‘What has White been saying?’

I shook my head. ‘I can’t tell you that, Jill. Why don’t you ask Hanna?’ I turned my head and indicated him. ‘He’s over there talking to Barstow.’

‘I might do that,’ she said.

‘Actually, don’t. Not yet, anyway. Can I suggest you refrain from talking to Hanna unless you’ve got Stern there? You might need him.’

For a moment she was speechless, then she recovered her breath. ‘You mean to say that he really suspects me?’

‘White could be potentially damaging,’ I said soberly. ‘Don’t talk to Hanna without Stern present. It’s as bad as that.’

‘For God’s sake! What did Raymond say?’

I mentally tossed a coin. Should I tell her or not? I was getting on well with Hanna and I didn’t want to jeopardise that relationship. On the other hand, I didn’t think Jill Salton had killed her husband. But that was a private and personal opinion, which could possibly be wrong.

I was saved from answering by no less a personage than the Honourable Walden P. Conyers, Prime Minister of Campanilla. As he approached, all the danger signals went up because, hanging on his arm, was Leotta Tomsson.

‘Good evening, Mr Kemp, Mrs Salton. I trust you are enjoying yourselves.’

I stared at Leotta, who looked back at me with a blank face. ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘It’s a good party.’

‘But your glass is empty,’ said Conyers. He snapped his fingers and a waiter dashed up.

I took a fresh drink and adjusted my position slightly so I could see Hanna. For the first time since I’d met him, he didn’t have that deceptive sleepy look. He was angry. He regarded Leotta Tomsson with wide eyes and looked mad enough to bite a snake, then he turned to Barstow and snapped out a curt phrase. Barstow appeared to respond soothingly and put his hand on Hanna’s arm. Hanna shook it off with a distasteful gesture and again said something short and bitter. It must have been bitter because Barstow began to get angry too.

I switched my attention back to Conyers. ‘Mrs Salton,’ he said. ‘I don’t think you’ve met Miss Tomsson. I believe she was a very old friend of your husband’s.’

Leotta Tomsson’s face was still as blank as if she’d been drugged, but Jill Salton had gone white, and pink spots burned in her cheeks. There was going to be an almighty explosion if someone didn’t do something quickly and the only someone around was me, because Conyers was clearly relishing the situation.