The Blood of an Englishman by M. C. Beaton

the chorus, showing it was so sharp it could slice a dropped scarf in half. He said he did it to surprise Colin Blain.”
    â€œAnd has he confessed?”
    â€œNot a bit of it, says it was a joke. But wasn’t his daughter supposed to have been sexually assaulted by Bert Simple?”
    â€œThat’s right. If only it can turn out to be him,” said Agatha. “On the other hand, I am being paid to investigate and if the police solve the murder, I won’t get any money.”
    â€œI’m surprised at you, Agatha,” said John. “Think of poor Gwen. It would be marvellous for her to have closure.”
    â€œI don’t give a sod for poor Gwen,” said Agatha. “She may have committed the murders herself.”
    â€œAnd with that, love flew out the window,” murmured Charles.
    â€œIf you don’t mind,” said John stiffly, “I would like to get back to Mircester.”
    â€œOf course, I’ll drive you,” said Agatha. “Do let yourself out, Charles, and lock up behind you. I expect you to report to the office later and type up a report.”
    â€œIs Charles one of your detectives?” asked John.
    â€œYes,” said Charles at the same time as James said, “No.”
    â€œPart time,” said Charles airily. “Off you go.”

 
    Chapter Five
    John was silent for part of the journey to Mircester. Who was this Charles Fraith? He had not expected any competition if he decided to pursue Agatha. But there was a strange rapport between her and this Charles. And he hadn’t liked the suspicious looks her ex had been giving him. But Agatha was not only attractive but rich.
    â€œI am afraid we didn’t have a very good date. And now I owe you a meal. Why don’t you come to my place for dinner tomorrow night instead of waiting until Saturday?”
    â€œI’d love that,” said Agatha.
    â€œI gave you my card. I’ve got a flat in Mircester near the theatre.”
    â€œThat would be lovely,” said Agatha, happy again. “And look, it’s beginning to thaw and the sun has come out.”
    John’s mobile phone rang. Agatha heard him say, “I can be with you in about fifteen minutes.” When he rang off, he said, “That was the police. They want to interrogate me again.”
    â€œDo you want me to come with you?”
    â€œNo, I’ll be all right.”
    But Agatha could sense his uneasiness. The police would want to question him once more about why he gave up his starring role on opening night to George Southern.
    â€œI often wonder,” she said cautiously, “why you let George take your place.”
    â€œBecause I am too soft-hearted,” said John. “He begged and begged until I gave in.”
    John did not want her to know the truth, the truth being that George had paid him a thousand pounds to take his place. He certainly did not want Agatha to know how desperate he was for money.
    *   *   *
    Agatha bought all the morning newspapers before she went to the office. She told her staff to get on with whatever cases they were working on, with the exception of Toni who she asked to stay behind. Agatha often had to fight down feelings of jealousy for her beautiful assistant until common sense told her that Toni was the brightest and best.
    â€œTake half these papers, Toni,” said Agatha, “and go through them and compare them with my notes on the computer and see if there is anything I might have missed. Now, there is a schoolteacher called John Hale. I don’t want you to go near him, but I want you to find out some background on him. After all, why would he give up his place in The Mikado to George Southern?”
    Toni took away half the newspapers, and Agatha settled back with a sigh. Her ongoing low self-worth made her cautious. She could not quite accept that John was interested in her because he found her attractive. Other people