I nodded. ‘I would, too.’

She smiled. ‘I was told you were a wit.’

I was starting to like her and to wonder if she’d fancy a glass of cask red. “Who by?’ I said.

‘Barbara Winslow. The other reason I came in my runners is that I didn’t like the look of this building of yours after dark. I’ve got some Mace in my bag but I wouldn’t like to have to deal with some low-life while wearing high heels.’

‘I hope you locked your car.’

‘I did, and set the steering lock and the alarm.’

“That should do it. You seem to be ready for anything, Mrs Lamberte. Are you sure you need a private investigator?’

She put her hand into the bag and pulled out a package wrapped in brown paper. It was about the size of a thick paperback book and it had been sealed with masking tape. The package had been opened and the tape was now only partly holding the paper down. She slid it across the desk. ‘Have a look at this.’

I released the tape where it was gripping and folded the paper back. Inside a lot of wadding consisting of strips torn from a newspaper, were six pistol cartridges-. 357 magnums, Winchester brand.

‘That was posted to my husband,’ Verity Lamberte said. ‘I believe he is planning to kill me.’

2

Mrs Lamberte told me that she and her husband, Patrick, were on the way to getting a divorce. The lawyers were working on a settlement.

There’s quite a lot of property involved and, unfortunately, custody questions. We have two children.’