His shoulders stiffened. “Got no choice.”
“You could let me call the police, they could get the rescue people out... take the dog away from them.”
“Sure they will, yeah, and then they’ll just hand her back to me, won’t they? No fucking chance.”
“At least she’d be ok,” I tried. “She’d be safe.”
“She wouldn’t get a good family,” he said, sadness etched across his brutal features. “She’s no good inside, not trained.”
I looked over to tower one. The Scotts were on the top floor, flat fourteen. “You’re sure they’ve got her?”
His eyes were black as coal. “Course I’m fucking sure.”
In spite of every shred of common sense in my body, I closed the distance between me and the man they call savage. “I could go up there, see if they’ll give her up.”
His eyes narrowed, searching me. “Why the fuck would you do that?”
Fuck knows. “It’s my patch, I won’t sit by while tenants abuse animals.”
“No pigs?”
“Let me try speaking with the Scotts first.”
“If it don’t work...”
“If it doesn’t work you’ll do whatever you have to do, and I’ll do whatever I have to do.”
Dangerous. Every inch of him screamed danger. “If you’re fucking with me...”
“I’m just doing my job.” But I wasn’t. This wasn’t my job.
A grunt in the affirmative and he walked away, dropping his holdall to the floor and taking up position against a garage door. His eyes burnt my back as I set off for tower one. I walked slowly, shoulders high in an effort to convey a confidence I wasn’t feeling. My mind whirred. I was off script, procedures cast aside without care, and for what? To help a convict? A thug? Callum fucking Jackson?
To help a dog. A dog in need.
I held the thought like a mantra. I’d fucking need it.
***
The lift stank of piss and poverty: a dingy, rickety contraption that had seen better days, just like the rest of the estate. I kept my breathing shallow, fearful of inhaling any more of the stench than necessary. The communal hallway wasn’t much better, littered with beer cans and a whole sea of cigarette butts. Number fourteen was right at the end. The door was fist-battered, tacky red paint flaking around the edges. Music blared from inside, so loud it took three attempts at knocking before it dulled down.
Janine Scott’s beady eyes looked out through the crack. They narrowed as she registered it was me, a look of pure disdain.
“I’ve turned it down already!”
“I’m not here about the music,” I said. “Can I come in?”
“What for?”
“I’ve had some complaints.”
“What the fuck about this time? I paid a fiver off my rent last Monday, check my statement if you don’t believe me.”
“It’s not about the rent, Mrs Scott. It’s about a dog.”
She unlatched the chain, swinging the door wide. “Who’s been saying shit about my dogs?”
“I’m not at liberty to say. You have a black dog, yes? I’ve had reports it’s been barking, causing a disturbance.”
“They’re full of shit. The black dog don’t fucking bark, it don’t do shit, see?” She stood to the side, shifting her flabby ass enough for me to peer into the gloom beyond. A toddler darted into the kitchen, nappy-less and pissing a trail all the way. “Jayden, you little shit! Use the fucking potty!”
Casey looked much smaller than I expected. She was a ball of matted fur, pressed tight against the carpet. Big, sad eyes looked out at me, ears flat to her skull.
“You’re on a notice seeking possession already, Mrs Scott. Another count of anti-social behaviour will mean court action.”
“You’ll have to come back when my husband’s home. It’s his bloody dog. He’s out, with our others. This dog don’t cause no problems. This dog don’t do shit.”
“I’ve got witness statements to the contrary. I’m afraid this could lead to a full inspection, and police involvement.”
Her mouth pursed tight, like a bright pink asshole. “They’re fucking lying!”
I puffed myself up, putting on the most authoritative tone I could muster. “I’ve a duty to act on these allegations. You can let me take the dog now, and put a stop to the investigation, or I will be taking further action immediately. It’s your choice.”
Her piggy eyes flew wild. “Take my dog?!”
“I’ll hand her into the local rehoming centre. She’ll be well looked after.”