Yeah, right. No two ways about it: I was up to my armpits in alligators.

‘Why didn’t Callie tell me?’

‘You’ll have to ask her that, but I’d rather you didn’t,’ said Jon. ‘She’ll know it was me who gave the game away.’

I said, stricken, ‘So, if I’ve got this right, I have less than twenty-four hours to prove that Tobey murdered Dan or to find the real killer, or I’ll be the one banged up for it.’

Pause.

‘I must admit that’s how it looks from where I’m standing,’ said Jon.

The view was the same from my position. ‘And you didn’t think to warn me, my friend?’ I asked. ‘Suppose I hadn’t phoned you?’

‘I’ve only just had it confirmed, plus I’m going to do my damnedest to find out the truth too,’ said Jon. ‘I’m already on it. Sephy, trust me. You and Callie are the closest thing I have to family. I won’t let you down.’

‘I appreciate that, Jon, but you’ll forgive me if I take my fate into my own hands.’

‘Uh-oh. I’m not loving the sound of this.’

‘Jon, I need you to send me the home and email addresses and phone numbers of all those who attended Dan’s dinner party on the night he died. As Tobey’s lawyer, Callie must have them.’

‘Er, you do know that’s classified information, right? If I give that data to you, both Callie and I could get into some seriously serious trouble.’

‘Not if no one knows I have it. I won’t be skywriting about it any time soon.’

‘Sephy, I really don’t think this is a good—’

‘Please, Jon. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t vital.’

‘Why don’t you ask Callie?’ Jon asked.

How to answer that? ‘D’you want the truth?’

‘Always.’

‘Because she’d say no.’

‘Which is what I’m going to say too,’ said Jon.

‘Look, I’m desperate and you’re my only hope. Please.’

‘You’re not thinking of doing something stupid, are you?’

‘You know me better than that. So will you send me the information?’

Pause. ‘No one is to know you got it from me, OK? Including Callie.’

‘It’s a deal. I owe you one.’

‘You’re damned right you do.’

‘And I don’t suppose you could send me everyone’s current location?’

‘How on earth could I do that?’

‘Oh, come on! We both know you can use their mobile phones to track people’s whereabouts. Callie told me that you’re an expert at that. You do it all the time.’

‘Callie talks too much.’

‘That’s debatable. Jon, I’d really appreciate it.’

‘D’you want my inside-leg measurement as well?’

‘Hard pass on that. Just the stuff I asked for. I owe you two now. Oh, one last favour.’