Knock. Knock. Knock.
BARK. BARK. BARK. BARK. BARK.
"Pongo old boy, you must teach your puppies not to bark every time someone knocks on the door."
"Oh Roger, they must still be afraid of Cruella returning," Anita held Lucky comfortingly against her chest.
"I know that darling but they need to stop barking at guests before we no longer have guests," Roger reached for the door.
"Ah, Mr. Holmes, do come in," Roger extended his arm showing Mr. Holmes to the interior of his home.
The puppies growled showing their teeth.
"It's alright everyone, Mr. Holmes is a friend."
The dogs backed down.
The business man hesitantly walked inside. He tipped his hat to the Mrs.
"What can I do you for?" Roger poured the man a cup of tea.
"I'm afraid I'm not here on good terms," Mr. Holmes accepted the cup.
"Please, take a seat," Anita insisted.
The man looked around at the living room chairs; each one containing a handful of puppies.
"Rolly, Penny, Freckles, Pepper, off."
The four puppies jumped down from the furniture.
The business man gently sunk into the chair.
"You see, Mr. and Mrs. Radcliffe, I was sent here today because a woman came into the recording studio earlier this week claiming that your song 'Cruella De Vil' was written about her without her consent."
Roger and Anita exchanged looks.
"Perdita, Pongo" Anita looked to the mother and father dalmatians. "Take the puppies into the basement please."
Pongo led the litters down the stairs and Perdita followed not far behind.
"Please tell me this is a coincidence?"
Roger sat in silence.
"Roger," the man spoke softly. "She's planning on suing."
"What can we do?" Anita inquired.
"Nothing unless you have proof that it wasn't written about her I'm afraid." The man stood to his feet and swung his coat over his shoulders.
"Roger, I would hate to see something happen to your first hit, or to you for that matter."
He tipped his hat to the Mrs.
"Good day Roger."
"Good day Mr. Holmes."
Roger closed the door behind him and released a large sigh.
"What are we going to do? If Cruella sues, we won't be able to keep the puppies. They'll be sent to the pound and Cruella will surely get her hands on them."
"We don't have proof that the song wasn't written about Cruella..."
"That's because it was written about Cruella darling." Roger cupped his hands over his face.
"But we may have proof that she stole our puppies," Anita continued.
Roger peaked through his fingers.
"What do we have for proof?" Roger rubbed his chin in thought.
"Well," thought Anita. "Nanny could be our witness."
"That's a start," Roger agreed.
"And when Cruella denies it all, we can put her on one side of a glass and the dogs on another. When the judge sees how the dogs react to Cruella, maybe they will recognize the truth. Besides, she's bound to show up to court in a fur coat."
"Anita darling, you're genius!" Roger swung his wife in the air.
"Since she has been in hiding so long, we didn't have the chance to report her...until now! Pongo! Perdita! Puppies! Come here!"
The thumping of what sounded like a herd of elephants came echoing up the stairs.
"Cruella will never bother us or any animals ever again because we are sending her to prison!"
The dogs collectively barked in excitement.
"I've got to go write a song!" Roger marched up the stairs.
He began pressing keys on the piano and tapping his feet.
"Oh Roger," Anita giggled.
July 5, 2017