As The Pig Turns

he’s at least safe, thought Agatha. She made her way back to Toni. ‘Have you still got Simon’s mobile phone number?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Toni.
    ‘Please phone him and find out what the matter is.’
    ‘He probably won’t answer,’ said Toni. ‘Oh, don’t glare at me. I’ll try.’
    Toni went out and stood in the shade of a tall tombstone and called. Simon answered. ‘It’s Toni. Where are you?’
    ‘I’ve locked myself in my room. I couldn’t go through with it.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘My father doesn’t believe in stag parties, and we had a small party last night for the family and relatives. I was teasing Sue about names for the baby and telling her she shouldn’t drink so much. She said she’d had an abortion because otherwise she wouldn’t have fitted into her wedding dress. Look, the reason I proposed was because she said she was pregnant.’
    ‘So why didn’t you just put a stop to everything there and then?’
    ‘I hadn’t the courage. So many arrangements.’
    Toni could hear someone banging and shouting, ‘Come out of there immediately!’
    ‘Got to go,’ he said, and rang off.
    Toni returned to her colleagues and told them what Simon had said. ‘Of all the wimps!’ exclaimed Agatha.
    ‘You got him into this,’ said Toni. ‘If it hadn’t been for your interference, he’d never have joined the army.’
    ‘That’s unfair,’ said Charles quietly. ‘Next thing you’ll be telling us that Agatha got Sue pregnant.’
    ‘Sorry,’ Toni mumbled.
    ‘Well, I’m going back home to get out of this hot clobber. Oh, look. Here comes James.’
    James, as impeccably dressed as Charles, came hurrying up. ‘Have I missed the wedding?’
    They rapidly explained to him what had happened. ‘It was a bit of a dirty trick to tell him at the very last moment,’ said James roundly. ‘I would say he’s well out of it. I’m hungry. Anyone want lunch?’
    Aware of Agatha’s beady eyes on them, willing them to go away, they all muttered apologies. ‘I’m free,’ said Agatha cheerfully. ‘Let’s go.’
    Over an Italian meal, Agatha told James what had been happening. ‘I feel it’s all to do with that factory of Staikov’s. I wish we could get in there. Patrick says it’s well guarded. Now, that’s suspicious.’
    ‘Not necessarily,’ remarked James. ‘Lots of expensive leather to guard.’
    ‘I’d love to get in there and have a look.’
    ‘Agatha! I’m through with breaking and entering. What we could do . . .’
    ‘Yes?’ How Agatha loved the sound of that ‘we’.
    ‘If there’s any nefarious business going on, it would probably take place at night. We could go up there after midnight and have a look.’
    ‘Oh, James, thank you. When you just cleared off, I thought you’d lost interest.’
    ‘I have to make a living.’
    ‘But you have independent means.’
    ‘True, but I feel pretty useless when I’m not working, and I enjoy the travel. I’m about to do something new. Next month, I’m doing a documentary for the BBC on British expats who sold up here and moved to Spain to start a new life.’
    ‘You’re going to be a television presenter! I could handle the publicity for you.’
    ‘No, Agatha. I prefer a quiet life.’
    Agatha studied him, her mind a whirl of thoughts. He would have researchers, camera crew, make-up girl, all the usual circus. Some of the girls might be very pretty. She pulled herself together and told herself not to be silly.
    ‘I’m thinking of closing down the agency for two weeks and giving everyone a holiday,’ said Agatha. ‘I don’t want to put any of them in danger.’
    ‘Good idea. Talking about danger, I hope Simon doesn’t start chasing after Toni again.’
    ‘He behaved disgracefully.’
    ‘Not quite. He should have called off the whole thing the night before, the minute he knew she wasn’t pregnant. Still, he’s very young. And would it be so very bad if he and Toni got together?’
    ‘I think he’s unstable,’ said Agatha mulishly. ‘Let’s make plans for tonight.’
    ‘Where’s Charles?’
    ‘Gone off home. You know Charles. He flits in and out of my life and I never know when I am going to see him next.’
    Toni heard her doorbell ring at nine that evening. Because Agatha was paying her a good wage, she had invested in an intercom.
    ‘Who is it?’ she asked.
    ‘Simon.’
    Toni hesitated for a moment and then pressed the buzzer to let him in.
    Then she opened the door and watched him mount the stairs.