Dognapped! by Karen King Read Free Book Online Page B

the road. A policewoman got out and walked into the store.
    A glimmer of a plan formed in my mind. Taking risks was all in a day’s work for a detective like me.
    ‘Quick. Give her to me. Now!’ I told Max, holding out my hands.
    ‘What are you doing?’ he asked as he passed the dog to me with a concerned frown.
    ‘Making sure she gets found.’ Maisy-May wasn’t too happy about leaving Max and squirmed in my arms. I held her tight and ran over to the newsstand, placing her down on the ground just as she started barking wildly.
    ‘Now don’t run off,’ I told her.
    I quickly checked my clothes for dog hairs, then pushed open the door and walked into the store just as the policewoman walked out.
    I went straight to the chewing gum display by the window so I could watch what happened next. Maisy-May had now discovered the garbage bin and was foraging inside it, yapping with delight. The policewoman stopped, stared at the dog then reached down for her radio.
    I paid for the chewing gum and walked out of the shop just as the PC was radioing that she’d found Maisy-May. ‘Hey, you,’ she called as I walked past.
    I turned around and gave her a friendly smile. ‘Yes, officer?’
    ‘Did you notice this dog when you walked in?’
    I looked at Maisy-May and shook my head. ‘Can’t say that I did. Is she lost?’
    ‘Well, she was, but now it seems she’s found again.’ The policewoman went to grab Maisy-May’s collar, but Maisy squirmed out of her grip and went to run off. I reached out and grabbed her collar.
    ‘Thanks,’ the policewoman smiled at me as she scooped Maisy-May up into her arms. ‘This is a very valuable dog you know. The owner will be very relieved to have her back.’
    ‘Glad to help,’ I said.
    I walked over to the garages where Max was waiting for me.
    ‘You’ve got a nerve,’ he said admiringly.
    ‘You need it in this game,’ I told him, getting on my bike. ‘Race you home!’
    Gran was really stressing when I got home. She’d heard about Maisy-May being found and was worried sick about Fluffy.
    ‘Why did they let Maisy-May go and not Fluffy?’ she asked me. ‘Oh my poor baby, what on earth are they doing to her? It doesn’t bear thinking about!’
    ‘It sounds like Maisy-May wandered off by herself, Gran,’ I said. ‘Mr Mudlark probably forgot to lock her in the pen.’
    ‘The police suggested that, but he’s sure he locked it. He said the dogs were barking so loudly that he went to see what was going on, and that’s how he found her missing. He thinks he disturbed the thieves and Maisy managed to get free.’ Gran dabbed her eyes with a tissue, smudging one of her pencilled eyebrows. ‘Oh I wish Fluffy could escape too. I’d do anything to get her back. Anything.’
    ‘We’ll find her, Gran, you’ll see.’ I gave her a hug, which is not really my style, but I felt sorry for her. ‘Now how about a nice frothy coffee?’
    ‘Thank you, Amy. I know you’re a good girl, really,’ she sniffed.
    I wasn’t sure she’d think that if she knew that I was the one who’d taken Maisy-May. But I’d lost Fluffy and I was prepared to do whatever it took to get her back. Which is why, when I saw another ransom letter on the mat later that evening, I didn’t tell Gran about it. Instead, I quickly shoved it into my pocket and went up to my room to read it:

    The note looked like it had been made by the same person as before. I opened the ‘Fluffy File’ on my cellphone and checked out the photo I took of the original letter. Yes, it was definitely the same. Whoever made this didn’t have to worry, I wasn’t going to tell anyone at all. Especially Gran. And I’d definitely be at the ‘dog beach’ (wherever that was) at 8.30 pm tomorrow night, ready and waiting to catch the culprit.

Chapter 10
Blackmail
    Max and I had swapped cellphone numbers that afternoon, so I sent a text to him later that night to tell him what had happened. I also wanted to ask if I could come