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‘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!’

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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!’

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‘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.’

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‘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.

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‘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.

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‘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.

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‘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!’

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