the dog is in the fireplace

I leaned in a little closer to hear what the large-headed man was trying to whisper.  The din of the parade was ringing loudly in my ears.  He said I would need to know something that could affect the future of flip-flop sales in the entire occidental world.  Just as I took one step closer, the gun went off, he grabbed me by the arm and with his dying breath, he iterated, "The dog is in the fireplace..."