Me: What do you mean nobody knows where Dave is? I knew he was in danger.
Nell: He might not be in danger. We just know he’s missing.
Me: Tell me again what happened.
Nell: As you might know, the Beefies also do deliveries.
Me: Book a Beefy?
Nell: Yes.
Me: We use Terry. He’s a nice seagull.
Nell: We do. Anyway, the deliveries now include bacon baps and baguettes so when they received a large order they decided David should be the one to deliver it.
Me: Why?
Nell: He’s strong and he can ride a bicycle.
Me: Fair enough. What was the order?
Nell: Six baguettes and a box of seashells.
Me: A little odd.
Nell: Not really. You used to bring us seashells before we moved down here.
Me: Yes, I did. Do we know who placed the order?
Nell: We do. It was a Mr Étienne Mouette.
Me: That’s a fancy French name.
Nell: He’s probably on holiday and missing his baguettes.
Me: Maybe.
Nell: Anyway, David agreed to deliver the baguettes so they put them in a doggy bag with the box of seashells.
Me: How was he going to transport all that?
Nell: In a basket on the front of his bicycle.
Me: I see.
Nell: Before he left, David did a strange thing.
Me: What?
Nell: He took off his jaunty hat with Henry inside and put on his feathered one.
Me: His mayoral hat?
Nell: Yes.
Me: Why?
Nell: Nobody knows, and the thing is he never arrived.
Me: Where?
Nell: At the Cottage Hotel.
Me: What?
Nell: That’s where Étienne Mouette is staying.
Me: But the Cottage Hotel is closed in January.
Nell: Oh yes.
Me: So, where’s my Big Brave Beautiful Boy?
Nell: I wish I knew.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
