Zander's Miracle by Tashia Garrett (fiction book recommendations txt) 📖

      "Look, I am tired. This entire day has been a terrible mess. I am going home to grab some much needed rest. If you wish to ascertain any more questions they may wait until tomorrow. I will endeavour to be nice, refrain from using sarcasm, and go through everything as much as many times as you will. Good night Officer Wannamaker." On a last thought Callie Covac turned back to Officer Wannamaker.

      "Will you walk me home in case one of the bad guys is in my house?" She tried her best to relax, but it wasn't happening. So she forged on with what needed to be said.

      With a look of genuine fear she forged on. "I wasn't kidding when I said, 'Today has been a terrible mess. "

      No Callie was not joking. Her day began by finding a knife in one of her car's tires; with the other three slit. There wasn't any saving her new tires. They were $300 a piece. 

      She called into work letting her employer know what happened,  snapped a few pictures for proof, and called the cops. When their report was finished they left with out saying a word.

      As a result of slit tires she was force to borrow four jacks from her landlord. Promising that, for the amount of days she kept his jacks; he could take her on a date of his choosing.

      Unfortunately, the man was as ugly on the inside as he was on the outside. She would be paid in a week. That meant eight dates that she would be forced to endure his bad breath and sweaty door. GREAT!!!

      By the time she arrived at work, three blocks away, half of her work day was over, there was a rip in her hose, and her skirt was stained with only God knows what.

      She began working immediately by; cleaning all of the kennels, bathing all of the animals, fed, watered, and walked the ones who needed it. Once that was completed she tended to their cuts, grabbed a five minute break, she began her medical classes for the day.

     She set a few broken bones, dissected a tumor, de-clawed a cat, neutered a couple dogs, and politely told a few clients to fuck off in a way that had them smiling as they left. Some people should not own, or have another living being under their care.

      She was begining her nightly closing ritual, when two beefy men barged in. One carried a mangled dog, the other, some kind of bag. She was in her "rush" mode. A mode in which she transeds into when the life of a critter depends on her. So she didn't see they were wearing ski masks until she held the bleeding dog, in her arms. She almost dropped the poor dear when she realized what was happening. 

      Callie screamed. The poor dog whimpering in her arms began growling at the men. Callie used the training she occurred during her time as a bank teller, while slowly backing up towards the operating room.

She noticed piercing blue eyes on the taller one. He was wearing heeled Tony Loma cowboy boots, Calvin Cline jeans, Justin Gypsy red white and black shirt, and a black Stetson cowboy hat. 

      The gun in is hand was a 40 calibre Smith and Wesson M&P Shield. Its safety was on. Thank you Lord for small favours. He was about six foot two inches, maybe. Definitely white. His hands were weathered as if he worked hard out, in the sun, for a living. That is fairly common in Texas.

      The shorter man looked to be about her height at five foot three inches. His eyes were a blue green mix. He was almost dark tan in color. He was dressed identical to his counter part crime mate. His gun looked like a semi rusted 40 calibre Baby Desert Eagle. Their ski masks must have holes up top for their hats to fit. Hmmm.

      "Are you the only person here?" The shorter one asked. He acted as if he were in charge. His voice was deep, a baritone maybe, and a little gravely.

      Callie raised her voice so Vanity would hear. Maybe she wouldn't  come rushing out. "Yes, I am the only one here. I don't appreciate guns pointed at my face! Aim both weapons else where please. I'll do what ever you want after this poor baby is taken care of. He looks as if he is about to kick the bucket." Callie turned her back on the criminals. She hated to do so. Knew that it was dumb, but the fact was that poor dog really did not look well. Scared as she was she knew the dog needed her. So that is what she tried to focus on.

      "Don't turn your back on us little lady. You will do as we say! Not the other way around. We want all of the clinic's money. NOW!" The shorter one snarled in her ear. 

      "Kill me if you want. You won't find the safe with out my help. I won't help until this baby is safe." She stated with conviction. 'I may be scared out of my mind, but if they are going to kill me I won't be able to stop them any how. May as well go out doing what I love.'

      "Show us the safe, and then deal with the dog. Other wise I will kill the dog." Baritone snarled in her ear, while yanking on her braid.

      Callie backed her way into the operating room, and laid her charge on the operating table. Turning her music on, she washed up. Hoping Vanity recieved her message loud and clear she calmly stated. "The safe is through those doors, behind the "hang in there" poster. No, I do not know the code. Good luck."

      'Please, Vanity, please tell me you called the cops, and slipped out the window by now. Poor baby.' This dog was covered in precise deep cuts. He was missing four square patches of skin, and one of his ears was cut down the middle. Looking in his eyes; they were in great shape. They tell me that he was well hydrated, despite the blood loss. His tail and paws looked wonderful as well. Well manicured and painted red.

      Callie placed an IV in his front right leg, with a bag of blood attached. She pushed meds through the IV to knock him out. No point in allowing him more suffering.

      She set to work cleaning, stitching,and replacing skin and cuts. She stitched his ear up last. "Poor baby what is your name?" Looking at his name tag on the collar. "Polar bear huh? Let me clean you up while you're unconscious."

      Police sirens lit up the sky. 'Thank you Vanity.'

      " You are surrounded! This is the Austin, Texas Police Department. We do not negotiate with terrorists. You have to the count of three to come out with your hands up! Otherwise S.W.A.T. will take you out!" Came a loud voice. It reverberated throughout the clinic.

      With Polar Bear taken care of, and in a kennel, Callie hid in an empty cupboard marked for towels, and waited for a savior.

      "Damn it! George, where is that woman?!"  Yelled baritone.

      "Duh, I don't know Damien. I was with you. Well, I was watching you crack the safe." 

      "George Lukas Wiggins! Why were you watching me, when ma wanted you to watch the victims? She is going to be very cross with you. We need to go, now." There was a lot of banging and cursing going on. Callie curled in more on her self.

      "Damien I like watchin' you work. I am gonna tell ma you said my name. She will be mad at you to."

      "Hey dummy. The chick is gone no-one can hear us."

      "How do we get out Damian? Tha cops have us surrounded."

      "Like ma said; the roof has an exit. It's this way."

      Callie refused to budge for fear the thieves had not really gone. 'I believe I'll stay right here. At least until Vanity gives the all clear.'

      A few seconds later a bright light filtered in through the cracks of the cabinet. It was followed by a deafening sound. Ears ringing Callie covered them and silently cried.

     Her hearing slowly returned. "Clear! Clear! Clear!" Hollering voices echoed through out the building.

      "Ma'am is this some kind of joke? I don't find it funny!"

      "Do I look like the joking type? No! Hold on a minute, would you?" Vanity turned away from the S.W.A.T. member hollering for her employee. "Callie. Sweaty it is all clear. You are safe hun. I promise. Callie!" 

      Callie slowly unfurled. Clearing her face as best as she could with her sleeve. She crawled out of her hiding place. 

      "I'm fine Vanity. I am glad that you heard me, and climbed to safety." Vanity smothered Callie in a bear hug. 

      That was how Officer Wannamaker found them. Interrupting their moment of relief, he began his barrage of questions.  Callie, of course,  answered them the best she could. Telling him what she was able to remember. Names, physical descriptions, sounds of their voices, the dog, how she suspected their involvement in harming the poor dear, how she escaped them, and how they escaped the cops. Well, she did till she had enough.

      "Yes ma'am I'll escort you home. Go ahead and get in my car. I'll drive you."

      Officer Wannamaker is a tall well built man. I would say about six foot, and maybe 230 pounds of pure muscled man. Alas he possessed a wedding ring. He was attached to one lucky woman.

      "I live at 1012 Florida street. It is three blocks west of here. Thank you for the ride officer."

      "I figured this way I can ask some personal questions." He tossed her an award winning smile.

      "I'm sorry officer, like I said I am too tired and cranky too answer any more questions. I would rather not be any more rude than I already have been. You probably think that I'm a bitch. That would be my exhausted  personality for you." Callie leaned back further in the comfy car seat and closed her eyes.

      "Nah, you are not being a bitch. You were acting just like my wife when she is exhausted. I am use to it. My main question is if we are not able to find the culprits and their mom; would you be willing to go into hiding? Only I would know where you are. I have a cousin in Alaska who would be willing to pay you under the table indefinitely.  That way you wouldn't have to change your job title. Unfortunately you wouldn't be able to contact your family. Well maybe you could through my cousin and me. Have him email me letters, and I could give them to your family. Ah listen to me think out loud. Rambling, it drives my wife nuts." He giggled.

      "Do you think that they would come after me?"

      "We will need you to testify in court. With the charges that these two numb sculls have against them and their