Agatha's First Case (8 page)
Read Agatha's First Case Online
Authors: M. C. Beaton
There was no sign of Toni. Agatha got into her car and phoned her.
“I got chased away,” said Toni. “I'll come back his evening, if you like.”
“Let me think about that. Do you know if they've found Clive?”
“Not a sign of him. A friendly policeman told me his flat was empty before he got reprimanded.”
“I hope to God he's all right,” said Agatha. “I've got to go to Mircester to make another statement. I'll call you tomorrow.”
Agatha knew the rush-hour traffic would be building up and so she decided to drive to the Botley road and exit Oxford by the ring road.
But as she got to the bottom of Beaufort Street, the traffic slowed to a stop and she could see police erecting a barrier.
She swung off into the Gloucester Green car park and then made her way on foot to the barrier. “I must get past,” she said to a policeman on duty. “My train's about to leave,” she lied, quickly thinking of an excuse to find out what had happened.
“All right. But keep clear of the police activity on the canal bridge. There are enough rubberneckers there already.”
Agatha hurried down Worcester Street to Hythe Bridge Street. “What's up?” Agatha asked a man.
“Body in the canal,” he said.
With a feeling of dread, Agatha elbowed her way to the front, ignoring angry protests. A weak sun was gilding the black waters of the canal. As Agatha watched, the sun shone down on the dead face of Clive Tremund as his body was dragged from the water.
She realised that if she was spotted by any detectives who had been at Clive's house then there would be more questions and so she shoved her way back through the crowd.
M. C. BEATON
,
who was the British guest of honor at Bouchercon 2006, has been hailed as the “Queen of Crime” (
The Globe and Mail
). In addition to her
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling Agatha Raisin novels, Beaton is the author of the Hamish Macbeth series and four Edwardian mysteries. Born in Scotland, she currently divides her time between the English Cotswolds and Paris. You can sign up for email updates
here
.
Author photo by Louise Bowles.
    
Also by
M. C. Beaton
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Dishing the Dirt: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
The Blood of an Englishman: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
Something Borrowed, Someone Dead: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
Hiss and Hers: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
As the Pig Turns: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
Busy Body: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
There Goes the Bride: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
A Spoonful of Poison: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
Kissing Christmas Goodbye: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
Love, Lies and Liquor: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
The Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
The Deadly Dance: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House
Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate
Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came
Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell
Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfram
Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden
Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham
Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death
Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist
Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage
The Walkers of Dembley: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
The Potted Gardener: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
The Vicious Vet: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
The Quiche of Death: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
Edwardian Mystery Series
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Contents
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
AGATHA'S FIRST CASE.
Copyright © 2015 by M. C. Beaton. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Cover designed by Crystal Ben
Cover photographs by Shutterstock
e-ISBN 9781250084316
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First Edition: August 2015