The Dead Dog Day Read Online Free

hands and winked at Cora and Rodney.
    â€˜So, Scott – what are your plans for the weekend then? Doing any gardening?’ he said, trying hard to conceal a smirk.
    â€˜No, I sodding am not. It’s bloody December. Bugger off!’ But Scott was grinning as he dumped the end of the cable on the ground next to Nathan’s tripod and marched off back to the warmth of the satellite truck.
    Cora, Nathan, and Rodney looked at each other and sniggered, Cora feeling a little relieved. Scott had been grumpier than usual lately, so it was nice that he’d taken the joke so well today. They’d been riling him about gardening for months, ever since the summer when he’d been redoing the garden of his new family semi and decided he wanted to trail some pink clematis across the back wall. Unfortunately, he’d instead managed to ask an elderly garden centre assistant if she could provide him with some chlamydia.
    Cora snorted again, and then suddenly pulled herself together as another disembodied voice boomed in her earpiece.
    â€˜Morning, Cora – you’re obviously having fun – everything OK there? We’re going to be with you in just over twenty minutes.’
    Cora recognised the slightly stressed Scottish tones of her friend. ‘Oh, it’s you, Sam. Morning! Yes, we’ve been Scott-baiting again – you know, the clematis story? But everything’s under control – all chickens present and correct. Talk to you in a bit!’
    â€˜Thanks, Cora. And if you could stand by for possible extra hits through the morning that would be great – items dropping like flies today, Jeanette’s going bonkers,’ Sam replied, and disappeared.
    Cora looked at her watch and gestured to Nathan and Rodney, who had also been listening to the exchange on their headsets.
    â€˜Er – chickens, can you all gather round please? Nearly time to go on, so let’s just make sure we all know what we’re doing!’
    â€˜Scott, you are a star,’ said Cora gratefully as the engineer handed her a steaming mug of Earl Grey.
    The first broadcast of the morning successfully out of the way, and the giant chickens temporarily back in their houses, the crew were thawing out in the satellite van.
    Nathan stuffed a Jaffa Cake into his mouth and then sighed heavily, delicately spraying Rodney’s glasses with crumbs.
    He swallowed. ‘Ugh. A weekend of Christmas shopping to look forward to – can you believe it’s only ten days away! I’ve done nothing!’
    â€˜Mmmm, shopping for me too,’ said Scott, ‘Elaine’s spotted this clock she fancies. Edwardian. Inlaid mahogany, white enamel dial. Nice actually.’
    Rodney surreptitiously picked up the sleeve of Nathan’s discarded fleece and began to wipe his glasses.
    â€˜I don’t get your antique fetish, Scott, really I don’t. Although I’d rather go antiquing with you than do what I’ve got to do later – bloody got to help bloody Jodie with the sound at her bloody nativity. BOR-ING!’ he said, gloomily.
    â€˜Oh, Rodders, it will be fun!’ Cora tried to sound enthusiastic. Rodney’s girlfriend ran a nursery, and the soundman was often roped in to help give the kids’ shows a professional edge.
    â€˜Yeah, right. You come then,’ retorted Rodney.
    Scott and Nathan tittered, and Cora smiled and shrugged. It wasn’t that she actually disliked children – she adored several of her friends’ offspring. It was just that when biological clocks were being handed out she, it seemed, was given a double dose of ambition instead. Child-free and happy, that was Cora, and she had always chosen boyfriends who felt the same way.
    â€˜Well, Justin and I don’t have plans really – we’re staying at home, just the two of us. I want to snuggle up and not see anybody all weekend. It’s been mad recently. What wouldn’t I give for a nice