Read Online The Blood of an Englishman by M. C. Beaton - Free Book Online

along with George.”
    â€œI had no idea the silly fool planned such a horrible joke. Oh, dear. Poor, poor Gwen. She must be in bits.”
    You can go off people, you know, thought Agatha. Yes, he’s beautiful. But what if I’m sitting here with a murderer?
    She said, “Perhaps you had better go home. The police will be looking for you.”
    â€œI suppose I must.” He got to his feet.
    The doorbell rang shrilly, startling both of them. Agatha went to answer it, peering through the spy hole and seeing Bill Wong standing on the step. “Come in,” she said, opening the door. “There’s someone here you’ll want to interview.”
    â€œI wanted to talk to you and ask you what you were doing there,” said Bill.
    â€œLater. John Hale is in the living room.”
    â€œWe’ve been looking for him. Lead the way.”
    Agatha introduced them. John, who had got to his feet, sank back onto the sofa looking miserable.
    Bill questioned him closely. John’s moving rapidly up the list of suspects, thought Agatha. John explained that he was at home, marking exam papers, when Gwen Simple had phoned with the bad news. He knew Mrs. Raisin had been hired to investigate and he had given her tickets for the theatre and so he had called on her to find out more. Bill asked if there were any witnesses to the fact that he said he had been home all that evening. He gave the names of two parents who had phoned him during the time the show was onstage.
    He’s frightened, thought Agatha. Wait a bit. He said one of the parents who phoned him was Mr. Buxton. That must be Kimberley’s father. Should she tell Bill? Or was she going to protect John?
    She suddenly realised Bill’s shrewd almond eyes were fastened on her face. “What is it, Agatha?” he asked.
    Slowly and reluctantly, Agatha said, “Mr. Buxton is the father of Kimberley, a pupil at John’s school. The girl initially claimed Bert Simple had molested her, but now says he didn’t. Toni tried to get something out of the girl but had no luck.”
    â€œBuxton called on me at the school,” said John.
    â€œSo what did Mr. Buxton want?”
    â€œHe was angry with me,” said John. “He blamed me for telling Agatha about Kimberley.”
    â€œDid he threaten you?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, he did. He said if I didn’t keep my mouth shut, I’d end up like Bert Simple.”
    â€œYou should have phoned the police immediately,” said Bill severely.
    â€œIf I phoned the police every time a parent threatened me, I’d never be off the phone,” said John wearily. “If their little genius—in their opinion—turns out to be failing English exams, they take it out on me.”
    â€œI would like you to call at police headquarters in the morning,” said Bill, “and sign a statement.”
    â€œOf course.”
    *   *   *
    After Bill had left, John rose and stretched. “What a horrible mess,” he said. “I hope they lock up George and throw away the key.”
    Agatha escorted him to the door and helped him into his coat. He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for not calling me a fool,” he said. “I owe you a meal. I’m a good cook. What about next Saturday evening?”
    Looking up into his handsome face, Agatha forgot about any doubts about him. “I’d love to. What time?”
    â€œEight o’clock. Here’s my card with my address.” He kissed her on the cheek again. Agatha opened the door. Tiny snowflakes were beginning to swirl in the light over the door.
    â€œI’d better get home before this gets worse,” said John. “See you soon.”
    Agatha dreamily watched him go.
    *   *   *
    The newspapers and television were full of the fake-head story on the following day. Agatha finally locked her office door to keep the press out.