drew nearer, the noisy party grew ever more boisterous. And when the countdown finally began, everyone stood around, most holding hands and lifting their arms up and down in time with the chanting. ‘Eight,’ they called merrily, ‘seven, six, five …’

The twins, Juliet and Jasper, whispered together in a corner. The ‘star guest’ – a local celebrity artist – had clearly drunk just a little too much, but ever the lady, she held her liquor well. She had once, famously, drunk Dalí (or was it somebody almost as famous?) under the table somewhere in Budapest. (Or was it Luxembourg?)

Most people were feeling pleasantly hazy. Everyone present considered the party to be a great triumph. The food had been wonderful, the drinks copious and varied, and the records had been just the right mix of big band, jazz, and the modern stuff that was so popular with teenagers nowadays.

As the last chimes of midnight came and went, the streamers flew, champagne corks popped, people kissed, and ‘Auld Lang Syne’ was sung with the proper amount of maudlin relish. Indeed, as it was later agreed by all those who had cause to think back on that night, a good time had been had by all.

It was such a pity that, later, all of those present would be suspected of having just taken the necessary steps to execute a very simple, neat and near-perfect murder.

Chapter 4

Trudy was asleep when the banging began on her front door. She opened her eyes with a snap, still feeling groggy from having had too much sherry last night. What on earth …? She lifted her head from the pillow and looked out of the window, feeling confused. It was still dark. What time was it?

She groped for the bedside lamp and switched it on, blinking in the sudden light, and reached for her watch. She had a slight headache, but nothing worse.

Her tin alarm clock assured her that it was not quite seven o’clock – hardly the middle of the night. Soon even the mid-winter dawn would break, although her room had that now familiar pale glow from all the reflected snow outside. For a second, she wondered if she’d overslept for work, and it was her mother banging on the door … and then she remembered.

It was New Year’s Day! And she wasn’t due in to work until two o’clock that afternoon. No holidays for her – but at least she hadn’t been landed with the early shift! With the weather like it was, and so many officers trapped in their homes or off sick with the wretched bug that was going around, she had been wondering if her luck would continue to hold.

Perhaps it hadn’t?