The best lies, Lindsay knew, were the ones closest to the truth. “I’m an investigator. Meredith Miller is innocent, and she’s engaged me to make some inquiries about the death of Penny Varnavides. I’m here to talk to you about Penny,” Lindsay said, watching the smoke curling upwards and remembering how the business of smoking had always made her feel much better than the physical sensation.

“What makes you think I’ve got anything to say?”

“You had plenty to say to the police. And you were quick enough to say it.”

Catriona leaned back in her chair and stretched for an ashtray sitting on a sideboard. “The police are the appropriate people to talk to when one believes a crime has been committed. And given Meredith’s status as prime suspect, I’m not at all sure it would be appropriate for me to talk to you. Besides, there’s an issue of client confidentiality here. Penny was my client, and I’m not inclined to breach our professional relationship.”

“As soon as probate is granted, it’ll be Meredith who benefits from your work even more than you will yourself. She will, in effect, be your client. Don’t you think it would make life a little easier for everyone if you cooperated with me?” Lindsay tried.

“If Meredith did kill Penny, she won’t be earning a shilling from the estate, will she?” Catriona inhaled, then released what was left of the smoke from her nostrils. It was hard not to read self-satisfaction into the gesture.

It was clear that Catriona and Lindsay were never going to become friends. With nothing to lose, Lindsay went on the attack. “But you will, won’t you? Ten, twenty percent of what Penny earned must have made you a lot of money while she was alive. Dead, she’s going to generate a small fortune, isn’t she? Even if it was just an accident, her sales are going to climb. But if it’s a particularly gruesome and mysterious murder, using the very method outlined in her next book, her sales figures are going to go through the roof.”

Catriona’s eyebrows furled together in an angry frown. “That’s an outrageous suggestion. You take my breath away, Ms. Gordon.”

“You’re not the first woman who’s said that,” Lindsay said suggestively, gambling that Catriona was straight.

“How dare you!” Catriona said with contempt.

“Penny used to say it all the time,” Lindsay continued blithely. “I wasn’t entirely candid with you, Catriona. I live in California, you see. Penny and Meredith are very old friends of mine. I know a lot more about you than you do about me. I know, for example, how much you’d hate a story in one of the middlebrow newspapers that pointed out how much you stand to gain from your little trip to the police station. And how, when it actually comes down to it, you knew much more than Meredith about the murder method. She’d only heard Penny talk about it, but you’ll have read it. And if we’re talking cui bono . . .”