©GeraldineBanksMarch2025
Tommy and Tedi ran down the street away from the Police Raid. After about ten minutes , they both felt they were far enough away to stop and get their bearings. Unbeknown to a lot of people, dogs have an amazing GPS system, no one knows how it works, but their brains are like supercomputers, in fact probably a lot of animals have this ability. When Tedi stopped, he knew he was free and there was one thing now he had on his mind and that was getting back home. He was going to take Tommy with him.
They were in London, and they had to get to Oxfordshire, and they would have to find food and shelter on the way and avoid busy roads and anybody that might try and capture them. Tedi sat down and Tommy sat down beside him.
” What will we do now little dog?” Tommy said quietly, not knowing what to do himself.
Tedi put a paw on Tommy’s shoulder, Tedi’s brain was processing the information of where they were, he sniffed the atmosphere and realised that there was an awful lot of pollution. So initially scent was not going to help. However, a picture came into his head and he knew exactly where to go. The little boy would help him with the roads and perhaps finding food. They had rested enough it was time to go.
Tedi stood up and signalled to Tommy to follow. Tommy got up and followed him and their adventure began.
Meanwhile Chief Superintendent Napper was on the phone to Cross.
” We had sight of the little dog, but he disappeared during the raid, no one knows where the dog is.” The Chief Superintendent said very disheartingly.
” Do you know if the kidnappers have still got him?” Cross asked .
” We don’t know, none of the people that we arrested seem to have a clue , it could be they are lying but I don’t think so. I think we need to go along with the meeting on Friday. Act as if no one knows anything. Someone is behind all this and that is the person I want.” Napper said firmly.
” Do you think Tedi is still alive.” It was a question that broke Cross’s heart to ask.
” My gut feeling is he is , we haven’t found the little boy who was looking after him, both of them are missing. My feeling is that the boy took him and probably has headed for another safe house. On that assumption then the people you are meeting on Friday still have the dog. “
“OK, well the meeting’s on and I’ve got the money, but I’m not handing it over until I get Tedi back. “
” We’ve got a team of people trained for this eventuality, I’m just arranging for them to go see you , they’ll have the cover of maintenance people, so they’ll be with you tonight. They’ll go through everything with you. “
“I had the usual threat, don’t get the Police involved. ” Cross said
” As far as the raid was concerned it was drugs and animal welfare, bit of a coincidence perhaps, but as I say the ones we have in custody are not the brightest. The ones you are dealing with , may well be a bit brighter, personally I think they’re going to try and pull the wool over your eyes and get the money without giving you anything.” The Chief Superintendent said matter of factly.
” Well in that case , I hope your people can help, so you think they’ll get here tonight? ” Cross felt disheartened , but that he did need help and he wanted to do the best for Tedi he could.
” Oh yes, and they’ll have a lot of monitoring equipment and believe it or not a psychiatrist too, to help you negotiate .” Napper smiled, policing had become so much more than when he started on the beat.
” Thanks Chief Superintendent.” Cross put down the phone gently. He was worried.
Lettie arrived at the House later that evening , and Cross updated her about what had happened, shortly after that the ” Maintenance Team ” arrived and both Cross and Lettie went through with them everything that had happened so far and they looked at the monitoring equipment the Police had and talked through when and where the meeting was going to happen on Friday. Cross said the money was in a suitcase in the safe.
Cross , got James to show the ” Maintenance Team ” around and where to get coffee and tea when they wanted and anything from the larder in the kitchen if Mrs Graham wasn’t around. There were also rooms to set up their equipment and camp beds if they needed them.
All this busyness helped Cross not to worry and also it was good to have Lettie around.
thenotsomightyom 