Nell: Thank goodness Tony came to visit.
Me: Why?
Nell: David needs a friend and distraction. He’s starting to suspect that something is wrong. At Morning Thoughts today he said Poppy was giving Sally a hard stare.
Me: And was she?
Nell: Of course. I’ve had to ask Malcolm to prepare Sally’s food after I saw Poppy cutting toast with her sword and sprinkling chilli on Sally’s scrambled eggs.
Me: That sounds quite nice.
Nell: That’s not the point. And as for Gladys and The Cat.
Me: Do they know too?
Nell: I blame Handsome. I think he and The Cat had one dry Martini too many and he spilt the biscuits.
Me: You mean beans.
Nell: I do not. Handsome hates beans. Anyway, it definitely knows and so does Gladys.
Me: They mustn’t let Bad Sally know they know.
Nell: Stop calling her that. You all need to be discreet. Nonchalant is the word.
Me: They probably don’t know what it means.
Nell: Well, I haven’t seen anything less nonchalant than Gladys in a full length ball gown and The Cat in a sequinned jumpsuit dancing to ‘Evil Woman.’
Me: I did wonder.
Nell: And I saw Alejandro spit and he hardly ever does that now.
Me: Any more news from Henry?
Nell: Yes. I’m not sure you can deal with it.
Me: What did it say?
Nell: ‘Sadie Hunter.’
Me: Who is she?
Nell: Someone very dangerous.
Me: Not a member of The Black Claw?
Nell: I am afraid so.
Me: Do we know her?
Nell: Yes, we do.
Me: You don’t mean Bad Sally is Sadie?
Nell: Yes. Stop calling her that.
Me: Henry said Sadie Hunter.
Nell: Yes.
Me: Hunter. We all need to run.
Nell: I told you. Nonchalant is the word.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
