“Darling, I only forgot once or twice,” Phoebe said reproachfully. “I hired the most adorable machine, Kim, quite perfect for ladies, no matter what that silly man in the shop said. You should take a turn in her. I might have to buy one, actually, it was such fun. Shall we, Maisie? We can call her Suzy.”

“Su— A Hispano-Suiza?” Kim demanded. “Do you know how fast those beasts go?”

“We do now,” Maisie said. “I’d like a drink, please.”

“It was too glorious, letting her rip. I can see why you enjoy motoring so much.” Phoebe sparkled at them all. “And anyway I had to make good time. We have the most extraordinary news.”

“You won’t believe it,” Maisie agreed. “But for goodness’ sake, let me sit down first.”

“You’ve been sitting down since London,” Phoebe pointed out.

“Only on the edge of the seat.” She took one of the Sheraton chairs with a sigh of relief. “Honestly, Phoebe. I’m still shaking.”

“I know the feeling,” Will assured her. “Kim’s just as bad.”

“Far be it from me to observe you could have telephoned—” Kim began.

“Well, that’s just it, darling, we couldn’t. Your line is faulty.”

“Is it? It was working earlier.”

“Well, it isn’t now,” Phoebe said. “I tried to call you at lunchtime and they said it wasn’t connected. I tried again and then we decided to visit.”

“That must be why DS hasn’t called,” Will said. “Blimey, that’s bad timing.”

Kim was just going over to give Maisie her drink. He stopped dead at Will’s words, glass in hand. Will took it off him, passed it to Maisie, and said, “What?”

“Bad timing at this moment would be a remarkable coincidence,” Kim said. “I don’t believe in coincidences where Zodiac is concerned.”

“Zodiac?” Maisie had just taken a ladylike sip of her drink. She looked over at Kim, then downed half the glass in a swallow. “What’s happening?”

“Kim worked out who Leo is,” Will said. “The secretary of the Symposium, bloke called Knowle. He killed Fairfax and set Chingford up for it.”

“Chingford telephoned him yesterday, leading to Knowle sending us a hired killer—”

“A what?” Phoebe yelped.

Maisie looked appalled. “Why would Lord Chingford do that?”

“Because he thought Knowle was on his side, and I’m suddenly wondering if he’s quite grasped he’s not,” Kim said grimly. “I assumed Father would take him in hand, and that he understood he was out of trouble.”

“Looks like he didn’t believe you,” Will said.

“Hell’s teeth. If he didn’t, if he contacted Knowle—”

“Pretty sure he did,” Will said, and this time Kim caught his tone and looked around.

Lord Chingford and Eric Knowle, the Secretary, were at the door. They both held revolvers.

“Oh, for God’s sake,” Kim said. “You stupid, stupid man.”