Hour of the Doomed Dog Read Online Free PDF Page B

“while I keep watch in the hall.”
    Joe frowned. “What if they’ve changed their minds? Maybe they’ve decided not to rob the place after all.”
    Frankie looked at Joe as if he was stupid. “Then I wouldn’t still be here, would I! If my problem was solved, I’d have passed over.”
    Frankie was right. But Joe was pretty sure the robbers would be extra careful next time, to make sure no one saw them sneaking back into the office.

    “There you are, Joe.” Gran was waiting in the corridor when Joe came out of the toilets. “They’re starting the disco! Would you like to dance?”
    “No!” yelped Frankie. “You’ve got to watch the waiters!”
    “Er, I don’t really like dancing…”
    “Don’t be shy, Joe!” Gran linked arms with him and led him through the double doors into the ballroom.
    “I like this song!” Gran said, as she dragged Joe on to the dancefloor. Unfortunately they were the only ones dancing – apart from a group of toddlers.
    “Love your moves!” hissed Damian in Joe’s ear.
    Joe spun round and blinked, as Damian snapped a photo of him. “Ha! Great picture!”

    Joe gave him a death stare. Then he spotted Auntie Marion waving to them from a table nearby. “Look, Gran! It’s Auntie Marion. I think she wants you to go over to the table. I’ll be back in a second.”
    Joe raced away before Gran could stop him. He dived out of the disco and ran straight into Sarah. The glass she was carrying went flying…
    SMASH!
    A puddle of pineapple juice began to spread round her satin shoes.
    “JOE! You did that on purpose!”
    “I’m sorry … it was an accident!”
    Everyone was staring. But Joe didn’t care. He’d just seen one of the waiters heading out of the room, glancing furtively over his shoulder.
    “Got to go!” said Joe.
    “Wait! What about this mess?”

CHAPTER TEN
    Joe didn’t get far. Sarah grabbed his arm and refused to let go until he had mopped up the juice. As soon as they’d finished, Mum appeared.
    “Bedtime,” she said.
    “What? But, Mum!”
    She held up her hand. “No, Joe, it’s been a long day for everyone… Now go and say goodnight to Gran and Auntie Kate!”
    Joe sighed. He knew it was useless arguing. He said goodnight then followed Mum and Toby out of the lounge. They passed Uncle Lentalking to Mrs Stanway about the clock in the dining room.
    “It’s an exceptional piece,” Len was saying. “It’s probably worth a fair bit.”
    “How fabulous!” beamed Mrs Stanway.
    Then Frankie spotted Joe and jumped up from his post in the hall. “Where are you going? You can’t go to bed now!”
    Joe hung back behind Mum and Toby. “Don’t worry,” he whispered to Frankie. “I’ll sneak back down in five minutes.”
    “Don’t be long,” wailed Frankie. “There’s not much time left – they’re bound to strike soon!”

    Joe hadn’t realized quite how tired he was. As soon as his head hit the pillow he felt a wave of sleep wash over him.
Just a five-minute snooze while Toby drops off,
he told himself.
Then I’ll creep back downstairs…
    “JOE! JOE! WAKE UP!” Frankie was on his bed,licking his face. “You’ve been gone for ages! It’s nearly midnight. Everyone’s in the ballroom and the bad waiters are creeping about. Come on!”
    Joe stumbled out of bed and pulled on his shoes.
    They crept downstairs into the deserted lobby and sneaked to their hiding place behind the pot plant…
    After ten minutes or so they heard footsteps and singing, but it was only Marion and Bob going upstairs to bed.
    Joe sighed. The hallway was cold and he was fed up with Frankie, who was constantly scratching at his stitches. But suddenly Frankie stopped scratching.

    “That’s weird,” Frankie whispered.
    “What?”
    “The clock in the dining room!” said Frankie. “Look – that wall clock over there says it’s five past twelve. But I didn’t hear Sylvia’s clock in the dining room chime!”
    Joe was about to shrug when suddenly he froze. The