‘First of all, the coaches arrived from the station from around 9AM.’ Rosalind nodded at Posy and she wrote it down on the board, leaving space for any extra notes that came later.

‘You were all met by Clementine, who gave you your wrist bands and your welcome packs. Then you were all shown to your rooms. Then we all met later by the dollhouse for Isobel’s tour of the house.’ Another nod at Posy, who scrawled ‘House Tour’ on the paper. Rosalind winced, presumably at Posy’s handwriting.

She’d been holding court long enough, Caro decided. Getting up, she motioned to the volunteer to hand her the second microphone that was supposed to be used for audience questions.

‘During the tour, we all handled the jewelled magnifying glass,’ Caro said, ignoring Rosalind’s glare. ‘For those of you who don’t know, this is the beautiful jeweller’s loupe that Dahlia uses in the novels. A bejewelled version was created for the movies, and given to Lettice Davenport as a gift, after filming ended.’

‘Thank you, Caro.’ There was no gratitude in Rosalind’s voice. ‘As you say, the object was handed around everyone on that house tour when we visited Lettice’s study. It was then replaced in the cabinet by Isobel, before we all left the room.’

‘Was it locked?’ Kit asked. Rosalind blinked at him. ‘I wasn’t on the house tour, see, so I don’t know. Was the cabinet one with a lock?’

‘That’s a good question, DI Swain,’ Caro said, with a slow smile. ‘Did anybody notice?’

The VIP delegates shook their heads. Posy frowned. ‘I was one of the last out, I think, and I didn’t see Isobel lock it.’

‘So it’s possible that someone could have taken it on their way out, without being noticed. Or they could have crept back later to take it, now they knew where it was,’ Caro surmised.

‘After the tour we had lunch, and the convention murder mystery was announced by Marcus.’ Rosalind’s stride hitched a little there, as she fumbled for her next words. Posy, taking the microphone from her, stepped in.

‘We went to take our places for the mystery – and you four set about investigating, along with plenty of other delegates.’ She smiled at the suspects – a Hollywood smile that Caro could feel from across the stage. She’d had the real LA life, hadn’t she? All the praise and the glory and the parts. She knew how to work a room, Caro had to give her that.

‘Then there was the conclusion of the murder mystery where I was arrested – and Ashok, I think you won, didn’t you?’ Ashok blushed under the weight of Posy’s smile.