Smugglers! by Karen King

house. I got to the door before Gran so unlocked it. As I stepped inside I saw Fluffy hurtling down the stairs with something pink dangling from her mouth.
    ‘Come back here you little scoundrel …,’ Miss Pearce screeched.
    Fluffy carried on running, almost knocking Gran over as she walked in behind me.
    ‘What on earth is going on?’ Gran asked.
    ‘I’ll kill that ghastly dog when I get hold of her!’ screamed Miss Pearce, swearing at Fluffy as she ran down the stairs in a very unladylike fashion. She was wearing a blue ‘designer wrap’, but her hair was wet and was clinging to her face, which was devoid of make-up. She didn’t look – or sound – so glam now I thought with a grin.
    ‘Good heavens, what is all this shouting and swearing, Miss Pearce?’ Mr Winkleberry came out of the guest lounge looking quite shocked. He peered disapprovingly over his glasses at Miss Pearce, his left eye twitching agitatedly.
    ‘Oh, stop looking so pompous and help me catch that blasted dog. She’s run off with one of my designer tops. If it’s damaged I will expect full compensation!’
    Fluffy was bounding across the hall towards the kitchen. I chased after her. I wanted to get that top off her before Miss Pearce did to see if it really was a designer one.
    ‘Here, Fluffy. Come here, girl!’ I cooed, creeping towards her. Fluffy dived into her basket, the pink top still hanging out of her mouth.
    I took one of her favourite doggy treats out of the cupboard under the sink and held it out to her. ‘Here you are, Fluffy.’
    Fluffy dropped the top and grabbed the treat. I picked up the top and inspected it. It seemed genuine enough. There was a top designer label inside, and I couldn’t find any faults in it, apart from the slight damage Fluffy had caused.
    ‘Would you mind giving that to me, young lady?’ Miss Pearce snatched the top out of my hand. ‘Just look at it! It’s covered in dog slobber and there are teeth marks all over it!’ She swore again.
    ‘Really, there’s no need for that,’ Gran protested.
    ‘Oh don’t act all hoity-toity with me! You wouldn’t know what quality was, you and your high-street shop clothes. Why, you can’t even pencil your eyebrows on properly!’
    Gran blanched. I felt terrible. I’d been meaning to tell Gran about her eyebrows for ages; she had a habit of pencilling in one higher than the other.
    Mr W bristled with anger. ‘Now, look here, Miss Pearce! You can’t go around talking to Sue … Mrs Carter … like that. She’s more of a lady than you’ll ever be!’
    ‘I think it’s best if you leave, Miss Pearce,’ Gran said, stiffly. ‘I’m not prepared to have my guests insulting me.’
    ‘Don’t worry, I’ve no intention of staying here a moment longer. And you can forget about the bill. Your dog has ruined a very expensive top of mine, so I’ll be sending you a bill. You can deduct the cost of my board from it.’
    She flounced upstairs, making sure she stamped on every step as she went.
    ‘How childish!’ Mr W said, crossly.
    Gran rushed over to the mirror and studied her eyebrows. ‘One is higher than the other, isn’t it?’ she asked, sadly. ‘Are they always like that?’
    Mr Winkleberry put his arm around her shoulder. ‘Of course not. Anyway, you can hardly notice it. Don’t let that uncouth woman upset you. You’re well rid of her.’
    I was relieved that Gran and Mr W were friends again. I’d discovered over the last few days that it was even worse when they fell out than when they were acting all mushy.
    Half an hour later Miss Pearce had packed and gone. Well, I guess that’s one suspect eliminated, I thought. Although I was pretty sure I knew who the Little Cragg smuggler was now. All I had to do was nail him. I figured the smuggler and his accomplices would arrive on Sunday night, as they did last week. Well, I’d be ready for them.

Chapter 14
Another Signal
    It took me a while to get to sleep that night. My mind was racing from