Rowan led the way over to the quiet zone and Marcus and Mrs Calloway followed close at his heels.
He lifted his hand to Atlas, opening his mouth to command him like he’d done so many times on previous missions in the force. Then he stopped himself.
Atlas waited, but when nothing came, he stepped forward on his own, his lead which was still attached to his collar, dragging behind him.
Marcus reached a hand out and placed it on Rowan’s shoulder. Rowan turned his head and their eyes met.
Marcus lowered his voice. ‘Don’t ask him to work.’
Rowan’s eyes flicked back to Atlas and then settled on Marcus, boring into his.
Marcus held his gaze. ‘Let him choose.’
Atlas looked up at Rowan and Marcus saw how Rowan’s features contorted, a confliction of emotions clearly battling inside him.
‘Marcus, what’s happening? We need to find my baby.’ Mrs Calloway’s voice was shrill with worry.
Rowan reached for the lead in Mrs Calloway’s hand. ‘May I?’
She reluctantly loosed it, and Marcus realised it was because the lead was her only connection to her missing pet.
Rowan knelt on one knee in front of Atlas and placed the lead on the ground in front of him. Atlas dropped his head and looked at the lead, then back to Rowan, as if waiting for a command, but Rowan remained silent.
Rowan’s top had stretched tight across his back, and Marcus could see the muscles on his back had contracted tight, revealing how tense Rowan was at that moment.
Mrs Calloway had begun to silently weep, and Atlas’s head lifted and tilted to one side, his dark eyes watching her.
He lifted his ears and they twitched, as if understanding her sorrow. To their amazement, Atlas dropped his head to the lead and sniffed again.
Then Atlas did something that made Rowan wobble unsteadily as he was taken aback. He lifted his snout in the air and sniffed. Rowan quickly got to his feet.
Marcus glanced at Mrs Calloway, giving her a reassuring smile. When he looked back, Rowan had got hold of Atlas’s lead with one hand, and had Beau’s lead in his other hand.
With his nose periodically dropping to the ground, Atlas led Rowan towards Jack’s beach safety stand.
Jack was sorting through a pile of leaflets, and he looked up when he saw them approaching, his brow pulling together when he saw how distressed Mrs Calloway was. ‘Is there a problem, Rowan? Marcus? Why aren’t you watching the competition?’
Rowan’s attention was focused purely on Atlas, so Marcus answered. ‘We have a missing dog. Mrs Calloway’s Beau pulled free from her when he was startled. Have you seen him?’
Jack shook his head. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t. I’ve been handing out leaflets.’
Atlas stopped at the stand and sat down, his nose sniffing at the cloth hanging from the stall to the ground.
Rowan looked up at Marcus. ‘Do you think he could be under there?’ asked Marcus.
Rowan grabbed hold of the edge of the cloth, and slowly raised it.
Beau was lying on the ground, his head resting on his paws, his small body shaking. Rowan quickly clipped the lead onto his collar. ‘There, there, boy. It’s okay. You’re safe now.’ He gently coaxed him out, pulling lightly on his lead, handing it to Mrs Calloway.
She took it gratefully and bent down, scooping Beau up into her arms, where she began to rain kisses onto the top of his head. ‘Oh Beau, my precious little angel. Don’t ever scare me like that again.’ She looked at Rowan and Marcus. ‘I know I fuss. I know people laugh. But he’s all I’ve got waiting for me at home.’
Marcus put an arm around her shoulders. ‘You’re allowed to make a fuss. Everyone can see how much he means to you. He’s safe now. Why don’t you go and see Tammy. I think Beau could do with a treat for being such a brave boy.’
People who were gathered at the edge of the main entrance to the marquee had noticed the rescue, and they had began to gather around.
Mrs Calloway nodded. She looked at Rowan. ‘Thank you so much.’
Rowan was on his knees, silently petting Atlas, a look of pride set on his face. He looked up at Mrs Calloway. ‘It wasn’t me, it was Atlas.’
