The number I called was my uncle's. He had put the phone on speaker, and that's how all the police found out, or so I heard.

---

I took the busses home, and made it back at about midnight. I didn't get much sleep...

---

I was reading one of Charles Dickens's books when I heard the doorbell ring. My uncle answered the door and there was Mrs. Binge with her dog. My dad invited her in and I rushed downstairs to meet them.

"Thank you for solving the case again," she said, looking at me. My uncle hadn't found out that I was there yet and replied, "Well, I am Detective Dan Courier, at your service." He smiled, and she did, too.

"I.. well, the real reason I came here was bullet."

"Was what...?" my uncle asked.

"Bullet. My dog. You see, I can't keep him, because I'm not going to be around enough, and I was thinking of sending him to a breeder or someone, but I wanted to thank you two for your work, so I figured... well, I thought I would ask you first."

"We'd be... We'd be happy to take care of him," he said.

"Really? Well, I think you might want to get a new dog tag. There's a spot of blood and the collar has my phone number on it, so..."

My uncle nodded and shook Mrs. Binge's hand. She knelt down and hugged her dog one last time before leaving.

I was about to make my way upstairs rather quickly and lock myself in my room...

"Now, James..." I rushed upstairs and heard my uncle muttering, "So THAT's why he was so tired..."