Read Online Agatha's First Case by M. C. Beaton - Free Book Online Page B

questioning the neighbours. Then Toni finally walked off and disappeared around the corner into Walton Street Agatha fretted. Where on earth was she going?
    After ten minutes, Toni returned, carrying a large brown paper bag. She slid into the passenger seat of Agatha’s car.
    â€œCoffee and sticky buns,” said Toni, opening the bag.
    â€œYou’re an angel. What did you get from the neighbours?”
    â€œNot much. He lived upstairs.”
    â€œOh, snakes and bastards!” howled Agatha. “I didn’t even think to have a look. He could be lying dead up there.”
    â€œDon’t think so. No ambulance. Have a bun.”
    â€œTa. So what else?”
    â€œDidn’t speak to the neighbours. His clients mostly called in the evenings. Yesterday evening, one young woman, blond, slim, that’s all of the description.”
    â€œCould be you,” said Agatha gloomily.
    â€œTwo men at different intervals, both looking like middle-aged businessmen, one tall and thin and the other small and tubby. Not much to go on.”
    â€œI should have looked for a client list,” mourned Agatha, “instead of rushing out to phone the police. But you know how it is, one fingerprint and they’d haul me in for breaking and entering. I’ll come back when things have quietened down and try the next-door neighbours. The police are already knocking at doors.”
    â€œThat’s why I couldn’t try them myself,” said Toni. “All I could do was to pretend to be one of the crowd. Have another bun. They’re very comforting.”
    â€œOh, well, why not?”
    There came a rapping on Agatha’s window. The detective who had interviewed her earlier, said, “You are to come with me to Thames Valley Police to be interviewed. Leave your car here. An officer will drive you back. Who is this young lady?”
    Oh, what is was to be young and beautiful, thought Agatha grumpily. The man’s practically leering.
    â€œMiss Toni Gilmour,” said Agatha. “One of my detectives.”
    â€œShe’s better come with you. I don’t want anyone messing up this crime scene.”
    *   *   *
    Agatha made her statement again to a refreshingly young and efficient female detective. She was just about to leave when the ax fell. She was told that she had to recover her car and then drive to Mircester police headquarters and make another statement and Agatha knew that Wilkes’s idea of an interview could run into hours.
    There was no sign of Toni. Agatha got into her car and phoned her.
    â€œI got chased away,” said Toni. “I’ll come back his evening, if you like.”
    â€œLet me think about that. Do you know if they’ve found Clive?”
    â€œNot a sign of him. A friendly policeman told me his flat was empty before he got reprimanded.”
    â€œI hope to God he’s all right,” said Agatha. “I’ve got to go to Mircester to make another statement. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
    Agatha knew the rush-hour traffic would be building up and so she decided to drive to the Botley road and exit Oxford by the ring road.
    But as she got to the bottom of Beaufort Street, the traffic slowed to a stop and she could see police erecting a barrier.
    She swung off into the Gloucester Green car park and then made her way on foot to the barrier. “I must get past,” she said to a policeman on duty. “My train’s about to leave,” she lied, quickly thinking of an excuse to find out what had happened.
    â€œAll right. But keep clear of the police activity on the canal bridge. There are enough rubberneckers there already.”
    Agatha hurried down Worcester Street to Hythe Bridge Street. “What’s up?” Agatha asked a man.
    â€œBody in the canal,” he said.
    With a feeling of dread, Agatha elbowed her way to the front, ignoring angry protests. A weak sun was gilding the black waters