“It was the sort of day when deciding what to wear is like planning a military operation. Believe me – I have considerable experience of both.”

“I sat with my feet up on my desk and started to make a mental list of the people who’d want me dead. Once I got to fifty, I decided this wasn’t helping.”

“Everything about me is pretty and a lot of it is shrewd. So I had a pretty shrewd idea what was going on.”

“Let me through – I’m a doctor.’ My heart beat a little faster, and I lingered just long enough to be sure he’d used the indefinite article. But the man was short and bald and rather ugly – not at all like any Doctor I’d consult. I hope. If ‘consult’ is the right word.”

“I don’t often need rescuing, but it’s nice when it goes well and doesn’t involve great heights.”

“Melody Malone is the owner and sole employee of the Angel Detective Agency in Manhattan. She is possibly married but lives alone usually, and is older than both her parents. Sometimes. Why not visit her website? Ah – probably because the internet hasn’t been invented yet. Sorry, Sweetie.”

“I raised an alluring eyebrow. Alluringly.”