THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED A FAVOR

Chapter 1

I'm fed up. Really depressed. I've spent the last two days in bed, coughing and sweating with a prime dose of flu. I'm bad at illness, I know that. Actually, I usually try to ignore it. But this… I don't know if it's an age thing, but it's knocked me out. And I had an unpleasant memory of the last time – some years ago – that I tried to ignore flu. I ended up wrecking the car. Anyway, this was worse.

I hadn't had any visitors. Not that I want sympathy – it's just one of those things. There were a couple of things where I could have done with some help, but Eric had gone down with flu a day before I did. And Cecile… Well, she was in France… This fact had given me an additional problem – Seb.

(Five days earlier…)

I was having dinner with Cecile. Pleasant, as always. She was a good cook, and we enjoyed each other's company. Sometimes we enjoyed more than that. It was a relationship I cherished – selfishly, I suppose. What I wanted, when I felt like it. No demands made on me. It suited me – I had enough demands at work. Cecile had always seemed to understand this. In fact, I believe she understood me better than anyone I've ever known, but then, she had been my psychiatrist once. I believe we love each other. A quiet sort of love…

One thing I knew – she loved Seb. Sébastien, her little terrier. He was a character. A rescue dog, incredibly intelligent. I – who'd never been known to like dogs – was quite fond of him. He seemed to like me too. He'd sit on my lap and gaze into my eyes; Cecile said he loved me, but I always wondered what he was actually thinking.

That's where he was that evening, as we sat on the balcony, drinking coffee. Cecile seemed quiet – she had been all evening.

"Is anything wrong?" I asked at last.

"Not with me."

"What then?"

"My daughter… Her husband's left her."

"I'm sorry." I suppose I had my 'it happens' voice, because she looked at me sharply.

"She called me. She seems devastated. I don't think she expected it at all. She's on her own…"

"What about your granddaughter?"

"She's away at university."

"Is she? I always pictured a little girl…"

Cecile laughed. "Do your sums, lieutenant. Jacqueline – my daughter - is forty-one. She's been married for… nineteen years. I think that's why she's so shocked. She thought they'd got past the difficult parts." She hesitated. "I think I should go to France – just for a week or two."

I nodded, quite failing to see the obvious problem.

"I feel she needs some support," she added. "I've never been a very attentive mother, as you know… But…"

"You don't need to justify it to me."

"No, but I need to ask you a favor."

"Okay." For some reason, it didn't click that the 'favor' was sitting on my knee at that very moment.

"Sébastien…"

"Can't you find a kennel with space?"

"You know how he hates kennels."

Then it clicked. "Oh no, Cecile! I've got to work. I can't look after him."

"You couldn't take him to work? He's very well-behaved now."

"I'm sure." I softened a little at her anxious face. "We can't have dogs in the lab. We can't risk contamination – dust, hair… It's actually against the rules."

"I thought you'd say that."

"I'm sorry."

"So…" She hesitated, while I frowned. "I've found a dog day-care place… They'll take him from eight till six. So I wondered if you…"

"Would have him overnight?"

"Yes. And drop him off and collect him…"

I was silent. I realised she expected me to refuse, and her little friend would be consigned to a kennel. "Couldn't you take him with you?" I said, rather desperately.

"I could, in theory. I got him a passport months ago, just in case. But, Horatio, ten hours or more in a crate, in the hold? Then all the way back? I can't do that to him." She reached over to stroke the dog, who looked at her, then back at me. With that look…

I wasn't keen. My working hours are odd, and unpredictable. But I was aware it was the first time Cecile had really asked anything of me, so I nodded. "All right."

"You're sure?"

"Wouldn't offer if I wasn't."

"And you will take care of him?"

I laughed then. "Of course I will. He can come on my evening run – you know how he likes the beach. When are you going?"

"Tomorrow."

"Saturday…"

"Yes. You're not working, are you? Because the day-care doesn't begin till Monday."

"No, I'm not working. I'll come over and take you to the airport."

"No need. I've already arranged my parking." I was used to her independence, and didn't argue.

"So I'll take him tonight?"

She nodded, and I saw she had tears in her eyes.

"Hey, Cecile…" I touched her knee. "He'll be fine, I promise."

"I just haven't left him, since I had him."

"I know. I'll care for him as if he's my… child." I meant it too.

She sniffed a chuckle. "I know. Be careful of your balcony – he could jump."

"I'll be careful. I hope this dog place is okay."

"So do I. It was recommended to me."

"I'll put my badge on when I take him in. That usually… reminds people of their responsibilities."

"You're shameless, Horatio," she laughed.

I wouldn't disagree. That badge has uses you wouldn't dream of.

Anyway, she gave me a list of instructions, a parcel of dog food and toys, bid Seb an emotional goodbye, me a rather less emotional one, and I went home with a terrier on the front seat. He seemed a bit bemused, but not unhappy. So far.

He seemed fine. We enjoyed several walks over that weekend. He joined me for a run on the beach. When I sat on the balcony, I kept him loosely on a long leash. When I went to bed, he settled down beside me, sort of tucked behind my knees. I'd intended to ban him from the bedroom, but he had other ideas, and, truthfully, the feel of that solid warm little body was quite pleasant. He snored a bit, but he didn't disturb me. I took my duties seriously – I couldn't imagine anything worse than having to tell Cecile that we'd had an accident. She called on the Sunday. Ostensibly, it was to reassure me that she'd arrived safely; we both knew she was really checking up on Seb.

On Monday, dressed for work – yes, complete with gun and badge – I delivered Seb to Furry Friends Doggy Day-Care. He never gave me a backward glance as he trotted in to find some new friends.

TBC