‘You’re playing it wrong, but have it your own way.’

I walked into the lounge.

The moment I heard her running down the terrace I jumped to the balustrade.

‘Head her off, Jack!’ I bawled into the darkness. ‘But watch out; she has a gun!’

Then I legged it down the terrace after her.

There came a spiteful crack of the .25, and a slug buzzed past my head. I dodged behind a tub of palms. More gun-fire, and an excited yell from Kerman. Then a car engine exploded into life; the gun fired again and the car went furiously down the drive.

I raced to the end of the terrace, intent on following her in the Buick, but she had taken care of that. Her last shot had gone through the off-side rear wheel.

Kerman came out of the darkness.

‘What goes on?’ he demanded indignantly. ‘She tried to shoot me.’

V