Agatha Raisin and the Perfect Paragon - M. C. Beaton [32]
Charles’s face lit up. “Freddy! Haven’t seen him in ages. Show him in.”
A tall, lean, bronzed man with a shock of white hair and dark brown eyes came into the room.
“Out of Africa?” asked Charles.
“Thrown out of Zimbabwe.”
“What will you do now?”
“Nigeria’s offering us farmers land. Might try that.”
“You’re a devil for punishment.” They talked of old friends and old times and then Charles talked about Agatha and the murders.
“What an extraordinary woman she seems to be. I’d like to meet her.”
“If you’re not doing anything this evening, I’ll take you over. Where’s the missus?”
“Gone to South Africa for a break.”
Agatha tried to work in her office at home that evening, writing down everything she knew about the Smedley case. The evening was cold and damp and she wished she’d never gone to the expense of buying an air conditioner. She switched off the computer. She had changed into an old pair of trousers and a sweater. No need to dress up for Bill and Charles.
She fed the cats but was reluctant to prepare anything for herself. Perhaps she and Charles could go to the pub after Bill had left.
The doorbell rang. When Agatha answered it, she found not only Charles standing there but a tall, handsome man. Charles introduced Freddy. Agatha was suddenly acutely aware of her old sweater and trousers.
Any minute now, thought Charles cynically, Agatha’s going to say she’s nipping up to the bathroom and she’s going to come down with her face freshly made up. And that’s exactly what Agatha did.
Agatha began to ask Freddy about his life in Zimbabwe. Charles, watching her animated face and sparkling eyes, suppressed a groan. He was just about to drop some remark about Freddy’s wife when the doorbell rang announcing Bill’s arrival.
“Well?” demanded Agatha eagerly.
Bill sat down at the kitchen table. He looked enquiringly at Freddy and Agatha quickly introduced him.
“We ran the name Bert, or Albert, Smellie through the police computer. I’m amazed he gave you his real name. How did you get on to that?”
“Think of it,” said Agatha. “Burt Haviland is like one of those names in romance books.”
“Anyway, he’s got a record for armed robbery. In prison took his A levels. Left prison and took a degree in electronics engineering. Bright lad. His probation officer was so proud of him. We raided his house. We found the video set-up hidden in a shed in the garden. But we recognized his bedroom and the garden from the video. He blustered and protested that it was just a bit of fun. The girls weren’t doing anything pornographic and it was an easy way to make money out of dirty old men. We’re keeping him in overnight for more questioning and while we double-check his alibi for the night Jessica was killed.”
“Did the parents know about this?”
“They were genuinely horrified,” said Bill.
“Where did three schoolgirls get the time to do all this?”
“Weekends, evenings, school holidays. We’re tracking down all the men who paid for a viewing.”
“I’ve an idea,” said Agatha, suddenly excited. “Maybe these two murders were tied up in some way. Robert Smedley’s computer at home had been overwritten to conceal what he had been logging into.”
“It’s an idea. We’ll check his credit-card details. I don’t suppose we’ll need a search warrant. Mrs. Smedley is very helpful. In fact, she’s one of the most charming ladies I’ve come across in a long time.”
“Humph,” muttered Agatha. “But what about Burt? Is he still claiming he was madly in love with Jessica?”
“Yes, he is. He said the video thing was a bit of fun. He was saving up to give Jessica a super wedding.”
“And you believe him?”
“I don’t know what to believe and that’s a fact. Thanks for the info, Agatha. We must have dinner sometime when all this is over … if it’s ever over.”
After Bill had left, Charles suggested they all go out for dinner. He watched uneasily as Agatha sparkled and told highly embroidered stories of her cases. He felt he should throw in some remark about Freddy’s wife, but it was so grand to see Agatha once more back on form. Let Freddy tell her.
Freddy didn