Agatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye

Author:M. C Beaton [Beaton, M. C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: [Côte d’Azur]
Published: 2007-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

∨ Kissing Christmas Goodbye ∧

8

The following day, Agatha phoned Alison and told her that there was no point in her going to the manor while the police were around and asked her if she could possibly get away and come to the office. Alison said she would be there in an hour’s time.

Agatha decided her staff should work on other cases. Toni was sent in search of a missing teenager. She did not tell Agatha anything about the coming Saturday night. She was sure Agatha would refuse to let her go.

Patrick brightened when he was given a case of suspected industrial espionage at a sweet factory. The owners claimed that they were planning the launch of a new chocolate bar. The previous launch of a new health bar had been stolen by their competitors. “Anything to get away from divorce,” said Patrick. Phil sighed. He was stuck with a divorce case.

Charles strolled into the office, helped himself to a coffee, and sat quietly in the corner.

When everyone had left except Mrs Freedman, Charles asked, “What now?”

“Alison should be here soon,” said Agatha. “Better here than up at the manor with police and the enraged Collins prowling around. Now, be an angel and shut up while I get some paperwork done.”

Charles folded his arms on his chest and promptly fell asleep.

“He must be tired,” whispered Mrs Freedman.

“He should be,” retorted Agatha. “He was up all night watching old movies.”

Charles woke up when Alison arrived. Agatha was shocked at her appearance. Her face was drawn and there were heavy bags under her eyes.

She sank down wearily on the office sofa. “I don’t know how much longer we can all go on like this. The police are now searching the cellar.”

“Were any of the other bottles on that rack in the kitchen poisoned?” asked Agatha.

“They don’t know yet. George Pyson, the factor, is finding another gardener to fill in in the meantime. He has also found an accountant for us because it turns out Mrs Tamworthy had lots of money salted away in different accounts. If we ever get out of this, we’ll all be very rich indeed. But we’ll never have any peace until this murderer is found. We’re paying some of the villagers to patrol the estate because the press are doing everything they can to get in to interview us. When I drove off, I was nearly blinded by all the flashes from the cameras. Of course, the villagers have been talking, so George says, and it’s probably all a lot of scurrilous gossip.”

“What you need is a good foreign story,” said Agatha cynically.

“I don’t understand.”

“If there’s a big story abroad, you’ll see the press trying to get back to their offices to buy the foreign editor drinks and free meals, begging, “Send me. I’ve got a visa.””

Charles laughed. “Only Aggie could wish a war on the world for a bit of peace at Lower Tapor,” he said.

Agatha ignored him. “Alison, I know you won’t want to believe this, but

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