Nell: Who is that?
Me: It’s Sophie, my hairdresser, with Hope the dachshund. Look at those gorgeous paws.
Nell: You never say I have gorgeous paws.
Me: You have gorgeous eyes. Except when you’re looking at me like that.
Nell: Like what?
Me: One of your disapproving stares.
Nell: That’s because you missed our visitor.
Me: What visitor?
Nell: I was having tea on the terrace with Harriet when PC Panda’s car pulled into our drive.
Me: Just tea, or were scones involved?
Nell: They might have been, but that’s not the point.
Me: Has he found Gladys’s earrings?
Nell: No. There have been reports of roarings on Burgh Island and he wants to talk to Beauregard again.
Me: The Agatha Christie island near our beach?
Nell: Yes. But this time PC Panda wasn’t alone.
Me: We knew there had to be other pandas. He can’t manage everything on his own.
Nell: It wasn’t a panda.
Me: Was it a German Shepherd?
Nell: I’m afraid not.
Me: Why are you afraid?
Nell: You would have been. The long hair gave him away.
Me: Was it a Beefy in a wig?
Nell: The only Beefy in a wig we know is Romeo and nobody is going to squeal at him.
Me: Probably not.
Nell: The animal getting out of the car was a lion.
Me: A lion?
Nell: Yes. A huge lion with long flowing locks and a charming smile.
Me: Gosh.
Nell: Frighteningly good looking and oozing confidence.
Me: Oh my.
Nell: He sauntered over to me and said, ‘Detective Inspector King at your service, madam. But you can call me Lionel.’
Me: And did you?
Nell: Certainly not. I replied, ‘Eleanor Martin. And you can call me Mrs Martin.’
Me: And did he?
Nell: Of course.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
