For the Masters who had raced to the hospital on receiving the distress calls from Roxanne and Barry, it was unbearable.

The men ran in, one after the other, looking for all the world like they were rushing to battle. The helplessness that swept over the Irishman had him grabbing one of the men he encountered at the reception, gripping the startled young fellow by his collar and all but yanking him over the table savagely, as he cried hoarsely,

“Where’s she? Where’s our pet?”

The unfortunate man gabbled incoherently.

“No pets allowed here, Sir, this is a hospital,” he choked as the grip on his collar tightened.

His voice...