The first telephone call arrived before Clara returned home. A woman had seen a white cat beside the supermarket loading bay. Clara walked there immediately and searched behind stacked containers. Eventually, a cream-colored cat emerged from beneath a van. Its owner lived nearby and had been calling for it too.
Another caller claimed to know exactly where Bubbles was hiding. He demanded a reward before sharing any details. When Clara questioned him, he laughed and disconnected. The cruelty shocked her more than she expected. She unplugged the telephone briefly, then reconnected it, fearing a genuine caller might be trying to reach her.