Page 36 of The Wedding Cake Wish
Getting out of Hudson’s car, parked at a discreet distancefrom Myers Mansion, I hurry round to join him and clutch his arm. ‘He’s gotguard dogs! Should we really be doing this?’
‘Guard dogs?’ He frowns. ‘How do you know?’
‘Look!’ I whisper, pointing earnestly at the massive noticeon the main gates, illustrated by two ravenous-looking black monsters, theirmaws drooling copiously.
‘Ah, right.’ He grins at me. ‘Didn’t spot those.’
Realising he’s having me on, I narrow my eyes at him. ‘Thisis no time to joke. I’m quaking in my size fives here.’
‘Calm down, Rubes. You’ve been sweating since I picked youup. It’ll be fine.’
‘I havenotbeen sweating. How dare you!’ (I take acautious sniff of my armpit nonetheless.)
‘I meant you’ve beenworrying.’
‘Well, do you blame me?’ I hiss. ‘I mean, itisa bitout of my normal routine. You know...get up and go to work...bakewhite chocolate and raspberry muffins...have a tea break.Snoop round a nasty thug’s mega-mansion and rescue a kidnap victim from hisbarn.’
He laughs. ‘If you put it like that...’
‘Sssh! They might hear you.’
‘Who? Brendan Myers’ henchmen patrolling the boundary?’
‘The guard dogs!’
We walk towards the gates and at once a terrible racketstarts up – two dogs barking in unison – and I almost jump into next week.
Hudson lays a calming arm around my shoulders, which has thereverse effect to the one he intended, causing the blood to leap in my veins ina veryun-calm manner. Flustered, I glance up at him and he shrugs.‘Pound to a penny it’s just an electronic bark. Everyone has them these days.You don’t need actual dogs anymore.’
‘Really? Is that true? Or are you just trying to make mefeel better?’
‘No. It’s true, Rubes.’
He drops his arm from my shoulders and I feel suddenly...cold.
‘So how the hell do we get in there?’ I demand.
He winks at me. ‘I’ve got a dastardly plan.’
‘Well, good. I’m gladsomeonehas.’
‘Let’s drive around the back.’
‘Okay.’ I follow him back to the car and we motor off alongthe lane, eventually taking a right turn along the side of the property andending up at what looks like the tradesman’s entrance. A small gate in astretch of red-brick wall.
‘You can stay in the car if you like,’ offers Hudson.
‘Er,no! I’m coming with you. I’m your partner,aren’t I?’
‘I’d like to think so.’ He gives me an oddly searching lookthat makes my heart flip over. Then he grins. ‘Come on, then.’
I step boldly forward and try the gate. ‘It’s locked.’
‘Thought so. Which is why we’re going to climb over thewall.’
I stare doubtfully at the six-foot solid barrier to theestate. ‘How?’
‘Easy. I’ll give you a bunk up then I’ll catch you at theother side.’
