Good Boy

Four days after the disappearance of Andy Hoyle, Margie Jones, a widow and former psychiatric nurse, notices a man digging a grave in the Square, a neglected field near her home. The Square, an oddly shaped plot bordered by ancient walls and Sheephead Lane, has been a site of children's play and dog walking but now carries a dark aura due to Andy's disappearance. Margie, recognizing the man as a regular walker in the area, decides to investigate, despite her deceased husband Don's cautionary voice in her head.

As Margie approaches, the man falls and injures himself when startled. She helps him, learning his name is Jim Howarth and that he is burying his dog, Riot, who died five nights ago. Jim's explanation for choosing the Square is unsettling: he believes it might protect the next child from a 'monster.' Intrigued and sympathetic, Margie invites him to her home for tea, despite her reservations. Over tea, Jim shows her his deformed hand, claiming it is a result of an encounter with the entity he fears, which he believes is responsible for Andy's disappearance.

The chapter sets a tone of eerie suspense and introduces themes of community, loss, and the supernatural. Margie's background as a psychiatric nurse adds depth to her character, making her both curious and cautious. Jim's mysterious past and his belief in a monstrous presence add layers of intrigue and fear, hinting at the dark secrets and supernatural elements that will unfold in the story.

In the dim light of the living room, Jim begins to share the harrowing tale of his first encounter with the boggart when he was eleven. He adopted a small dog named Riot, who saved him from the creature. Jim explains how the boggart, a malevolent entity that preys on children, has haunted the Square for generations, and how Riot, whom he believes is a reincarnation of a heroic dog from the past, has been his constant companion and protector.

Jim describes his ongoing vigil with Riot, walking the perimeter of the Square daily to keep the boggart at bay. He shares how he met and fell in love with Katherine Corder, and how their relationship was strained by his secretive duty. Despite their love, Katherine left for London to pursue her dreams, unable to stay in a place that held so much pain and mystery. Jim also reveals a moment of anger where he vandalized Kenneth Corder's car, a symbolic act of defiance against the town's indifference to its dark history.

The chapter delves into the monotony and isolation of Jim's life, dedicated to protecting the town from the boggart. He reflects on the few times they encountered the boggart again, including a significant incident in 1987 where Riot showed signs of aging. Jim's commitment to the task never wavered, even as Riot's health declined. The chapter concludes with the poignant moment of Riot's death, marking the end of their long partnership and the beginning of a new, uncertain chapter for Jim.

Following Jim's emotional recounting of his life and the boggart, Margie reflects on the gravity of his story. She offers to help him bury Riot, but Jim declines, preferring to do it alone. Margie watches from her window as Jim completes the burial, placing his marked hand on the ground and tossing a small object into the Square. The next morning, Margie contemplates the implications of Jim's story and the fate of Andy Hoyle, feeling a deep sense of unease and responsibility.

Four weeks later, Margie is awakened by hail and reflects on her decision to seek out Jim. She visits the Bell and Kettle pub, where the landlady Fiona Haltwhistle gives her an envelope Jim left for her. Inside, Margie finds a note and two tin discs, one with the name 'Riot' pressed into it. The note advises her to be well and not to repent of her life. Margie ponders the meaning of Jim's words and the loneliness of her own life.

A week after Jim's visit, Margie is awakened by a scratching at her door. Despite her initial hesitation, she goes outside and finds a small, crying puppy at the bottom of her garden. She takes the puppy in, naming him Trouble, and begins to form a bond with him. The puppy, with a white spot on his forehead, becomes a source of companionship and a new purpose for Margie, who sees him as a potential successor to Riot in guarding the Square.