Hour of the Doomed Dog Read Free Page B

the hall, the clock in the dining room chimed.
    “Nine o’clock and no sign of the robbers!” Frankie reported, as though he was a soldier on guard.
    “Great,” murmured Joe.

    “Have you figured out what they’re after yet?” Frankie asked.
    Joe hung back as Toby and Mum headed for the stairs. Toby was telling Mum all about the haunted suit of armour.
    “Dunno!” Joe shrugged. “Money? Jewels?”
    Frankie gave a disgusted snort. “How can we stop them if we don’t know what they’re going to steal?”
    Before Joe could answer there was the sound of footsteps and Mrs Stanway appeared from the bar, carrying two cash boxes, balanced one on top of the other. Frankie’s tail began to drum on the floor and he let out a little whimper of delight at the sight of his owner.
    “Hello, young man,” she called, smiling at Joe. “Are you having a nice time?” As she spoke she stumbled slightly on a crease in the carpet and dropped one of the boxes.
    Joe rushed over to help. Then he gasped. The box had opened and spilled money out…
    “Thank you, darling,” said Mrs Stanway as Joe pushed the notes and coins back in the box. “I’ve been emptying the tills in the bar.”
    “Shall I help you carry it?” Joe asked.
    “That’s very kind,” Mrs Stanway replied with a smile.
    Frankie trotted after them.

    Inside the office, under a large, messy desk, was an old metal safe.
    “My grandfather brought it back from Chicago,” explained Mrs Stanway proudly. “They don’t make them like this any more!”
    She twiddled a small dial on the front, first one way and then the other. The door creaked open. Joe’s eyes nearly popped out. The safe was stuffed with money!

    “All ready for the bank on Monday,” explained Mrs Stanway, emptying the boxes and shoving the cash inside. She tried to close the door, but it wouldn’t shut properly. “Dash it! The door’s a bit of a disaster!” She gave it another shove and this time it closed.
    As Joe and Frankie went back into the lobby, a thought was forming in Joe’s brain.
    “I bet that’s what the thieves are after,” he murmured. “The cash out of the safe!”
    Frankie growled. “OUTRAGEOUS! How dare they!”
    “There must be thousands in there,” added Joe. “And it wouldn’t take much to get the door open!”
    “So, what’s the plan?” demanded Frankie. “How can we stop them from stealing Sylvia’s money?”
    “We’ll have to keep watch outside the office tomorrow.”
    “All day and all night!” growled Frankie. “The thieves could strike anytime!”
    Joe was just about to explain that he couldn’t keep watch ALL day – he had the wedding to attend – when a voice called down from the landing above…
    “There you are, Joe!” It was Mum and she looked cross. “One minute you were behind us, the next you’d disappeared!”
    “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, I’m afraid that’s my fault,” said Mrs Stanway, coming out of her office. “Joe was helping me carry the cash from the bar. I do hope that was all right?”
    “Oh, of course,” said Mum. “That was very kind of you, Joe.”
    “Goodnight, darling,” smiled Mrs Stanway. “See you in the morning.”

CHAPTER SIX
    Frankie came for Joe at first light.
    Joe was dreaming about Damian being swallowed up by a giant squid when the zombie dog dived on top of him.
    “GET UP, JOE!”
    “What? Ahhh! YUK!” Joe tried to wriggle away as a big dollop of drool dribbled out of Frankie’s mouth and on to his face.
    “Get up!” barked Frankie again, his scratchy tongue licking Joe’s hair. “It’s Saturday. The robbers could come anytime!”
    “Go away,” Joe hissed. “It’s too early!” He glanced over at Toby, who was still sleeping peacefully. Thank goodness he was a heavy sleeper!
    “GET UP!” Frankie grabbed Joe’s duvet in his teeth and hauled it off the bed. “I need you!”
    “Hey!” Joe wrestled the covers out of Frankie’s mouth, and pulled them back over his head.