Page 35 of The Attercop

The woman seemed to relax. She mouthed ‘Thank you’.

Mrs B continued. “I think perhaps I can arrange for him to stay at my place, but I don’t want him to be alone, so I’ll probably have to bring him into the office on work days. It’s the detective agency just a few doors down.”

“You’re a detective?” Ty shouted.

“No, but I work with a few. You can meet them anytime you want. Especially if you’re visiting…Duck.”

When she used the name Duck, the dog looked up at her, its eyes wide.

“Duck,” she said again and the dog leapt into the air, twisting as it came down.

Ty laughed. “Call his name again!”

“Duck!”

The dog leapt higher and spun in the air, barking.

“I think you’d better take down those flyers, ’cause you’re definitely stuck with him,” Mary said as she took Ty by the hand. “Now, say goodbye to Joan and Duck.”

“Good bye, Joan. Good bye, Duck!”

Mrs B realised she now had a new permanent family member. One, she hoped her sister Irene would take to, because she didn’t want to give him up.

“Come on, Duck. Let’s take down the flyers and get back to work.”

She reversed her circuit of the neighbourhood, retrieved the posters, and led Duck back toward the office. As she pulled down the last of the notices, she saw a man standing beside the window of Gwen’s shop. He was dressed in a light rumpled trench coat. His hair was long and matted. Even from a distance he appeared unbathed. He looked her way and held out a shaky hand as she approached.

“Spare change,” he said, bobbing his hand up and down. He made no eye contact.

Duck positioned himself between Mrs B and the vagrant, his face toward the man. The dog pressed his body against her leg like it wanted to hold her back. She felt the vibrations of the growl in his ribs before she heard it. “Duck. Behave.”

The dog kept growling. “I’m sorry. He’s new,” she said to the man, feeling slightly ridiculous because it made no sense, given the situation. “I’m sorry, but I don’t carry any money on me.”

“That’s okay, ma’am. Have a nice day,” he said.

She was mildly taken aback by the voice, which seemed to be that of a much younger man. He must have had a terrible life.

She led Duck around him by walking off the sidewalk onto the street. Duck continued to growl, never taking his eyes off him.

“Duck. What’s gotten into you?”

She pulled the dog away and went up the stairs to the office.

* * * *

The homeless man waited until the woman had entered the building one door down.

Now, when did they get a dog? Interesting. I guess I’ll have to buy a nice piece of steak to calm him down on my next visit.

“Excuse me.”

The voice startled him. A woman stood in the door to the café.

“Here. Take these,” she said, handing him a bag and a take-out cup. “It’s a nice day. If you want, there are some seats in the park around the corner.” She pointed down the street.

“Thank you, ma’am. Much appreciated,” he said, taking the offering.

The Attercop straightened up and made his way down the block, away from the café and Declan Hunt Investigations. As he walked, he could feel her eyes on him.