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Stan Willis and Damian the composer.’
    â€˜And we haven’t met Stan’s assistant,’ said Libby. ‘I thought he would have come down today.’
    â€˜Never mind, I’m sure we will.’ Ben took out his key to let them into number seventeen. ‘Now, make me a cup of tea, woman!’
    Monday morning Max had called his company for ten o’clock. Ben and Libby opened the theatre at nine thirty and waited to see who would arrive.
    Stan Willis came fussing in five minutes later, followed by a shortish, squarish man with red hair and an equally red face.
    â€˜This is Seb,’ said Stan. ‘Seb, this is Ben, our stage manager, and Libby, our … um…’
    â€˜Hostess?’ suggested Libby sweetly.
    â€˜Hostess. Yes.’
    Seb and Libby shook hands.
    â€˜Now, I really must go up and check the robotics.’ Stan sped away into the wings and Seb turned to Ben.
    â€˜Has he been driving you mad?’ he asked.
    â€˜Er – no, not really,’ said Ben, surprised. ‘We haven’t done much really. I just set everything up as he’d requested, and now I’m leaving it all to him, I think.’
    â€˜And me,’ said Seb, gloomily.
    â€˜Ah!’ said Libby. ‘You’re his – what? ASM?’
    â€˜Dogsbody,’ corrected Seb. ‘That’s me.’ He grinned. ‘At home and away.’
    â€˜Oh, dear,’ said Libby. ‘Well, there doesn’t seem to be much to do, stage-wise.’
    â€˜There’s the Kabuki,’ said Seb. He turned to Ben. ‘Have we –?’
    â€˜Not yet. We’re trying it this morning before rehearsal.’
    People began drifting in. Those Libby had met raised their hands to her, but they were all obviously preoccupied with the coming rehearsal. Hetty had reported that most of them had eaten very light breakfasts, and Libby only hoped they had the stamina to get through to lunchtime. Backpacks and sports bags were dumped in the aisles and on seats, and contorted positions taken up on the stage. At ten o’clock, Max appeared from the wings and clapped his hands.
    â€˜Clear, please, everybody. We’re going to test the robotics and the Kabuki.’
    â€˜Here you are, dear heart.’ Peter’s voice sounded in Libby’s ear. ‘Now you can see and wonder.’
    â€˜So can I.’ Harry’s voice was in her other ear. ‘Exciting, isn’t it.’
    â€˜I’m off to the box to dazzle you,’ said Peter and slipped out of the auditorium doors. Libby and Harry settled in the back row as the house lights went down.
    â€˜Now! Sound, please,’ called Max, and there was an immediate blackout as music erupted into the auditorium. Suddenly, along the top of the proscenium arch flashed blue lights and the backdrop Libby hadn’t realised was there disappeared in front of her eyes, revealing the lowering form of Pendle Hill.
    There was a gasp from those watching, then applause as the music stopped and the house lights went up.
    Max, beaming, came to the front of the stage.
    â€˜Did any of you realise you were looking at a cloth?’ he asked.
    Discussion broke out among the dancers, and Libby looked at Harry. ‘Impressive.’
    â€˜It was. One minute it was there – the next it wasn’t. How’d they do it?’
    â€˜Classic misdirection, I should think,’ said Libby.
    Harry looked at her. ‘Really? Like the three card trick?’
    â€˜Sort of.’ Libby poked him in the ribs. ‘Don’t put me on the spot. Go and make those boys their lunch.’

Chapter Five
    Harry’s buffet lunch, supplemented with energy drinks supplied by Libby, who had raided the eight-till-late, went down very well. So did Harry.
    Peter, watching with amusement as several dancers crowded round his beloved, murmured, ‘He should be able to get anything out of them, shouldn’t he?’
    Libby laughed. ‘As