All the Cook family, including Lara and the pups, were sitting round the table having Christmas dinner. This year they were joined by a guest who was becoming more and more like another member of the family – Professor Cortex.
‘More turkey, Professor?’ asked Dad. His purple paper hat was at a jaunty angle on the back of his head and he was brandishing a carving knife.
‘I won’t say no!’ laughed the scientist, in a bright pink paper crown, passing his plate.
‘What about you two pups?’ smiled Dad. ‘I bet you could manage another little sausage? Or a bacon roll? Or maybe both?’
Spud and Star couldn’t stop their tails from wagging today. Thick snow had fallen overnight and when they woke up, the whole village looked like a Christmas card. They’d both found their stockings brimming with presents and now there was all this delicious food. This just had to be the best day ever!
Lara looked proudly at her two pups, washed and brushed in their best collars and using their knives and forks politely. They had been so pleased to have her back safe and sound that they hadn’t thought to ask what had happened to Stanley Strange, but the professor had told Lara all about it. Now he was telling everyone else.
‘So, his accomplice landed the helicopter in a car park in the middle of nowhere,’ continued the professor. ‘Ooh yes, please. I can never resist roast potatoes! These ones are lovely and crispy too. Mmm. Now where was I?’
‘In the middle of nowhere,’ prompted Sophie.
‘Oh yes, well, then they transferred to a stolen car. In fact they switched cars twice more and then drove to a disused airport where a private jet was waiting to take them to Cuba.’
‘Wow!’ said Ben. ‘That must have taken some planning.’
‘Yes, and they were pretty confident they wouldn’t be caught. In fact, if it hadn’t been for these two fine young pups, I’d say they would definitely have got away.’
Spud and Star sat up straight and looked amazed. What! Us? What did we do? We were on our way home on the train!
Lara smiled to herself.
‘When the pups first went to check out Stanley Strange that night, they took a tracking device with them,’ said the professor.
Yes, that’s right, the one we were going to fix on the car! thought Spud.
‘In the confusion, they must have dropped it into one of the Santa Claus boots. Strange lost one to Lara,’ smiled the professor. ‘But luckily the tracker was in his other boot and he kept it on the whole time. We were able to track his every move! So when he got to the airport, it wasn’t just that jet there waiting for him – Special Branch was there as well!’
The pups’ eyes grew wide with astonishment. They had caught the baddie after all!
‘Incredible!’ said Ben. ‘Nice work, pups!’
‘Yes,’ said Sophie. ‘But what happened to the money?’
‘It’s all gone straight back to the shop,’ said the professor. ‘Apart from this cheque that the manager asked me to give to Lara and the pups by way of a reward.’
He waved the cheque in the air. Lara glanced at it and the pups peered over her shoulder. It’s far too much – we were only doing our duty!
‘But Lara says she and the pups already have everything they could wish for,’ said the professor, waving his hand around the room.
That’s right, thought Lara. Family, friends, oodles of Christmas presents, good health – apart from my broken ribs, and I’m sure they’ll soon be better.
‘So – ,’ went on the professor. ‘Oh, I say, this bread sauce is scrumptious, Mrs Cook! May I have a little more?’
Sophie passed the professor the bread sauce, and everyone waited while he poured some on the side of his plate.
‘As I was saying,’ he continued at last, ‘Lara thinks that, as Stanley Strange wouldn’t give anything to the carol singers that night, up at End House – it would be a nice idea to give the reward money to the children’s charity on his behalf.’
‘That’s a wonderful idea!’ said Mum, giving Lara a hug. ‘Oh, sorry,’ she said as the family pet couldn’t help wincing.
‘Good for you, Lara!’ agreed Dad. ‘And well done, you pups, for agreeing to it.’
Well, we didn’t exactly agree … thought Spud.
It’s the first we’ve heard about it … thought Star.
But, yes, we think it’s a great idea! And they both wagged their tails happily and tucked into another sausage.
‘Well, Merry Christmas!’ said Mum, smiling round the table. ‘And do you think it would be too much for me to hope for a peaceful, non-eventful New Year?’
‘Only time will tell, Mrs Cook,’ laughed the professor. ‘But let’s hope for a very happy one at least! Merry Christmas, everyone!’
