‘But not your dog?’

‘No.’

‘But you’re scared stiff?’

Jessie took a deep breath. ‘No. Not…not any more.’

‘Because I put the gun down.’

‘That might have something to do with it,’ Jessie stammered, her equilibrium returning by degrees. The man still unsettled her badly-but at least the ogre image was fading. For the moment…

‘Well, would you care to tell me?’

‘Yes.’ Jessie closed her eyes, still fighting for calm. When she opened them she had herself almost under control.

‘Harry is your neighbour’s dog,’ she said at last. ‘Frank Reid owns land on your north boundary. I guess you don’t know him-as you keep to yourself so much-but Frank is elderly and diabetic. He’s ill at the moment and has been in hospital for over a week.’

‘So?’ This was of supreme disinterest, Niall Mountmarche’s face told her.

‘The girl who’s been looking after his farm told Frank today that Harry’s been missing for almost a week,’ Jess stammered. ‘Frank asked me to look…’

‘A week…’

‘She didn’t want to worry him.’ Jessie’s voice trailed away. The girl’s actions were almost inexcusable, she thought, remembering the elderly farmer’s distress when she’d seen him that morning.

‘So he asked you to look because you’re a friend?’ Niall Mountmarche was watching her as if she was a specimen he just couldn’t make out.

‘Because I’m the island vet,’ Jessie said bluntly and watched his reaction.

It was all she could have hoped for.

The man’s eyes widened in incredulity-and then disbelief.

‘I don’t believe it,’ he said flatly.

‘That’s fine.’ Jessie bit her lip and shrugged. ‘Just let me get on with finding the dog and there’s no need for you to believe anything.’

‘How long have you been qualified?’

‘Look!’ Jessie’s voice exploded into anger. ‘How long I’ve been qualified has nothing to do with anything. The only thing that matters at the moment is that there’s an injured dog on your property and I need to find him. Fast!’