Sylvan looked at Agatha’s tired face and said sympathetically, ‘Why don’t you go and have a good night’s sleep? When do the police want to see you in the morning? I have to be there at nine o’clock.’

‘Same time for us,’ said Roy gloomily.

‘Well, then, we will all meet up at the police station.’

As they were making their way out of the restaurant, Agatha stopped in the doorway and said, ‘We didn’t pay the bill!’

‘I run an account here when I am in town. Don’t worry about it. I invited you, remember?’

‘Well, thanks awfully,’ gushed Roy.

Sylvan walked with them to The Jolly Farmer and at the entrance drew Agatha to him, and holding her close, kissed her tenderly on both cheeks.

‘See you tomorrow.’

Agatha walked up to her room in a daze. Could he really fancy her?

But after she had said goodnight to Roy, gone into her room and looked in the bathroom mirror, she let out a squawk of horror. There were deep shadows under her eyes and her hair was a tangled mess. The rain earlier had washed all her make-up off.

If only she could turn the clock back, say, twenty years, thought Agatha. She showered, put on her nightdress and plunged down into an exhausted sleep.

She was awakened at seven in the morning by Roy hammering on the door and saying they’d better get some breakfast because the police might keep them all day.

Agatha spent so much time brushing her hair and making up her face that she had only time to eat a couple of pieces of toast and gulp down a cup of coffee before it was time to go back to the police station.

This time, Agatha was interviewed by Detective Superintendent Walker, a tall stout man with a red round face like a farmer.

He was flanked by Boase and Falcon. The tape hissed quietly as Agatha was taken through her story several times. At last she was told to sign her statement and that she was free to go. Roy was already waiting for her in the reception area.

‘Have you seen Sylvan?’ asked Agatha.

‘I asked the desk sergeant. He left just before I was released.’

‘I’d better phone him and see if he wants to see us.’ Agatha took out her mobile phone. She called the Brosses’ home at Downboys but only got the answering service.

‘You’re keen on him,’ said Roy with a grin. ‘Can’t say I blame you.’

‘I am not,’ protested Agatha. ‘He was so amusing last night that I never really got down to questioning him properly.’

‘We’d better pack it in. I’ve got to get to work tomorrow,’ said Roy.

Agatha paid the bill at the inn and then reluctantly drove out of Hewes. She stopped suddenly outside the town.

‘What is it?’ asked Roy.