“Very well,” Belinda said dubiously. “In which case, welcome to the Dowall Motel. This is a family business. How may I help you?”

“We don’t have any reservations,” said Ronnie, “but we were wondering if you had any rooms available? Two twin rooms, ideally. We don’t mind bunking up.”

“How long will you be staying?”

“We’re not sure,” said Ronnie. “A week, maybe?”

Belinda shook her head. “Sorry, no. Out of the question.”

“I’m, uh, not sure I understand …”

“There is a town festival,” Belinda said, “for townsfolk only. You can stay until Wednesday morning, but will then have to leave.”

“We can do that,” said Linda. “What does the festival celebrate?”

“The town.”

Linda smiled and nodded. “And it is surely a town worth celebrating.”

“A question, if you please,” said Warrick, squeezing between them. Belinda recoiled slightly. “This motel. Is it pet friendly?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Is it friendly to pets? For instance, my dog. Is it friendly to my dog?”

Belinda looked horrified. “Are you asking if your dog is allowed inside the hotel?”

“That is what I’m asking, yes.”

“No.”

“Is that a ‘No, my dog is allowed,’ or a ‘No, my dog isn’t allowed’?”

“No pets are allowed on the premises,” said Belinda. “My brother is extremely allergic. Having an animal under this roof could kill him.”

“What if I told you he was house-trained?”

“Absolutely not.”

“What if I told you he would not try to have sex with any potted plants you may possess, or any of your favourite stuffed animals? Still no? Then I will be forced to sleep with him in our van. Is that what you want? Me sleeping in a van? This isn’t California, let me remind you. This is Alaska. It gets cold here. You’re really okay with me spending the night in a van, freezing to death while my oversexed dog humps my head?”

“Animals are not allowed.”

“What if we sneak him in without you noticing?”

“We’re not going to do that,” Ronnie said quickly.

Warrick nodded, and did the air quotes thing. “Yeah, we’re ‘not’.”

“We’re actually not,” said Linda. “If Warrick won’t go anywhere without that dog, he can sleep in the van and take the consequences. The rest of us would like beds, please – until Wednesday.”

“When you will depart,” said Belinda.

“When we will depart,” echoed Linda.

They were shown to their rooms and Kelly dumped her bag on her bed and went to the bathroom while Linda showered quickly. Then they switched, and got changed, and met the guys outside.