29

"Hello Ellie" Ianto said to the receptionist who looked up from her computer screen and squeaked, jumping slightly in her chair as Ianto leaned on the desk, Curtis behind him in a silent glower.

"Mister Harkness-Jones" she squeaked.

"Doctor, actually" Ianto snarled.

"Oh."

"Is the Vet available?"

"No. Sorry, he is…"

"Ianto!"the vet appeared from the back room with his face openly full of delight "Don't tell me you got another pet?"

"No. someone reported me to the RSPCA for having too many cats at my residence and I got a visit where I was almost accused of pet hoarding." Ianto said, still smiling "You know… that was weird. Only… the tell is in the paperwork. Curtis here picked it up. Someone that mixes up IN and AT. You see … saying the cats live at a place is different to being in a place. Like… 10 bears were at my place. You imagine 10 nears out on the lawn wailing around right? 10 bears in my house… less funny. So … if I need to hunt down the person who made the call and reported my village for having cats... I would hate to find that someone worked here."

"Ianto!" the Vet blinked "Hey. I can assure you that…"

"Because it was from this number too" Curtis cut in "You business phone never called to complain?"

"Now, I am usually a calm man but when you come at my children, or by association their pets… you get my ire up" Ianto growled, angrily "you sort this. Seriously … I know the business we have together, I know the refurbishment cost last summer and it was approximately what you get from my chequebook per annum … sort it!"

"I will… I …"

"As of late, I seem to be on the defensive. I don't like to be on the back foot and as such … am stepping forward to be offensive instead. In every way a Hoodlum can. I will now meet any and all comers with determination befitting the idiocy of anyone who thinks for one single fucking moment that they can dictate how MY world breathes. I am telling you now… this WILL be sorted and you WILL reassure me that everything is in order before you get one more single client from my village." Ianto said with a deadly clam that was very disconcerting, his face stony "And I accept that this was not your doing but the ball is firmly in your court now Doc. I suggest being a little pro-active yourself. I can tell you … does wonders for the blood pressure!"

Ianto walked out to the sunshine, putting on his shades as he wondered if they should really recruit their own vet. Seems the older he got, the more he wanted to keep things in-house… or in-village as it were.

Gods know … the outside world was going to hell I a hand basket!