Dishing the Dirt

“Your secretary has already done that,” said Justin.

“Look here,” said Bill severely. “You are putting yourself in danger, young man. It is not only Mrs. Carson who has been murdered but other people as well! Whoever the murderer is, he seems to delight in getting rid of anyone who might help find out who he is. I strongly advise you to tear up the contracts and tell your father it is much too dangerous.”

“I don’t see why,” said Justin. “I mean, I gather you’ve removed the bugs so no one will know Agatha is detecting on my behalf.”

“Well, I’ve warned you,” said Bill. “We’ll be in touch, Agatha.”

“I’d better go, too,” said Mrs. Bloxby. “My husband will be wondering what has happened to me.”

Agatha looked hopefully at Charles. “I’d better be off as well,” he said. He had planned to stay, but, after all, the beautiful young man would certainly not be romantically interested in Agatha, and his presence might take Agatha’s mind off her fears.

“Simon,” said Agatha, “you’d better get on with that missing teenager case.”

After Charles and Simon had gone, Agatha said reluctantly, “Leave it with me, Justin. Let me have your phone numbers and address. I’d better talk to your father as well.”

She had planned to invite him to lunch but remembered in time that she had to wait at home for the locksmith and to have the code on the burglar alarm changed.

“It’s lovely here,” said Justin with a smile. “I’ve always wanted to see the inside of one of these old thatched cottages. Look, the rain has stopped.”

“I’ll be going now,” called Doris from the hall.

Agatha rose to her feet and went to say goodbye.

When she returned, the kitchen was empty. She found Justin sitting at the table in the garden with the cats on his lap. “It’s so quiet here,” he said.

“I’m hungry,” said Agatha. “Would you like to stay for lunch?”

“That would be lovely.”

“Italian food okay?”

“Marvellous.”

Agatha went in and phoned a local Italian restaurant that did deliveries and ordered two portions of escalope Milanese with salads and a bottle of Valpolicella.

She was just about to join him in the garden when the doorbell rang. Agatha peered through the peephole and saw Toni’s pretty face looking back at her.

No, she thought. One look at Toni and he’ll forget I even exist. She returned to the garden.

Agatha had never been attracted to younger men before. She guiltily remembered having a crush on that beautiful schoolteacher in Winter Parva, the one murdered by Gwen’s son. Before she had always considered women who fell for men, just because of their looks, slightly … well … common. Yes, James was handsome but the same age as she was herself. Maybe Justin was gay. That was the trouble with beautiful men, they usually were.

A shadow fell across her. She swung round. Justin was looking at her quizzically. “Who was at the door?”

“I didn’t open it,” said Agatha. “Some salesman. I’ve ordered lunch. Should be here soon. Let’s enjoy the garden.”

*

Toni phoned Simon on his mobile. “Agatha’s not answering the door. Is she all right?”

“That beautiful young man I phoned you about. I think our Agatha’s smitten, so she won’t want you around.”

“That’s ridiculous,” said Toni.

“That’s our Agatha,” said Simon.

*

As Agatha talked about her previous cases, she decided that the attraction she felt for Justin was maternal. Sometimes, infrequently, she thought it would have been nice to have children. She had felt strong maternal feelings for Toni, but that had unfortunately left her trying to manipulate the girl’s life until she had backed off. So feeling much more comfortable, she chatted until the food arrived and they moved back into the kitchen.