At the agency, Jane and Spencer were on their second round of coffees. They were talking to Rita, who remained inconsolable. Unlike everyone else they had spoken to, she felt that Charles Foxley was not only a wonderful boss, but one who paid well and had a great sense of humor – though he did often make the receptionists lie about his whereabouts. She cheered up for a moment as she remembered something.

‘There was this actress – I can’t tell you her name but she was really famous – and Mr. Foxley had got her to take this part in a play, and then when it got terrible reviews she turned up ’ere all guns blazing.’ She started laughing and had to blow her nose. ‘He was in the broom cupboard . . . he ’id in there ’cause he knew she was after ’im. He was stuck in the cupboard for half an hour until we convinced her he wasn’t in the office – we had such a laugh. But all the other people who work here didn’t half have a go at him ’cause his dogs piss and shit all over the carpet. Mr. snooty-up-the-corridor’s dogs are too posh to shit, but we know half the carpet stains are from his Pekingese.’

Rita seemed on the point of telling another story when Jane interrupted.

‘What was your impression of Justine Harris?’

‘Ooh, she was really famous once upon a time, beautiful too. She had a temper all right, but she always apologized after she’d thrown a wobbly.’

When it was her turn to be questioned, Angie also spoke fondly about Charles Foxley and was equally kind about Justine.

Both girls had said he was his usual self on the Monday morning, chatting amiably, expressing his concern that Jack the Jack Russell had been humping Toots and he was worried she was coming into season. He left earlier than usual, but didn’t say where he was going.

‘Everything will be in his desk diary, though,’ Angie told them.

‘So, Angie, were you hired originally by Mr. Foxley?’ Jane asked.

‘Yes, we both were.’

Spencer leaned forward. ‘There seem to be a lot of other agents alongside Mr. Foxley.’

Angie nodded. ‘Well, yeah . . . It used to be just his company. Then it got to be so successful, he hired other agents. I think they all bought shares in it.’

‘So, who exactly owns the company?’ Jane asked.

Angie shrugged. ‘If you really want to know, we have a legal department across the hall, along with an accountant, John Nathan, who does all the contracts.’

They thanked Angie and started walking towards the other offices but were stopped in their tracks when they heard what sounded like a howl of rage and then the booming voice of Daniel Bergman.