Pushing Up Daisies Read Online Free PDF Page B

mean, I can see myself sitting outside a shed on a summer’s day, watching things grow.”
    â€œThe only thing you’re likely to grow is boredom,” said Charles. “You know, Aggie, you wrap yourself in fantasy so many times, I find it hard to believe that you can actually wake up to the real world and solve cases.”
    â€œI don’t fantasise!” shouted Agatha. “And don’t call me Aggie! Okay, Monday. Will you call at the office?”
    â€œNo, I will not. I do have a life of my own. I have to supervise arrangements for the harvest festival. Nice and bucolic and dead-body free.”
    When he had left, Agatha went to let her cats in. They eyed her sulkily because it had begun to rain. The fine weather had broken at last. Agatha looked at the clock. Ten in the evening! And she hadn’t eaten. She lifted the lid of the freezer chest and stared bleakly at a pile of microwave dinners before slamming it shut again.
    The doorbell rang. Agatha looked down at her cats. If Bill or Charles had come back, with that odd sense of theirs, they would have run to the door, but both continued to groom themselves.
    She looked through the spy hole and saw Gerald on her doorstep. She reluctantly opened the door to one shattered dream.
    â€œIs this too late?” asked Gerald.
    â€œNo. Come in. What’s the matter?” said Agatha, leading the way to the kitchen. She felt no urge to excuse herself and go upstairs to refresh her make-up. That dream had died.
    â€œCoffee? Or something stronger?” she offered.
    â€œNothing for me.”
    â€œSo what’s the problem? I assume you do have a problem.”
    Gerald sighed and sat down at the kitchen table. Agatha sat opposite him.
    â€œBeing in the force in an odd sort of way cushions one from the outside world. Us and them. Now I am one of them. My vanity has taken a strong blow. Peta came on to me with all guns blazing, and I was comforted and flattered. She has been murdered, and I seem to be prime suspect.”
    â€œWilkes makes everyone feel like prime suspect,” said Agatha bitterly. “You want something from me. What is it?”
    â€œI want to work again. I was hoping you might need another detective.”
    Agatha was about to refuse. She was still cross with him for having upset Mrs. Bloxby. Then common sense came to her aid. Here was a man, suspect or not, who would have better contacts in the police than Patrick.
    â€œCall at the office tomorrow at nine o’clock,” she said, “and sign the necessary papers. I am going to see Jenny Coulter, Bellington’s ex-mistress, tomorrow. You can start by coming with me.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œThere is just one thing.” Agatha’s bearlike eyes bored into his face. “No more chatting up Mrs. Bloxby and giving her wrong ideas.”
    â€œI promise you I won’t go near the vicarage again.”
    â€œOh, yes, you jolly well will, but when her husband is there. It would be hurtful to cut her off. Invite Mrs. Bloxby and her husband to dinner.”
    â€œI’ll do that. What must you think of me?”
    Agatha grinned. “Not much as a man, but as a detective, I’d like to see how you do.”
    When he had left, that old romantic fantasy about him hovered over Agatha’s head. She shook it violently as if to shake the nonsense away and went up to bed. But before she drifted off to sleep, she hoped that when Charles found out that Gerald had joined her staff, he would be annoyed.
    Gerald was introduced to Agatha’s staff the next morning. Agatha noticed as he shook hands all round that he held on to Toni’s hand a little longer than was necessary.
    Then they had a quarrel in the car park outside. Gerald insisted they should take his car, but Agatha wanted to start off being the one in control and won the battle. She drove off with a rather sulky Gerald beside her in the passenger seat.
    â€œThis place