Agatha Raisin: As the Pig Turns

Chapter Ten

Only Charles, in full morning dress, seemed to have made an effort for the occasion of Simon’s wedding. Agatha had not found anything suitable to wear in Mircester and had not been allowed back into her cottage the evening before. In the morning she had rapidly scrambled into a pale blue trouser suit, realizing only when she got to the church how much she hated it. Although it was well designed, she felt pale blue was definitely not her colour.

Roy, who had been invited, had sent his apologies, probably frightened he might be abducted again. Mrs Freedman was resplendent in black-and-red-patterned silk and with a large straw hat decorated with silk poppies. Patrick and Phil were in lounge suits. Toni looked subdued. She was wearing a dark grey silk dress, rather drab, as if she were wearing half-mourning, like an Edwardian lady. Mrs Bloxby was there with her husband, wearing the same outfit she had worn to many weddings: an unflattering brown chiffon dress and a large straw hat decorated with brown chiffon roses.

As if by common consent, they all shuffled into pews at the very back of the church. Agatha, worried about Toni, hoped the service would not be too long. There was to be a reception afterwards at Simon’s parents’ home. They had all decided, for Toni’s sake, to forgo it.

For her part, Toni really did not know what she felt.

Many of Simon’s regimental friends were in the church, reminding guilty Agatha that it was surely her fault that he had gone to Afghanistan.

The church was very warm. Agatha began to regret she had jeered so many times about global warming. The stained-glass windows of the abbey sent down harlequin shafts of light. The organ played softly.

Charles whispered, ‘What’s happening? Simon isn’t here. The best man’s there, but no Simon.’ People began to twist their heads, looking anxiously towards the door.

Agatha experienced a sudden feeling of dread. She whispered to Patrick, ‘What if he’s been kidnapped like Roy?’

‘Probably sleeping off the effects of some stag party,’ replied Patrick comfortably.

Agatha craned her neck. She could see what must be Simon’s father talking urgently to some of Simon’s army colleagues. They left the abbey.

A babble of conversation rose up to the hammer beams on the roof. One woman left the church for a few minutes and then came back and announced excitedly, ‘Poor Susan is in the wedding car, being driven around and around. Where is the wretched boy?’

Agatha was just about to go outside and phone Bill when Simon’s army colleagues came back into the church and went straight up to his father. There was a frantic discussion, and then Simon’s father announced, ‘I am sorry. The wedding is off.’

People rose from their pews and began to stream out through the great double doors of the abbey. But Agatha, followed by Charles, thrust her way through the departing guests and approached Simon’s father.

‘Has Simon been found?’ she gasped.

‘Yes, he has,’ he answered curtly. ‘He has been found at our home. I have much to do. Please excuse me.’

Thank God 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. ‘I didn’t think they’d let you out after the mess you created,’ she said.

‘Don’t you start. I’ve had enough of it.’ Simon crossed the room and slumped into an armchair. With his odd jester features, he looked like a discarded puppet.

Toni shut the door and then sat down in an armchair facing him. ‘You could have had children once you were married.’

‘Fact is,’ said Simon, running a weary hand through his thick hair, ‘I’d begun to go off her. We drink a lot in the regiment, but once we got back to Mircester, she just kept on drinking buckets. She’s pretty coarse when she’s drunk.’

‘So why wait until the last minute?’

‘I just panicked. I want out of the army.’

‘Why did you join up in the first place?’

Toni dreaded hearing him say, ‘It was because of you.’

But he sighed and shifted uneasily in his chair. ‘I’d begun to find the detective work boring. I don’t like working for women, and Agatha is not the most sympathetic of creatures.’

‘So it wasn’t because of me?’

‘I’d like to flatter you, but no, it wasn’t. But now I’m free, we can start to see each other.’

‘I don’t want to any more,’ said Toni. ‘And don’t pretend to look miserable. Own up, Simon! You want a shoulder to cry on.’

He grinned suddenly. ‘You always were sharp. Anyway, Dad’s fixed up for me to see a shrink.’

‘Why? Because of Sue?’

‘No, I want out of the army, and a sympathetic family shrink friend is going to diagnose me with post-traumatic stress.’

‘But won’t the army want to examine you as well?’

‘They won’t get a chance. I’ll be in a loony bin run by this psychiatrist. Mum doesn’t want me to go back to Afghanistan.’

‘You’re thoroughly spoilt,’ said Toni.

‘I certainly am, and I plan to make the most of it.’

‘I think you’d better leave. I’m tired. I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow.’

Simon stood up. He tried to kiss her, but she ducked her head and then went and held the door open.

When she had closed it behind him, she sat down and wondered if Agatha had been right about him all along.

Agatha and James drove off after midnight through the sleeping village of Carsely. ‘If this hot weather goes on,’ said James, ‘there’ll be a hosepipe ban. How’s your garden?’

‘Fine,’ said Agatha defensively, thinking of her wilting plants that she kept forgetting to water.

‘We’ll need to park somewhere well outside the estate and walk,’ said James.

‘It’s pretty open ground all round,’ said Agatha.

‘There is a bit of wood and scrub at the back. As far as I remember, not all the units are fenced off. I checked it out earlier after supper.’

They drove on in silence. ‘Oh, look,’ said James as they neared the industrial estate. ‘There are clouds building up in the west.’

‘I hope there’s not going to be another storm like there was on the night Roy was kidnapped,’ said Agatha, thinking all the while, What if James is a success as a television personality? He’ll be famous. There will be beautiful women after him. Look at the way he nearly married that airhead. But does it matter any more? She felt that old obsession she once had for him was being aroused by the competitive streak in her nature. But then she remembered all the hurt and jealousy and sheer misery that obsession had brought her, and she gave a dry little sob.

James stopped the car abruptly. ‘Are you all right? Severed heads and murders are enough to shake the strongest person.’

‘I’m fine,’ said Agatha defiantly. ‘Press on.’

James took a small earthy track leading round to the back of the industrial site. He switched off the headlights and parked just inside.

The site had once been a camp for Polish refugees during the Second World War. Old people remembered when the Poles had their own shops and even a cinema. Most of the businesses were now in old Nissen huts. But Country Fashions was a large, square brick building with a staff entrance at the side and a loading bay at the back.

‘You see that mound of grass and earth over there?’ whispered James. ‘We can lie behind it and get a good look at the loading bay.’

‘It’s clouding over,’ Agatha whispered back.

‘I brought a couple of night-vision binoculars,’ said James, opening a travel bag. He handed a pair to Agatha. ‘Now, we wait.’

The night dragged on. Clouds covered the moon, and then a light rain began to fall. ‘Let’s give up,’ moaned Agatha.

‘Keep your voice down. I can hear something coming. Here comes the security guard.’

The rumble of a vehicle drew nearer. The guard opened the gates to the loading bay. A thickset man came out of the building. ‘Evening, Mr Staikov,’ said the guard.

‘That must be the son,’ whispered Agatha. ‘He’s taken over the business.’

The truck rumbled to a stop. The back doors were opened and two men jumped out. The driver and another man who had been in the front seat came to join them.

They began to unload rolls of leather from the back and carry them into the building. Then they heard Staikov say clearly, ‘Bring the paperwork into the office and I’ll sign it. I want to get to my bed. You were expected this afternoon.’

‘Bloody French,’ said one man. ‘Strike at Calais. Held us up for hours, it did.’

Agatha felt a sinking feeling of disappointment. The load should have arrived in broad daylight. Staikov was inside signing paperwork. The rain was coming down heavier.

She tried to get to her feet, but James pulled her down. ‘We can’t risk being seen. Wait until they drive off.’

To Agatha, it seemed to take ages. Her soaking hair was plastered to her head. Her clothes were drenched.

At long last, the truck drove off, the gates were closed, and James said they could move.

In the car, he turned on the heater. ‘This is awful,’ moaned Agatha.

‘It’s good for the gardens.’

‘I’m not a plant!’

Although she knew she was risking valuable business, Agatha told her assembled staff in the morning that she was closing down the agency for two weeks. She said they had been under threat for too long and it would do them all good to get a break.

There were a few grumbles that she hadn’t really given them time to make holiday arrangements, yet each of them was secretly relieved. Ever since Agatha had been sent that severed head and Roy kidnapped, they had all felt uneasy.

‘Where will you go?’ Toni asked Agatha.

‘Don’t know. I think I’d like to potter around, have tea with Mrs Bloxby, do village things.’

‘Doesn’t sound like you,’ remarked Phil.

‘Well, I’m weary of the whole business. Maybe if I just switch off from it all, something will occur to me.’

‘We have cases outstanding,’ Mrs Freedman pointed out.

‘Nothing that can’t be put on hold. Nothing really but nasty divorces. If we had an outstanding one about a missing child, then that would be different.’

Toni went to her computer and looked up a website that offered last-minute holidays. Last-minute or not, the prices seemed high. She went out to find a travel agent. The pavements were steaming under the hot sun after last night’s rain. It’s almost tropical, thought Toni. She walked to a small travel agency at the corner of the street, pushed open the door and went in.

‘Hi, Tone,’ a voice greeted her.

Toni saw Chelsea Flitter, the girl she had last seen working as a receptionist at Mixden’s detective agency. ‘What are you doing here?’ asked Toni.

‘It’s better here. You get free trips. I’m off to Las Vegas.’

‘Oh, you lucky thing!’ exclaimed Toni. ‘I’ve always wanted to play the tables, just once.’

‘Here, you could do it!’ said Chelsea excitedly. ‘I’m off tonight. It’s a holiday agency called Summerflight. They’ve got their own planes. Leaves Gatwick Airport. Only four days. You could share my room. All you’d need is the money for the ticket and I can book that now. It’ll be more fun with two of us. Come on, Tone. We may even meet a couple of millionaires.’

‘I’ll do it,’ said Toni.

‘Attagirl!’

The flight was uncomfortable at first, the computer having crammed the passengers into all the seats at the front. Anything to eat or drink had to be purchased, and they even had to put one pound in the slot to use the toilet. Fortunately, the plane was only half-full and they were able to find other seats and stretch out.

The hotel was called the Old Prairie Ranch and was on the outskirts of Las Vegas near the airport. The architecture could be described as Plastic Log Cabin. Their room opened out on to a dusty outside corridor. It had a tired look. A cockroach lurked in the shower. Toni began to wish she had not come, but nothing seemed to dim Chelsea’s enthusiasm.

‘You know, I’ve always admired you, Tone,’ she said. ‘If I went a bit easier on the war paint and brushed my hair down, we could look like sisters.’

Toni was tired and suggested they should have a few hours’ sleep before setting off into town.

They ordered hamburgers and Cokes from room service, and then both fell into a heavy sleep.

Toni was awakened by Chelsea shaking her. ‘Show a leg, girl. Time to hit the town.’

Las Vegas was exciting as their taxi deposited them at the Rio Grande Hotel and Casino. There was a hectic buzz in the air. The whole city seemed a symphony of flashing neon lights.

Toni was wearing a simple black sheath with a row of pearls around her neck. Chelsea had also put on a black dress and had toned down her make-up. At first, as they entered, Toni felt almost overdressed. Elderly men and women were crouched at the slot machines, their eyes glazed, pulling the levers.

‘I want to play roulette,’ said Toni.

But Chelsea had noticed that the people at the machines were not all old. A young man with a cowboy hat pushed back on his head winked at her. ‘You go play roulette,’ said Chelsea. ‘I’ll try my luck here.’

‘What if we lose each other?’ protested Toni.

‘I’ve got a mobile which can work here. What about you?’

‘Yes, I’ve got one of those.’

‘Good, we can text each other.’

Feeling very young and self-conscious, Toni made her way to the roulette tables after buying a modest amount of chips. Not knowing whether she was allowed to use a camera or not, she still wanted a record of her visit. Agatha had given her a present of a ‘spy’ camera in the shape of a cigarette lighter. Toni had it inside a clutch handbag. She fished it out along with a packet of cigarettes. No one seemed to be smoking. Was there a smoking ban? Never mind, she told herself, if someone thinks I’m going to light up, I’m sure they’ll stop me. She rapidly clicked off a series of photographs of the people around the roulette tables. Then she saw a place at a table where she could push in.

She put fifty dollars on thirteen, and to her amazement, she won. She then played another fifty on seven and won again. ‘Third time lucky, honey,’ said an excited woman beside her. Toni played on, she lost some, but then won again, and again. Common sense took over and she decided to stop playing.

‘Luck hardly ever goes on happening,’ remarked Toni, gathering up her chips. When she cashed in her chips, she found she had won nearly two thousand dollars. She went off to find Chelsea, who was still feverishly playing the slot machines. ‘I’ve won quite a bit,’ said Toni. ‘Let’s get something to eat.’

‘Later,’ muttered Chelsea. ‘I’ll let you know.’

Toni found a café serving snacks and settled down to eat. She noticed a few people were smoking. The café had a balcony overlooking the main floor of the casino.

She shot some more pictures and then focussed on the slot machines where she had left Chelsea. She put away her camera and phoned her. The ringing stopped and went into voice mail. She texted her, saying she would meet her at the entrance. First, she searched along the rows and rows of slot machines without finding Chelsea.

Toni waited nervously at the entrance, standing next to a security guard for safety, saying she was waiting for her friend.

She became anxious. If Chelsea had met some man, surely she would have phoned or texted. Maybe her phone didn’t work in the States after all.

At last, the sympathetic security guard got someone to take her up to the surveillance room. There were banks and banks of cameras photographing every part of the casino. Toni tried to estimate how long had passed since she had left Chelsea. Perhaps just over an hour. She pleaded to look at film of the slot machines around that time.

The film ran. Then she cried, ‘Stop! That’s her!’ Chelsea could be seen avidly pulling the handle of a slot machine. They ran the film forward. Chelsea rose. She was talking to someone, looking surprised and then anxious. She said something and took out her phone. Then she shook her head. Her companion said something else. Chelsea looked startled. With her new companion, she moved towards the entrance. Chelsea kept looking wildly round as if seeking help. They disappeared outside the casino.

‘Are there cameras outside?’ asked Toni. The operator switched over to the outside. Chelsea was thrust into the driver’s seat of a Lexus and then scrambled over to the passenger side. The car drove off.

‘Looks bad,’ said the operator heavily. ‘Stay where you are, little lady, and we’ll get the cops.’

‘Can’t you get a clear picture of that man?’ cried Toni.

‘He’s got a baseball cap pulled right down. Could be anyone.’

At first, the police tried to tell Toni that her friend had probably gone off with some man for a quickie and would soon be back. ‘She’s not like that,’ howled Toni. ‘Well, maybe. But she would have found me and told me. I’m telling you, she was frightened.’

‘We’ve got the number of the car,’ said a sergeant wearily. ‘Go back to your hotel and wait for her.’

So Toni did just that. Once in her room, she phoned Agatha. ‘Who is this Chelsea?’ demanded Agatha.

‘Just someone I was at school with,’ said Toni. ‘It was a last-minute decision to go with her.’

‘What does she look like?’

‘Well, blonde, slim – in fact, she did herself up to look a bit like me. Said we’d look like sisters.’

‘Give me the number of your hotel. I’ll go straight to police headquarters. I want still shots of that man from the casino. And the minute I’ve got that over with, I’m coming out to join you. What’s your hotel like?’

‘Horrible. It’s called the Old Prairie Ranch.’

‘Sit tight in case she turns up.’

Toni changed into a T-shirt and jeans, stretched out on the lumpy bed and waited. She thought the police would contact her again, but it seemed the case of a young girl going off with a man was hardly top priority.

She fell into an uneasy sleep and woke late in the morning. She asked the clerk in reception to contact the Las Vegas Police Department for her and waited anxiously. She was passed from one voice to another. When she finally got someone who knew about Chelsea’s disappearance, he tried to reassure her that her friend had probably gone off on a one-night stand and would soon turn up. She was urged to give it more time. When the sergeant was interrupted, she was just being told not to be impatient. He barked, ‘Hold the line.’ When he came back on again, he said, ‘Two of our detectives are coming out to talk with you, miss.’

Movement at last, thought Toni. She went downstairs to the reception area. Traffic going into Las Vegas roared past on the road outside, which shimmered in the heat.

Then a black car drove up and two men got out. ‘Miss Gilmour?’ they demanded as Toni rushed out to meet them.

‘May I see your identification?’ demanded Toni.

She studied their badges and said, ‘Let’s go inside.’

One detective was as thin as the other was fat. The thin one introduced himself as Wight Bergen and the other as Parry Hyer. They explained they had received a call from England, and there was a suspicion that Chelsea had been abducted in mistake for Toni. Search and Rescue were out over the desert, looking for any sign of her.

They were efficient and courteous. Toni found it something of a relief to tell the two attentive detectives the story of the murders and the abduction of Roy from the beginning.

She had just finished when a taxi screeched to a halt outside the hotel. ‘Snakes and bastards!’ came a familiar voice. ‘Was that as fast as this clapped-up wreck could go?’

‘Look, lady, pay up and shut up.’

‘My boss,’ said Toni, running out to meet Agatha. Never before had she been so glad to see Agatha’s abrasive presence.

Agatha paid the driver, adding, ‘And no tip to you for being so damned cheeky, and I bet you went the long way round.’

‘There are two detectives here,’ said Toni as the driver gave Agatha the finger and roared off. ‘You were quick.’

‘Got the first plane out, and you’re hours behind England here.’

Toni took Agatha’s bag from her. Agatha’s bearlike eyes surveyed the hotel. ‘I’ll see these detectives and then we’ll get out of this fleapit.’

‘But if Chelsea comes back, she’ll expect to find me here!’

‘We’ll leave her a note. We’ll book into that hotel where the casino is.’

Agatha was introduced to the detectives.

‘Your assistant has already explained everything to us,’ said Parry.

‘Is there any chance of getting some stills from the video of Chelsea being taken from the casino?’ asked Agatha.

‘We already have some. We’ll take you along to headquarters and you can have a look. Think you might recognize someone?’

‘It’s a slim hope,’ said Agatha. ‘Run and pack your bag, Toni. Do you need to settle your bill?’

‘I’ve just a bit of room service to pay for. The rest was part of a package deal.’

‘I’ll see to that. Get your case.’

Soon they were on their way to the Las Vegas Police Department on Sunrise Avenue. Agatha and Toni studied the still photographs. The man seemed to know where the cameras were because he kept his head bent down and the long peak of his baseball cap pulled over his eyes. Despite the fact that the images were very good, they could make out only the line of his mouth and the fact that he was wearing a light jacket over chinos and baseball boots.

‘May I keep one of these?’ asked Agatha.

‘Sure,’ said Parry. ‘We’ve e-mailed plenty to . . . where’s the damn place, Murchester?’

‘Mircester.’

‘Whatever. We found the Lexus abandoned. It had been stolen. We’ll phone you as soon as we hear anything. You’ll be staying at the Rio Grande?’

‘Yes,’ said Agatha.

‘Have a good one.’

‘As if we could,’ muttered Agatha in the back of the police car that was taking them to their hotel.

‘Agatha,’ said Toni suddenly, ‘I didn’t tell them, I took photographs while I was in the casino. I didn’t know whether it was legal or not.’

‘Is it that spy camera I gave you?’

‘Yes.’

‘Let’s keep that to ourselves. We’ll get your photos when we get home.’

They checked into a double room, ordered food from room service and waited, and waited.

Agatha, suffering from jet lag, fell asleep and jerked awake an hour later when the phone rang.

Toni answered it. Agatha heard her say, ‘What? . . . Where? . . . Is she all right? . . . We’ll be there directly.’

When she put the phone down, Toni’s face was glowing with relief. ‘A helicopter found her staggering around Death Valley and picked her up. She’s in the Lutheran hospital. Let’s go.’

Chelsea turned out to be suffering from heat exhaustion and sunburn. Agatha and Toni had to wait until the police had finished interrogating her. Then it was their turn.

Chelsea turned furious eyes on Toni out of her sun-scorched face. ‘It’s all your fault,’ she howled.

‘How on earth . . . ?’ began Toni.

‘He thought I was you, see? He drove out with a gun in my side, and then he said, “You had it coming to you, Toni Gilmour.” I screamed I wasn’t you and that my passport was in me bag. He stopped the car, told me to hand over my bag, fished out me passport and began to curse something awful. Then he says, “Get out, bitch.” I got out and ran and ran away from the road as fast as I could. I wandered around and around. I could see lights from cars away on the road, but I was frightened to go back in case he got me again. Then the helicopter picked me up. Let me tell you something, Tone. I never want to see you again. You can chase the bad guys as much as you want, but keep me out of it. You could have warned me.’

‘How could she have warned you?’ said Agatha. ‘She didn’t know there was any danger here. How could she?’

‘Bet she did. Piss off, both of you.’ Chelsea turned her face away.

After that visit, Chelsea refused to see them again. Her handbag had been found and her passport was still there, lying on the ground beside it. Parry told Agatha and Toni that Chelsea was leaving in two days’ time.

‘Did she say anything useful about the man?’ asked Agatha. ‘What sort of accent?’

‘She just said he had a growly voice and she thought he was foreign. She said he smelled of booze. That’s all she knows.’ He turned to Toni. ‘Miss Gilmour, are you sure your decision to come here was made at the last minute?’

‘Sure as sure. Agatha decided to close the agency for two weeks because we were all afraid someone might be out to get us. I met Chelsea just by chance and she persuaded me to come on the trip. I think I want to go home now.’

‘Me too,’ said Agatha. ‘Let whining little Chelsea make her own way.’

‘You are pretty harsh, ma’am. She’s a very young girl who’s had a bad fright.’

‘Well, I can do bugger all for her when she won’t even see me or let me help,’ howled Agatha.

Parry looked at her with dislike. Ball-breaking old trout, he thought. Aloud, he said, ‘Let us know which flight you will be on.’

‘We should really be around to take care of her,’ protested Toni.

‘It’s you they’re after, not her,’ said Agatha. ‘Oh, well, one last try. Back to the hospital.’

‘I’ll go,’ said Toni quickly. ‘She might speak to me if you’re not there.’

‘Ask her how he got her to leave with him.’

‘He had a gun.’

‘He couldn’t have taken a gun into the casino. He must have said something else.’

Toni had noticed a medical-supply shop near the hospital. She bought a white lab coat and a stethoscope. In an adjacent tourist shop, she bought a square badge with the legend I LOVE LAS VEGAS.

In the hospital, she went to the toilets and locked herself in a cubicle, where she put on the white coat and hung the stethoscope around her neck. She then took out a pair of nail scissors from her pocket and prised open the badge. Fortunately, it was blank on the other side. She printed ‘Dr Finlay’ neatly in black ink. It would have to do. She had left her handbag at the hotel, carrying money and the scissors in her trouser pocket so that she would not have to find a place to hide a handbag.

Toni walked through the hospital corridors. She walked quickly past the policeman on guard outside Chelsea’s door, giving him an efficient nod.

Chelsea opened her mouth to scream, but Toni said hurriedly, ‘You scream and I’ll tell your mum about that fling you had with the sales rep from Birmingham.’

‘You wouldn’t!’

‘Try me.’

‘Wadda ya want?’ demanded Chelsea, who was trying very hard to obtain an American accent.

‘Something more about the man who abducted you. He couldn’t have got a gun into the casino or a knife. Why did you go off with him?’

‘He said he was a detective and wanted a word with me outside.’

‘Did he have a badge?’

‘No. One of them warrant cards.’

‘Did you get a close look at the card?’

‘No, I just followed the guy out, like. Once in the car, he took out a gun, drove with one hand and pointed the gun at me with the other.

‘He said, “I’m going to shut your mouth for once and all, Toni Gilmour. How the hell did you know I was in Las Vegas? Who told you?”

‘I began to cry and said it was a package deal. I wasn’t Toni Gilmour, and he could look at my passport in my handbag if he didn’t believe me. He stopped suddenly when we was out in the desert and he asks me to hand over my bag. He opens it, looks at me passport, swears something awful, chucks the bag out of the winder and tells me to get out. I ran for my life. Right into the desert. I’m going home tomorrow. The British consul has arranged it. So bugger off, Tone, and don’t come near me again.’

‘One more thing. Did you tell the police about the warrant card?’

‘Didn’t remember until later.’

‘American police have badges. Only British police have warrant cards. Didn’t you think of that?’

‘Piss off,’ howled Chelsea.

Agatha’s eyes gleamed with excitement when Toni told her Chelsea’s story. ‘Pack up,’ she said. ‘We’re leaving today.’

‘But what about Chelsea?’

‘Whoever it was wanted you, not her. She’ll be safe.’

Agatha and Toni had hoped to collect their cars from the airport terminal at Gatwick and get back to Mircester, but they were intercepted and taken to a room in the airport where two plain-clothes detectives grilled them. Evidently, the Las Vegas police were angry that they had just disappeared while an investigation was in progress. They were taken through their stories again.

At last, they were released but warned that the Mircester police would be calling on them later.

‘At least they didn’t take my passport away again,’ grumbled Agatha. ‘Do you want to follow me to Carsely?’

‘No, I’ll go to my flat. I’m tired.’