Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist

affairs.’
    ‘Nor me,’ said Agatha, eyeing him speculatively and wondering what life would be like in Israel.
    ‘When I saw you in the pool, do you know, I had this funny feeling I had known you a long time,’ said Bert. ‘Have some more wine.’
    Behind Agatha, Olivia brayed with laughter and said, ‘Oh, James, you are wicked.’
    Agatha held out her glass and smiled into Bert’s eyes. ‘This is a very romantic setting,’ she said.
    ‘Isn’t it?’
    The sea was calmer that evening and heaved itself up against the rocks below the hotel with rhythmic little splashes. Agatha had a heady feeling of elation. She was embarking on a new chapter of her life. She could forget all about Carsely, about James, about murder. Nothing really mattered except this handsome man whose eyes were glowing at her across the table.
    There was a sudden rustling in the restaurant, then a silence. Agatha turned round. A beautiful young woman had entered the restaurant. She looked like a foreign film star. She had long black, glossy hair, which she wore down on her tanned shoulders. She was wearing a short white lace dress. Her long, long tanned legs ended in high-heeled strapped sandals. Her large brown eyes were rimmed with thick black lashes. The silence ended and there was a murmur of appreciation.
    Bert looked as if he had been shot through the heart. ‘She is very beautiful, isn’t she,’ asked Agatha uneasily.
    He made a funny croaking sound. The vision was approaching their table.
    ‘Surprise!’ she cried.
    Bert rose to his feet. ‘Barbara!’ he said. ‘You’re the last person I expected to see.’
    ‘I thought I’d join you earlier than I’d planned.’ She looked down at Agatha inquiringly.
    ‘Oh, this is a tourist who’s staying at the hotel – Mrs Raisin.’
    Agatha looked up at the beauty, bewildered. ‘Your daughter, Bert?’
    ‘I’m his wife,’ she said with a laugh. ‘Aren’t you pleased to see me, Bert?’ She turned to Agatha. ‘He wasn’t expecting me until next week, but I thought I would surprise him.’
    Agatha stood up. ‘Please have my chair,’ she said stiffly.
    ‘But you haven’t finished your meal, Mrs Raisin!’
    ‘I see my friends over there. I’ve got something I want to talk to them about.’
    Agatha walked over, pulled out a chair and sat down between James and Olivia. A waiter brought over her half-eaten plate of kebab and rice and placed it in front of her.
    ‘Who is that glorious creature?’ asked Olivia.
    ‘She’s his daughter,’ lied Agatha, aware of James’s cynical eyes on his face.
    ‘Then it’s a very incestuous relationship,’ cackled Olivia. ‘She’s just leaned across the table and kissed him on the mouth!’
    ‘Yes, and now they’re holding hands,’ said James.
    ‘I don’t really know him,’ mumbled Agatha. ‘Maybe I was mistaken . . . because of the age difference, you know.’ Desperate to turn the conversation away from Bert, and feeling old and plain and unwanted, Agatha asked, ‘Any more news about the murder?’
    George shook his head. ‘They’ll probably tell us something tomorrow.’
    Agatha looked curiously at Trevor. He was drinking steadily. Beside him, Angus was sunk in gloom. In fact, thought Agatha, Angus looked more like the bereaved husband than Trevor.
    Olivia turned to Agatha. ‘You told us on that yacht trip that you had investigated murders, Agatha. Are you going to investigate this one?’
    ‘I might see what I can find out.’
    ‘Oh, mind your own business,’ said Trevor suddenly and truculently.
    ‘But, why?’ asked Olivia. ‘Don’t you want to know who killed poor Rose?’
    ‘Of course I want to know and I’ll kill the bastard the minute I find out who he is. But I don’t want some woman poking her nose in because she thinks it’s some sort of game.’
    ‘Steady on, old boy,’ said George, putting a hand on Trevor’s arm.
    Trevor shook him off. He got to his feet. ‘I’m sick of the lot of you,’ he said. He marched out of the restaurant, colliding drunkenly with a table as he went.
    ‘Och, now,’ said Angus placatingly. ‘You’ve not to be minding him, Agatha. We’re all in a state of shock. I’d better go and see if he’s all right.’
    Angus left as well.
    There was an uneasy silence.
    Olivia looked suddenly subdued. ‘I think I’ll make an early night of it.’ She got to her feet and her husband and friend rose as well. ‘See you at the cop shop tomorrow,’ said Olivia.
    That left