So Rosie came with Chico and me in the Skoda, her head stuck firmly out of the rear window for as long as I could stand the noise, which was until we joined the northbound M1.

Meanwhile, and in spite of the wind noise, Chico slept soundly in the passenger seat. I looked across at him and smiled. I felt so much safer at home with him on guard all night, so I shouldn’t begrudge him sleeping now.

‘So what’s the order of the day?’ he asked, waking with a yawn as we sped past Leeds.

‘Middleham first, to get a download of Marcus’s video. He should have finished riding out for Noel Kline by the time we get there, and he has no race rides today, I checked. Then I don’t know. But I do want to make sure that the video is safe. That’s the main reason for us going.’

‘But you have other reasons too?’

I had remotely switched on the tag for two more quick updates during the previous evening. At eight o’clock the blue dot had shown that Valance was still in East Witton, but two hours later he was back at home in Park Edge, Harrogate.

‘Yes, one or two,’ I said. ‘But you’ll have to wait and see what they are.’

I drove on and made it to Middleham in good time, by ten past eleven.

‘Nice place,’ Chico said as I parked the Skoda in the marketplace.

I had been here so much recently that I had forgotten it was Chico’s first visit.

‘Have a wander round,’ I said. ‘Take Rosie with you on her lead, while I go and see Marcus. There are poo-bags down there, in the passenger-door pocket.’ I pointed. He gave me a sideways look that made me feel that Chico didn’t do poo-bags. ‘It’s a fifty-pound fine round here for dog fouling. I’ve seen a sign somewhere.’

‘Tell me,’ he said. ‘Who’s in charge, me or the dog?’

‘You, obviously.’

‘Why obviously?’

‘Well, for one thing, you’re the one holding her on the lead, rather than the other way round. She can’t let go, while you can. And, trust me, Rosie wouldn’t have to pay the fine, you would. I think that definitely makes you the one in charge.’

‘So,’ he said slowly, ‘if I’m the one in charge, the boss as it were, why does it have to be me that picks up her shit?’

I laughed. ‘Because it just does.’

Before getting out of the car, I did one more quick check of the tag—still in Harrogate. I also called Marcus.

‘Are you back from morning exercise?’

‘Just got out of the shower.’

‘Good. I’ll be there in two minutes. Best to have the door open so I’m not seen waiting outside.’

‘Okay. I’ll be ready.’