Fizz and Remi snuck along the line of marquees and back into their dressing room.
‘I can’t see Cadmus anywhere and there’s nothing out of place,’ said Remi, flopping onto a cushion.
Fizz’s chest fell. Everything was in the same place except for three slices of bacon cake placed on the floor. Fizz’s stomach grumbled. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
‘Catering must have delivered the cake as a pre-launch snack,’ said Remi.
Just then, Amadeus burst back into the
tent. He was wearing a new bandanna and grinning from ear to ear.
‘You should have seen Cynthia’s face when she saw the hole in the bandanna,’ said Amadeus. ‘She was so mad I thought she was going to lay an egg!’
Amadeus spied the bacon cake and wolfed down a slice. Then he stumbled across the dressing room and flopped onto a cushion.
‘I hope Amadeus isn’t going to be that clumsy on the catwalk,’ said Fizz. ‘We are supposed to be models.’
‘Five minutes until launch,’ called Cynthia from outside.
‘We’d better go back and get the tracker,’ said Remi, taking a bite of bacon cake.
Fizz nodded, but he just couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. He thought about Viktor’s strange conversation with Cadmus, and Crystal’s half-eaten slice of bacon cake with white liver sprinkles, just like the one in front of him.
Remi gave a big yawn as Fizz took a bite of cake.
‘Does this bacon cake taste weird to you?’ asked Fizz.
Remi didn’t answer.
Fizz felt dizzy and his legs began to wobble.
‘Oh no,’ said Fizz, as the clues fell into place. ‘The Handbag Dognapper is Viktor Shrill and…you.’
Fizz fell to the floor, as Cadmus flipped Remi over his shoulder and scooped Amadeus into his arms.
‘Fizz, it is you!’
Fizz opened his eyes. It was dark, but standing over him were the kidnapped dogs, Crystal, Milo and Kiki.
‘We’re saved,’ cried Crystal, licking Fizz’s fur. ‘We’ve been so scared!’
Amadeus and Remi woke up on the ground beside Fizz.
‘What happened? Where are we?’ asked Amadeus, shaking his head. He looked about the darkened shed.
‘We’ve been kidnapped by the Handbag Dognapper,’ said Fizz. ‘That wasn’t white liver sprinkles on the bacon cake. It was sleeping powder!’
‘Who was it?’ asked Remi, blinking. ‘I didn’t see anyone!’
‘It’s Viktor Shrill and his henchman Cadmus. By the time I worked out they were the kidnappers it was too late. We’d already eaten the bacon cake.’
Amadeus pulled himself up, but his legs were shaky. ‘Why are they kidnapping dogs?’ he said.
‘Don’t you see?’ said Fizz. ‘It’s all about sales. “Three more ought to do the trick.” Three more kidnapped dogs will see Shrill Alarm Collar sales skyrocket. They’re kidnapping dogs to make everyone buy the Shrill Alarm Collar. The more dogs are kidnapped, the more scared everyone gets, the more Shrill Alarm Collars they sell.’
‘That’s why there’s no ransom,’ said Remi. ‘Viktor doesn’t need one, he’s getting rich on collar sales!’
‘If Viktor doesn’t need us for a ransom then why is he keeping us, Powder Puff?’ barked Amadeus.
‘He’s not,’ said Fizz, remembering Viktor’s conversation in the marquee. ‘He’s going to dump us. Tonight! We have to escape now!’
‘Isn’t Sergeant Stern coming?’ asked Crystal, her tail drooping.
‘Our rescue hasn’t exactly gone to plan,’ said Fizz, standing up and stretching his legs. ‘Viktor took my tracker collar. Sergeant Stern thinks we’re still at the launch. We’re going to have to save ourselves.’
The only opening in the shed was a small, high window beside the locked door. Fizz scrambled up a pile of crates stacked against the wall and peered out the window.
‘Can you see anything?’ asked Remi, looking towards the light.
A small flutter of movement caught Fizz’s eye. A bird? It had yellow feathers on its chest. When it landed on a bush, it opened its beak and gave a very loud call.
‘That’s a Golden-throated Honeyeater!’ cried Fizz. ‘The Shrill logo! I know where we are. We’re on Viktor Shrill’s estate in Blue Haven! Not so far from the Police Academy. If we escape, we can make our way to the Blue Haven Police Academy for Dogs and raise the alarm.’
Fizz craned his neck to see the door. It was locked from the outside with a wedge of timber. ‘I could unlock the door if you can get me out.’
‘We’ve been digging a hole,’ said Crystal, ‘but it’s not very big. See there…’
Amadeus leapt to the hole and began to dig. His enormous paws and powerful legs sent earth flying.
Fizz’s ears pricked to the sound of heavy footsteps. Boots!
‘Someone’s coming,’ he said.
‘I’m through,’ said Amadeus, as a small shaft of light shone from the hole. ‘Is this big enough?’
Fizz squeezed through the tunnel. He was out! He raced around and jumped to knock the timber that was holding the door. It took three tries before the timber fell.
The shed door swung open and Amadeus, Remi, Crystal, Milo and Kiki tumbled out.
Trudging towards them through the bushes was a big muscular man with a cricket bat under his arm.
‘It’s Cadmus!’ yelled Fizz. ‘Run!’
‘Get back here, you mutts!’ bellowed Cadmus, as he thundered down the track after Fizz and the gang. ‘Get back here, you mutts!’ bellowed Cadmus, as he thundered down the track after Fizz and the gang.
‘Run!’ yelled Fizz.
The little dogs raced along a track through a dark forest of trees, with Amadeus behind them.
Fizz saw some light ahead.
‘Follow me,’ he said, as he burst out onto a manicured lawn.
‘Where are we?’ barked Amadeus.
‘It’s Viktor’s estate,’ said Fizz, scanning the scene.
The estate was spectacular. A topiary garden with ornate fountains and marble statues stretched towards a magnificent Spanish villa.
‘We have to find a way out before Cadmus gets us,’ said Fizz.
‘But how?’ panted Remi. ‘The whole place is fenced. Maybe I could leap over?’
Fizz thought fast. ‘Every fence has a gate,’ he said, wagging his tail. ‘We’ll head towards the villa entrance.’
Suddenly Amadeus snarled. Cadmus was on the lawn behind them. Amadeus turned to face him, growling.
‘No!’ barked Remi. ‘He’ll hit you!’
‘This way!’ yelled Fizz, racing through the garden. He weaved and dodged through bushes and statues, hoping to shake Cadmus off their tail.
‘He’s still behind us,’ yelled Remi, the whites of her eyes flashing.
Cadmus was waving the bat and gaining on them – fast. His enormous steps were too big for Milo and Kiki. Fizz had to find a way to slow Cadmus down.
Amadeus stopped again and looked ready to leap, but Fizz barked, ‘Head to the trees!’ He pelted full speed into an olive grove, then skidded to a stop when he spied a garden hose.
‘Amadeus, grab the hose!’ cried Fizz, as Remi and the others dashed past. ‘I’ve got a plan.’
Amadeus grabbed one end of the hose and Fizz grabbed the other.
‘Lay it between the trees,’ barked Fizz. ‘Quick! He’s coming. Pull.’
Fizz and Amadeus tugged the hose tight. Cadmus tripped and fell face-first onto the lawn.
‘That should slow him down,’ said Amadeus. ‘Come on!’
Fizz and Amadeus caught up with Remi and the little dogs.
‘We’re not far from the villa,’ barked Fizz. ‘Keep running!’
Fizz led the gang past a glistening swimming pool and onto a gravel driveway that wound around the side of the villa.
‘There’s the gate,’ yelled Fizz, ‘and it’s opening! Now’s our chance to escape.’
Milo and Kiki
dashed ahead.
Fizz slid to a halt. His stomach leapt. Something wasn’t right.
‘Milo, Kiki, stop!’ he yelled.
A black shadow crept though the gate like a wolf. A limousine! Fizz gasped as the car door flew open and a man with a goatee beard stepped out. Viktor Shrill! In a flash, Viktor caught Milo and Kiki in his arms.
‘I thought I told you to get rid of these mutts!’ he shouted.
‘Fizz, help!’ cried Crystal.
Fizz spun around. Cadmus had Crystal clamped under his arm.
‘Go back in the shed or the fluff ball gets it!’ grunted Cadmus, squeezing Crystal hard.
Fizz’s heart thumped in his chest. He had to do something. He shook the Shrill Alarm Collar around his neck, then he looked at Remi and Amadeus.
‘Now!’ he barked.
Fizz, Remi and Amadeus threw their chins out and activated their alarms. An ear-splitting sound shrieked across the estate and their collar lights flashed. Viktor and Cadmus recoiled in surprise. Fizz saw his chance.
‘Go!’ he yelled.
Fizz and Remi sprinted across the driveway to Viktor. Fizz rammed Viktor’s legs and Remi jumped onto his chest. Viktor toppled to the ground, and Milo and Kiki tumbled out of his grip.
Amadeus lunged at Cadmus. He pushed him down onto the gravel and jumped onto his chest. When he bared his teeth, Cadmus released his hold on Crystal.
‘We got them!’ yelled Fizz. He had a grip on Viktor’s wrist while Remi held fast to his beard.
A sudden wail of police sirens filled the air. Sergeant Stern rushed through the gate.
‘How did he find us?’ said Amadeus, swatting Cadmus with his bristly tail.
‘The tracker!’ said Fizz, feeling a bulge in Viktor’s coat. ‘It’s still in Viktor’s coat pocket. Viktor led Sergeant Stern straight to his own hideout!’
Sergeant Stern strode across to Viktor and looked down at him.
‘You won’t be selling anything for a very long time,’ he said, as he snapped handcuffs on Viktor and Cadmus.
Sergeant Stern nodded at Fizz, Remi and Amadeus. ‘Great job, team. You caught the Handbag Dognappers and safely rescued the kidnapped dogs.’
‘Whoo-hoo!’ barked Fizz, with relief.
‘They’re here!’ shouted Benny, from the veranda. They’re here!’ shouted Benny, from the veranda.
Fizz, Crystal, Remi and Amadeus looked out the window of the police paddy wagon as it drove up to Sunnyvale Boarding House for Dogs.
‘It’s a hero’s welcome!’ said Sergeant Stern, parking the wagon in front of a crowd of family and friends. ‘Enjoy yourselves. You’ve earned it! But don’t stay up too late, you’re all on crowd patrol in the city tomorrow morning. We’re expecting big queues for the Shrill Alarm Collar.’
‘What?’ said Fizz.
‘Returns, not sales,’ laughed Sergeant Stern, as he headed for the buffet table.
Fizz jumped out onto the lawn with Remi, Amadeus and Crystal. His family rushed to greet them.
‘Fizz! Crystal!’ cried Fizz’s mother. ‘You’re safe!’
Fizz’s parents, Bella, Puff-Pup and Fluff-Pup raced over and gave Fizz, Crystal, Remi and Amadeus a happy group hug with lots of tail wagging.
‘I’m so proud of you, sugarplum,’ said Fizz’s mother. ‘You rescued our Crystal and brought her home!’
‘Well done, son,’ said Fizz’s father. ‘You’re a real hero.’
Fizz was so proud he thought he might burst.
Then Tom Whittaker, the groundskeeper, stepped up to give Fizz a firm, approving pat.
‘I wasn’t worried for a second,’ said Tom. ‘The Handbag Dognapper didn’t stand a chance. Go on, off you go. It’s time for you to party!’
Fizz was so excited to play with his brothers and sisters again. They were romping and chasing until they were all puffed out. Remi showed them some dance moves, and Benny boogied until his paws hurt. It was almost dark before they took a break.
‘I can’t believe you went undercover with Amadeus,’ said Benny, flopping onto the lawn with Fizz and Remi.
‘I know,’ laughed Fizz. ‘He still calls me Powder Puff, but we made an awesome team. Amadeus was great!’
Benny’s stomach rumbled. ‘Come on, let’s get some food. I’m ravenous.’
Fizz, Remi and Benny made their way to the buffet table where Razor and Bruno were helping themselves to a platter of cold sausages.
‘I suppose you think you’re a big hero now,’ growled Razor, circling Fizz.
‘Yeah, a hero,’ said Bruno with a mouth full of sausage.
Razor bared his teeth. ‘Once a fluffy dog, always a fluffy dog,’ he was saying, as Amadeus joined the group. ‘So, what was it like working with this loser?’
‘He’s not a loser and his name is Fizz,’ said Amadeus, standing by Fizz’s side. He glared at Razor and Bruno. Then Amadeus gave Fizz a playful nudge.
‘You can be on my team any day,’ said Amadeus.
‘No way!’ barked Fizz. ‘You can be on mine!’
Remi did a spectacular dog-flip and said, ‘Well, if you want to be on my team, you’d better start dancing!’
‘You’re on!’ said Amadeus.
‘Right on!’ barked Fizz.
Have you read all the books in the Fizz series?
From the Author and the Illustrator
When Lesley Gibbes discovered that her father-in-law’s childhood nickname was ‘Fizz’, she knew it was the perfect name for her fluffy undercover police dog. But it was her two naughty Jack Russell terriers, Porsche and Cosworth, who were the real inspiration for Fizz. Just like Fizz, they’re clever, brave and fast. And even though they are only the size of a tomcat, they both think they’re as big and as bold as a German Shepherd.
When Stephen Michael King was a boy he liked to draw dogs: dogs scuba diving, driving cars, playing guitar or flying into outerspace… anything he could imagine a normal dog doing on any normal day. Now Stephen is married with two grown children, one parrot and three dogs, and he still finds himself drawing dogs: dogs in cars, on motorbikes, dressed in silly costumes and chasing robbers.
Their picture book Scary Night, written by Lesley Gibbes and illustrated by Stephen Michael King, was named an Honour Book in the 2015 CBCA Book of the Year Awards for Early Childhood.
Fizz and the Handbag Dognapper Page 2