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injured.’
    ‘May I see the car?’
    ‘No, it’s been taken away for examination. Do you know of anyone with any reason to attack him?’
    ‘None whatsoever,’ said Agatha. ‘I’ve thought and thought.’
    ‘You had better come with us to Mircester and make a full statement.’
    ‘I’ll just phone my husband,’ said Mrs Bloxby. ‘I’m coming with her.’
    As Agatha was driven past James’s cottage, she could see men in white overalls dusting for prints and searching everywhere. A numbness had settled on her. Once at police headquarters, she answered all questions like a dutiful child while Mrs Bloxby sat beside her and held her hand.
    The vicar’s wife wondered if Agatha realized how odd her story sounded. Yes, she had tried to marry James before but had forgotten to tell him that she did not know whether her husband Jimmy Raisin was alive or dead. Yes, Jimmy had turned up and cancelled the wedding ceremony. Yes, Jimmy was subsequently found murdered. No, relations between herself and James had not been very amicable. No, she did not know he had cancer. Mrs Bloxby did not know that, numb and shocked as she was, Agatha was not going to admit she had learned of James’s illness from Melissa.
    Mrs Bloxby knew that videos of the concert would be scanned and people interviewed to establish Agatha’s alibi. Could they establish from the blood-stains when James was attacked? Villagers often walked their dogs along Lilac Lane. If the attack had taken place in daylight, surely someone would have seen something or heard something. Melissa was more of a suspect than Agatha. She was the other woman. What did anyone in the village know of her? She was a fairly recent incomer. She must have been very keen on James to have had an affair with him in such a small village.
    The questioning went on and on. Agatha’s in bad shock, thought Mrs Bloxby. They must know that.
    At last, Agatha signed her statement and the interview was over. She was cautioned not to leave the country and to hold herself in readiness for further questioning.
    When they emerged from police headquarters it was to find Charles waiting for them. ‘I’ve been grilled as well,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Fancy some lunch?’
    ‘I must get back,’ said Mrs Bloxby. ‘Alf will be wondering what’s happened to me.’
    ‘That’s all right,’ said Charles. ‘I’ll take her home. We’d better talk.’
    Mrs Bloxby looked doubtful. She drew Charles aside. ‘Be very careful,’ she whispered. ‘Mrs Raisin has had a bad shock.’
    ‘I’ll deal with her.’
    He took Agatha’s arm and she allowed herself to be led across the square and into Mircester.
    ‘When did you eat last?’ he asked Agatha.
    ‘I can’t remember. I meant to have a late supper after the show.’ She plucked nervously at his arm. ‘The concert! I should get the newspapers.’
    ‘Forget it. We’ve got more important things to talk about.’ Charles suddenly saw Melissa walking in front of them. ‘In here,’ he said, dragging her into a place called Pam’s Pantry. ‘I’m sure the food is good.’
    They sat down at a corner table. ‘I’ll order us something,’ said Charles. The menu was of the snack variety. He ordered two club sandwiches and a bottle of mineral water.
    ‘Now, Aggie,’ he said. ‘What on earth could have happened?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ said Agatha. ‘I’ve thought and thought. I’m sure if I had been a better wife, he would have told me things. He didn’t even tell me he had cancer.’
    ‘Absence is making the heart grow fonder,’ said Charles brutally. ‘Snap out of it. We won’t get anywhere if you start blaming yourself for everything. The trouble is that James is a tight-arsed tick. That was what caused the problems in your marriage. It would help if you could get angry. I was asked if I knew anything about his affair with Melissa. Was he really having an affair with Melissa?’
    ‘She says he slept with her a couple of times since we