Chapter 10: On the Quay

"One point two million," I said.

I said it calmly.

My hand was flat on the oak desk, pressing so hard the carved wolf dug into my palm.

"We tried to stop them," said my bookkeeper. "I said you'd want to see it first. She said you weren't Luna anymore and I could get my coat."

"Has she sacked you?"

"She can't. Can she?"

"No. Listen to me, all four of you. Print the authorisation. Every page. Then each of you take a copy home tonight, in your handbag."

"Yes, Luna."

"And stop calling me Luna. I put the ring in his porridge."

A wet laugh down the line. "We heard. The whole county heard."

I rang off.

Then I rang Duncan.

It rang five times. Then it picked up.

"Hello, Mischa."

It was Bethany, sweet as syrup.

"Put him on."

"He's in the shower. We had a big morning. Do you want to leave a message?"

"Tell him the pups' fund belongs to the pups."

"It's an investment. Daddy says we'll double it. You'd know about that if you'd stayed."

"Your daddy said that to Duncan's parents."

"Bye, Mischa."

She hung up.

I sat very still for a minute.

Then I went down to the cellars and lifted casks until my arms shook.

Jago watched from the still and didn't say a word.

That night he left a glass of rum on my desk.

The sticky note on it said: Later.

Two days later, a silver Jaguar came down the hill into the cove.

It was a Friday. Market morning.

The whole pack was on the quay.

Jago's aunt was frying in the chippy with the hatch open.

Pups were jumping off the harbour steps into the water and shrieking at the cold.

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