Page 18 of I Knew You Were Trouble

Marie Maillot is the agency’s private investigator. She’s close to seventy but either she styles herself after Lisbeth Salander fromThe Girl with the Dragon Tattooor Steig Larsson knew Marie and stole her look for Lisbeth. Studded black leather, top to toe, jet-black hair, and more tattoos than a longshoreman. On a good day, she’s curt, on a bad day, abrasive, regarding everyone with disdain, including her fellow French. But she’s incredibly resourceful and when it comes to investigative skills and connections, she’s in the upper echelon of her field. She’ll also be the first one to tell you that.

‘Uh, from what Kate’s told me, he’s on it, but I’ll keep Marie in mind,’ I say, and Paloma nods in agreement.

‘Oh, this really is a right pickle your client’s in, Poppy,’ says Ursula, huffing out another breath. ‘Through no fault of her own, of course,’ she adds hastily, but I’m more caught on the assumption that Kate is my client.

I mean, she is… but she also isn’t…

‘About that…’ I start, because I’m not sure which to tackle first – Kate’s standing as my client or her unusual request.

‘Was there something else, Poppy?’ asks Saskia.

‘Yes,’ I reply, going with the easiest matter to address. ‘It’s what Ursula said just now – about Kate being my client. I mean, shewasmy client, of course, but she isn’t interested in us finding her a new match. Not for the foreseeable future, anyway.’

‘Then why did she come in this morning?’ asks Paloma.

This, of course, leads us to the BIG REVEAL. I inhale deeply through my nose and meet Paloma’s eye.

‘Kate would like me – well, the agency – to help her get revenge on Dunn,’ I state matter-of-factly, as if I’m rattling off a coffee order.

All three of them talk at once.

‘I’m sorry?’ asks Ursula, blinking at me rapidly.

‘Did you say…revenge?’ Saskia’s eyes narrow curiously.

‘Can’t say I blame her,’ says Paloma, her mouth bunching to the side.

Then as Paloma’s words register, Ursula and Saskia’s heads swivel in her direction.

‘Paloma,’ says Saskia with an uncertain smile. ‘You’re not suggesting…?’

‘No,’ she replies a little too quickly. ‘Course not.’

All three look back at me. ‘And what did you tell her?’ asks Saskia.

‘I made it clear that exacting revenge is not the best course of action, particularly with regards to her own wellbeing, which is why I nudged her towards going to Amsterdam. If she can help the second fiancée see sense, then that will foil Dunn’s plans to either string two women along or become a polygamist. Not exactly revenge – more like justice.’

‘Well said,’ says Paloma with a nod, and I take the compliment with a tight smile.

‘I also stressed that if shestillwants to go down the revenge route then, unfortunately, we won’t be able to help her.’

Saskia sits back against the sofa, visibly relieved. ‘That’s very sensible of you, Poppy. Thank you for making the agency’s position clear.’

I send Saskia a smile too, but it’s more of a thank-god-I-didn’t-screw-that-up smile.

‘Hold on,’ says Ursula, and I look over. Her face may be motionless, but her eyes are alight with mischief – something’s afoot. She raises her forefinger, its long nail painted a glossy red. ‘If shedoescome back to us on the matter of revenge, I say we revisit this discussion.’

Saskia tilts her head, her mouth in a taut line. ‘No, Ursula. We don’t do that sort of thing.’

Paloma angles her body towards her co-founder and old school chum. ‘Sask, think about it. If Perfect Pairing’s practices get out – rather,malpractices – it could adversely impact the entire profession, including Ever After.Butif we help out on this case, come up with a foolproof plan to punish this… this…’

‘Weasel,’ I supply.

‘Yes, thank you, Poppy. Weasel.Andwe ensure Blackheart’s agency is held accountable for their part in this palaver, then we kill two birds with one stone. We help the client, and we save matchmaking.’

Saskia frowns at Paloma, something I have never seen in all my years at Ever After. ‘A little dramatic, don’t you think, Paloma? Especially for you,’ she adds, but Paloma appears unchastened.

Turning to me, Saskia says, ‘You said you’ve guided Kate towards a more’ – her eyes flick towards Paloma, then return to me – ‘reasonablesolution, but if she does ask again about something more drastic, then… Well, I’ll consider it.’

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