{"id":2399,"date":"2026-01-03T22:27:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T22:27:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/partners-in-crime-christie-agatha\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T22:27:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T22:27:22","slug":"partners-in-crime-christie-agatha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/partners-in-crime-christie-agatha\/","title":{"rendered":"Partners in Crime – Christie, Agatha"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Book Preview<\/h3>\n
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Chapter 1<\/span><\/h2>\n

A Fairy in the Flat<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Mrs Thomas Beresford shifted her position on the divan and looked gloomily out of the window of the flat. The prospect was not an extended one, consisting solely of a small block of flats on the other side of the road. Mrs Beresford sighed and then yawned.<\/p>\n

\u2018I wish,\u2019 she said, \u2018something would happen.\u2019<\/p>\n

Her husband looked up reprovingly.<\/p>\n

\u2018Be careful, Tuppence, this craving for vulgar sensation alarms me.\u2019<\/p>\n

Tuppence sighed and closed her eyes dreamily.<\/p>\n

\u2018So Tommy and Tuppence were married,\u2019she chanted, \u2018and lived happily ever afterwards. And six years later they were still living together happily ever afterwards. It is extraordinary,\u2019 she said, \u2018how different everything always is from what you think it is going to be.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018A very profound statement, Tuppence. But not original. Eminent poets and still more eminent divines have said it before\u2013and if you will excuse me saying so, have said it better.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Six years ago,\u2019 continued Tuppence, \u2018I would have sworn that with sufficient money to buy things with, and with you for a husband, all life would have been one grand sweet song, as one of the poets you seem to know so much about puts it.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Is it me or the money that palls upon you?\u2019 inquired Tommy coldly.<\/p>\n

\u2018Palls isn\u2019t exactly the word,\u2019 said Tuppence kindly. \u2018I\u2019m used to my blessings, that\u2019s all. Just as one never thinks what a boon it is to be able to breathe through one\u2019s nose until one has a cold in the head.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Shall I neglect you a little?\u2019 suggested Tommy. \u2018Take other women about to night clubs. That sort of thing.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Useless,\u2019 said Tuppence. \u2018You would only meet me there with other men. And I should know perfectly well that you didn\u2019t care for the other women, whereas you would never be quite sure that I didn\u2019t care for the other men. Women are so much more thorough.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s only in modesty that men score top marks,\u2019 murmured her husband. \u2018But what is the matter with you, Tuppence? Why this yearning discontent?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t know. I want things to happen. Exciting things. Wouldn\u2019t you like to go chasing German spies again, Tommy? Think of the wild days of peril we went through once. Of course I know you\u2019re more or less in the Secret Service now, but it\u2019s pure office work.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018You mean you\u2019d like them to send me into darkest Russia disguised as a Bolshevik bootlegger, or something of that sort?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018That wouldn\u2019t be any good,\u2019 said Tuppence. \u2018They wouldn\u2019t let me go with you and I\u2019m the person who wants something to do so badly. Something to do. That is what I keep saying all day long.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Women\u2019s sphere,\u2019 suggested Tommy, waving his hand.<\/p>\n

\u2018Twenty minutes\u2019 work after breakfast every morning keeps the flag going to perfection. You have nothing to complain of, have you?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Your housekeeping is so perfect, Tuppence, as to be almost monotonous.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I do like gratitude,\u2019 said Tuppence.<\/p>\n

\u2018You, of course, have got your work,\u2019 she continued, \u2018but tell me, Tommy, don\u2019t you ever have a secret yearning for excitement, for things to happen<\/span>?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018No,\u2019 said Tommy, \u2018at least I don\u2019t think so. It is all very well to want things to happen\u2013they might not be pleasant things.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018How prudent men are,\u2019 sighed Tuppence. \u2018Don\u2019t you ever have a wild secret yearning for romance\u2013adventure\u2013life?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018What have<\/span> you been reading, Tuppence?\u2019 asked Tommy.<\/p>\n

\u2018Think how exciting it would be,\u2019 went on Tuppence, \u2018if we heard a wild rapping at the door and went to open it and in staggered a dead man.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018If he was dead he couldn\u2019t stagger,\u2019 said Tommy critically.<\/p>\n

\u2018You know what I mean,\u2019 said Tuppence. \u2018They always stagger in just before they die and fall at your feet, just gasping out a few enigmatic words. \u201cThe Spotted Leopard\u201d, or something like that.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I advise a course of Schopenhauer or Emmanuel Kant,\u2019 said Tommy.<\/p>\n

\u2018That sort of thing would be good for you,\u2019 said Tuppence. \u2018You are getting fat and comfortable.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I am not,\u2019 said Tommy indignantly. \u2018Anyway you do slimming exercises yourself.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Everybody does,\u2019 said Tuppence. \u2018When I said you were getting fat I was really speaking metaphorically, you are getting prosperous and sleek and comfortable.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t know what has come over you,\u2019 said her husband.<\/p>\n

\u2018The spirit of adventure,\u2019 murmured Tuppence. \u2018It is better than a longing for romance anyway. I have that sometimes too. I think of meeting a man, a really handsome man \u2013\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018You have met me,\u2019 said Tommy. \u2018Isn\u2019t that enough for you?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018A brown, lean man, terrifically strong, the kind of man who can ride anything and lassoes wild horses \u2013\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Complete with sheepskin trousers and a cowboy hat,\u2019 interpolated Tommy sarcastically.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2013 and has lived in the Wilds,\u2019 continued Tuppence. \u2018I should like him to fall simply madly in love with me. I should, of course, rebuff him virtuously and be true to my marriage vows, but my heart would secretly go out to him.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Well,\u2019 said Tommy, \u2018I often wish that I may meet a really beautiful girl. A girl with corn coloured hair who will fall desperately in love with me. Only I don\u2019t think I rebuff her\u2013in fact I am quite sure I don\u2019t.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018That,\u2019 said Tuppence, \u2018is naughty temper.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018What,\u2019 said Tommy, \u2018is really the matter with you, Tuppence? You have never talked like this before.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018No, but I have been boiling up inside for a long time,\u2019 said Tuppence. \u2018You see it is very dangerous to have everything you want\u2013including enough money to buy things. Of course there are always hats.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018You have got about forty hats already,\u2019 said Tommy, \u2018and they all look alike.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Hats are like that,\u2019 said Tuppence. \u2018They are not really alike. There are nuances<\/span> in them. I saw rather a nice one in Violette\u2019s this morning.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018If you haven\u2019t anything better to do than going on buying hats you don\u2019t need \u2013\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s it,\u2019 said Tuppence, \u2018that\u2019s exactly it. If I had something better to do. I suppose I ought to take up good works. Oh, Tommy, I do wish something exciting would happen. I feel\u2013I really do feel it would be good for us. If we could find a fairy \u2013\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Ah!\u2019 said Tommy. \u2018It is curious your saying that.\u2019<\/p>\n

He got up and crossed the room. Opening a drawer of the writing table he took out a small snapshot print and brought it to Tuppence.<\/p>\n

\u2018Oh!\u2019 said Tuppence, \u2018so you have got them developed. Which is this, the one you took of this room or the one I took?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The one I took. Yours didn\u2019t come out. You under exposed it. You always do.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018It is nice for you,\u2019 said Tuppence, \u2018to think that there is one thing you can do better than me.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018A foolish remark,\u2019 said Tommy, \u2018but I will let it pass for the moment. What I wanted to show you was this.\u2019<\/p>\n

He pointed to a small white speck on the photograph.<\/p>\n

\u2018That is a scratch on the film,\u2019 said Tuppence.<\/p>\n

\u2018Not at all,\u2019 said Tommy. \u2018That, Tuppence, is a fairy.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Tommy, you idiot.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Look for yourself.\u2019<\/p>\n

He handed her a magnifying glass. Tuppence studied the print attentively through it. Seen thus by a slight stretch of fancy the scratch on the film could be imagined to represent a small winged creature on the fender.<\/p>\n

\u2018It has got wings,\u2019 cried Tuppence. \u2018What fun, a real live fairy in our flat. Shall we write to Conan Doyle about it? Oh, Tommy. Do you think she\u2019ll give us wishes?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018You will soon know,\u2019 said Tommy. \u2018You have been wishing hard enough for something to happen all the afternoon.\u2019<\/p>\n

At that minute the door opened, and a tall lad of fifteen who seemed undecided as to whether he was a butler or a page boy inquired in a truly magnificent manner.<\/p>\n

\u2018Are you at home, madam? The front-door bell has just rung.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I wish Albert wouldn\u2019t go to the Pictures,\u2019 sighed Tuppence, after she had signified her assent, and Albert had withdrawn. \u2018He\u2019s copying a Long Island butler now. Thank goodness I\u2019ve cured him of asking for people\u2019s cards and bringing them to me on a salver.\u2019<\/p>\n

The door opened again, and Albert announced: \u2018Mr Carter,\u2019 much as though it were a Royal title.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Chief,\u2019 muttered Tommy, in great surprise.<\/p>\n

Tuppence jumped up with a glad exclamation, and greeted a tall grey-haired man with piercing eyes and a tired smile.<\/p>\n

\u2018Mr Carter, I am<\/span> glad to see you.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s good, Mrs Tommy. Now answer me a question. How\u2019s life generally?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Satisfactory, but dull,\u2019 replied Tuppence with a twinkle.<\/p>\n

\u2018Better and better,\u2019 said Mr Carter. \u2018I\u2019m evidently going to find you in the right mood.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018This,\u2019 said Tuppence, \u2018sounds exciting.\u2019<\/p>\n

Albert, still copying the Long Island butler, brought in tea. When this operation was completed without mishap and the door had closed behind him Tuppence burst out once more.<\/p>\n

\u2018You did mean something, didn\u2019t you, Mr Carter? Are you going to send us on a mission into darkest Russia?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Not exactly that,\u2019 said Mr Carter.<\/p>\n

\u2018But there is something.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes\u2013there is something. I don\u2019t think you are the kind who shrinks from risks, are you, Mrs Tommy?\u2019<\/p>\n

Tuppence\u2019s eyes sparkled with excitement.<\/p>\n

\u2018There is certain work to be done for the Department\u2013and I fancied\u2013I just fancied\u2013that it might suit you two.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Go on,\u2019 said Tuppence.<\/p>\n

\u2018I see that you take the Daily Leader<\/span>,\u2019 continued Mr Carter, picking up that journal from the table.<\/p>\n

He turned to the advertisement column and indicating a certain advertisement with his finger pushed the paper across to Tommy.<\/p>\n

\u2018Read that out,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

Tommy complied.<\/p>\n

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\u2018The International Detective Agency, Theodore Blunt, Manager. Private Inquiries. Large staff of confidential and highly skilled Inquiry Agents. Utmost discretion. Consultations free. 118 Haleham St, W.C.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

He looked inquiringly at Mr Carter. The latter nodded. \u2018That detective agency has been on its last legs for some time,\u2019 he murmured. \u2018Friend of mine acquired it for a mere song. We\u2019re thinking of setting it going again\u2013say, for a six months\u2019 trial. And during that time, of course, it will have to have a manager.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018What about Mr Theodore Blunt?\u2019 asked Tommy.<\/p>\n

\u2018Mr Blunt has been rather indiscreet, I\u2019m afraid. In fact, Scotland Yard have had to interfere. Mr Blunt is being detained at Her Majesty\u2019s expense, and he won\u2019t tell us half of what we\u2019d like to know.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I see, sir,\u2019 said Tommy. \u2018At least, I think I see.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I suggest that you have six months leave from the office. Ill health. And, of course, if you like to run a Detective Agency under the name of Theodore Blunt, it\u2019s nothing to do with me.\u2019<\/p>\n

Tommy eyed his Chief steadily.<\/p>\n

\u2018Any instructions, sir?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Mr Blunt did some foreign business, I believe. Look out for blue letters with a Russian stamp on them. From a ham merchant anxious to find his wife who came as a refugee to this country some years ago. Moisten the stamp and you\u2019ll find the number 16 written underneath. Make a copy of these letters and send the originals on to me. Also if any one comes to the office and makes a reference to the number 16, inform me immediately.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I understand, sir,\u2019 said Tommy. \u2018And apart from these instructions?\u2019<\/p>\n

Mr Carter picked up his gloves from the table and prepared to depart.<\/p>\n

\u2018You can run the Agency as you please. I fancied\u2019\u2013his eyes twinkled a little\u2013\u2018that it might amuse Mrs Tommy to try her hand at a little detective work.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Read the full book by downloading it below.<\/p>\n

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Book Preview Chapter 1 A Fairy in the Flat Mrs Thomas Beresford shifted her position on the divan and looked gloomily out of the window of the flat. The prospect was not an extended one, consisting solely of a small block of flats on the other side of the road. Mrs Beresford sighed and then … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2398,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[142],"class_list":["post-2399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-agatha-christie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}