SH03 - Whoops! Someone Is On Our Case Read online

  “Dorothy.” Molly pulled away from her new beau. “I didn’t see you there.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  “This is Rocky.”

  “Hi.” Rocky flashed a mouthful of perfect teeth. “I suppose I’d better get going or I’ll be late.”

  “Hold on.” Molly grabbed him, and took up where she’d left off a few moments earlier.

  “Unbelievable,” Dorothy said, under her breath as she let herself into the shop.

  It was a full five minutes later when Molly eventually made it inside.

  “I thought you were having a break from men?”

  “I did.”

  “Two days is not a break. I’ve had longer migraines.”

  “It seemed longer.”

  “Where did you find this one?”

  “Have you heard of a pub called The Howling?”

  “I can’t say it rings any bells.”

  “I went out with Carly on Saturday night. You remember Carly?”

  “Is she the one with the purple hair?”

  “Yeah, but it’s green now. We’d had a few drinks, and Carly said we should check out the talent in The Howling. It’s where all the werewolves hang out. Hasn’t Charlie ever mentioned it?”

  “He might have. I don’t remember. And that’s where you met Rocky?” Dorothy grinned. “Seriously, what kind of name is that?”

  “I like it. Anyway, it’s only a nickname.”

  “What’s his real name?”

  “Cuthbert.”

  “Cuthbert?” Dorothy laughed. “Oh dear.”

  “What do you think of him, though? He’s got a body like you wouldn’t believe.”

  “There’s obviously nothing wrong with his tongue muscles.”

  “What about you? Isn’t it time you started seeing someone? Has Donny asked you out again?”

  “No, but Neil did, just now.”

  “Really? Are you—?”

  “Of course not. Not if he was the last man on earth. Have you been out with a werewolf before? I lose track.”

  “Cheeky mare. No, Rocky is the first.”

  “You’d better check your diary, then.”

  “What for?”

  “The full moon. You don’t want any mishaps.”

  “What does Charlie do on the full moon?”

  “He goes to the Range back in Candlefield. All the responsible weres do. It’s the ones who don’t that you have to worry about.”

  Just then, the door opened, and in walked Nobby from Nerd Central, next door. He looked as nervous as a kitten, and was already blushing.

  “Hi, Nobby,” Dorothy said when it became apparent that the terrified young man had lost his voice.

  “Hi. I just wanted a word with Molly.”

  “I’ll leave you to it, then.” Dorothy went to hang her coat in the staff room. By the time she came back out, Molly was alone.

  “What did you do with Nobby?”

  “He’s gone.”

  “What did he want?”

  “To ask if I wanted to go for lunch with him tomorrow to that new sushi place that’s opened in town.”

  “Poor guy. I hope you let him down gently. We might need his tech support again.”

  “I said I’d go with him.”

  “What? What about Rocky?”

  “This thing with Nobby isn’t a date.”

  “He’ll think it is.”

  “I can’t help that.”

  “So, you’re just going out with him for the free lunch?”

  “Why not?”

  “Unbelievable.”

  ***

  When he arrived at the gym, Charlie was still worrying about what Amelia had said. She wouldn’t really have done anything to Pretty, would she?

  His phone rang.

  “Charlie, it’s Charlotte from All Man.”

  “Hi.”

  “I have an assignment for you. It’s a swimwear shoot, and the pay is pretty good.”

  “I don’t think that’s for me.”

  “It would be after work. I know you can’t get away in the daytime.”

  “It isn’t that. It’s just that I wouldn’t feel comfortable—err—in swimwear.”

  “With your physique? Why not?”

  “It was bad enough having to take my shirt off for the jeans ad campaign. I got a ton of stick when the billboards appeared. I’d never be able to show my face again if there were pictures of me in swimming trunks.”

  “Are you sure I can’t persuade you?”

  “Not this time. Thanks, though.”

  “Charlie!” Draycott called from across the gym.

  He immediately feared the worst. After the incident with Ally and then the billboards, he was on a final warning. If he lost this job, he’d be in deep trouble.

  “I’ve set someone on to take Mason’s place,” Draycott said.

  “Oh? Great.”

  “They’re in my office now. Come with me; I’ll introduce you. Name’s Andy.”

  This was good news for Charlie not only because he wasn’t getting sacked, but because another pair of hands was desperately needed. Ever since Mason had been hauled back to Candlefield by the rogue retrievers, Charlie had been forced to pick up the slack.

  “Charlie, this is Andy. Andy, this is Charlie. He’ll show you the ropes.”

  When Draycott had told Charlie the new recruit’s name, he’d assumed it was a guy, but Andy turned out to be a female werewolf. Draycott only ever employed weres because he reckoned that humans were too lazy, and all the other sups were a waste of space.

  “Nice to meet you, Charlie.” She offered her hand.

  “Yeah. Likewise.”

  “Go on, then.” Draycott ushered them out of the office. “I have a ton of paperwork to catch up on.”

  “Have you worked here long, Charlie?” Andy asked.

  “Not that long. I used to manage a fancy dress shop.”

  “Really? Quite a career change, then?”

  “I prefer this, but I should warn you that Draycott can be a bit of a pain sometimes.”

  “He was a bit vague about what happened to the guy I’m replacing.”

  “The rogue retrievers took him back to Candlefield.”

  “Did he reveal who he was to a human?”

  “No. He attended a meeting by a group of weres who are intent on taking over the human world.”

  “There’s no wonder he got nicked. I’m scared to death in case I say something stupid, and let a human know I’m a were.”

  “I take it that you haven’t been over here for very long?”

  “This is my second week; I’m living with my sister. She moved to Washbridge three years ago. She was the one who persuaded me that I should give it a go.”

  “What do you think so far?”

  “I like it. It’s great to have the internet. I’ve already signed up on all the social media sites. Are you on Facebook? I’ll friend you.”

  “Nah, I don’t really bother with any of that stuff. Have you thought about what you’ll do on the FM?”

  “Jodie, that’s my sister, always goes back to the Range. I thought I’d do the same.”

  “That’s definitely your best bet. If you’re going to get caught out by the humans, it’s most likely to happen if you stay here during the FM. Have you worked in a gym before?”

  “I worked in Candlefield Iron for two years. Do you know it?”

  “Yeah, I had a membership there for a few months before I moved over here. You’ll be familiar with the equipment, then?”

  She glanced around the room. “Most of it, yeah. What kind of mix is the membership?”

  “About fifty-fifty, male/female.”

  She smiled. “I meant sups to humans.”

  “Oh, right. It’s predominantly human. I’d say ninety percent.”

  “It’s going to take some getting used to—being around humans all the time. Don’t you get nervous in case anyone realises—err—you know?”

  “I don’t really
think about it anymore. You’ll be fine just as long as you don’t decide to turn in front of them.” He grinned.

  “I’ll definitely keep that in mind.” She smiled. “What do you do about lunch?”

  “I usually bring something in, or I just nip to one of the sandwich shops. There’s a few within walking distance.”

  “Don’t you ever go for a drink?”

  “Not at lunchtime. If Draycott smelled alcohol on my breath, he’d show me the door.”

  “What about after work?”

  “I sometimes call in at The Howling.”

  “I think Jodie might have mentioned that place.”

  “It’s where a lot of the weres hang out.”

  “Maybe you can show me, one day?”

  “Err—yeah, sure. Do I call you Andy?”

  “Everyone else does. It’s actually Andrea, but I hate that.”

  “Okay. Give me a shout if you need any help.”

  “Will do, Charlie. Thanks.”

  Chapter 3

  Susan heard a commotion in the main office. A woman was standing next to Dougal Andrews’ desk, and she did not look happy. In fact, she appeared to be crying.

  “What’s that all about?” Stella asked.

  “No idea, but I’ll bet this month’s salary that Dougal has upset her.”

  “It looks like she’s had enough.” Stella gestured to the woman who was now headed towards the back stairs.

  “I won’t be a minute.” Susan got up from her desk, and hurried out of the office, in pursuit of the woman.

  “Hey there. Are you okay?”

  The woman stopped at the bottom of the stairs, took a tissue from her bag, and dabbed her eyes. “That man is a pig.”

  “No arguments from me there.”

  “How can you stand to work with him?”

  “I don’t. What did he say to upset you?”

  “He told me I was wasting his time, and that he had better things to be doing.”

  “Look, there’s a coffee shop, two doors down. Why don’t we get a drink, and you can tell me what it is you brought to Dougal? I’m Susan, by the way. Susan Hall.”

  “Donna Davies. Are you a reporter?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Okay, then.”

  Susan bought the drinks, and they found a quiet table at the rear of the shop.

  “I’m sorry for making a scene.” The woman took a sip of her coffee. “I thought The Bugle might be able to help.”

  “With what, exactly?”

  “I’m worried for my village. The place where I’ve lived all of my life.”

  “Worried why?”

  “I think the drug pushers may be getting a foothold.”

  “Drugs are a problem in a lot of cities.”

  “I realise that, but I’m talking about a small village where we’ve never had any kind of drug problem before. Do you know Middle Wash?”

  “I know of it, but I’ve never actually been there.”

  “It’s a beautiful little village; there’s barely any crime there.”

  “Are you saying that you’ve seen drug dealers on the streets?”

  “No, that’s just it. I believe they’re employing much subtler tactics.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “There’s a small shop called The KeyStop on the main road in the village. They cut keys, and engrave trophies and the like. It’s been open for about three years. Anyway, about a month ago, something strange happened. The number of customers visiting the shop increased at least ten-fold.”

  “Maybe they ran some kind of advertising campaign?”

  “That wouldn’t explain the dramatic increase in numbers. Before this all started, you might see two or three people an hour, going in there—if you were lucky. Now, there are people going in there every few minutes.”

  “That is strange, but what makes you think it’s connected to drugs?”

  “Almost everyone who goes into the shop comes out clutching a small, brown bag.”

  “What’s so unusual about that?”

  “It’s the way they carry them. It’s like they know they’re doing something wrong. They look shifty; that’s the only way I can describe it. And, another thing: the majority of customers aren’t even from the village. Who would drive into Middle Wash just to get a key cut?”

  “That is strange, but it’s still not much to go on.”

  “I realise that, but something evil is going on in that shop. I’d stake my life on it.”

  “Have you taken your suspicions to the police?”

  “Yes, but they aren’t interested. I was hoping that The Bugle might be able to send in an undercover reporter, to find out what’s happening. Could you do that?”

  “I’ll definitely take a look at the shop for myself.”

  “Would you? I’d be ever so grateful.”

  “Give me your contact details, and I’ll get back to you when I’ve had a chance to check it out.”

  Back at her desk, Susan checked her email; there was nothing from Greg yet.

  “Why was that woman so upset?” Stella asked when she returned to her desk.

  “I hate to admit it, but Dougal may have been right about this one. Not that that’s any excuse for treating her like that.”

  “What had she come in for?”

  “She suspects that one of the local shops in her village might have started peddling drugs. Do you know Middle Wash?”

  “My cousin lives there. Drugs in Middle Wash? I can’t see it.”

  “Apparently, the shop used to have very few customers, but now it’s overrun with them, and most of them aren’t even from the village.”

  “That’s weird.”

  “I agree.”

  “No, I mean, it’s weird because it reminds me of what’s happened with the florist where I live.”

  “Oh?”

  “It’s called In Bloom; it’s only a small concern. It’s been there for about five years, and until a month ago, they used to have a steady flow of customers—nothing spectacular. But over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed that there are far more people going in there. I didn’t really think much of it until now. I just assumed they’d invested in more advertising.”

  “That’s probably what it is. I can’t see there being any other connection. Anyway, it won’t hurt to take a look around Middle Wash because if I ever get tired of living in the city, a nice, quiet village might be just what I need.”

  ***

  Much to Molly’s annoyance, Dorothy had decided to finish an hour early. The shop had been quiet all day, so Dorothy had figured that Molly would be able to hold the fort by herself. Dorothy had been dreaming about a long, hot bath ever since lunchtime. There was only the one bathroom in the apartment, so more often than not, she had to make do with a shower. There was wine in the fridge, and there were a few chocolates hidden in her room—she’d had to hide them otherwise Neil would have scoffed them.

  Chocolate, wine and a long, hot bath; what more could you ask for?

  “Mum?” She stared in disbelief at her mother who was standing next to the canary’s cage. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

  “You gave me a key, remember?”

  She did remember, but she couldn’t for the life of her think why she’d done something so stupid. “I—err—didn’t realise you were coming over.”

  “Neither did I, but I got a call from your Auntie Violet. You remember her, don’t you?”

  “Not really.” Dorothy had so many aunts, uncles and cousins that she couldn’t keep track.

  “She’s just moved into a new house in Smallwash, and she invited me over to take a look. While I was over here, I thought I’d just drop in and say hello.”

  “I should be at work. It’s only because I knocked off early that I’m home at this time.”

  “Lucky me, then.” She turned to face the wall. “Where’s my picture gone?”

  Dorothy’s heart sank. None of them could bear to look at that monst
rosity of a painting—least of all her, so they always kept it out of sight, and only put it up when her mother was coming around.

  “Dorothy? What have you done with it?”

  “It’s—err—we’re going to decorate, so we took it down. We didn’t want to get paint on it.”

  “Not before time either. This place is in dire need of a lick of paint.” She turned back to the cage where Bob, the canary, was admiring himself in the mirror. “This poor bird. I can’t trust you with anything, can I?”

  “What have I done now?” Dorothy was beginning to regret her decision to finish work early.

  “Look at this canary’s nails.”

  “What’s wrong with them?”

  “They need clipping.”

  “I’ll try to get it done, but it isn’t easy because of work.”

  “It’s all in hand; I’ve called a local vet.”

  “When?”

  “Ten minutes ago. While I was waiting for you to come home. They said if I took him around there straight away, they’d clip them while I wait. Where’s that small cage I brought him in?”

  “In my bedroom.”

  “What are you waiting for? Go and get it.”

  “I was going to have a bath.”

  “No one is stopping you. I’m perfectly capable of taking a canary to the vets. Now, hurry up, or I’ll miss my appointment.”

  ***

  It was Charlie’s early finish too, and rather than catch the bus home, he’d decided to walk. He’d had a good day at work. Having Andy there had made life so much easier. It wasn’t just that she was another pair of hands; she really knew her way around the gym. She hadn’t had to ask for his help once, which was a pity because he had enjoyed chatting with her. Charlie had never dated another werewolf. Come to that, he hadn’t dated many women at all. Why was he wasting his time thinking about that? It’s not as though anyone as attractive as Andy would give a big lummox like him a second glance.

  When he reached the apartment block, he spotted Pretty coming out of the door. What a relief. Oh, wait! He’d spoken too soon.

  “Pretty! Come here!” He reached for the cat, but she was too quick for him. When she was out of reach, she stopped and stared at him.

  “What have you done, Pretty?” Charlie was staring at the yellow feathers around the cat’s mouth. “I’m so dead.”