The Contest

On the drive home from the beach, a great rush of relief and excitement coursed through me, filling me with determination to seek justice and get Scott back to his former self, no matter what it might take.

“Listen to me Scott, when we arrive back at the palace, I will take you straight to my room and lock you in, out of harm’s way. I will then settle Nettie in her basket in the kitchen, by which time Hugh should have returned from the hospital. I’m going to try to persuade him to go out for the evening, so that we can start our investigation, but before we do, I also need to visit Penny to ask a favour Don’t worry Scott, I’ll be back as soon as I can. I promise I’ll keep you safe from Hugh “

He looked across at me and barked.

When I eventually took Nettie back to the kitchen, Roxie was sitting at the huge table with a mug of tea in one hand and a cigarette in the other. She raised the cigarette to her lips and took a long drag, inhaling the smoke deeply. A look of intense pleasure washed over her fat face as the smoke filled her lungs, before escaping from her mouth and nostrils, simultaneously.

A’hem, I coughed to let her know she had company.

She jumped up and quickly stubbed out the cigarette. “Oh, it’s you Eemay, I was just about to go outside for a smoke break,” she lied.

“No you weren’t, I saw you. You know the smoking rules.”

“I was busy, hadn’t got time to go outside, there’s only me to do all the cooking.”

“Well you certainly didn’t look very busy to me, and you know very well how strict Pop is about smoking, I don’t know how you have the nerve to suggest that dogs are a health and safety risk in the kitchen, when in actual fact, you pose a health risk to them, from passive smoking.”

“Are you going to report me to your father?”

“Of course not, but it could have been Pop who caught you, then you would have been in serious trouble. It’s up to you if you want to fill your lungs with tar, but if I were you I’d go outside in future.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” she conceded.

“Do you know if Hugh has got back from the hospital yet?”

“Oh, yes, he went straight to see your parents to discuss the animal’s fate. I feel so sorry for Hugh, it all happened so quickly, but at least measures are being taken to make sure it won’t happen again. They must have already taken the dog away, because he’s not here now, and if you ask me…”

“Oh right,” I interrupted, not wanting to listen to her opinions any longer.

“Sorry Roxie but I have to go.”

I found my parents deep in conversation with Hugh, his arm wrapped in a huge dressing for maximum effect.

“Ah Eemay,” Pop said, advancing towards me. “We were just talking about what, sadly, has to be done. We dare not risk this happening again, you do understand don’t you?”

“Yes, Pop, of course I do. I realise how serious this is, and accept that we have no alternative, so I’ll take him to the vet first thing in the morning.”

At this Hugh protested. Striding over, he stood in front of me with his hands resting on my shoulders, staring into my eyes with manic intensity. “No Eemay, I cannot let you do this, I know how fond you are of him and how upsetting it would be. I will take him for you, just make sure he’s muzzled first.”

“Please Hugh, he is my dog and I take full responsibility for him. I intend to do what has to be done, and that’s the end of it. By the way, how’s your arm?” I asked with faked concern. “What did they say at the hospital?”

“Oh, they said I was lucky the tendons hadn’t been severed, but don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”

“Well that’s good to hear.”

I was frantically thinking of a way to get Hugh out for the evening to begin my investigations, when I had an idea.

“You know Hugh, I’m not going to be very good company this evening, all I want is a hot bath to help me unwind and an early night. I’ve been thinking, you haven’t seen any of your friends and colleagues since you came to stay at the palace, so why don’t arrange to meet some of them this evening. After the shock you’ve had today, I’m sure a relaxing dinner, and a chance catch up with a few friends, would be just what you need.

“Well, if you don’t mind.” (I couldn’t believe my luck. He’s fallen for it!)

“Not at all, I can book a taxi to take you wherever you want to meet up, so don’t worry just have a good time and try to put today’s trauma out of your mind, it must have been terrible for you. It’s the least I can do. What time shall I say you want to leave and return?”

He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Book it for seven thirty and I can always call the taxi when I’m ready to leave.”

“No problem. I’ll leave you to contact your friends,” I said, kissing him swiftly on the cheek.

He took my hand. “Thank you Eemay, I really appreciate your concern, I’m so lucky to have such an understanding girlfriend.”

I squeezed his hand and smiled sweetly. Although repulsed, I was determined to keep up the pretence.

When I phoned Harry, the taxi driver, to make the booking, I told him I was planning a surprise for Hugh on his return later that night, and needed to know what time he would be back.

Pleased to be part of the conspiracy, Harry promised to phone me the minute he received Hugh’s call, and vowed not to say anything to him.

Wonderful, I thought. Once he has left for the evening, we can start our investigation.

I then went straight over to see Pen who had just returned from the hairdressers, her long blonde hair having been styled into tumbling, golden curls.

She greeted me with her usual warm smile, which vanished in a second.

“What’s the matter? You look terrible.”

“Pen, I need your help. Can we talk in private?”

“Of course, we’ll go to my bedroom.”

I followed her up the stairs and into her room, which was in much the same state of chaos, as my own. A solitary chair stood piled high with clothes, books and magazines were strewn across the floor. Abandoned coffee cups, with their mouldy dregs, littered the room and the stale remains of a curling sandwich, had been left on her bedside cabinet.

She quickly made some space on her cluttered bed and we sat down, while I brought her up to date with everything that had happened. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened, as I revealed the ghastly truth about Hugh.

She threw her arms around me. “I just can’t believe it, what are you going to do?”

“Well, I have arranged for Hugh to be out this evening with his friends, so we can search his room. I have also managed to convince everyone that ‘Icon’ is my responsibility, and I alone, will to take him to be destroyed first thing in the morning.”

“You did what?”

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of actually going through with it, but I dare not risk anyone catching sight of him after I have supposedly had him put down. So this is where you come in.”

“OK, with you so far.”

“I’ll make an appointment to have his claws clipped at the Vet’s Surgery in Adoebe Road at ten past ten tomorrow morning, so will set off from the palace, with Scott, at nine thirty. I fully expect Hugh to follow me in his car to make sure I keep my promise.

At ten twenty, I need you join me at the surgery, when I will hand him over to you, and leave.

You must not leave the surgery with Scott until you receive a script from me, giving you the all clear. Just say you’re waiting for a lift, if you need to. Oh, and just in case Hugh should see you, I need you to put on some sort of disguise. You could wear that short black wig you wore for the fancy dress party, and some glasses, and no make-up”

“No make-up!?”

“Definitely, no make-up.”

“But what if Hugh comes into the surgery?”

“I’m going to insist that I take Scott on my own, so hopefully he won’t dare go against my wishes and, if he does by chance see you with Scott, if you’re wearing a disguise, he certainly won’t recognise you, and there are lots of dogs who look exactly like Scott.”

Pen looked at me through worried eyes, a frown creasing her forehead. “Emm, I really hope this is going to work?”

“It has to.”

“When you get my ‘all clear’ message, I want you to take him straight to Baskerville Kennels in Broadway Lane. I’ve booked him in under your name and phone number, so no one will connect him with me. Tell them you’re going away on holiday, at least he will be safe there. Will you do this for me Pen?”

“You don’t even have to ask, you know I will.”

“I’ll tell Scott our plans, so he knows exactly what to expect, but could you send me a script to let me know he has settled in OK?”

“No problem.”

We hugged each other closely. “Emm, you know you can trust me, I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the Vets.”

“Oh, one last thing before I go, I really don’t want to get my parents involved, I want to do this my way, for Scott. If Pop finds out, I know him, and he’ll just take over.”

“Your secret is safe with me, Emm, you know that.”