Page 7 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

‘Is Harry the Helmet at home?’

‘Hello, Hattie,’ Harry called out, wishing that Hattie wouldn’t be so familiar.

‘I want to have a word.’ She glanced at Derek. ‘Haven’t you got something to do? Crime won’t crack itself, constable.’

‘Grab a seat in here,’ Harry said, and he opened the door of a side room.

‘Two teas, when you’ve a moment,’ Hattie called out to Derek as she followed Harry.

‘So, you’re back.’

‘State the bleedin’ obvious,’ Hattie replied. ‘Hardly needs a copper to suss that out.’

Harry looked at Hattie. She was still attractive and vivacious in middle-age, with lovely ginger curls enhancing her pretty face. He watched her ample chest bounce as she settled herself.

Derek appeared with tea and biscuits laid out on a china plate. As the door closed behind him, Hattie began.

‘My house has been trashed and I want you to find the good-for-nothings who did it.’

Harry braced his shoulders. At last! Something he could get his teeth into. He whipped out a notebook. ‘I thought you’d rented it out?’

‘I did.’

‘It’s a civil matter then.’ He closed the notebook.

‘Aye, it probably is and my own fault for not putting it with an agent but what I’m concerned about is a puppy.’

‘A puppy?’

‘Half-starved and as good as dead when me and Alf found it in my old shed.’

‘Animal cruelty, a job for the RSPCA.’

‘No, Harry, it’s a job for you.’ Hattie was adamant. ‘The vet says the puppy will live if properly looked after. He’s got it on a drip and antibiotics and is hopeful it will recover. We found it just in time but I want whoever is responsible for almost murdering an animal and trashing my house to be prosecuted. Criminal damage, animal cruelty, whatever you can throw at them. I’ll give you what details I have of the tenants.’

‘They’ll all be false,’ Harry said, doubtful that the tenants could ever be traced. He took a sip of tea. ‘Very well, but before you start, tell me what you’re up to now. Where are you going to live?’

‘I’m going back to Boomerville,’ Hattie said. ‘Jo seems to think it can’t run without me and I’ll find a bed there while my place is being put back together.’

‘Boomerville busy, is it?’ Harry dunked a biscuit and began to chew.

‘Booming I hear, you should pay us a call sometime, come and teach the old ‘uns a bit of road safety.’ Hattie grinned. ‘I can set up a course.’

‘I’d like that.’ Harry returned the smile; he’d jump at the chance of a few hours at Boomerville, anything to break the monotony here. There was always a livener and a warm welcome, if Hattie was in the mood.

‘Is Jo keeping well?’ he asked.

‘Aye, grand and glad to have me back.’

‘She’s still with Pete, I see.’ Harry nodded his head.

‘More blindingly obvious police work. Hardly rocket science to know they’re still a couple, although I can’t for the life of me see what the attraction is.’ Hattie had never been a fan of Pete Parks and thought he was punching way above his weight when it came to Jo.

‘I’ll be on my way,’ Hattie said. ‘I need to find a new home for the puppy but I’ve no doubt Jo will have room for another; she’s daft when it comes to dogs.’

‘She’ll have it running about the place in no time.’ Harry followed Hattie through the station, where Derek, suddenly occupied, was busy cracking crime as he spoke to a cyclist at the desk. ‘Don’t forget to have a word about me running a course there.’

‘Aye, I will. You know where to find me.’ Hattie nodded to both. ‘I’ll be back at Boomerville.’