Page 31 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

Malcolm drained his coffee, stood up, and reached out and grabbed her arm.

‘No!’ Melissa shouted, and as she pulled away her chair crashed against the wall. Gripping the table to steady herself, crockery clattered to the floor. But Malcolm held on, his fingers like a vice on her soft pale skin.

Bill was horrified by the unfolding scene and leapt forward. Without stopping to consider his actions, he ran across the dining room and forced himself between Malcolm and Melissa.

‘Oh no, you don’t!’ Bill cried out and he lunged, surprising Malcolm.

‘What the hell?’ Malcolm yelled, as Bill grabbed his arm and twisted it painfully back.

Melissa slumped and stared at the grappling men.

At that moment, Alf reappeared. In his hands, wrapped in a towel, lay a limp and prostrate Teddy. Bunty and Ness stood alongside and Alf raised his bushy eyebrows as he took in the scene.

Suddenly, Hattie, who was bustling past in her haste to get the puppy to the vet, stopped at the dining room door. Dressed in a novelty woolly onesie and resembling an over-large sheep, she’d heard the commotion too.

‘What the hell is going on?’ Hattie asked, as Bill, crunching china underfoot, clung onto Malcolm.

‘It’s Malcolm,’ Melissa said and she rubbed her arm. ‘He wants me to go with him.’

‘Do you want to?’

‘Never!’

‘Then I suggest that Bill releases Malcolm, so that he can be on his way.’

‘Who the hell are you, to interfere with my wife’s decision?’ Malcolm said. Angrily, he pushed Bill away and straightened his jacket. ‘This place is a mad house.’

‘Just one moment.’ Hattie tossed a bunch of keys at Alf and held up her hand. ‘Alf, start my car and get the dogs settled, so we can get off to the vet as fast as possible. I’ll be along shortly.’

Reaching into a pocket, Hattie pulled out her mobile. She scrolled through the contact list and tapped a number, then, tugging on a lopsided woollen ear, removed the hood of her onesie.

‘Sergeant Knowles?’ Hattie said when the phone was answered. ‘We have a domestic incident at Hotel Boomerville. I’ve just witnessed physical abuse against one of our residents and require your immediate attendance.’

Very calmly, Hattie replaced the phone in her pocket.

‘What the devil do you think you’re doing?’ Malcolm raised his eyebrows as beads of sweat broke out on his brow. ‘You’ve just made that up, you didn’t see a thing.’

‘No, but I did.’ Bill stepped forward and puffed out his chest.

‘What?’ Malcolm asked, incredulously. ‘Youassaulted me!’ He rubbed at his arm in protest.

‘Now, I suggest that you get on your way.’ Hattie fiddled with her zip and wished she’d had time to put a bra on. ‘Or if you prefer, stay here and be arrested.’

‘You’re all quite mad.’ Malcolm shook his head and turned to his wife. ‘Melissa, I’ll give you twenty-four hours to come home. I’m sure you know that if you don’t, I’ll find you, wherever you end up.’ Turning to Bill, Malcolm pushed him aside. ‘Get out of my way, you ugly little arsehole.’

Bill took a swipe but Malcolm was too fast and Bill fell onto the table.

Hattie put her arm around Melissa and together they watched Malcolm stride out of the dining room. He didn’t look back.

Melissa was worryingly pale and Bill was red in the face from his exertions.

‘Captain Bradbury,’ Hattie said, ‘I’m leaving you in charge of this lady, stay with her. I don’t think that monster will be back but Sergeant Knowles is on his way, just in case.’

‘Where are you going?’ Bill asked.

‘I have a very poorly puppy to save.’

‘Not Teddy, surely?’ Melissa cried out. ‘Not poor little Teddy?’