Good Decisions and Otherwise by Little Dog
Chapter Nine
‘There isn't necessarily a problem with you having a look at the jacket Brian, if you are that concerned about the situation then we should be able to help, within reason. Now as far as I am aware the jacket hasn't been through forensics yet, and it may, but anyway obviously the evidence has got to be respected. I do have to ask however, why? What exactly do you want to look at the jacket for? I mean how is that going to help?’
Brian sat in silence for several seconds and looked down upon his pint, avoiding the eye of Darren whilst yet unable to bring forth his proposal, for each idea of what to say burst before utterance, imagining that Darren would laugh, not take him seriously, he himself could not respond to it seriously, not at least in public, before a police man, and yet really he was, he was entirely serious about it.
‘There's a possibility that it might help, that's all - I should have a warning if he comes back, if he drives past in the night again we should know. We might even be able to track him down, track down his movements, find the stolen money, it's unlikely I know but I believe in covering my options, and I would like to do a proper job on this occasion.’
‘How exactly Brian?’
Brian here paused again, still unable to contain all of what it might mean to continue on the course along which he had embarked. He looked down at little dog and Darren began to laugh. Brian suddenly became decisive.
‘The idea is that simple. One thing describes another. Each piece of picture describes the whole. All we must do is understand how. As we have the jacket then we have a descriptive statement of the movements of the main suspect, I suppose, within a certain field at least, more specifically, the sensory range of my dog. It seems like there is a criminal gang targeting countryside properties in the Chilterns, and little dog will be able to smell them if they come back, I am sure of it, and then he will alert us in advance.’
‘I’m sure there must be a good reason why we don't do that at all the time' said Darren, still laughing, ‘although I can’t tell you what it is.’
‘So there we are’ said Brian. ‘Either you'll help or you won't. I am sorry Darren but I don't see what's so funny.’
He looked down at little dog and could not help but laugh himself to see the labrador look up innocently in return.
‘I know he is only young, but it's in his nature to do it. The idea of a guard dog is well-established…’
‘I am not doubting your dog Brian’ interjected Darren. ‘It's just that, well, it seems a bit of a longshot. I mean, we don't even know the man was at the scene of the crime. You might end up chasing an innocent man whilst the real perpetrators are somewhere else entirely. Now you come to mention it, surely you'd be better off smelling the van, because at least we know that one of them was in it. On the other hand lots of other people have also been in the van, and how will your dog know one from the other? Anyway dogs bark all the time. He could be barking at anything. You'll never know what he means by it because you can't ask him.’
‘I believe he can smell the difference between friend and foe, although you are right about the van, and I don't know why I didn't think about it myself. I would certainly like to take a look at it, with the dog, if that would be alright.’
‘I don't care Brian. I can't see any reason why you shouldn't. Evidence is there to be seen after all, but you'll have to let me get back to you. I'll need to check it out. Is that alright?’
‘I can’t tell you how much I'd appreciate that’ concluded Brian. ‘I will rest easier once they are caught, that's all. Now, let me get you another pint.’
‘Oh go on then.’