It shut with a satisfying thunk. And the game was on.

‘I’ve called you all here tonight—’ Caro started, only to be immediately interrupted.

‘You sent those notes?’ Hugh’s face was already turning red. ‘I’ll have you know I don’t much appreciate being ordered around in my own house—’

‘Is it your house, though?’ Caro asked, sharply, silencing him. ‘That’s one of the things I’ve called you all here to discuss. So I suggest you listen carefully.’

Hugh wisely shut up.

‘Ooh, is this a gathering of the suspects, like in the books?’ Kit asked, excitedly. ‘Where Dahlia goes through sort of accusing everybody, until she finally lands on the person who actually did it? We should be filming, Anton.’

Caro smiled. ‘It’s exactly like that.’ No point mentioning that, as of now, she didn’t know for sure who had done it. Rosalind hadn’t shared her suspicions yet.

This wasn’t about an accusation. It was about gaining a confession.

Getting proof.

Caro really hoped it worked.

With a deep breath, she drew her Dahlia confidence through her body. ‘Let’s get started.’

Chapter Twenty-Nine

‘Damn it, Dahlia. Don’t you realise that investigations like this can be dangerous?’ Johnnie ran his hand through his hair with frustration.

She gave him a wicked smile. ‘But Johnnie. Isn’t that what makes them fun?’

Dahlia Lively in A Lively Mystery for Dahlia

By Lettice Davenport, 1978

Rosalind

Caro had taken the floor perfectly.

She was every inch Dahlia, without irony, without pretence. She brought the fierce intelligence of Lettice Davenport’s greatest creation to bear on their suspects, leaving Rosalind free to observe their reactions – and confirm her hunches.

If she was right … well, it was too late now, anyway. Wheels had been set in motion. One way or another, this would all be over soon.

‘When we arrived at Aldermere this weekend, we were told to expect three days of murder, mystery and fun,’ Caro announced, her bright gaze moving from suspect to suspect as she talked. They were all in this together, that was the message. She even managed not to smile as she looked at Rosalind.

‘While we were delivered the first two, the third has been sadly lacking.’ There were a few murmurs of agreement. ‘Since we arrived, two people have been murdered – both of them by someone in this room.’

Caro raised a finger, pointing into the mid-air between the suspects, who began to whisper and object more loudly. Caro waited for them to calm down before continuing.