As the Pig Turns - By M.C. Beaton Page 0,35

to join them. ‘I thought I would wait until she leaves and see if I can have a word with her,’ said Toni.

‘But get her on her own.’

‘I’ll try.’

‘We’re off for lunch,’ said Agatha, and added firmly, ‘Charles is buying.’ Charles, predictably, led Agatha to the Dragon, where he knew the set pub meals were cheap at lunchtime.

Bill Wong was just finishing his lunch as they walked in. ‘I’m going back out to your cottage, Agatha,’ he said. ‘I want to see if they’ve found out anything.’

‘I hope I’ll be able to go home tomorrow,’ said Agatha, sitting next to him. ‘Charles, get me a steak and chips and a half of lager.’

As Charles’s well-tailored back moved towards the bar, Agatha whispered, ‘You’ll never guess what the silly ass has done.’ She told him about the missing keys.

‘I know. He did phone us,’ said Bill crossly. ‘Come over to headquarters after lunch. We’ll need to send someone out to Warwickshire to have a look at that kitchen door.’

Bill left them when their food arrived. Agatha poked dismally at her steak. When she was with James, she longed for Charles’s lighter company. Now, she felt she could do with James’s steady reassurance.

Her phone rang. It was Roy Silver, babbling with excitement. ‘I hear you’ve found the head.’

‘Well, it found me.’

‘Look, Aggie, how about me coming down for the weekend and babysitting you?’

‘Yes, sure. Do you want me to pick you up at the station?’

‘No, I’m driving down. See you Friday evening.’

Toni at last saw the Richardses leaving the hotel. Tom Richards kissed his ex-wife on the cheek and strode off. Fiona Richards set off in the opposite direction. Toni had already paid the bill in the café, so she followed in pursuit, with Phil following a discreet distance behind.

Fiona went into a dress shop, and after only a little hesitation, Toni followed her in just as a formidable sales assistant was ushering Fiona into a changing room, saying, ‘I’ve got the very thing for you. Cerise silk.’ She swung a frumpy outfit off its hanger and handed it into the changing room.

Fiona Richards was a contrast to the dead Amy, thought Toni, patiently waiting for her to come out. Amy wouldn’t have been seen dead in a frock like that.

‘How much is that dress you have just given that lady to try on?’ asked Toni.

‘Four hundred and ninety-nine pounds.’

‘Bit steep.’

The assistant looked coldly at Toni. ‘Do you want something?’

‘I just want a word with Mrs Richards.’

The assistant went into the changing room. ‘What do you think?’

‘May as well. I need something for the Woman of the Year banquet.’

‘Ooh, have you been selected?’

‘Hardly. I’m just a housewife. Yes, I’ll take it.’

‘There’s a young lady waiting to speak to you.’

Fiona glanced out of the changing room and then shut the door. ‘I do not wish to speak to her. Tell her to go away. She’s one of those awful detectives.’

The assistant approached Toni. ‘Come into my office, please. I want a word with you. Come along, or I’ll call the police.’

Once in the small office, which smelled of perfume and cloth, the assistant said, ‘Mrs Richards doesn’t want to speak to you, and she has made that perfectly clear. You will leave immediately.’

At that moment, they both heard the shop door bang.

The assistant looked out of the window and saw Fiona scurrying off down the street. ‘You’ve lost me a sale,’ she wailed.

Toni ran out of the shop, looking to right and left, but could see no sign of Fiona.

Phil was remarkably spry for seventy-odd years. He followed Fiona to the car park. She had been moving very quickly, taking a circuitous route through market stalls to the car park.

She was just about to get into her car when Phil approached her. ‘Excuse me!’

Fiona surveyed him. Phil had white hair and a gentle face.

‘What is it?’

‘I think I saw a couple of youths trying to break into your car. They saw me and ran off. Maybe you’d better go to the police station and I’ll help you put in a report.’

‘The police won’t do anything,’ said Fiona. ‘Useless. But thanks all the same.’

Phil gave a charming laugh. ‘I don’t know what they would have done if they had confronted me. Bit long in the tooth. You know, you look a bit shaken. Fancy a cup of tea?’ As she hesitated, he added, ‘With my years, you can hardly think I’m trying to pick you up.’

‘Oh, all right. I could do with a cuppa.