these other residents forced her into joining their Scrabble game.
She refused the offer of a drink from the colonel. Mary Dulsey shook out the Scrabble tiles and old Harry put on a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and laid out pen and notebook to log the scores.
'It's nice the weather has cleared up,' said Daisy brightly. 'Oh, thank you, Colonel,' to that gentleman, who had returned with a tray of drinks.
'Aren't we going to discuss the murder?' asked Agatha.
'But it's our Scrabble game,' said Jennifer.
The others were carefully sorting their tiles in rows. 'I don't know what I'm supposed to do with this lot,' grumbled Mary.
'They found out who vandalized my coat,' said Agatha.
'We know,' said the colonel. 'Mr. Martin told us. Agatha, you have the highest tile. You start.'
Agatha looked at her letters. She leaned over the board and put down HOG. 'You have a T there and a U and another H,' reproved Daisy. You could have put THOUGH.'
'No helping,' barked the colonel, and Daisy blushed and whispered, 'Sorry.'
Agatha looked round the bent old heads in amazement. Why weren't they talking about the murder? But they had all been interviewed all morning, had probably discussed it among themselves, and now all they wanted was their usual game of Scrabble. Perhaps the best thing would be to try to tackle them one by one on the following day.
When the first game finished, she excused herself, saying she was tired and went up to her room.
Again she slept with the light on.
In the morning, she went down for breakfast and approached Daisy Jones. 'Mind if I join you?'
Daisy cast a longing look at the colonel but he was barricaded behind the
'Do you know I was the one who found poor Francie Juddle?' started Agatha.
'Yes, it was in the newspapers this morning.'
'What did you go to her for?'
Daisy looked uncomfortable. Then she said, 'Francie gave seances. She said she could get me in touch with my dead husband.'
'And did she?'
'Yes. I mean it was scary to hear Hugh's voice.'
'No trickery?'
'I suppose there must have been. I don't want to talk about it.'
'But--'
'No, I really don't want to talk about it. There are things one shouldn't dabble in.'
'I just wonder,' said Agatha slowly, 'if she knew your late husband. I mean did he come to Wyckhadden with you when he was alive?'
'Yes, we came every summer.' Daisy sighed. 'I suppose that's why I decided to retire here. So many happy memories. But Francie never met my Hugh. Let's talk about something else. What about you and the inspector?'
'I met him for the first time this week,' said Agatha. 'He took me to a dance on the pier.'
'What was that like?' asked Daisy wistfully. 'Is it still the same?'
'I suppose it is.'
'Hugh and I used to go to the dances there. I tried to get the colonel to take me, but he said he had no time for such nonsense.'
She looked so sad that Agatha said impulsively, 'We can always go together one evening. I mean you and me.'
'Oh, you are good.'
'It seems as if I'm stuck here for a bit. May as well.'
Daisy gave a surprisingly youthful giggle. 'I wonder what they'll do without me at their Scrabble game?'
They ate a companionable breakfast.
'I think I'll go for a walk,' said Agatha.
'When should we go to the dance?' asked Daisy eagerly. 'There's one on tonight.'
'May as well go then,' said Agatha, but already regretting her impulse.
Agatha went upstairs to get her coat. She decided to wash and blow-dry her hair before she went out and then apply some more of that lotion. She shampooed her hair and then examined her scalp. On the bald patches was now growing a faint fuzz of new hair. It's a miracle, thought Agatha. When I get back to Carsely, I'll get this hair lotion analysed and I might be able to make a fortune if it really works.
Feeling quite elated, she wound a pretty chiffon scarf around her head in a sort of Turkish turban, put on her coat and headed out of the hotel. It was very cold and windy, but Agatha was determined to exercise and return to Carsely a new, thin Agatha. She set out in the opposite direction she had gone before, to the east rather than the west. She kept away from the sea-wall, for the tide was high and occasionally a great wave would break over the wall. The air was full of the sounds of screaming sea-gulls and crashing sea. Reaching the end of the promenade in that direction, she turned back and headed west, past the hotel. She turned up into the centre of the town where she found an elegant little boutique. In the window was a short black silk chiffon dress, cut low and with thin straps. Bit chilly for Wyckhadden in winter, thought Agatha. But she knew she still had smooth shoulders and a good bust. Wouldn't do any harm to try it on.
She emerged twenty minutes later with the dress in a bag. It was too good for the pier dance, but for a candle-lit dinner with James Lacey ...
Agatha found her steps leading her to that pub where she had first met Jimmy. It was just about lunch-time and he might be there.
She pushed opened the door of the pub and went in. It smelt like all dingy pubs, of stale beer and Bisto gravy.
No Jimmy. A couple of business men at one table, the adulterous couple at an other, three youths propping up the bar.
She went over to the bar and ordered a gin and tonic. She took out her wallet to pay for it when a voice behind her said to the bartender, 'I'll get that, Charlie. And half a pint of lager for me.' She turned quickly and saw Jimmy smiling down at her.
'Thank you,' said Agatha. 'How are things going?'
He paid for the drinks and then they sat down at a table. 'The motive seems to have been robbery,' said Jimmy.
'Oh.' Agatha was disappointed. She had been nursing a dream where it would turn out one of the residents at the Garden had committed the murder and she would solve it.
'Her daughter, Janine, says she kept a large amount of cash in a padlocked metal box. The box was found this morning on the beach where it had been thrown. It was empty.'
'Forced?'
'No. Her keys were missing as well. Janine said she kept a key to the box with her car keys.'
'So it was not just some ordinary burglary. I mean, it wasn't some lout off the street. Someone knew where she kept the money.'
'Looks that way.'
'Any sign of what struck her?'
'Some sort of poker or cosh or bottle. Forensic are still working on that. Been shopping?'
'I found a pretty dress in a boutique in the town. I think it's too good to wear tonight, however.'
'What's happening tonight?'
'I'm going with Daisy Jones from the hotel to the pier dance.'
'Good for you.'
'I wish I'd never agreed to it,' said Agatha gloomily.
'We haven't ruled out that it might be one of them at the hotel, although it seems far-fetched.'
'The colonel's very fit,' said Agatha. 'Come to think of it, apart from old Mr. Berry, they're all pretty fit.'
