felt.
âYes, thatâs it. That must be it.â I knew it was a daft idea really. Why would Tristan suddenly turn into some nutcase who stole his own dog back? But I needed something to cling onto, so any suggestion that meant she was safe was okay by me. What do they call that? Clutching at straws?
âLetâs go and see if heâs taken her home,â I said.
I was already running and Jago was close behind me.
CHAPTER
13
Tristanâs shed should have looked neglected â it didnât. There was a used coffee cup, on the arm of the sofa, I didnât remember seeing the last time. I found an open packet of biscuits and half a sandwich on the bookcase, too. The stone dust had settled everywhere but you could see footprints on the floor â large and small. But not the prints I was hoping to see â paw prints.
âSomeoneâs been in here recently,â I said. Jago and I had the same thought at the same time and turned quickly to the door. No one. The only sound was a gentle bee buzz in the silence.
âMy dad?â Jago said hopefully.
Tristan? I wasnât interested in finding him anymore. I didnât care where he was or who he was hiding from or why. All I cared about was that Tia was missing, maybe hurt, maybe evenâ¦
âDo you think Kemble Sykes has got her? Kidnapped her to lure my dad out of hiding?â
This time Jagoâs idea was a good one, but so frightening I didnât want it to be true.
âYour mum says heâs a nutter,â I groaned. I dropped down on to the sofa. âThis is hopeless, she could be anywhere.â I shook myself. I mustnât think like that. I had to find her.
Jago looked as lost and helpless as me. âWhat now? If Tia is missingâ¦â
âTia is missing?â said a voice. Shadowed in the doorway was a man, a tall man, with pale blond hair tied in plaits and wearing a bandana.
âTristan!â
Jago looked in shock from me to his father and then backed away, as if from a ghost.
âWhere have you been? Tiaâs been stolen!â I shouted. I was so angry. This was his fault, I was sure of that.
Tristan spoke to me and gave a shy glance at his son. âWhoâs taken her? Why? Please, sit down.â This was to Jago, the first words heâd spoken to his son in ten years.
Jago sidled onto the sofa beside me, but kept his eyes firmly fixed on the ground.
âTell me what happened.â
I did.
âHave you tried the RSPCA? The police?â
âOf course we have.â
As if in a dream, he opened the fridge and took out two cans of fizzy drink. I took one. Jago shook his head. He was still staring at the floor.
âKemble Sykes might have her.â
At the dreaded name Tristan shot a frightened glance at me. âYou know Kemble?â
âHeâs been following us around, trying to get to you. Why have you been hiding? Where have you been hiding? Why are you so afraid of him?â
âWhoa, whoa.â He put his hands up to stop me. âToo many questions at once. Where have I been? Thatâs the easiest one to answer. Iâve been staying with Hug Howells.â
âHug? But sheâ¦â Suddenly, everything made sense. âYou were there, werenât you, the other morning when Tia was scratching at her door? She recognised your scent and thatâs why she was crazy to get in. So Hug acted all mean to get rid of us?â
âYes, she hated doing that, especially turning Tia away. She loves Tia. I knew Tia would be safe with you, Carys. Knew youâd look after her like she was your own. Why have I been hiding? Thatâs an easier question. I was scared. I refuse to be scared anymore.â Tristan paced the floor, his eyes on Jago the whole time. âI knew Kemble was staying at the Seaview, the guesthouse across the lane. We watched him sneaking around here several times, trying to find me. Hug is a good woman. She knows what
Terry Pratchett
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