The Barker's Dozen - Reminiscences of an Early Police Dog by Robert Warr Read Free Book Online

Ginge, the dominant tom in my area, and he introduced me to Fielding.’
    I must admit that I was very impressed with this little cat. It is so easy to condemn the whole species as hedonistic layabouts with the moral fibre of wet bread. However, every so often one is reminded that, except for the tragedy of their births, they might have been dogs, poor unfortunate creatures that they are.
    ‘Well done, Portia,’ I said, making sure that my voice was rich with admiration and respect. ‘It only remains for us to determine when this robbery will be attempted.’
     
    ‘The evening of the twenty-first, I believe.’ The little cat finished her story with a definite grin. ‘My pets are very careful and store their nicest toys in a bank, although I am not certain that burying them by a stream is safe, and they will only be in the house the night after my pets’ Christmas ball.
    ‘Crumble told me all about my jobs for that night. I was to hide in the hallway and wait until every one had gone to bed. As soon as everything was still, I was to jump onto the ledge of the window over the front door and wait. If any of the household heard a noise and investigated, I was to distract them by playing noisily on the stairs.’
    We thanked Portia while praising her courage. I hope we sent her home with a sense of security and self-worth. Once she had gone, I quickly reviewed everything that we had learnt. The case was solved. It was obvious that Crumble’s pet was the human who entered the houses and then pawned or sold the jewellery.  I had jumped to my feet and was barking happily when Fielding brought me back to reality.
    ‘How will you tell the Inspector?’ he said.
    This has always been my problem. I can’t really place my paw on his knee and tell him straight, dog to man. It just is not done that way.  I was resolved to try the voice in the fog again when I remembered that due to my weakened condition I was being walked on the lead during the day.
    Worrying old sacking never makes it meat, as my mother used to say, and as there were two days before the Mortons’ ball, I put off solving my problem and joined Fielding in discussing what we could do to ensure that young Portia did not suffer for her courage.
    The following day I accompanied your uncle to work. It was gratifying in the extreme to see how many of our colleagues were pleased to see me back. Several of them offered me choice bits of food to “build the strength up”.
    It was therefore in a contented frame of mind that I settled down in front of my master’s fire to worry my problem while waiting for any further developments.
    While I was half-asleep, one of my master’s senior colleagues entered the office to talk about the progress of various cases , including the burglaries.  This conversation did not add any extra information or insights to what I already knew so when my master’s visitor got up to go I settled done to sleep until lunch.
    ‘I am convinced that your burglar must strike again over the Christmas season,’ the visitor said as he walked towards the door. ‘There are so many functions which will encourage people to get their best jewellery out of the bank.’
    ‘I am of the same mind. The only question is where and when, and in this large city that is a problem.’ With these words, my master turned slightly to gesture out of his window at a grey and dismal London.
    ‘Lady Morton’s ball,’ I said quickly , having realised that they both had their backs to me and were slightly distracted.
    Both men turned to look at each other, and I could see that they were both weighing this idea up.
    ‘A flash of inspiration,’ my master said slowly, ‘but it may very well be the right answer. If the target is the Morton’s ball it will be most convenient for us since both Assistant Commissioner Davis and myself have been invited. The ball is the biggest of the remaining festivities so I would wager that if the Mortons are not the intended victims,