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stomach tightened. Sam Gouldthorp’s eyes looked vaguely puzzled behind her professional looking glasses. She rubbed her hands together rapidly. ‘Sorry, they’re cold, fella,’ she said before proceeding to examine Max. Her open mouth showed a set of brilliant white teeth – without a smile. ‘He’s been sick. There was blood. Did you bring me a sample?’
    ‘ No, I didn’t... The man on the phone didn’t ask...’ Jen shook her head. Her face looked drained.
    ‘Didn ’t he?’ She gave Jen little blinking glances and made a movement with one hand above the dog, as though stroking the air before reaching for a tissue. ‘His nose is bleeding,’ she said wiping a droplet from the dog’s engorged nostril. ‘Has he knocked it?’
    Jen shook her head, ‘Not that I know.’
    ‘ He has no energy, he’s obviously unstable and his attention to what’s going on around him is minimal, wouldn’t you say?’
    Jen nodded her head and stroked Max ’s paw lovingly.
    The sheet that they had used as a hammock to carry Max into the examination room table now lay beneath him in a crumpled bloody state.
    Sam appeared thoughtful. She took off her gloves and ran her hand through her hair. ‘Max appears to have some bruising and haematomas under the skin. Have you noticed blood in the stools or bleeding from his rectum at all?’
    Jen shrugged her shoulders. ‘No. But I haven’t been looking.’
    ‘ I need to keep him in and get him on a drip to keep him hydrated. I want to run some tests,’ she said touching the soft, golden fur on his ear.
    ‘ Any ideas what might have caused it?’ asked Jen.
    ‘ I think he’s been poisoned.’
    ‘ Poisoned?’ Jen asked, raising her voice.
    ‘ You haven’t put any rodent poison down recently have you?’
    Jen shook her head and felt herself sway.
    ‘Are you okay?’ the vet asked, looking at Jen with trepidation.
    Jen nodded and swallowed hard. ‘I’m fine.’
    ‘I ’m not sure if he’s actually eaten the poison. Has he been engaging himself in chasing rodents lately?’
    ‘ No, not that I know of... He is going to be alright isn’t he?’ Jen’s heartbeat quickened.
    The vet remained silent and thoughtful. Apprehensively she looked at Jen over her glasses. ‘You sure you’re okay?’
    ‘ Tell me. Will he be okay?’
    ‘ We need to take this one step at a time, Mrs Dylan, but I can assure you he’s in good hands.’ Sam smiled kindly. ‘The blood tests will hopefully tell us what we are dealing with quite quickly and we can start treating the cause when we know for sure.’
    ‘You ’ll ring me? ’ Jen said, her eyes brimming with tears as she watched Max’s eyes close. The room spun and she grabbed hold of the table.
    ‘ If you’re going to faint...’
    ‘No, no, I ’m fine.’
    ‘Don ’t worry about Max, that’s just the drugs taking effect,’ she said quietly.
    ‘I ’ll be back soon, baby,’ Jen said, bending over his face. She put her hand on the top of his warm, furry body and planted a kiss on his head. Jen inhaled deeply. She needed to get out of the room before she threw up. She wasn’t about to force Sam Gouldthorp to administer first aid on her too.
    ***
    The house was unoccupied when she arrived home. Jen wandered around willing herself to accept its emptiness. Toys littered the floor. Their home appeared to reflect her dishevelled self. She glimpsed herself in the hallway mirror and pressed her lips tight together as she caught sight of Jack’s familiar scrawl upon the yellow Post-it note. Tears tumbled down her face and she brushed them away with the sweep of her hand.
    ‘ Hope everything is okay,’ the note read. ‘Love you! ☺ J X’
    ***
    Lisa was heading into Dylan’s office to pick up his ringing telephone when she caught sight of him arriving. ‘Ah, he’s just here, Sergeant Megnicks,’ she said cheerily. ‘I’ll hand you over to him,’ she said passing Dylan the phone.
    Dylan smiled but it didn ’t reach his eyes. He