Toni drove Agatha in the direction of Stoke. Agatha, feeling the pain in her hip was getting worse, let her take over. To Agatha's irritation, Toni drove easily and well. 'We'd better stop somewhere and get a street map,' said Agatha. 'There's a newsagent's.'
Toni parked neatly between two cars. Agatha scowled. She herself still needed the length of a truck to park properly.
Toni darted into the shop and came out brandishing a street map. 'Let me have it,' ordered Agatha, who was hating not being in control. She studied it and then said, 'We're in luck. It's on this side of Stoke. Go straight ahead through three roundabouts and turn sharp left at the fourth. That's Stafford Road. Cherry Tree Close is the third on the left.'
The close was one of those builders' developments where an effort had been made to make every house look different and yet the final result was that they all looked the same. They were two-storeyed houses built of grey stone. The uniform-sized windows gazed blankly out over small neat gardens. 'Isn't it odd that Phyllis never mentioned having had a previous brickworks?' said Agatha.
'Maybe ashamed of herself for having ruined Carrie's engagement and frightened off Susan'
'I wonder. There's number 5. Let's hope some one's at home.'
Toni rang the bell. They waited and waited but there was no reply. 'Let's get back to the car and wait,' said Agatha.
'She might be at work,' remarked Toni. 'Maybe not. She would be near to Phyllis's age. So she would probably be retired.' Agatha lit a cigarette. 'I wonder if it'll snow this Christmas'
'Can you remember a white Christmas?' asked Toni.
'Not one. This global warming would just come along when nobody wants it,' complained Agatha.
Toni repressed a smile. The scientists were worried about global warming, governments were worried about it, but Agatha Raisin was fed up because she wouldn't have a white Christmas. She said, 'Never mind. It's usually dark and dreary in December and if you have a tree and a lot of lights and decorations, it'll look very pretty.'
'I've an awful lot of people to invite,' said Agatha. 'I don't think my dining room will hold them all.'
'Is there a hall in the village?'
'Yes, but it's pretty dingy.'
'Still, you could decorate it and hide the dinginess. Or maybe you could get extra tables and put them together so that they ran from the dining room across the hall and into the living room,' said Toni.
Agatha brightened. 'Now, that might work. A lot of the Ladies' Society were fed up because I didn't invite them to the last one.'
'Someone's coming,' said Toni. 'A car's arriving.'
A new Audi moved past them and drove up and into the garage at the side of number 5. 'Good,' said Agatha. 'Let's go.'
The woman getting out of her car looked at them curiously. She was slim and well preserved with dyed blonde hair, large, slightly protruding hazel eyes, a small mouth, and a long thin nose.
A Hermes scarf was tied tightly round her neck.
Agatha judged her to be in her seventies and that she had had some plastic surgery.
Agatha went up to her and explained who they were and why they were there.
'I don't know that I can help you,' said Wanda. 'I mean, what can you do after all these years? The police searched everywhere.'
'Did they interview Phyllis Tamworthy?'
'Oh, yes. Over and over again. Hugh Tamworthy was going to get a divorce and marry my sister. I think Phyllis frightened her into running away. But she didn't take any of her clothes or her passport.'
'Did you read in the newspapers that Phyllis was murdered?'
'Yes, and I was glad to hear someone had at last got the guts to bump the horrible woman off.'
'Do you know where the Tamworthys lived when they were up here?' asked Toni.
'They had a bungalow in Rumton.'
'Where exactly?' asked Toni eagerly.
Agatha looked at her in surprise.
'I'm sure it was at Rumton near the old brickworks. They've closed down now and it's a nursery and garden furniture place.'
Agatha longed to ask Wanda where she was on the day that Phyllis was murdered but knew that only the police could really go around asking questions like that.
Instead she asked, 'Can you think of anyone from Phyllis's past who might have wanted to kill her?'
'Carrie Shufflebottom hated Phyllis for taking Hugh away. She was engaged to him. But she was always a gentle soul.'
Back in the car, Agatha rounded on Toni. 'Why did you want to know where that bungalow was?'
Toni's eyes shone with excitement. 'Don't you see? Phyllis may have bumped her off'
'We're looking for who killed Phyllis, not who Phyllis killed.'
'But if she was a murderess, then that would be even more motive for someone to kill her'
'Oh, very well,' said Agatha sulkily.
They found the bungalow by asking at the nursery. An old lady answered the door to them. Is everyone around here ancient? thought Agatha. Will we all end up in Carsely supporting ourselves on our Zimmer frames? She explained who they were and why they were visiting.
'I remember Phyllis and Susan,' said the old lady. 'I'm Pearl Dawson. Come in.'
They went into a cluttered parlour, redolent of old body, peppermints and pine disinfectant. Mrs Dawson seemed to be crippled with arthritis. She winced as she lowered herself into a chair. 'I need two hip replacements,' she sighed. 'But I've been waiting two and a half years now.' As if to mock her, a voice from a small television set in the corner announced: 'Today the government said that the National Health Service has cut waiting lists dramatically.'
'Oh, turn that thing off,' said Pearl. 'Nothing but lies.'
She was very thin and very wrinkled, with pink scalp showing through strands of grey hair.
'Now, what can I tell you?' she went on. 'I mind Susan. Such a pretty, jolly girl. Something bad happened to her. She'd never have run away.'
Toni said bluntly, 'Do you think Phyllis might have killed her?'
Pearl looked shocked. 'Never even crossed my mind.'
'Let's just suppose,' said Toni eagerly, 'that Phyllis was sweet to Susan and offered her a lift home. Did you hear if there was anyone else around when she left the office?'
'I heard she was working late,' said Pearl. 'The gossips said she often worked late, and Hugh Tamworthy as well. But he didn't that night. Phyllis had sent him into Stoke to pick up some curtain material she had chosen. It was late-night shopping there. Maybe Susan was waiting for him to call back. Some of the brickies said she was in love with Hugh.'
'So,' said Toni excitedly, 'Phyllis kills her. She's got to get rid of the body. Is there anywhere round about here where one could hide a body?'
Pearl smiled. 'You do have a good imagination, young lady. There's the garden, but nothing's been done to that for ages. There's an old well but the police searched that.'
Agatha began to get interested. If the police had been searching around the bungalow, they must have wondered about Phyllis.
'Anywhere else?' she asked.
'Can't think of anywhere. There's the old privy out back. No one could take it down because it's listed as being of historical importance. Imagine! An old Victorian toilet being of interest to anyone.'
'Do you mind if we have a look?' asked Agatha.
'Suit yourself. It's up at the end of the back garden. If you don't mind, I'll stay here. It hurts to move.'
'What is the name of your Member of Parliament?' asked Agatha.
'Mr Wither. Why?'
'Have you thought of phoning him to complain about not getting your hip replacements?'
