Beverly: Chapter 3
By the time Monday morning rolled round again, I decided I had more than enough to worry about, without giving in to panic attacks about Grace’s study habits, or lack there of. Rob had phoned offering to take me out to lunch. Usually this meant one of two things. Either he wanted to tap me for information or warn me off a case. Seeing as my house to house enquires had drawn exactly zero leads, I was afraid he was about to try and talk me out of wasting any more time looking for Tortoise. The more he pushed me to give up, the more likely I was to dig my heels in, but secretly I was afraid he might be right.
Rob was waiting for me in our favourite railway cafe, two coffees already on the table. He smiled as I sat down and pushed one in my direction. “Thought you might need this.”
“Thanks.” I took a sip, waiting for Rob to tell me what he wanted. When he didn’t speak I started looking through the menu. Two could play at his game and I was determined not to be the first to break the silence.
The seconds ticked by before Rob eventually cleared his throat. “How’s it going then?”
“It?” I said, feigning ignorance. I could guess exactly what he meant but I wasn’t about to make it easy for him.
Rob smiled. “Come on, don’t make me say it.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Fine, have it your way.” He took a deep breath. “Any news on the missing pup?”
“She’s still missing.”
“And?”
I shrugged. “And nothing. I knocked on a few doors, asked around, but no-one’s seen her.”
“I guess it would be easy to miss such a little dog.” He hesitated. “Anyone mention the pigs?”
“Nope. Are you going to tell me what this is really about?”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, since when did CID take such an active interest in a few missing pets? Something’s going on and I want to know what.”
Rob looked at the floor.
“Ha! I knew it! Come on Rob, spill!”
He opened his mouth and was about to speak when his phone on the table in front of us burst into life. He glanced at the screen before grabbing it and standing up. “Sorry Charlie, got to take this.”
I watched as he rushed outside and started pacing up and down in front of the cafe.
A waitress arrived at the table to take our order. “What can I get you?”
I glanced up at Rob’s still pacing form. “Can you give us a minute? I’m not sure what he wants. Another coffee while I wait would be wonderful though. Thanks!”
I sipped at my second coffee and considered all the possible reasons Rob and his colleagues might have for investigating stolen pets and came up blank. If it had been valuable livestock I could have convinced myself there was a case to be made but tiny pigs and a sausage dog? It made no sense. I couldn’t wait to hear Rob’s explanation but when I looked up again I saw that he’d gone, leaving me to pay for the coffees. Typical!
I typed a quick text message. Where did you go?!? By the time I’d finished my coffee, he still hadn’t come back, or replied to my text, so I paid for the drinks and headed in the direction of Beverly’s house.
When Grace and I had visited Beverly’s street on Saturday, parking had been a nightmare but this time the road looked deserted. I left my car outside Beverly’s house and knocked on her neighbour’s door, two houses down. No-one had been home when I knocked on Saturday and after listening to a dog barking next door for almost a full minute, I was about to give up again. As I turned to try next door, movement from behind the glass door caught my attention and I knocked one more time. The outline of a figure appeared behind the glass and when the door was finally opened, I understood why it had taken so long for my knock to be answered. The lady standing in front of me was about my age but her face looked almost grey.
I held out one of my business cards. “My name’s Charlie Diamond. I’m helping one of your neighbours, Beverly? Her dog’s gone missing.”
The lady smiled but when she spoke it was clear she was in pain. “Do you want to come in? Probably easier.”
Without waiting for an answer she turned and slowly edged her way along the corridor from her front door. I stepped into her home, closed the door behind me, and followed her into a sitting room. She gestured to a sofa and I sat down, waiting while she made herself comfortable on a chair opposite.
I watched as she took an oxygen tube from the side of her chair. When she was all hooked up she smiled again. “Sorry, I can’t stand for long, especially not without this.” She gestured to the tank tucked away at the side of her chair. “Now you were saying something about Tortoise?”
“You know about the dog then?” Relief flooded my body as she nodded her head. Hers was the first positive reaction I’d had.
“I used to go round there, before I got sick. You know she can’t be left alone for too long?”
“Why not?” I’d always thought of sausage dogs as being quite low maintenance pets, it wasn’t like they’d need a lot of walking, so this was news to me.
She smiled. “Poor old girl, if she’s on her own too long she gets anxious. That’s why they’re better in pairs.”
“But Tortoise lives alone?”
The lady nodded. “Ever since the other one died. Before I moved here so I don’t know much about it. I’m Claire, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you Claire.” I stood up and shook her hand. “When did you last see Tortoise?”
“It’s been ages now, probably six months, maybe a bit more.”
“And Beverly? Do you see her much?”
“Oh yes, she pops in here a couple of times a week. Brings me bits and bobs from the shop. She’s so kind.”
“She told you her suspicions about the dog’s disappearance?”
Claire nodded. “Why would someone do something like that? Beverly wouldn’t hurt a fly, it’s so cruel.”
“I’m afraid your guess is as good as mine.” I felt myself hesitating. “You believe her then? That she’s been stolen.”
“Of course.” Realisation flashed across her face. “You don’t? Why not?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m just trying to explore all possible angles. Any chance she could have accidentally wandered off?”
“No way!” Claire shook her head emphatically. “Beverly adores Tortoise. Someone’s taken her. I just know it.”
Something about the way Claire spoke registered in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was yet but I was starting to get an inkling that maybe Rob was right and there was more to this missing dog than I’d been led to believe.