Hilly and Gerald would, of course, be sad if their mother died. Their sorrow, however, would be lightened by the knowledge that they are joint heirs to the Parsloe estate.

Michael Grant was sent to Africa to assassinate Henry Lusaka but vanished without trace. Three years later, Grant contacts MI6 using an old code. In the preceding three years, Britain has made friends with Lusaka and he is now in London.

Douglas Willet works as a manager for Plasticast Replica Ltd but has become distracted by strange voices in the basement. When his housemates are found murdered under equally strange circumstances he is baffled.