Agatha's First Case Read Online Free PDF Page B

Dorset. Didn’t you check her alibi?”
    â€œYes,” said Macdonald. “But her sister swore she was there all the time. Bertha’s cracked. She said Lady Teller was very drunk the evening before and she had kept a couple of Bertha’s blackmailing notes and was going to show them to her husband who had been complaining about her extravagance. Lady Teller said she would be fired. Bertha claimed that she had kept all the money and jewellery and would give it all back when she returned from Dorset so Lady Teller agreed to wait. So Bertha bought another cheese wire, planning to pin the murder on the husband. She phoned her sister and got her to agree to say she was with her the whole time. She waited across the road until she saw Lady Teller returning, let herself in, and killed her. So we’ve wrapped up the case.”
    â€œYou mean, Agatha Raisin’s wrapped it up. Get out of here!”
    â€œI hate that Raisin girl,” muttered Macdonald in the corridor outside, not knowing then that he was only echoing what in later years a lot of detectives and police officers would feel as they wondered how Agatha Raisin could solve cases by apparently blundering about like some demented wasp.
    *   *   *
    Agatha was told later that day by a neurosurgeon that she had, luckily, a very hard head and she was to be allowed visitors. Agatha had been interviewed all that morning by the police but the surgeon did not classify them as visitors, only as some sort of necessary evil. The first was Freda, bearing a bunch of grapes.
    â€œSo exciting,” she said. “George South said you were obviously not ready to hire staff so he’s hired a couple of PR assistants for you. Some firms are already showing interest.”
    Agatha suddenly felt young and weak and lost. How could she cope with running a Mayfair PR company?
    She was on the verge of tears when Jill Butterfrick sailed into the room behind a large bouquet of roses. “Darling, Agatha,” she cooed. “Quite the heroine! I have great news for you. You are to come back to us as our top PR.”
    Agatha could feel somewhere inside her a healthy glow of rage. She remembered all the bullying. Loudly and clearly, Agatha said, “As we used to say back at the buildings, take a hike.”
    â€œWhat did you say?” Jill looked around the room as if hoping someone else had said that.
    â€œSod off, you dreary cow!” roared Agatha.
    Jill flushed scarlet. “Why, you cheeky bitch. I’ll ruin you.”
    She grabbed her roses and stormed off.
    When she had gone, Agatha grinned and said, “I enjoyed that. I’m a bit tired, Freda. I have had such a long morning giving statements to the police.”
    â€œI’ll get back to the office,” said Freda.
    â€œWait a bit. I thought Bryce would call.”
    Freda hesitated and then said, “It’s bad news. I was going to tell you when you were better.”
    â€œOut with it.”
    â€œHe’s got pancreatic cancer and he isn’t expected to live long.”
    Agatha’s first selfish thought was that she could see the end of her dream. But that was followed by a surge of grief for the first person in her life who had been kind to her. Then she rallied. She would get out of this hospital and start work and try to make a profit while the money lasted. Somehow, she had to make it work. She owed it to Bryce.
    â€œWhere is he?” she asked.
    â€œHarley Medical. It’s a private hospital in Harley Street.”
    â€œStay with me, Freda, and help me check out and we’ll get over there.”
    â€œOh, I brought your makeup,” said Freda. “The press are waiting outside.”
    *   *   *
    Although being carefully made up, Agatha looked frail and strained as she gave a statement to the press. Despite her new pugnacious manner, she was also learning diplomacy and said she wished to thank Chief Detective