“Perfect,” Zou Zou said. “Now we need to wipe it completely clean to get rid of all fingerprints.” She took out a white lace handkerchief, picked up the photograph and began to rub diligently. “There, that should do it,” she said after a while. “If there are still fingerprints on it they will be smudged while Mickey’s will be nice and fresh over the top of them. Well, let’s get on with it. It will be dark soon and even I don’t like the thought of creeping around the estate in the dark with a murderer on the loose.” She stood up, holding the photograph by the handkerchief. “Coming, Georgie? You have to show me the way. Camera, Darcy, please?”

Darcy reacted sharply. “You two ladies are not going alone without me.”

“You can’t come with us,” I said. “He knows you.”

“He saw you before too.”

“But he didn’t know who I really was. I told him I was working for an investigator in London, remember. And when he hears that Alexandra is working on behalf of the barrister, he may be seriously rattled.”

“He might also find another weapon and club you both to death,” Darcy said.

“Don’t be silly, darling,” Zou Zou said. “This will all be conducted on the doorstep. I understand there is still a policeman on guard at the main gate. He’ll be within shouting distance. Nothing to worry about. You would be of more use going into the village and finding out at the post office whether any letters have arrived from America recently.”

“I don’t like this,” Darcy said, but his father nodded. “Let them go. I’ll stand and keep watch in the trees where I can’t be seen.”

Darcy sighed. “Very well. I suppose it has to be done. The sooner we have help from the American embassy, the better. But I don’t think you should let it be known that we’ve found out Roach was not his real name. He may already know that. He may not. Either way this isn’t the right time to divulge.”

We nodded.

“Ready?” Zou Zou looked at me. I stood up, taking the camera from Darcy. “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.” I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

The rain had stopped as we left the lodge and the sky to our west was streaked blood red, dramatically outlining the bare bones of the trees. We crossed the kitchen garden and found the little door in the wall beneath the ivy. Then we made our way to the castle through the woodland. Again I experienced that feeling of extreme watchfulness, as if every creature on the estate was alert. I marveled at Zou Zou’s sangfroid until there was a rustle in the undergrowth nearby and she grabbed my arm.

“What was that?” she whispered.