Tarquin clapped his hands. ‘Into line everyone, Viktor’s here!’

Fizz sat in his manbag next to Remi and Amadeus. Standing at the entry was a man in a striped suit with a neat goatee beard. Viktor Shrill! And he was holding three Shrill Alarm Collars.

‘Your models are in costume and ready for the launch, Mr Shrill,’ said Tarquin. ‘I see you’ve brought the alarm collars.’

Viktor nodded.

Fizz studied the collars. They were yellow and green with a silver activation button.

Viktor strode across the marquee to Amadeus and buckled a Shrill Alarm Collar around his neck. Fizz fidgeted in his manbag as Viktor spoke.

‘The Shrill Alarm Collar – why?’ said Viktor, buckling a collar around Remi’s neck. ‘Because I care. I truly do. It breaks my heart to think about those three poor little dogs whisked away by the Handbag Dognapper. If only someone had been there to protect them. That’s why I invented the Shrill Alarm Collar.’

Fizz gulped. Now all he could think about was Crystal and how scared and alone she must feel, locked up by the Handbag Dognapper. Fizz was so worried for Crystal that he barely felt Viktor unbuckle his tracker collar and replace it with the Shrill Alarm. By the time he saw Viktor slip the tracker into his coat pocket and leave, it was too late.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Remi.

‘The tracker,’ gasped Fizz. ‘It’s gone!’