Peter felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment as the shop shutter rose to reveal him. For a moment he struggled in the clutches of the display bracket though his efforts were futile and quickly subsided.

Mrs Steel sat with perfect posture, the picture of decorum, in the vast office which denoted her power. The file lay open on her desk, a catalogue of mistakes, a compilation of wrongdoing.

The rain beat down on wooden roof of the dog run before spilling in a torrent down the metal mesh. Inside the small structure Tony was grateful for its protection, as he huddled for warmth in his

"Oh don't look so glum honey, I'm not dumping you, I'm selling you!"   Tony stood aghast trying to take in what he was being told as Niki continued on excitedly. "The