I was still trying to take this in. “It was you who shot at me yesterday? Who killed Hugo?”

She laughed again. “Poor old Hugo. Too smart for his own good. And too soft too. He had it figured out but then he made the mistake of telling me. He wanted me to do the honorable thing and turn myself in. How silly can you be?”

“I was too slow,” I said. “I should have realized. I knew there was something worrying me. You gave yourself away when we spoke together after Hugo had died. Godfrey Beverley told you that someone had been shot. He didn’t say he was dead, but you spoke of him in the past tense.”

“As you say, you were too slow.”

“And Godfrey Beverley,” I said, as pieces fell into place in my head. “He was looking directly at you when he asked why anyone would need two guns.”

“Stupid little man,” she said. “Always poking his nose where it wasn’t wanted. I realized he must have seen me.”

“And your maid? You borrowed the motorbike and ran her over?”

“She snooped. She had to go.”

I stared at her, noting the easy way she dismissed these murders.

“What have you done with Podge?” I demanded.

“He’s quite safe. You don’t have to worry about him.”

“Of course I worry about him. Take me to him.”

“He’s on my Gypsy Moth, right here on the lake. Climb down into the boat and you can row us out to him.” She indicated a small rowing boat tied at the bottom of the steps and motioned with the pistol that I should go down them.

I was trying to control my racing thoughts, wondering what chance I stood if I dove into the water and went for help. There was nothing nearer than Castle Rannoch and by that time she could have killed Podge or taken off with him. I wondered if I could reach the plane first if I dove in and swam to it. I was a strong swimmer and she would have to climb down the ladder then untie the rowing boat, which would give me a good head start. It was worth a try and it was better than doing nothing. She was obviously going to kill me and probably Podge too. What did I have to lose?