Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Dallas

YESTERDAY WAS THE grand opening of the clinic. We did get a few people in, but not too many. It was honestly perfect because it allowed us to show them around where the kennels and everything were as they asked questions and talked about their animals. Most of the people who showed up brought their animals with them and I actually discovered a problem with a little kitten that the owners hadn't picked up on yet. It wasn't a big deal, but I was able to get the little kitten into an exam room and give her a complete exam before ensuring the family knew what to do with her moving forward. She'll come back in to see me in a few weeks to make sure the medicine is working and see if anything else needs to be done to help her out. She's such a sweet girl and I can see why they wouldn't have noticed anything wrong with her because she was acting completely normal. I just picked it up because one of my cats had the same thing wrong with her and I got her treated immediately. Now she's a fat ass who weighs a ton and follows me around like a shadow.

Everyone seems really happy to have a place in Clinton City where they can board their animals if they go on a trip or something. We handed out more pamphlets regarding that than anything else. I answered so many questions and talked so much that it was a first for me. I'm typically hiding in the shadows and giving everyone else the spotlight. Yesterday, that wasn't an option because I'm the vet and this is my clinic. So, Emmie and Charlotte directed everyone my way. I won't be surprised if I lose my voice from talking so much.

Emmie has been up my ass over the last few days. It seems things are going very well between her and the biker. They spend every day together and I've never seen her happier. The only problem with her seeing this guy, Tripp, is that she's been talking up Adam. I guess his name is Titan in the club though. Emmie told me that they talked and he told her what happened the night we were supposed to go out and meet. While I believe my friend, I'm not sure I can take a chance on him again. She even told me that he went out with the guys this weekend and they were at Entice, the local strip club. Emmie was excited to tell me that he didn't last ten minutes there before he was heading back to the clubhouse and spent a few hours with her and Tripp. I'm woman enough to admit that information did earn him back some points with me.

For the last six months, I've had to exhaust myself and constantly have something to do just to keep myself from thinking about Adam and wondering if I should get on the app and send him a message to find out what happened. He didn't seem like the type of guy to just blow someone off like most others I've met. I just couldn't make myself bite the bullet and do it. Now, I'm wondering if I should go with Emmie to the clubhouse like she's asked me to so I can see Adam in person and have the conversation we seem to be in need of having.

Pulling into the clinic's parking lot, I immediately know something is very wrong. I park in my normal spot that's just past the front door and away from the rest of the parking spots. Emmie and Charlotte have one over here with me as well. Shutting off my engine, I take a few minutes before I allow myself to actually look around. At first glance, it doesn't seem as if anything is wrong. I feel it deep in my gut that it's not the case though. Pulling out my phone, I unlock the screen and put in the number for the police department so I can call once I know what the hell is going on here.

I make my way toward the front door as I normally do when I stop dead in my tracks and my eyes fill with tears. Covering the entire entryway of my clinic is spray paint. There's nasty pictures drawn, vile words in reference to me, and all sorts of other things I'm trying not to take a look at as the first tear slips free and rolls down my face. My eyes move to the door where I see the windows on either side of the entrance smashed out. The door is open and splintered to hell letting me know it was forced open. That's all I need to see to call the cops, but I want to be the first one to walk through the clinic to find out if anything was damaged inside. So, I hesitate over the call button and slowly move toward the door wondering why the security system never went off. I know it was set last night when we left because I double checked and was the last one out the door.

Using the toe of my sneaker, I push the door open and turn to the right where the security panel is. It's hanging from the wires inside and I can tell that it's been completely destroyed by whoever broke into the clinic. More tears spill over as I step further inside to find the waiting room and receptionist desk completely torn apart. Papers litter the floor and every surface that's still standing. The chairs have been smashed into the walls creating huge holes, all the pictures I had on the walls have been smashed all over the floor, and the door leading to the back where the exam rooms and everything else is located is hanging by one hinge. I hesitantly make my way through the door to find more destruction. Everything in each room has been systematically dismantled. Especially when I finally get back to the kennels. There isn't a single one still standing. I want to scream and drop down to my knees in the center of all the chaos that's been created from the hard work, time, and money I've put into making my dream a reality. Now there's nothing left of it and I'm going to have to close the doors.

Finally, I make my way back out to the front and leave the interior of the clinic while pressing the call button for the cops. It only rings once before someone is answering my call.

"You've reached the Clinton City Police Department, how may I help you?" a woman asks as I try to stop crying so I can tell her what's going on.

"This is Dallas Parker. I just opened up the Clinton City Vet Clinic on the outskirts of town. We literally just had the grand opening yesterday. I just arrived at work a few minutes ago to find everything completely destroyed. There isn't a single room inside that hasn't been touched, my security system has been dismantled, and there's spray paint on the outside of my building. Can you please send someone over to take a report so I can get in touch with my insurance company?" I state, giving just enough detail over the phone so they know this is serious.

"Are you sure whoever did this isn't inside any longer?" the woman asks as I hear her typing away on a keyboard.

"I didn't see anyone when I walked through. There's more damage than I'm sure my insurance company will pay out. I'd just like to file a report so I can get the process started and find out what I'll have to do moving forward," I answer her, frustration and anger filling me.

"I've got Officer Hilton on his way to your location now. He should be there in less than ten minutes," the woman informs me before we hang up.

I don't hesitate to call my dad as I watch Emmie pull into the parking lot and park next to my car. She's immediately out and by my side as my dad answers the phone. I tell him what's going on and that an officer is on the way. My dad hangs up knowing Emmie's here with me and assures me he'll be here as soon as he can, that he's leaving the office now and doesn't care who it pisses off. My dad will always put me first when I have something going on in my life. Today is just one more example of that.

"Are you okay, Dallas?" Emmie asks me, looking me over from head to toe.

"I'm okay. No one's here that I could see. This was like this when I showed up. I wanted the coffee and stuff started when you and Charlotte got here this morning. And I couldn't sleep. I've been so lost in my head about this situation with Adam that sleep is now something in the past that I used to be able to do. Anyway, this is what I walked into this morning. I'm fucked. The insurance company isn't gonna pay to repair all the damage and replace the equipment I spent a fortune on. I've lost my business, my dream, and everything that goes with it," I tell my best friend as more tears start falling and I let myself sink to the sidewalk.

Pulling my knees up, I wrap my arms around them as if I'm holding myself together. It's not working. I'm falling apart and there's nothing anyone can do to help me. Emmie sits down with me and pulls me into her arms the best she can. I sob on her shoulder as we wait for the officer and my dad to get here. Neither one of us speaks because there's nothing left to say. The damage has been done and I'm completely fucked. That's what hurts so much about this situation. I've lost everything in the blink of an eye. Time that I'll never get back because of someone hating me for some unknown reason. I honestly don't know what I did to whoever did this because I don't talk to anyone or go very many places. Emmie is the only one I talk to and she wouldn't ever betray me like this.

It's not long before the officer pulls in, followed closely by my dad. While Officer Hilton starts to work his investigation. Emmie, my dad, and I all move back as Charlotte pulls in and heads straight for us to find out what's going on. Emmie informs her of the break-in and all the damage inside as my dad holds me while I continue to cry. He doesn't try to tell me things will be okay because he knows I'm not in the right frame of mind to hear that right now. The four of us simply stand together and wait for the officer to do what he needs to do.

In less than five minutes, my entire parking lot is filled with police cars. I'm not sure if the officer inside called them, or if they're here because of who my dad is. Either way, I'm not going to complain as long as they finish doing what they have to do today so I can figure out what needs to happen next. I know it will be long days spent on the phone with the insurance company moving forward. Not something I'm looking forward to, but I'll get it taken care of because I have no choice in the matter.

"Miss Parker, can I have a few minutes of your time?" Officer Hilton asks me as he finally leaves the clinic with the rest of the officers still inside.

"Of course," I tell him, wiping my tears as I leave the safety of my dad's arms and step away with him.

"Did you touch anythin' when you went inside before callin' the station?" he questions, pulling out a pen and notebook.

"No. Well, I touched the front door at the bottom with the toe of my sneaker. Then, I used the same move to open the door leading to the back where the exam rooms and everything else is located. I did a quick walk through to take in the damage and then immediately left the building to make the call. I didn't even go through every room, just kind of stood in the doorway and took in the damage from the hallway," I inform him as he writes it all down.

"Okay. Can you tell me whose fingerprints should be in the clinic?"

"I have two employees who are currently here. Emmie Smithfield and Charlotte Madden. Emmie's touched more than Charlotte since Emmie helped me do everything inside. Charlotte literally didn't step foot in the building until yesterday and she mainly stayed behind the front desk since it was the grand opening. My dad has also been inside. I don't remember what he's touched or anything though," I tell him honestly as I look back to where the other three remain standing, giving me their silent support and strength.

"Okay. I know your dad has his fingerprints on file, but we might have to get them from the rest of you to ensure we rule you out and can determine if there's any inside that don't belong there. Have you had any arguments, fights, or anythin' recently that would anger someone enough to do this amount of damage to your business?" he asks, looking down at me as he continues to take notes of what I'm telling him.

"No. I don't go anywhere and the only people I talk to are standing in this parking lot. I mean, I did go to Brothers on Friday night and I had an altercation with a drunk there. I don't believe it was enough to warrant this kind of reaction. Plus, he didn't even know my name or anything about me. This kind of feels personal if you're asking me. Most of the time, I come here to do what has to be done and then head home. Every Friday night I go to have dinner with my dad at his home. I'm a creature of habit and that's not changed because I've opened my own business. At least not yet," I state as tears once again fill my eyes with the knowledge that someone has done this to me and made me a target for some reason.

"Okay. I can get the security footage from Brothers after a call to Reaper. Hawk will ensure I have everythin' I need from there. Did you happen to go behind the receptionist desk when you were walkin' through the clinic?" Officer Hilton questions me as a grimace covers his face.

"No. I stayed in the main areas and didn't want to take the chance that I'd mess something up."

"Okay. Well, I found some very disturbin' pictures tossed all over the place behind the desk. Have you noticed anyone followin' you around, bein' at your home, or anythin' else that's just felt off recently?" he questions me as a lump forms in my throat because my dad just asked me this same question when we had dinner last week.

"Um, I've felt as if someone has been watching me every now and then. My dad just asked me the same thing when we had dinner last week. I looked around but never saw anyone near me. It's happened all over the place and no one has ever stood out. Are you telling me that someone has been at my house?" I question, feeling the need to get sick fill me as I quickly turn and race to the grass that's just behind us.

I lose the contents of my stomach as Emmie and Charlotte come to my side and my dad goes to talk to Officer Hilton. I'm not sure what's being said as they whisper between the two of them. It's one thing to know that someone came here to my place of business and completely dismantled my dreams with each move they made. To think that this person has been to my home is a completely different situation to think about. My home is my sanctuary and the place where my babies are at all times. The only one I ever bring out of the house with me is Danger, my Blue Neapolitan Mastiff. He's a big baby and follows me everywhere. If someone were at the house when I am, he'd have alerted me. Danger is the best dog I've ever had and doesn't let anyone get too close to me. Emmie and my dad are the only exceptions to that when it comes to him.

"What's going on, Dallas?" Emmie asks me when I finally let them know I'm done and I stand back up.

"They found pictures in the office area. Behind the receptionist desk. I didn't see them because I didn't go back there. What the hell is going on?" I ask, falling to my knees in the grass as so many emotions flood me, the main one being complete panic.

"Miss Parker, I'm not goin' to show you the pictures. I don't believe you need to be aware of what they are. Yes, someone has been to your home. I'm not sure if they've been inside at this point or not. If you want, we can head there and take a look around to see if there's been any breeches," Officer Hilton says, sympathy filling his voice as he looks directly at me and no one else.

"Please. My animals are inside and I worry for them. They're my babies and if anything were to happen to them . . .," I trail off, not even wanting to finish that line of thinking.

"I understand. Your dad has said you can stay with him for the time bein'. I really don't advise you remainin' in your home alone. We'll do regular patrols on your street and make it a point to go by your home at least once an hour on a daily basis. Your dad has also stated that he'll ensure you're safe by puttin' a specific group of men on your security detail that he trusts. I know these men and can ensure you they will take care of you and make sure they do everythin' in their power to stop anyone from gettin' close to you," Officer Hilton states as more of the officers inside the clinic start to come out.

They're carrying those brown paper bags as they make their way closer to Officer Hilton, but remain a decent distance away until we're done talking and he turns to face them. I try so hard not to think about what could possibly be in those bags. Especially about the pictures. If Officer Hilton doesn't want me to see them, that's all I need to know. It means whatever is in them is bad and he's trying to protect me.

My dad and Emmie send Charlotte home since I'm so lost in my head. It's not long before I'm being led to Emmie's car and settled into the passenger seat. I barely hear them say they're making arrangements for my car to be taken to my dad's house. Emmie takes me to my house with Officer Hilton. He quickly makes his way through the house before allowing us to enter. I pack a bag of clothes and gather everything my babies will need as Emmie starts loading them all up in their carriers. It's not the first time she's helped me get them around to go somewhere so she's a professional at getting them in the carriers quickly. In what feels like no time at all, we're back in her car and she's driving me to my dad's house. Emmie and my dad stay with me the rest of the day and night. Neither one of them really leaves my side until I head to my room and shut the world out with my babies locked in with me. I need some time to process what happened today and I know my dad's ready to make plans and put things into place to ensure I'm safe at all times. Emmie isn't going anywhere, but she'll give me the space I need for right now.