Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came Read Online Free Page B

thoughts of going to her Pilates class were driven from her mind.
    ‘You can’t just barge in here every time you feel like it,’ said Mrs Wong, barring the doorway to her home. ‘I’ve read about women like you. Chasing young men.’
    ‘I’m here on a police matter,’ said Agatha, who had driven to the Wongs’ home directly from Evesham.
    ‘Then go to the police station. It’s Bill’s day off.’
    Bill came round the side of the house at that moment, holding a trowel in one earthy hand. ‘Agatha!’ he said. ‘I thought I heard someone. Come round to the back garden. What about some tea, Mother?’
    His mother muttered something sour under her breath and shuffled off. Agatha followed Bill. The garden was Bill’s pride and joy. ‘Just clearing up after that dreadful rain.’ Bill indicated two garden chairs. ‘Sit down and tell me what brings you.’
    Agatha blurted out about the floods in Evesham and seeing the body of Kylie. ‘She could just have been frightened by the prospect of her wedding and committed suicide,’ said Bill. ‘It’ll come under Worcester police, not us.’
    ‘He must have done it. Zak,’ said Agatha. ‘And remember I told you about that couple on Robinson Crusoe Island? Well, I had an e-mail from someone I met there and he did murder her. Said she fell off the boat but he was seen pushing her.’
    ‘I would think it very odd if it turns out to be her fiancé,’ said Bill. ‘So obvious.’
    ‘But isn’t it usually the obvious?’ asked Agatha. ‘The nearest and dearest?’
    ‘I’ve got a friend in Worcester police,’ said Bill. ‘I’ll give him a ring tomorrow. Aren’t these floods dreadful? And all those poor people with the contents of their houses wrecked by flood-water.’
    ‘Terrible,’ said Agatha vaguely, her mind still on that image of Kylie floating underneath her.
    ‘I can’t do much to help you until the police find out more,’ said Bill. ‘Meanwhile, let’s go inside and have some tea.’
    ‘I think I’d better get on my way,’ said Agatha hurriedly. Bill’s mother terrified her. ‘If you’ve got a free moment in the next few days, drop over and let me know what you’ve found out.’
    ‘If I can’t manage, I’ll phone you.’
    When Agatha got home, she switched on the news. It was full of pictures of the flooded Midlands, tales of people being swept to their deaths, and then the announcer said, ‘The body of a young woman was recovered from the river Avon at Evesham by divers. She had been spotted by onlookers on the bridge as she floated underneath. She was wearing a wedding gown. Police are not releasing her name until the family has been informed. So far, foul play is not suspected.’
    ‘Pah,’ said Agatha angrily. ‘What do they know?’
    Hearing her doorbell ring, she went to answer it. Miss Simms stood there, swaying slightly on her usual, very high heels. ‘Can I come in?’ she asked. ‘I’ve got some news.’
    ‘Of course you can come in,’ said Agatha, leading the way to the kitchen. ‘Is it about that girl in the river in Evesham?’
    ‘What girl? No, it’s about your new neighbour. He’s John Armitage.’
    ‘And who’s he?’
    ‘He writes detective stories. Ever so clever he is. Mrs Bloxby says his last one, A Cruel Innocence , was on the bestseller lists.’
    ‘Married?’
    ‘Don’t think so. Mrs Anstruther-Jones said she once read an article about him in the Sunday Times . She’s sure he’s a widower.’
    ‘How old?’
    ‘About fifty-something.’ Miss Simms giggled. ‘Just the sort of age I like. I like mature men. They can be ever so generous, where the young fellows expect you to pay for everything.’
    ‘When’s he arriving?’
    ‘Tomorrow.’
    ‘Oh.’ Agatha felt a flutter of excitement followed by a feeling of competitiveness. She must get to know him first.
    ‘Anyway, what’s this about a girl in the river?’
    Agatha told her about the drowned Kylie. ‘Are you going to find out who done