“Ms. Gordon was just leaving,” Baz said repressively, hastily moving across the room to cut off the line of sight between Lindsay and the man. “And we’ve got marketing strategies to discuss.” She put a hand on his arm, which he ignored.

“Hell of a thing,” the man said, shaking his head. “She was the last person you’d expect to die like that. She was lovely, you know? It’s hard to imagine how she could drive someone to kill her.”

“I know what you mean,” Lindsay said, pleased to find herself talking to someone who seemed to have valued Penny for the person she was rather than for the profits she could generate. It made a welcome change.

“I loved her work,” he continued. “Always so sharp, so bright. Just like she was, really.”

“We’re keeping everyone waiting,” Baz said, trying to edge him out of the doorway.

“It won’t kill them,” the man said negligently. He held out a hand to Lindsay, who was by now also standing. “Since Baz seems to have lost touch with her manners, I better introduce myself. I’m Danny King. I’m the publisher. And you are?”

“Lindsay Gordon. Meredith Miller’s asked me to investigate Penny’s murder. To clear her name. She didn’t do it, in spite of what the police might think.”

He nodded. “You’re preaching to the converted here, Lindsay. According to Baz, Meredith could never have harmed a hair on Penny’s head. And I trust Baz’s judgement implicitly. As long as it keeps making me a profit,” he added with another grin. “So how are your inquiries coming along?”

Lindsay pulled a face. “Early days. What would really help would be a copy of Penny’s manuscript.”

Danny cast his eyes up and tutted. “You and me both,” he sighed. “Baz tells me there was enough there for us to craft some kind of an ending. I really want to get this book out there—not just because it’ll be a good seller, but because it’s a helluva book and it’s the only way we’ve got of paying some kind of tribute to the great writer Penny was. But we haven’t got a copy and neither, apparently, does Penny’s agent. I don’t suppose you know where we could locate one?”

Lindsay shook her head. “Sorry.”

Danny grinned and gave her arm a quick squeeze. It was clearly a gesture of farewell. “Maybe I should get you on the payroll too, see if you can come up with the goods? Anyway, nice to meet you, Lindsay. If you need any help from anybody here at Monarch, all you’ve got to do is tell them Danny sent you.” He winked and ushered Baz ahead of him into the main office.

“I’ll see myself out, shall I?” Lindsay said to the empty cubicle. Unfortunately, it was too public to search the desk, so she followed the other two on to the editorial floor. She was in time to see them vanish up a flight of stairs. She sighed. Without knowing who was who, there was no point in trying to screw information about Penny or her book out of Baz’s colleagues and minions. Feeling as if she’d wasted a golden opportunity, Lindsay walked back to reception.