“Excuse me,” a man’s voice said officiously, “But what exactly do you think you’re doing?”

Chapter 6

Limited options flashed across Lindsay’s mind as cold sweat sprang out along her spine. Her escape route was cut off by the man filling the stairwell behind her. She could whirl round and catch him off guard, banking on one swift push toppling him and being able to get clear by jumping over him. She could pretend to be connected to the police, mutter something obscure, finish locking up and leave. Then she remembered Sandra Bloom’s briefing what felt like weeks ago. The murder had been discovered by the upstairs neighbor. Since this was probably the man who had found Penny’s body, she realized that whatever she did, she needed to find a way to talk to him.

Lindsay swung round and gave an alarmed smile to the man, who stood frowning a couple of steps below the landing. A thatch of graying, mousy hair jutted out above a high forehead that narrowed to a pointed chin. Round, intelligent blue eyes flanked a beaky nose that overhung a small, feminine mouth whose lower lip bore the indentations of two front teeth. He reminded Lindsay irresistibly of a cartoon octopus.

“God, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” she said as lightly as she could manage while desperately dredging her memory for his name.

“Sorry,” he said automatically. “I just wondered what was going on. That’s a crime scene, you know.”

“That’s why I was in there,” Lindsay said, holding up her gloved hands for his inspection. “Just checking up on one or two details for my boss.” She grinned disarmingly, still reaching for a name.

“You’re with the police?” he asked, still an edge of suspicion in his voice.

“How else would I have the keys?” she parried. If she managed to avoid making any firm statement, it would be that much harder afterwards to make a case against her for impersonating a police officer. “I wish everyone was as civic-minded as you, Mr. Knight.” She’d summoned up a mental picture of the names by the bells on the front door jamb; she prayed she’d gone for the right one.

The man relaxed visibly. She’d got it right, and her knowing his name immediately made the rest of the scenario credible, even though it was a picture almost entirely of his own painting. He smiled back at her. “Well, you can’t be too careful, can you? How’s the investigation progressing? I heard on the news that you’d released the woman you were questioning.”

“That’s right. We need to build a more solid case before we can think about charging anyone.”

“I can imagine,” he said. “But you’re pretty sure you’ve got the right person, are you?”

Lindsay winked. “Obviously that’s not something I could comment on, sir. But we’re not expanding our circle of inquiries any wider just as yet, if you get my meaning.”

“I only wish I’d actually seen her leave, been more help,” he said wistfully.