Blood Hound Read Online Free

vouch for it.”
    “And you put it where you’re supposed to – in the doggy bin?”
    “Of course!” I said indignantly.
    “How odd,” said Mum. “Why would someone post something like that through the door? What a nasty thing to do…”
    I couldn’t agree more.
    “Throw it away,” she went on. “It’s obviously just someone playing a silly joke. A malicious prank, that’s all.”
    Gingerly picking the bag up by its handles, I dropped it back into the Jiffy bag and shoved it in the dustbin. I was unnerved by the whole thing, and judging from the look on Graham’s face, he felt the same. Not that we had a chance to discuss the matter, as Mum was dragging me off to town for a spot of Back to School shopping, which – as you can imagine – I was thrilled about.
    It wasn’t until we took Bertie out for his walk that evening that Graham and I had a chance to talk.
    “Do you think it could have been that mum? The one with the screaming kids? I mean, she threatened that man – you know, the guy with the hoodie.”
    “Yes, she did. But he didn’t clear up after his dog – unlike us. So why on earth would she send a package like that to Mrs Biggs?”
    “I don’t know. But she didn’t like Bertie sitting down in that puddle. Maybe it was because of that. Even so, it’s all a bit odd…”
    When we got to the park we found a disconsolate pack of dog owners gathered on the grass. Mumsiewumsie and Mrs Surfer Dude’s argument had clearly been forgotten, because whoever was responsible for Mrs Biggs’s mysterious package had been hard at work. Everyone had found similar parcels on their doormats. While the dogs played, their owners conversed in low, worried tones.
    Mumsiewumsie was almost beside herself. “It were downright nasty, it were. Right there on the mat. Nearly stepped in it.”
    “It’s outrageous. Something ought to be done,” fretted Byron’s bow-tie-wearing owner.
    “I called the police,” Mumsiewumsie told him. “I told my boys, I’m just not having it.”
    When Horrible Hoodie and his hellhound came along the path, the owners bunched together like angry sheep and began muttering about how some people shouldn’t be allowed to keep dogs; some owners gave everyone else a bad name. Hoodie wasn’t bothered – in fact, a nasty leer spread across his face. He looked like a Man Who Knew Something.
    “I called the police too,” Mrs Surfer Dude said in a low voice. “Grant thought I was overreacting, but … well, it’s just not nice, is it? It makes you feel so uneasy! And how did they know where we all live?”
    Mumsiewumsie didn’t answer. No one did. They all seemed lost for words and I could see why.
    The dog crowd were clearly a pretty chatty bunch, but it was only their pets they talked about. I knew most of the dogs’ names by now – their owners were always shouting them out, so it wasn’t hard to remember. I also knew who each animal was friendly with, who they attacked on sight and what games they liked to play. On the other hand, I knew virtually nothing about their owners. I didn’t know their names, and I most certainly didn’t know any of their addresses. A worrying thought hit me. Could someone have been following owners home from the park? Had they done that to me and Graham?
    Before I had a chance to say anything, Super Speedy Sprinting Woman bounded through the gate. The sight of such a large group of people gathered on the grass made her pause. She hesitated, running on the spot, as if wondering whether to come over. Her eyes flicked across the dogs. Located Jessie, the golden retriever. She glanced at the owners and saw Mrs Surfer Dude. That decided her: she ran on. But Ball Obsessed Collie Woman waved to her and beckoned. She had no choice.
    Pulling the headphones from her ears as she approached the group, she said reluctantly, “What’s the problem?”
    “It’s Alexandra, isn’t it?” Collie Woman smiled placatingly. “I saw your name in the paper after