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‘Not in the house, love, no Can’t get h sometimes I can pick one up in the bedrooms’

‘I’ll have to use roa herself for objections froroaned

‘Of course you can, love,’ Daisy said ‘Especially if it’s for Claude’

Bella rolled her eyes, but headed off to try and find a signal

‘Ready for a glass, Daisy?’ Dad asked, and she nodded Enthusiastically

Searching for a black and white furred dog in the dark of a winter evening was not easy, Jack was finding Every flash of movement drew his eye, but more often than not it was another cat, or just the wind in the trees, or once, a startled looking fox

‘Claude!’ Jack called again, but there was no sign of the absurd creature

Sighing, Jack sank down to sit on the bus shelter bench again How had his day reached this point? All he’d wanted to do was flirt innocently with the pretty blonde at nu with her elderly neighbour – and he was spending his free evening searching for a dog that wasn’t even his

He bla If he hadn’t broken into Holly’s through the cat flap, or escaped into Kathleen’s house in search of gingerbread … if he just hadn’t run away

Why had he run? Jack knew that dogs could be intelligent creatures, but it seeine that he’d heard the the pound and actually understood what thatdownstairs, or s to eat than cat food outside and gone off in search of it

The little dog see independently from the whims of his stomach

Jack’s own storowled, and he realised it had been quite a while since Kathleen’s et ready for the next day But how could he, knowing that Claude was still out there somewhere?

Nuh Jack had tried ha on the door a few ti, too More and one away for Christmas – but Jack couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t have ements for Claude before they left Mrs McCawley had seemed a little, well, scatty when he’d delivered parcels there before, but she certainly hadn’t seemed cruel

He couldn’t help but think so, somewhere

And hoas he going to explain to the hih their door on his rounds earlier, explaining the situation and leaving his phone nu mail to another street So they’d know exactly who to coot home

What would he tell theht at the idea of Claude out there alone in the night, too

If only he hadn’t run for it Jack was sure he’d have been able to co the little dog into his house for the night and hoping his landlord never found out It wasn’t like he’d actually have let Claude go to the pound anyway As soon as Holly had said it he’d known it wasn’t an option He’d have called the council, if that was the rule But he wouldn’t have let anyone take Claude away from Maple Drive

Not that it mattered now Not if Jack couldn’t find him

Jack resuhbours There was no sign of Claude at Kathleen’s, or at number 7 or 5 When he reached number 3, the front door opened, and he jumped

‘Just what do you think you’re doing?’ A big, burly ht behind him, Jack could only make out his silhouette, not his expression, but he could uess at how unhappy it was anyway Jack tried to remember if anyone had been home at this house when he stopped by with Claude earlier, but he thought probably not

He straightened, pulling hi to s he needed was to get into a dohbours Then he really would have to get that transfer in the new year

‘I’’

The ht shone on his face as he frowned ‘A dog? I haven’t seen one around What does he look like?’

‘He’s a French Bulldog,’ Jack explained ‘Short, stocky Mostly white with ridiculous black ears’

‘Like the one they have across the road?’ the man asked

‘That’s the one I’ after him as a favour’

‘Not very well, by the look of things’ The ht as well check the back garden while you’re here’

‘Thanks’ Jack followed, trying not to sigh This could be a very long night if he had to check every garden in the neighbourhood