“You know that, I know that. But the industry gossip says different. I guess we have to work on the premise that Catriona Polson still hadn’t told Penny what was on offer.”

Meredith shook her head in amazement. “No wonder she wanted to get me out of the way in a police cell,” she said. “I mean, I know that as literary executor, she can do pretty much what she wants in terms of deal-making, but I’m not going to sit on my hands and let her push this through. Even if it’s a fait accompli, I can still make sure the world knows that Catriona Polson is taking the grossest advantage of Penny’s death.”

Lindsay rolled her glass between her hands and gazed into the amber glow. “Do you think it’s a motive for murder, though?”

Meredith stopped short and stared. “You think she might have killed Penny?”

Lindsay shrugged. “She’s a strong possibility. A lot depends on her personal and corporate financial situation, which I know absolutely nothing about. But if she’s strapped for cash, or if she’s just looking to get rich quick, then she’s got motive. And she’s big enough to have overcome Penny if there had been any struggle.”

Meredith dropped her face into her hands and rubbed the skin round her eyes. “I suppose so,” she said, her voice muffled. She looked up. “You know, I can imagine how the passion between lovers leads to killing in the heat of the moment. And I can imagine the casual violence between strangers erupting into murder, because the person you’re fighting is a stranger, not a real person with emotions and dreams and a family and a life. What I cannot grasp is what drives a person to kill someone who is a friend or a business associate. It’s not a relationship that should contain the kind of passion that leads to murder. But at the same time, it’s a killing that means you’re involved in the aftermath. I really do not understand it.”

“Me neither, but it happens.” Lindsay swallowed another rich mouthful of whisky and continued. “Catriona’s definitely a contender. She’s the only person so far with a known motive.”

“Apart, supposedly, from me,” Meredith said bitterly.

Lindsay ignored the comment and carried on. “We shouldn’t lose sight of Baz, though.”

“Baz, her editor?” Meredith said, looking startled.

“There’s another one?”

“No, no, I was just a little surprised, that’s all. I hadn’t really considered her. I mean, thinking about what you were saying about Catriona, surely Baz is a little on the small side to struggle successfully with Penny?”

“Maybe there wasn’t a struggle. Hey, what are you doing?” she demanded, outraged, while Meredith took a cigarette out of a packet on the table that Lindsay had assumed belonged to Kirsten.