Page 52 of The Chapel of Bones

Gerry took the laptop and read it out loud. ‘ “You’re a thief and everyone deserves to know it. Lawrence is mine and you stole him. You’re going to die a horrible death. Punishment comes to everyone eventually. Get ready for hell.” ’

‘That’s only the latest. There were more, but I deleted them.’

Wesley noted the date. The day before Sue Potter was murdered.

‘Have you any idea who sent them?’

‘The only person I can think of is Claire Mountjoy, my second ex-husband’s sister. She’s always resented me. I think she’s jealous of my success,’ she added smugly.

‘Have you an address for her?’

‘Yes. She lives in Tradmouth, so she’s not far away.’

‘Why would she start threatening you now?’

She gave a dramatic shrug. ‘I’ve no idea.’

‘Who’s Lawrence?’ Gerry asked. ‘One of your ex-husbands?’

The woman looked affronted. ‘Of course not. Lawrence is my lion.’

Wesley and Gerry looked at each other. ‘Your lion?’

She gestured toward a large bookcase at the far end of the room. It held a number of thin volumes, whose bright covers looked out of place in the otherwise monochrome room. But something about them jogged a memory.

‘Do those belong to your children?’ Wesley asked tentatively. ‘Grandchildren?’

‘I have no children. Never wanted any. I wrote them.’

He suddenly realised why the books looked so familiar. ‘You’re Daisy Cootes. The Lawrence the Lion stories. My kids used to love them when they were small.’

Suzy Porter gave a gracious nod of acknowledgement. ‘They sell well. Although I get pestered by children all the time.’ She wrinkled her nose as though she’d smelled something distasteful. ‘I’m not a great fan of children, to tell you the truth.’

All Wesley’s illusions about kindly Daisy Cootes crafting her charming tales of a cowardly lion were shattered at that moment.

‘Look, do you think that woman was killed by mistake? Was I the real target? Am I in danger?’

Wesley didn’t answer her question. ‘Have you ever heard of a lanzani?’ he asked instead.

‘It’s a legendary beast; vicious, I believe. I came across it while I was researching fantastic creatures for a new series my agent wants me to write. Why do you ask?’

‘Nobody’s ever compared you to one?’

She seemed torn between anger and amusement. ‘Of course not. That’s ridiculous.’

‘If we can take the laptop, our tech people should be able to trace the sender of those emails.’

Suzy looked at Wesley as though he’d just made an indecent suggestion. ‘I need it for my work. I have a deadline.’

‘We’ll get it back to you as soon as possible,’ he said smoothly. If we could have Ms Mountjoy’s address.’

She returned to the bureau and scribbled something on a sheet of violet deckle-edged notepaper.

‘What about your ex-husbands?’

‘I don’t have their contact details handy,’ she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. ‘But I’m sure none of them were responsible. Not their style at all.’

Wesley had another question. ‘Have you ever had any dealings with a man called Jim Baker? He’s an artist and used to live opposite the woman who was murdered.’