Page 17 of Vetted for Vengeance
“No, sorry. They only gave me directions to the train station and then picked me up for the interview.” I was eighteen, young and stupid, just looking to survive.
“And you've been on the farm ever since?”
“Yeah. Board and lodging were included.”
Rhys frowns at me, his expression asking a question I don’t understand. For a moment I panic that I’ve said the wrong thing. That I’ve broken the story.
But then he nods slightly and continues talking.
My eyes trail off, taking in the bright and airy office space. Rhys continues the call while I take in a part of the practice never shown on television.
The handset returns to the base with a loud ping that makes me jump.
“Your telephone thing is cool.” I chuckle nervously.
“The police are going to transfer the report to the Milford police, who will investigate the address you gave us. But the fact that there is nothing registered is suspicious enough.” Rhys explains, addressing the entire room and the absent cameras, rather than just me. “But as there are animals involved, they want a vet on the scene. I have offered to drive down with a team, and with you, to make sure the dogs are safe and well.”
“Oh, good.” I smile as the plan falls into place.
“Martha,” Rhys calls to the poor woman who has only just returned with my tea. “Please inform all our clients in the waiting room that we are cancelling this morning's appointments. Take their details and say we will run a late appointment system this evening, offering free consultations. We're on a rescue mission. Tell them they can watch the whole thing when it is aired later.”
Martha hands me the tea and leaves. Rhys turns to Laura, a qualified nurse I recognize from a few episodes of the show. “Ask the staff who would like to visit what we assume is a puppy farm and get everyone willing to prepare both ambulances.”
He calls the television crew next, informing them of the amazing opportunity to film a police raid on an illegal puppy farm. I just drink my tea and wait, feeling dirty in yesterday'swork clothes and worn boots against the pristine and organized veterinary practice rallying to my aid.
I almost wish I'd had the guts to do this while Derek and Frank were around to see their fall.
“I'm going to take you ahead in my car. The nurses will bring both ambulances, and the film crew will make their own way down. The police will have a warrant to breach the farm, search for your bosses, and we'll go in after to check on and remove the dogs.”
I nod, tired, thankful, and a little bit scared by all this fuss and attention going on around me. Watching him organize the chaos is mesmerizing.
Within minutes, the entire practice is moving like a well-trained pack.
And somehow Rhys is standing at the center of it all, like this was always how the story was meant to go.
Then suddenly, I'm guided towards a top-of-the-line Land Rover.
“Is this your car?” Somehow I pictured him abducting murder victims in something less obvious.
Once we are inside, I can breathe; me and Mr. Murderer alone for the hour's trip, but before I can get comfortable on the luxury leather seat, a cameraman jumps into the back. My stomach drops.
“Hey there, I'm Travis.”
Apparently the entire country is coming along for this ride.
“We're going to roll the camera, kid, and you just talk naturally. Pretend I'm not here and just tell Dr Calder everything about yourself and the situation.”
‘Pretend he isn't there’ is code for ‘remember the entire world is watching.’ While he expects me to tell the universe I was working on an illegal puppy farm.
Rhys jumps in, gives me a wink, and starts the meaty engine.
And I talk.
I talk like my life depends on it.
I start with my life before the puppy farm. I know in Follow the Vet they care about things like that. So my boring, uneventful life spills out. Only child. Parents were kind but never present. They never noticed when I stopped talking at dinner.
Animals notice things like that.
