Helen shook her head. “I’ve no idea. Stella and Guy’ll be coming back here after they’ve done their filming and they’ll probably hang around to take a look at what they’ve got. There’s no knowing how late they’ll be working. Whatever dirty deeds you’ve got up your sleeve, do they have to be done at night?”

Lindsay grimaced. “It’d be easier if I can get a straight run of a few hours when I can be sure there won’t be anyone else around.”

“Will it wait until tomorrow? Only, they’ve got a night shoot and there’s no way they’ll be back here before two or three in the morning. There’ll only be me here after about half past six.”

Lindsay winked. “Let’s make it seven tomorrow, then.”

“But . . .” Helen said.

“Like I said, trust me. By this time the day after tomorrow, they’ll be done up like a pair of kippers and you’ll be smelling of roses.”

“Oh, yeah?” Helen said dubiously.

“Yeah. One thing I will need is superuser clearance for your computer network. Can you get that for me? Your systems manager should be able to give you the codes, no trouble.”

“Superuser?”

“The systems manager will know what you mean, honestly. Now, can I use your phone? I have to speak to my stitching-up consultant. Oh, yeah, and then I need to speak to Sophie. If your phone bill will stand it.”

“She was a creature of habit,” Sophie said. “Just because she couldn’t get round to Half Moon Bay didn’t mean she felt she had to change her usual routine.”

Lindsay leaned back in Stella’s executive leather desk chair, a sharp contrast with Helen’s rather battered cloth seat. Helen had shunted her down the corridor because her New York call had come through just as Lindsay had finished making arrangements with Ellie to postpone her consultation till the following evening. Now Lindsay had privacy for her call to Sophie. “I can’t believe she trusted the post,” Lindsay said. “She wouldn’t even trust them to deliver a package from San Francisco. That’s why she used to bring the back-ups down to Half Moon Bay in person, according to Meredith.”

“She didn’t. But she did trust courier service,” Sophie said.

Lindsay gave a low whistle. “She wasn’t afraid to spend her money, was she? Transatlantic courier, eh?”

“In fairness, she didn’t go for the expensive overnight service. She just sent them by regular courier, five or six days, especially if the weekend got in the way.”

“So when did the last lot arrive?” Lindsay asked eagerly.

“Six days ago.”

“Have you got them?” Lindsay demanded.