Chapter 1
It had been a hectic morning, My phone alarm hadn't gone off this morning so I had to get ready in 20 minutes in order to make it to work on time.
I checked all the windows were shut and then grabbed my stuff from the hallway unit and walked out of my apartment. Ensuring I locked the door behind me.
"Good morning Bella" a voice from across the corridor said
"Morning Jenkins do you need a lift to the vets this morning?"
Jenkins was my 62 year old neighbour who had a small border terrier called Alfie who was registered at my work. After discovering we lived across the hall from one another I would ensure his appointments were always first thing in the morning so I could drop him off on my way in.
"if you wouldn't mind my dear. Alfie can barely stand this morning nevermind endure the walk to the vets" as if on cue a small brown fuzzy blur came barrelling towards me but kept falling over the entire time.
"bless him, is Angela aware of this?" Angela was my mentor at work and a very close friend. She was the only female veterinary surgeon at the clinic and had been the one to help Alfie after he was hit by a car a few weeks back.
"yeah she said its the medication and we will have to change the doses so he gets the pain relief but no longer acts like a drunk"Jenkins chuckled
We walked down the 3 flights of stairs of our building to the car park.
After college my parents and grandparents refused to let me leave for liverpool without a car so took the money I had been saving over the years along with the money they put in and bought me my pride and joy. 2011 vauxhall astra . My baby .
The ride to work was quiet, Jenkins and I spoke about the road works that were going on down the street and the new neighbours bellow our apartments who fought constantly.
I pulled into the clinics parking lot with a few minutes to spare. Fetched Alfie out of the boot while Jenkins got out of the passenger side and walked with them into the clinic .
"Good morning Bella, Jenkins" Lisa smiled and greeted us from behind the reception desk" and hello You adorable little trouble maker" In seconds Alfie was on her lap licking her face as she laughed and stroked him.
"Jenkins I love him to pieces but he is the most useless guard dog on this planet, I've seen chihuahuas with more oomph then that one" I chuckled as I kissed the little fur ball on his head
" oi leave my snuggle bug alone, he is for companionship not guard dog duty, that's your job ., isn't it Alfie pops ey cute lil... ow Bella that hurt" he laughed as I swatted him in the arm.
"right im gonna go clock in as I have wasted enough time being insulted" I laughed waving to them as I strode further into the clinic, I punched the code for the back and walked into the hectic life that was my job. All I could hear was the barking and screaching as animals of all variety's started to wake up . I Walked down the stairs and into the med room to see what the duties were for the day and who was where
" Bella you are on the kennels in the morning then on practice duty for outpatients in room 3 till closing "
a soft voice from the theatre room said , I smiled recognising Angela's soft tone.
"aye aye captain" a cardboard box came flying in my direction.. I ducked laughing till my sides hurt.
The morning went pretty quick, All 15 of the dogs and cages were cleaned up by 10am and All the dogs going home today had their paper work sorted and put in each of their designated folders ready for discharge which I would be carrying out in room 3 along with outpatients.
I carried a stack of Folders up the stairs and out the door into room 3. The afternoon dragged a lot unlike this morning . I had discharged all 7 dogs due to go home today after discussing there after care with each of their owners and seen 9 out patients who were just having there stitches removed.
But when my last patient left I glanced at the clock to see it was only half 4, although the clinic closed at 5 our shift continued till 6-7 to clean and prepare for the following day.
My computer screen flashed up to say my next client had signed in and was ready.
I grabbed the papers for reception of all the medication prescribed and wondered into the waiting room.
For the first time today it was quiet . One person was on the far side with a cage containing a sleeping cat . And near the door was my client with her hedgehog in its cage.
"Lisa, here are the med logs. i'm running low on steroids so when Tyler orders the batch later can you ask him to order more please" I sat down next to her as my client was 5 minutes early and I had been on my feet for 6 hours straight so far.
" Don't worry Bella wont belong till we can all go home" Lisa was 22 years my senier and had been with the clinic since she was 18 as the receptionist and never wanted to do anything else because she loved her job. When I started she trained me in the reception and spent lunches with me when I was shy.
"It's not that , My feet are just killing me , I cant wait until pay day so I can buy some new shoes as these ones are reaching the end." I grumbled
I answered the phone for the next few minutes to help lisa out while I killed time and got up to call my client when men walked in .
" ladies" A velvet voice said "can you please ask anyone who is not staff to leave the premises nice and calmly" Lisa shakily got to her feet and ushered the last few clients in the waiting room out of the doors apologising and explaining there was a dire situation and they would be booked in for tomorrow first thing.
She locked the door and then screamed . This grabbed my attention I run around the tall desk to see her on her knees cowering with a glock to her head.
" Now you had a blue uniform which must mean you are important, state your rank" the velvet voice asked me in an authoritative tone.
"i am head nurse" I snapped
" ooo head nurse and fiesty " velvet voice chuckled "well then little miss head nurse call the few remaining staff to the waiting room"
I remained standing making no intention of reaching for the intercom
A sigh behind me made me realise that there was a glock now pointing in my direction.
I pushed the button" All staff this is Bella can you all make your way up to the waiting room please, your presence is required urgently" Releasing the button I turned and glared and the smirking figure who dared to hold a gun to my head.
" good girl now sit there" he pointed to the receptionist chair
I followed his instruction and sat on the swivel chair and avoided the urge to spin on it.
One by one the 3 members of staff that hadnt gone home at 4 walked into the waiting room.
All of them shocked and scared of the situation played out before them .
" Oh lovely now that everyone is here, this is what's going to happen. One by one all of you are going to go into one of the practise rooms the telephone wires have been cut so don't bother trying to call for help" as told one by one the 5 of us were shuffled into room 2 one of the smallest ones .as soon as the door was closed panic erupted.
"What an earth are we gonne do"
"I dont wanna die"
"Who let them in"
"Why me God why!"
"enough" I snapped, silencing everyone I pressed my ear against the door trying to make out the muffled voices on the other side .
Suddenly the door flew open and I was grabbed and dragged out of the room Screams from the room could be heard even when the door was shut behind me.
" Hello again head nurse" Velvet voice was a cocky obnoxious twat I repeated in my head as my blood boiled
"now I know you have the code so to avoid less damage to fix when we leave can you just pop in the code for me pretty please"
I laughed I couldn't help it " if you think i'm helping you, you pathetic oaf you are mistaken" I seethed
"pity such a pretty face has such a bad mouth" his snarled in my face
"Dont let it fool you my bite is a hell of a lot worse then my bark" I snarled back . My blood was boiling and ready to burst.
"open the door"
Bang Bang Bang! 3 shots went off inches from my head I screamed.
The door blew open.
"perfect" velvet walked down the stairs and went straight for the store cupboard "men starting filing through the doors and collecting stacks of boxes containing all sorts ranging from food to medication and tools.
"you broke in to steal medication?" my small voice made all movement stop as the men awaiting a reply to my question velvet answered
"No my dear its just making the most of this oportunity , few extra bucks"
he clearly called the shots. I wish I could make out theirs faces but the ski-masks hid everything but there eyes . Boss man had piercing green eyes . Eyes like that haunted my dreams. I shook the thought from my head and carried on watching the scene before me .
Suddenly a comotion upstairs caught my attention
"Unhand me sir" oh dear lord no!
"JENKINS!" I screamed as I saw my poor neighbour thrown down the stairs .
" aha look who joined the party. J-dog havn't seen you in so long whats it been ….. 2 years" boss man stood above poor jenkins heaving body.
"Why now" jenkins managed to say
"Because old man. He was never gonna let you get away. Just over time you got sloppy which made it easier to get to you."
with that he kicked jenkins in the gut causing a wail to escape jenkins lips
" NO! LEAVE HIM ALONE! " I wasnt awaring I was screaming until I saw jenkins eyes look at me , the pain and despair evident in those blue eyes "i'm so sorry bella this is my fault im so sorry"
"pfft please dont apologise like you care what happens jenkins you are a ruthless dirty scum! Karma is simply repaying the debt you owe it and with that boss man pulled out his gun and shot jenking 2 times in the head.
"right grab the shit and go"
"what about this one boss" the brute holding me asked
"bring her along"