Ellery went down to his cold supper and chewed away. The cottage was cheerlessly silent. His jaws made sounds.

Then there was a different sound.

A tap on the kitchen door?

Ellery stared. “Come in?”

And there she was.

“Delia.” He got out of his chair, still holding the knife and fork.

She was in a long loose coat of some dark blue material. It had a turned-up collar which framed her head. She stood with her back against the door, looking about the room.

“I’ve been waiting in the back garden in the dark. I saw Laurel’s car. And after Laurel and... Crowe drove away I thought I’d better wait a little longer. I wasn’t sure that your housekeeper was gone.”

“She’s gone.”

“That’s good.” She laughed.