As the Pig Turns - By M.C. Beaton Page 0,37

cigarettes. I always forget about the smoking ban. You were saying that the other two judges could be bribed?’

He threw his head back and laughed, displaying a mouthful of large, cosmetically whitened teeth.

‘You have the reputation for being blunt, Mrs Raisin. But just think of the boost it would give your detective agency if you were elected. Midlands television are going to cover the event.’

‘How much?’ demanded Agatha.

‘I should think two thousand pounds each should settle the matter.’

‘Who are the other two judges?’

‘Mary Mamble, who runs the Arts Centre, and Sir Jonathan Beery.’

‘You used to be an MP, didn’t you?’ asked Agatha. ‘You lost your seat at the last election. What are you doing now?’

‘This and that. I write articles for the papers and sit on several committees. I am much in demand. In fact, I am a pretty famous public speaker.’

‘I am not going to hand out money until I know I am elected,’ said Agatha. ‘Tell them that as soon as I am, they will get the money.’

‘And two thousand to me,’ said Guy quickly. ‘I have to do all the work of persuading them.’

‘All right,’ said Agatha. ‘Same deal. I get elected and you and the others get paid immediately afterwards. I assume you all want cash?’

‘You are so quick on the uptake.’

‘Aren’t I just,’ said Agatha, her bearlike eyes glinting oddly in the light. ‘But get this. This is a ladies’ agreement. You do not see any cash until the deed is done.’

‘But surely . . . I mean, a little in advance?’

‘Not a penny.’

‘I suppose I’ll have to trust you.’

‘Oh, you’d better. For your own good.’

‘I’ll be in touch.’ He smoothed back his hair with a nervous hand.

Oh, dear, thought Agatha, watching his retreating back. What a wicked world!

Chapter Eight

Roy Silver drove happily down into Carsely early on Friday evening. He wondered whether Agatha would admire his new appearance. His hair had started to grow again, so he had gelled it into spikes. Very much taken with his punk appearance, he had decided to go for the retro look and was wearing flares and an open-necked shirt, displaying a gold medallion on his skinny, hairless chest.

He parked behind Agatha’s car and got out. He was opening the boot to take out his small suitcase when he was seized from behind and something cold and hard was thrust against his neck.

‘One squeak out of you and you’re dead,’ growled a voice.

Terrified, Roy felt himself being dragged into a van and thrown in the back. The van took off with a roar. Where was Agatha? wondered Roy, trembling uncontrollably. A man wearing a balaclava sat in the back of the van, holding a gun on him. He searched Roy’s pockets and took away his wallet and mobile phone.

‘Why are you doing this?’ pleaded Roy.

‘If the Raisin woman does as she’s told, then you’ve nothing to fear,’ said the man. ‘So shut up and stop whimpering or I will shoot you.’

As the evening dragged on without any sign of Roy, Agatha tried his mobile phone but did not get any reply. Then there was a ring at the doorbell. Roy, at last. She opened it and found James on the doorstep.

‘I thought you were Roy,’ said Agatha. ‘I’m expecting him.’

‘His car’s parked outside. Maybe he’s gone for a walk round the village, although it looks as if a storm is coming.’

Agatha felt fear clutch at her heart. ‘But he wouldn’t go for a walk after a long drive from London. Oh, God, what if something’s happened to him?’

‘Calm down. What could anyone want with Roy?’

‘Blackmail,’ whispered Agatha. ‘They tried to frighten me off with that head.’

‘I never saw anything. I’ve only just got home.’

Agatha took a deep breath. ‘I’m calling the police.’

Roy was taken out of the van and thrust into a half-derelict cottage. At gunpoint, he was shoved into a small room and the door was shut and locked behind him.

He looked around wildly. There came a great crack of thunder, and then a flash of lightning lit up the room. He caught a glimpse of a mattress on the floor and a bucket in the corner. The window was barred.

He sank down into the floor and burst into tears.

The police refused to let Agatha go out hunting for Roy. They said it would be better if she stayed by the phone in case there was a ransom demand. Toni, Phil and Patrick all set off in their cars to scour the countryside.

Roy had been taken at