Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO George stomped down the path that led to Kirrin Common. Alf was her friend and now she couldn't even get him a birthday present! Hopefully a walk would cheer her up. 'Come on, Tim,' she called.

The sun was warm, and after they had been walking for a while George began to get quite hot. She turned and headed back towards the beach where there would be a cool breeze.

The beach was normally quiet at this time of morning, but George could already see a little motorboat pulling up to shore. She frowned. The boat belonged to a local fisherman but she didn't recognise the two men in it. They were dressed all in black and looked around carefully before climbing out.

I wonder what they're up to, Timmy, said George. All of a sudden, Timmy bounded forward. 'Stop, Tim, stop!' George called after him. But it was too late.

Timmy was already racing across the sand. Before George could catch her dog, he had reached the men. Now he was tugging at a duffle bag that they were unloading, and barking loudly.

He jumped around them, getting in their way.