MAGGIE MADDISON ON THE CASE
Private detective Maggie finds herself in more than a spot of bother as she hunts for stolen Dalmatian pup Delilah
Maggie, over here!” The man calling her held a teapot aloft and grinned. She made her way between tables brimming with coffee and cake to take a seat with the man perfectly aware of the admiring looks his fireman’s uniform and dark, curly hair were eliciting from other customers.
“On your way to work or just finished?” she asked, sitting down.
“Neither, it’s my day off, I’m just using the uniform to get your attention,” Lance Ryan leaned back in his chair.
“Not that easily impressed. If you’re adding a slice of lemon drizzle cake to the negotiations, I might stay a bit.”
“Done,” he said, pointing into the cake cabinet at a passing waitress.
“You said this was a business meeting. Want to fill me in?”
“All right then, Private Detective Maddison.” There was jollity in his voice but no mockery. He knew how hard it had been for Maggie to give up her career as a district nurse and retrain. “I’m here on behalf of a neighbour. Her 6-month-old Dalmatian puppy was stolen. He reported it to the police but you can imagine how much manpower they have available to investigate. Would you take the case?”
“Give me his details. I’ll get started today,” Maggie said, taking delivery of the cake as Lance poured her a cup of tea.
“Just like that? I was hoping I’d have to persuade you, talk you through details.”
“I prefer to get my information first hand so no incentives are necessary.”
“Have dinner with me anyway. I’m a great cook.”
“Hold that thought,” Maggie said. “I’ve got to get going. Text me your neighbour’s number. And thanks for the cake.” She stood up.
“You’re a tough nut to crack, Maggie.” “If it’s too much for you, Lance, maybe move on to someone easier,” she smiled, walking away.
An hour later Maggie was sitting in a kitchen drinking another cup of tea. “Here’s a photo of Delilah,” Jon Loveridge said. “She has very distinctive spots. This large one across her nose should make her easy to find. She comes to her name, and is really friendly.” “Where was she taken from?”
“My garden. And no, before you ask, she couldn’t have escaped. First thing I did when I got her was dog-proof all the fencing and gates. I only left her out there a couple of minutes at a time. She was wearing an ID collar and she’s been chipped. If she’d run off and been found, any vet would be able to contact me.” “You suspect foul play?” Maggie asked. “Can’t have been anything else. Dalmatians are sought after dogs. I was signed up to several websites with my name on waiting lists for ages. They can be worth a lot of money.”
“I’ll do my best to find her,” Maggie said. “No need to see me out but do you mind if I have a look in your back garden as I go?”
“Help yourself,” he said. “But please find her. I hate to think what she’s going through out there alone.”
Letting herself out of the back door, Maggie took the small path down the slim strip of garden. Winchester’s crime rate was low, but pets were often targeted. Sadly, dog fighting still happened from time to time in rural communities, then there was the odd prank gone wrong. Her new client had done a good job of protecting the garden against escape, but there was a gate at the end that could be vaulted by anyone determined enough.
The small house in Kings Worthy village had a quiet road to the front and a country lane to its rear with no other properties overlooking it. She looked up and down the side of the gate. The lock was undamaged and the gate was in good shape, but there was a branch snapped off to one side, as if someone had tried to pull themselves up and put too much weight on it. Snapping a couple of photos for her file, Maggie made her way home.
Brief research showed Maggie just how valuable the Dalmatian puppy was. The cheapest she could find was £600 and many were for sale at £1,000 or more. Easily a solid motive for stealing one from a garden, and it made the discomfort of scaling a fence look like a small price to pay. The question was, where was Delilah now and how could she be found?