The Case of the Missing Cats by Gareth P. Jones Read Free Book Online Page B

OK?’
    Nothing.
    â€˜OK?’
    Another groan.
    â€˜Is everything all right?’ called Mrs Klingerflim.
    â€˜Oh yes,’ replied Holly. ‘I’m just helping him in.’
    â€˜This is a lovely little dog, you’ve got,’ said the old lady, stroking Willow in such a way that caused the cat to scowl and purr angrily.
    Holly lifted Dirk’s large heavy head and said, ‘Come on, let’s get you home.’
    For a second, Holly thought the plan wasn’t goingto work. Dirk’s body was heavy and limp. Then she felt the weight of his head ease and, slowly but surely, he stood on all fours. Together they crawled forward. They reached the car and Dirk dragged himself on to the back seat, like it was the last thing he would ever do.
    â€˜Oh, what a state,’ pronounced Mrs Klingerflim. ‘Drunk as a skunk. Just like poor Ivor used to get.’
    Dirk managed to squeeze his large body into the back. Holly grabbed his tail and crammed it into the car after him.
    â€˜Did you bring a blanket, as I asked?’ she said.
    â€˜In the boot, dear,’ replied Mrs Klingerflim. Holly retrieved an old blanket from the boot and threw it over Dirk’s body. She slammed the back door shut and climbed in the front, lifting a very relieved-looking Willow away from Mrs Klingerflim’s hand.
    â€˜Home, dear?’ she asked benignly.
    â€˜Yes, Mrs Klingerflim. Thank you, Mrs Klingerflim.’
    â€˜Such good manners,’ said the old lady, starting up the engine and driving the car back up the path, narrowly avoiding hitting every possible tree on the way and then turning right on to the wrong side of the road. Holly screamed and Mrs Klingerflim casuallyswerved, just missing an oncoming truck. Peeking through her fingers, Holly wondered whether this had been such a good plan after all.

Chapter Eleven

    Dirk awoke from a terrible dream. He couldn’t remember the details but he was left with a feeling of cold dread. He forced his heavy eyelids open and found himself staring up at his own ceiling.
    He looked around. He was slumped in the corner of his office on the mattress where he normally slept. How had he got there? Waking up with no memory of the previous night was not entirely unheard of but it usually coincided with having drunk three bottles of pure, undiluted orange squash. He didn’t recall having hit the concentrate last night, though.
    Last night
, he thought,
what happened last night?
    His office door swung open and Holly strode in,her arms piled high with newspapers. Seeing Dirk she squealed, ‘Dirk, you’re all right,’ dropped the newspapers and threw her arms round the dragon’s neck. Never having been hugged before Dirk wasn’t sure how to react. He reached out his forepaw and awkwardly patted Holly’s back. Sensing his embarrassment, Holly withdrew and knelt down to pick up the newspapers.
    â€˜I’m so glad you’re OK,’ she said. ‘I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever wake up.’
    â€˜Why? How long have I been out?’
    â€˜Three days,’ replied Holly.
    Dirk crawled on all fours across the room and settled behind his desk. ‘What happened to me?’ he asked.
    â€˜Don’t you remember?’ replied Holly. ‘You rescued the cats then you passed out.’
    â€˜The cats, yes, that’s right. I swam out, something was holding on to the crate. I bit into it then it all went black.’
    â€˜What do you mean, something was holding on to it? Like what?’ asked Holly.
    â€˜I don’t know, but whatever it was tasted pretty bad. Was your cat in the crate?’
    â€˜Yes, you saved Willow. Thank you so much. Shemeans more to me than anything. I can pay you. I’ve got some money saved.’
    â€˜That’s great, kiddo, but right now I’m more interested in how I got myself across London unconscious? That sounds pretty impressive even for me.’
    â€˜I