A chorus of excitable barks greets me as I approach the dog compound. I dip the soles of my shoes into the anti-bacterial wash outside, and then step inside and close the door quietly behind me. Only Jack is in his bed; the other dogs are in their runs outside. A low rumbling sound accompanies the cacophony of barks. The washing machine and tumble dryers are on. I head down the corridor towards the laundry room, stepping carefully so my shoes don’t squeak on the floor. Jack raises his head as I pass and then lowers it again when I don’t stop to greet him. I can see through to his run, beyond his indoor bed area and the dark patch of wire where Derek the handyman has done his best to patch up the hole the intruder made with wire cutters. Attempts were made to reach several of the other dogs – all of them the more dangerous breeds – but the largest hole was in Jack’s cage. I hate to think what would have happened if they hadn’t triggered the alarm. Jack would have been taken, of that I’m sure.

Another sound joins the hubbub as I draw nearer to the laundry room – a woman talking in hushed tones. Angharad has her back to me. Her neck is cricked to the right, holding her mobile phone between her ear and shoulder and she grabs armfuls of bedding and towels from the plastic bin at her feet, and lifts them into the machine.

“Yeah … yeah … no, not yet. It’s definitely her, though. What? No, I’ve tried but she’s a cold fish. It’s going to take me a bit longer than I thought. I reckon I’ll have everything I need by the end of next week. Okay, all right. I’ll talk to you then. Bye.”

“Angharad.”

She snaps round at the sound of my voice and her phone slips from between her ear and shoulder, landing on the tiled floor with a clunk.

“Jane! You scared me.” She ducks down to retrieve it, tucks it into her pocket then scoops an armful of blankets into the washing machine. “I’m nearly done with the blankets. The load in the tumble dryer is nearly finished and most of the toys have already been—”

“Angharad.”

She turns slowly.

“I think we should have a little chat with Sheila. Don’t you?”

“Everything okay, Jane?” Sheila gives me a warm smile as I walk into reception with Angharad trailing behind me. I haven’t said a word to her since we left the laundry room.

“Could we have a word? In the staffroom, if it’s empty?”

Sheila’s smile fades as she registers the look on my face. “Sure. I’ll just grab Anne to cover. One second.”