“It seems simple to me,” said Carla. “Spiro wants Fowl dead. You want Fowl dead.”

Opal – now one Miss Ruby Patrick – smiled. “And what do you want, Miss Frazetti?”

“I want my money.” Carla smiled too. Ruby noticed the inset gem. How appropriate.

“It will be in your Cayman Islands account by ten.” Ruby sipped her wine. “After all, you'll want a new dress for the opera tomorrow.”

Carla frowned. “Opera?” She loved it, but she'd no tickets booked.

“Yes. I'm taking you.”

“I don't socialise with clients.”

“Of course not. Your previous clients were all stupid men.”

They laughed.