"Yeah, you only got caught by somebody who isn't interested in turning you in or yelling at you about it." He probably had guessed that by now, but it didn't hurt stating it directly. "Even if she was just taking her puppy for a walk."

Deciding Billy probably wasn't going to try to run at this point - although there was still a chance - Alex set the puppy back on the ground, but kept hold of his leash. Seymour could get squirmy when he didn't want to be picked up, and if she wasn't going to have to chase Billy down, she didn't have to worry about puppy legs keeping up.

"Tell me you at least got a decent haul."