PING-PONG WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT because the wind was beginning to pick up and the four of them spent most of the time chasing the ball round the park. After a half-hour they gave up. Mouse and Clancy had to head home and Elliot went on over to Del’s place. Ruby said she’d join him, but first she had to pop home to pick up Bug.

      ‘He could do with the exercise; he’s been taking it easy since I got injured,’ said Ruby. ‘Hey, head on without me, I’ll see you in a while, OK.’

      Ruby went home and collected the dog, then hit the streets. The wind made Bug uneasy. He didn’t like it blowing into his ears or ruffling through his fur. It was as if he felt some unknown presence just to his side or close behind him; someone invisible.

      He was the same with ghosts, or at least that’s what Elliot believed.

      Whenever Bug or any dog for that matter would stop still and bark for no visible reason, Elliot would say, ‘You wanna know why he’s barking? Spooky dead things that only dogs pick up on.’

      Unluckily for Bug, the Twinford county region was prone to getting these short-lived but violent wind storms. They blew in fast and blew out fast. Hard to predict, but destined to repeat over and over, gaining in force during the season until they eventually moved on. The locals often referred to them as Twinford gusters – they usually began in mid-October and whirled away till November arrived, but occasionally they arrived early and hit in September. When this happened, they usually culminated in a truly fearsome coming-together of rain, wind, thunder and lightning. It seemed that this year was a year when one might want to batten down the hatches.

      When it came to storms, Ruby did not feel the same way as Bug. The storm’s force, only made visible by what it tore up or tossed into the air, terrified the dog, his animal instinct telling him this was bad news. But Ruby loved it. The sheer energy with which it churned the sea and bent the trees; all this she found exhilarating. Sure it was dangerous, but somehow it transferred its energy and made her feel invincible.

      Ruby called to the husky, who reluctantly got to his feet and followed her out of the back door. She put him on the leash, not because he needed to be controlled (Bug was a very well-trained husky), but because the wind was already making him anxious, as if he might be required to do something – the result was one on-edge dog.

      They walked all the way to Del’s place, skirting through the back streets. The house backed onto the ocean and Ruby could hear the waves crashing onto the beach as she passed through the front gate. She didn’t bother to knock on the door, but instead slipped through the gap to the side of the house where she knew Del would be. Del was an outdoor type and when hanging out at home was usually in her yard fixing something or kicking, throwing, or catching a ball, maybe twirling a hoolahoop or standing on her head. Today she was sitting on the wooden yard chairs with Elliot, both watching the ocean. The sea was bringing in some big waves and there were a lot of surfers out – the sound of the ocean boomed loud and the wind carried their words.

      ‘Hey Rube,’ Del said, patting the seat next to her, ‘sit yourself down. Bug need a drink?’ She was up and walking towards the kitchen.

      ‘Sure,’ said Ruby, ‘you got any strawberry-shake?’

      Del raised an eyebrow. ‘Your dog drinks strawberry-shake?’

      ‘Yeah, funny one Del, I might crack a smile one day.’

      When Del came back the four of them (dog included) sat there contemplating the ocean. The water was dotted with the surfers who sat astride boards waiting for the right wave to roll in.

      ‘Do you think Bug could surf?’ asked Elliot.

      ‘Unassisted you mean?’ asked Ruby.

      Elliot nodded.

      ‘I’ve taken him out with me a few times; he’s just not got the hang of getting up on the board.’

      ‘But he’s interested?’ asked Del.

      ‘Oh, he’s got an interest all right. Bug loves the water, he’s just not so dexterous; it’s hard when you don’t have thumbs.’

      ‘Yeah,’ said Del, ‘I guess he’s not really a grabber.’

      ‘No, a dog can’t grab,’ agreed Ruby, ‘not even Bug.’

      ‘He’s pretty smart for a dog,’ said Del. ‘What do you think he would be if he was a human?’

      ‘I think he would do a job that involved working with the general public,’ said Ruby. ‘He’s a people person.’

      While Del and Ruby were discussing Bug’s human career prospects, Elliot was thinking. Finally he piped up.

      ‘Do you think he could help solve the yellow shoe mystery?’

      ‘What?’ said Del.

      ‘Who?’ said Ruby.

      ‘Bug,’ said Elliot.

      ‘How?’ said Ruby.

      ‘What?’ said Del again. ‘What are you talking about?’

      ‘You know, the yellow shoes, the ones that got stolen the other night by that ghoul,’ said Elliot. Del was looking blank.

      ‘How can you not know this? Where have you been? Mars?’

      ‘Florida, actually,’ Del pointed to her extremely tanned face. ‘If you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been on summer vacation.’

      ‘Yeah, well, you’ve missed a lot,’ said Elliot.

      ‘So exactly how are you proposing Bug help out with this investigation?’ asked Ruby for the second time.

      ‘By, you know, sniffing around and finding that ghost that took the shoes from the Scarlet Pagoda.’

      ‘Are you seriously halfway to the planet no-brain?’ spluttered Del. ‘You think a ghost stole the shoes?’

      ‘It’s what everyone is saying,’ said Elliot.

      ‘You’re telling me you actually believe in ghosts?’ said Del.

      ‘Why not? Animals believe in them, they can sense them; humans have lost this ability but dogs and cats can tune into spectre vibes,’ said Elliot.

      Del looked at him. ‘What are you talking about?’

      ‘It’s what makes the fur go all upwards and stand on end; they just sense paranormal activity and they react.’

      Elliot said this like it explained everything