“Even mad people have a reason.”
Agatha took out her phone and called Patrick. “Patrick,” she said, “did any of your police contacts give you any reason why Trixie did what she did?”
Toni could hear the tinny sound of Patrick’s reply but not the words.
“Well, I’ll be damned!” exclaimed Agatha. “See you later.”
She turned to Toni. “You’re not going to believe this. Evidently Trixie said she did it because she was bored and wanted to liven the village up a bit.”
“Awful woman,” said Toni with a shudder. “Mind you, if she hadn’t come after us, she might just have got away with it.”
Their food arrived. Toni waited impatiently until Agatha had taken a few mouthfuls of food and then asked, “What’s this idea?”
“I’m going to set you up in your own detective agency,” said Agatha.
“But I don’t know how to run a business!”
“You’ll learn. You’re bright. Employ a secretary and two young people like yourself. No old detectives. We’ll call it the Spring Detective Agency. You know—spring—youth.”
“What about the Gilmour Detective Agency?”
“No, I don’t think so. Start thinking about who you would recruit and I’ll look around for premises.”
Toni knew in that moment that Agatha resented the press coverage she had got. She reflected that it’s a sad business to find out the rock you’ve been leaning on for support has a great crack down the middle.
“Think about it,” said Agatha, feeling obscurely ashamed of herself. “If you don’t want to do it, don’t bother.”
Toni was pretty sure that she would turn down Agatha’s offer. But something was to happen which changed her mind.
Chapter Eleven
TONI WAS SITTING that evening with her friend Sharon when the phone rang. It was Harry.
“I just wondered how you were getting on,” he said.
“I’m fine,” said Toni, and then, in a rush, she went on, “I’m not really. Agatha wants to set me up in my own detective agency and I don’t think I can do it. I don’t know anything about running a business.”
“I wonder why she’s doing that,” said Harry. “I tell you what, I’ll take a year off from university and help you set up. I’m bored with Cambridge and I miss the detective work.”
“No ties?” asked Toni anxiously.
“No, no. Strictly business. It would be exciting.”
Toni felt a wave of relief. “If you’re free, drop round and we’ll talk about it.”
“Be with you in minutes.”
“Who was that?” asked Sharon.
“Harry.”
“Not the fellow who wants you to read them Frenchies and go to crap opera?”
“Yes, but he says it’s strictly business and I do need the help. He’s coming round.”
“Great. I’m dying to see what this wannabe professor looks like.”
Harry arrived so quickly that Toni wondered if he had been lurking at the corner of her street.
Sharon eyed him with surprise. Harry, who had once worn a nose stud and shaved his head, now had a crop of wavy brown hair above a square handsome face. He was dressed smart-casual. Toni introduced them.
“Let’s get started,” said Harry. “Is Agatha hiring the staff for you?”
“No, she wants me to hire young people.”
“Does she want you to fail?” asked Harry. “I mean, a retired copper like Patrick is a boon.”
“Why would she want me to fail?”
“Well, not fail. I’ve seen you on television. You have been taking the limelight away from her.”
“I don’t like the sound of this,” said Toni.
“Oh, go for it. What about a name?”
“She wants me to call it Spring, as in youth.”
“We can’t have that. What about Gilmour Detective Agency?”
“I suggested that and she turned it down.”
“She
“Why not just call it The Detective Agency?” said Sharon.
