Dishing the Dirt

Chapter Three


Outside, Agatha raged, “Horrible man!”

“Oh, calm down,” said Charles. “We want a look inside her cottage, don’t we? You nearly spoiled things.”

“I am sorry,” said Agatha in a suddenly mild voice. Charles looked at her suspiciously. Agatha had just remembered that David Herythe was due to call at her office and she didn’t want Charles around. “Why don’t we split up? I can’t interview Victoria because she’ll just curse me. But you could and we could meet up later.”

“All right,” said Charles reluctantly. “What are you going to do?”

“I’ve got to get to the office and see how the others are getting on. I do have a business to run, Charles, and no one is paying me for all this effort.”

“But we came in your car, or have you forgotten? How am I to get to Carsely?”

Agatha whipped out her mobile phone. “Toni,” she said, “could you be an angel and run Charles back to Carsely? Great. We’ll meet you in the car park.”

Now, why doesn’t Agatha want me in her office? wondered Charles. “We haven’t had anything to eat,” he said. “Why don’t we all go for a late lunch?” he asked as Toni came hurrying towards them.

“I’m not hungry,” lied Agatha. “Why don’t you and Toni go for a bite first?”

“I’ve already had lunch,” said Toni.

“You can watch me eat,” said Charles.

They were about to walk off, when Toni called, “My wits are wandering. Herythe is waiting for you in the office, Agatha.”

Charles gave a malicious smile. “I haven’t seen David in ages. Must say hullo,” and to Agatha’s horror, he set off for her office without waiting for her.

Toni and Agatha hurried after him.

*

To Agatha’s further irritation, when she got to the office it was to find David Herythe seated behind her desk and going through the contents of her computer.

“Charles Fraith!” cried David. “What are you doing here?”

While Charles explained that he was a close friend of Agatha’s and the conversation turned to the sort of do-you-know about people Agatha had never met, she leaned over and switched off her computer. Still talking, David vacated her desk and walked round to join Charles.

“Why don’t we go for a drink?” said Charles.

“Great idea.” Both men headed for the door.

“Stop!” shouted Agatha.

They both turned around. Charles smiled at her sweetly and David raised his eyebrows.

“I mean,” said Agatha desperately, “you were supposed to find out something for me, David.”

“Oh, that. I’ve got as far as finding out how Tremund was murdered. He wasn’t strangled. He was struck on the head with some blunt instrument. A bag of stones was slung round his neck and he was tipped into the canal. The divers found it when they brought him up.”

“How did they know he was in the canal?” asked Agatha. “And when was he shoved in?”

“They haven’t done the pathology thoroughly yet, but some students have finally come forward. They said it was about three in the morning and they were coming back from a party when they heard a splash from the canal. One girl said she thought she saw a man’s head above the water and then it disappeared.”

“Why didn’t they come forward sooner?” asked Agatha.

“The police guess they had been on drugs and didn’t want to get involved, but one of them, a girl called Hayley Martin, got a fit of conscience and called in at the police station and reported what they had seen.”

“Did she see anyone else around?” asked Toni.