The man shrugged. ‘Can’t guarantee what he’ll be like when the injection wears off though.’

‘And you say there’s nothing physically wrong with him.’

‘Apart from the damage he did himself, no.’

‘What did he do exactly?’

‘I can’t explain it really. He sort of turned on himself. Started snapping at his own neck and shoulders, as if he were attacking a foe. He only sustained minor cuts before we grabbed him and gave him a shot.’

‘What would you suggest?’

‘Do you have young children, Mrs Hunt?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Then I wouldn’t risk it. I’d put him to sleep.’

Tears came to her eyes as she turned back to the big beautiful husky, panting now in its joy to see her face. Was it a risk? Bart would never harm anyone. But if he was trying to harm himself, then who knows? But what about Billy? How could she tell Billy? The vet said there was nothing physically wrong. Surely he’d be all right? What if there was a chance he might get better? Maybe he was just freaked to be in here. Who wouldn’t be? They could keep him outside until they saw what was up with him. Yes, that would do surely. No risk then. She stood up. ‘I can’t do that. I’m going to take him home.’

The vet shook his head clearly disapproving. ‘Up to you. But I’d watch him carefully, Mrs Hunt. He was wild with it. I mean really wild.’

Katie waited silently while the vet opened the cage and grabbed Bart out by the collar. She clipped on his lead and the vet showed her out into the waiting room.

The woman behind the desk clicked her computer while Katie waited.

‘Thirty-seven dollars.’ She looked up.

‘Please.’

Katie paid her, patted the panting, woozy Bart and led him unsteadily out of the surgery to the car. Great. Thirty-seven dollars to be told your dog’s a loony. This was all she needed. But she couldn’t have him put down. No way. Not without even discussing it with Sam. God. So much to discuss with Sam. Where to begin?

Billy went wild and so did Bart. Didn’t look to her like a dog that wanted to kill itself. She moved off, stopping abruptly to let past three speeding police cars with lights flashing and sirens going, heading out of town towards the river. Her heart was in her mouth as she started to move off again in their noisy wake.

What now? In God’s name what now?

Craig looked across at the white-faced man who had headed seventeen murder investigations and knew he was defeated. He was going to have to declare an emergency, get some more serious police help. So he and Craig were equal now. Neither had ever had to do that.