The Scottish gym mistress scarcely looked up from her morning paper and gave them a monosyllabic greeting. A moment later, she took in who was sharing her table, for she put down the sports pages and focused sharply on the two women.

“How’s it going, then?” she asked. “I’m surprised you’re still around. I thought you’d dropped poor old Paddy down the plughole since I hadn’t seen you around for a couple of days.”

“No chance,” Lindsay replied. “We’ve been chasing around like blue-arsed flies. There’s no way I’m giving up till I’ve got somebody in the cells in place of Paddy Callaghan.”

“And have you got anybody in mind?” Chris asked, trying to appear nonchalant but failing dismally.

“Let’s just say we’ve eliminated certain possibilities and we’ve considerably narrowed down the field. I could even go so far as to say that we reckon we’ll soon be able to prove that Paddy Callaghan could not have killed Lorna. We’d like your help to do that. It’s a matter of assistance with a little experiment we’ve got in mind,” said Lindsay.

Chris thought for a few seconds before she replied. “Provided I’m not top of your list of suspects, I’ll do anything I can to help,” she said, a nervous undertone in her voice.

Lindsay grinned widely, and Cordelia declared quickly, “Not at all, Chris. It’s just that we need a bit of help and you were the only person we could think of with the necessary skills. Are you busy this morning?”

“Well, I’m supposed to be umpiring the First XI’s match against Grafton Manor. I don’t see how I can get out of it because I can’t think of anyone else who’s available to do it.”

“That is something of a problem. I was afraid you might be tied up,” said Cordelia with regret.

“No problem at all,” Lindsay interjected brightly.

“I know just the person. She’s fighting fit for all that running around and she knows the rules. Don’t you Cordelia?”

Cordelia’s mouth dropped open as she struggled for something to say.

Lindsay grinned. “I know you don’t want to miss out on our experiment, but after all, you did suggest that this morning was the best time. Now, I’ve done a spot of climbing in the past and Chris is a gymnast. We should be able to manage it. So if you don’t mind relieving her, we might be able to wrap this whole thing up nice and quickly. Besides, you missed your run this morning,” said Lindsay in a rush.

“You rotten sod,” Cordelia muttered. “You’ve got the cheek of the devil.”

“Ah well, where we come from, the sparrows fly backward to keep the dust out of their eyes, don’t they, Chris? Seriously, now, is that okay with you both?”