Me: Dave’s outside on the picnic blanket.
Nell: He’s been out there since early morning.
Me: Maybe he’s listening to the birds. Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: He’s listening to something, but it’s not the birds.
Me: What do you mean?
Nell: Have you read his interview with the Daily Growl?
Me: Not yet. Is mine in there, too? I did quite well. They took a photo of my bruised arm but I told them it didn’t hurt much anymore.
Nell: Never mind your arm, we have far more important things to worry about.
Me: Do we?
Nell: Yes. Apparently, David is hearing voices.
Me: Voices?
Nell: Well, one voice in particular.
Me: Is it Walter Pigeon? Only he’s set up home in the bush by the gate and he and his family are extremely noisy. Kev wanted to cut it back but he says he can’t if Walter’s living there.
Nell: Stop rabbiting on about Walter. I’m talking about Sally.
Me: Sally the Golden Retriever? Head of the Secret Service and love of Dave’s life?
Nell: Yes. According to this article, Dave rushed out of the gate and up the lane because he heard Sally barking ‘Help me, Davey!’
Me: Why didn’t he tell us?
Nell: Sally told him not to.
Me: Then why tell the Daily Growl?
Nell: The reporter got it out of him. As soon as I saw they’d sent a Bloodhound I knew we were in trouble.
Me: No, you didn’t. I saw you offering him a scone.
Nell: It was a shop bought scone. I wanted to see if he’d notice.
Me: And did he?
Nell: Yes.
Me: But how could Dave have heard Sally? She’s in London.
Nell: I agree. Something’s not right. We need to talk to David.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
