The Three Dahlias panel. Of course.

‘Come on.’ Caro gathered the script and thrust it at Posy. ‘There’s a few things I need you two to do before the panel. I’ve got an idea.’

Caro swept out of the door, and pretended not to hear Posy saying, ‘Does that make you as nervous as it does me?’ behind her.

After sending Rosalind and Posy off on their errands, Caro delegated her own task quickly, then headed to the main marquee and made friends with the volunteers scheduled to assist with the Three Dahlias panel.

Rosalind and Posy arrived back before the crowds of fans were allowed in. Caro caught them at the back door.

‘What did you find out at the Murder Spiral?’ she asked Posy.

‘Monkshood is definitely planted there, and currently blooming in a beautiful purple colour, although I kept my distance.’ Posy shuddered.

‘And I borrowed Letty’s poison book,’ Rosalind said. ‘Like Posy told us, it’s a fast-acting poison. But also, it causes heart attacks, paralysis, nausea and some vomiting.’

Caro didn’t need the vision of Marcus staggering backwards into his chair, or that dribble of vomit on his cold dead lips, but her brain presented it anyway. ‘Sounds like we have our poison,’ she said, her mouth dry. ‘Any luck with the phones?’

Rosalind shook her head. ‘I couldn’t find Hugh. Isobel said she thought he’d gone for a walk, but she did confirm he has the phones locked in a safe in his study. I’ll try and talk to him later.’

‘Okay. Next job – finding a motive.’ Caro gestured towards the stage.

‘What, exactly, are you planning here?’ Rosalind’s eyes were narrowed as she studied the set-up on the stage of the marquee. One small table, with three seats for them, plus another longer one with five seats set up across from it. Both tables were angled so the audience could get a clear view of the people sitting at them. ‘Isn’t this supposed to be a simple Q&A?’

‘And it still will be!’ Caro widened her eyes in what she hoped was an innocent way. ‘Instead of the VIP delegates throwing questions at us, like Marcus planned, we’re going to ask them questions. A small interrogation.’

‘Like in a court room,’ Posy said, sounding uncomfortable.

Caro wondered how many court rooms Posy had been in during her short life. Maybe a few, given that whole affair with her parents that was in the papers a few years back – not to mention her own problems. She seemed stable, now, if a little sad. Not the diva starlet Caro had expected.

She almost liked her.

‘That’s the idea,’ Caro said, encouragingly. ‘I thought, since these good people are here to watch Dahlia Lively in action, that’s what we should give them!’