Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7 Slowly and methodically, the cats lowered themselves down from the rooftop. Catface almost slipped a couple of times, so Toto helped him out, but it was clear his balance had improved a lot during his training with Brenda.

When they hit the ground, they hid in the shadows to get their bearings. 'OK Catface, where now?' Toto asked. 'My instinct says this way,' he said, pointing to the right where row after row of old warehouses jutted out into the river. 'My father used to bring me here all the time when he was smuggling cheese himself back in the day. If we get challenged remember to act, well, you know, CUT-THROATY: Unfortunately, as they slunk around the corner trying to look as cut-throaty as possible, they came face-to-face with an enormous, growling, salivating, ferocious, and worryingly HUNGRY-LOOKING Doberman dog.

'No one move a muscle,' whispered Silver, although there was no danger of that for Catface. He looked like he'd been frozen into a rat statue! 'I don't recognise you rapscallions, the beast growled, her eyes narrowing. She looked like she wanted to devour them. 'Tell me, What's the best way to enjoy NORWEGIAN PRAWNS?' 'Err,' Silver spluttered. He turned to see if his sister had an answer to this strange question, but there was no one in the place she'd been standing half a second ago.

Instead, there was a whirl of black and brown fur whizzing past his ear, as Toto launched herself right at the dog's fearsome jaws. 'Wait, Toto, DON'T!' Catface shouted, aghast. But it was too late, the little ninja's back foot connected with the big dog and shot her back through a crate of wooden pallets knocking her clean out. 'Have you lost your mind, Catface?' asked Silver. 'That thing was going to kill us.' 'Actually, I rather think she wasn't, Catface replied as the group gathered around the passed-out dog. 'That was the code question for our undercover police force. Oh, if only I'd realised sooner... she's on our side!'

Catface shook the dog gently to try and revive her. 'Mayo- the best way to enjoy Norwegian prawns is with mayo!' he muttered. 'Oh no, we're not working with A DOG!' moaned Silver. 'Listen- I might be greedy. And you, Catface, are quite vain. 'Well you do have me there, admitted Catface.

'But,' continued Silver, 'dogs are idiots, they simply can't be trusted. They're too EXCITABLE, they LICK EVERYONE, and frankly, they SMELL. We cannot buddy up with a dog on Toto's first mission.' 'Well it might be YOUR first mission, but let me assure you it's NOT mine,' the Doberman retorted, catching them all by surprise as she sat up and rubbed her head. 'So, if you'd be so kind, please don't do that again, it really hurt.' 'Sorry about that, the training kicked in, said Toto. 'No hard feelings. I'm sorry about the whole "grr, angry dog thing"- you gave me a start when you came around the corner. I'm undercover, so got to stay in character and