Hour of the Doomed Dog Read Online Free PDF Page A

wedding will begin shortly.”
    Gran squeezed Joe’s arm. “Exciting, isn’t it!”
    As they followed the guests outside, Joe glanced back towards Mrs Stanway’s office… Would the thieves strike now – while everyone was in the garden?

CHAPTER EIGHT
    “We are here together to share Megan and Scott’s special day,” said the registrar who was conducting the service.
    Joe couldn’t concentrate on the wedding. He kept looking around the garden, wondering where Frankie was and what was happening with the thieves. He couldn’t exactly sneak off to see. He was in the middle of a row of guests with Gran on one side and Dad on the other.
    “That’ll be you one day, Joe!” giggled Gran.

    When the ceremony was all over, Joe finally thought he could go and find Frankie. But just as he was about to escape, the photographer started to speak.
    “Can I have the bride’s family over here, please?” he called.
    “That’s us!” said Mum, grabbing Toby’s arm. “Come on, Joe, you, too.”
    They were herded together into a corner of the garden where Megan and Scott had been having their pictures taken with Scarlet and Sarah and the best man.
    “Smile, Joe!” said Mum, straightening his tie. “You look miserable!”
    “That’s lovely,” said the photographer as they lined up on either side of Megan and Scott. “If the children could just move a little bit further forward, so I can see them… And bridesmaids, hold your flowers up a little bit higher… Perfect. Smile, everyone!”
    And that’s when Frankie arrived. He came hurtling across the grass, barking and yelping, “JOE! JOE!”
    Joe turned and looked.
    CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
    “Lovely,” said the photographer. “Oh no! Wait a minute,” he added, peering at his screen. “That boy there…” He pointed at Joe. “He wasn’t looking at the camera.”
    Everyone stared at Joe.
    “Loser!” hissed Damian.
    “I’m afraid we’ll need to take it again,” said the photographer. “That’s it – back in position. Smile, everyone!”

    But now Frankie had reached Joe and was headbutting his ankles wildly. “They’re over there!” he yelped. “The robbers! Look!”
    Joe looked.
    CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
    “Young man!” said the photographer. “Will you
please
look at the camera?”
    “Joe!” Sarah glared at him.
    “Concentrate!” whispered Mum.
    This time Joe stared at the camera – his face fixed in a mad grin while Frankie barked and yelped, demanding his attention.
    “You looked like a total idiot!” muttered Sarah, as everyone moved away.
    “There they are!” barked Frankie. “Look!”
    Joe looked. But all he could see were a few waiters handing out drinks and snacks.
    “Where?”
    “The waiters, Joe. It’s them!”
    Two tall, thin men. One with black hair. One with brown.
    “Are you sure?” Joe whispered.
    “Definitely!”
    It was the perfect disguise for thieves. Dressed as waiters they could go anywhere in the hotel and no one would notice.
    “They must have been here for their interviews on the day I died,” said Frankie. “I remember Sylvia talking about needing extra staff for the wedding.”
    “Sneaky!” murmured Joe.
    “We’ve got to stake out the office!” said Frankie. “Come on, Joe.”
    For the next hour, Joe and Frankie lurked behind the potted plant in the lobby, watching Mrs Stanway’s office. But no one came near it.
    A couple of times they caught sight of the waiters carrying things into the dining room for the wedding meal, but they didn’t look interested in Mrs Stanway’s office.
    “When are the robbers going to make their move?” whined Frankie, as the waiters carried more trays of glasses into the dining room.
    Joe shrugged.
    Just then, Dad appeared.
    “Joe?”
    “Hi, Dad,” Joe peered round the side of the plant.
    “Why are you hiding out here?”
    “Er…”
    “Look, I know you’re not that interested in talking to the relatives, but you can’t avoid them all day. Come and have a drink –