Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryham

that? He said, “I will not be going to Norfolk to see Agatha”?’
    ‘I can’t remember the exact words. I’ve got to go. Alf is calling me. ’Bye.’
    Agatha was so miserable that she joined Charles and Framp still holding the mobile phone in one hand. Charles stared at it, and Agatha blushed and thrust it into her handbag.
    Mrs Bloxby went into her sitting-room and sat staring at the fire. Was it a sin to lie when that lie was for someone’s good? James Lacey had actually said, ‘I miss Agatha. I think I’ll take a trip to this Fryfam place.’
    And Mrs Bloxby remembered herself saying, ‘She’s with Sir Charles.’ And the way James’s face had gone a bit set and grim and how he had gone on to talk of other things.
    But Mrs Bloxby was fond of Agatha and she felt that James Lacey would destroy Agatha’s independent spirit. But, she thought miserably, she should not have told James about Charles. James would have gone to Fryfam and it would be obvious there was really nothing going on between Charles and Agatha. Anyway, there was an age difference of about ten years between them, thought Mrs Bloxby naïvely, and that meant there could not possibly be any affair. Mrs Bloxby sighed. Telling James about Charles had been interference in Agatha’s life and she had no right at all to interfere. If she had said, ‘Charles is over there with her,’ then that would have been all right because James must have seen Charles’s name in the newspapers. But to say, ‘She’s with Sir Charles,’ abruptly and in that warning way. That was lying. She heard her husband come in.
    ‘What’s up?’ asked the vicar. ‘You look gloomy.’
    But she could no longer confide in him about Agatha. Alf did not like Agatha and would not understand her motives.

Chapter Seven

    Agatha and Charles were glad that Framp had warned them of Hand’s suspicions, so neither was particularly surprised when they found themselves borne off in a police car to headquarters.
    They were interviewed separately. Under Hand’s remorseless questioning, Agatha began to wonder if people actually caved in and confessed to crimes they had not committed, because he was almost making her believe she had done it. She was trying to control her temper, but was just about to crack and call him every name under the sun when they were interrupted. Tristan Tomley had arrived to represent both Agatha and Charles.
    He joined Agatha at the table. Hand’s questioning lost its belligerence and Agatha, glad of the support and wishing she had had the sense to demand a solicitor before Charles had thought of it, answered all his questions calmly.
    At last she read and signed a statement and was free to go. ‘You’ll need to wait for Charles,’ said Tommers breezily. ‘Got to sit in on his questioning.’
    Agatha waited patiently on a hard chair by the front desk. She tried to conjure up a dream about herself and James, but the dream would not come. She remembered instead all James’s coldness and anger, the way he would make love to her without saying a word. It’s over at last, she told herself.
    ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ asked the desk sergeant.
    ‘No, thank you.’
    The desk sergeant straightened up and then groaned. ‘My joints are killing me,’ he said. ‘Don’t you find when you get to our age that your knees and ankles ache the whole time?’
    ‘No,’ replied Agatha curtly. That’s all I need on this awful morning, she thought, to be reminded of my age by some fat-gutted copper whose joints would not ache so much if he lost some weight.
    At last Charles appeared with Tommers. ‘Thank God that’s over. Drink, Tommers?’
    ‘Not me. I’ve got an appointment with a client. I’ll be in touch.’
    Charles turned to Agatha. ‘Best smile,’ he said. ‘The press are outside. Some copper told me it’s leaked out that we are helping the police with their inquiries.’
    ‘Isn’t there a back way?’
    ‘Oh, let’s just face the music.’
    ‘Isn’t a police car going to take us home?’
    ‘That’s an idea.’ Charles went up to the desk and asked if they could have a car to take them back to Fryfam.
    ‘Detective Chief Inspector Hand ordered one, sir, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s outside the door.’
    As Charles and Agatha exited, flashes blinded them and Agatha stumbled. Charles put an arm about her shoulders and got her into the police car.
    When they arrived back at the cottage, Charles said, ‘Let’s get the cats and