"Massive trauma," the lead paramedic, Austin Kennedy told the doctor. "Gunshot wound to the abdomen, countless lacerations, possible head trauma, three broken ribs, and a punctured lung."
"Get her to OR3 stat," the doctor hollered to his nurses as Austin let go of the gurney and watched them go through the swinging doors to the rooms beyond. He heard a commotion behind him and turned to see the Devereaux family arriving in full force. He closed his eyes and took a breath before approaching them. He knew from first-hand experience how this family could be, and he had no desire to be anywhere near them; but, being the paramedic on the scene, he knew he would have to give them some information, otherwise they would be harassing the medical staff incessantly.
"I demand to know what has happened," the older woman wearing sequins and a fur stole shouted harshly at the young receptionist behind the front desk. "If I don't get answers right this second, I will have the hospital shut down, and all of you pathetic little peons will lose your jobs."
"Aunt Dottie, please," cooed the young man with sandy blond hair coming up behind her. Drake Devereaux was probably the only level-headed member of that family, and Austin felt some sympathy for him. How he maintained his sanity was beyond him.
"Don't you 'Aunt Dottie, please' me, young man," the aging diva seethed at her nephew. "We are Devereauxes, and when we speak, we expect answers!"
"Oh, shut up, you old bat," spat the middle-aged man who had just arrived with his wife in tow. Maxwell Devereaux and his wife Alyssa were quickly walking up to the other members of their family. "Now is not the time to be throwing around your weight, although Lord knows you've got enough of it. Now just shut up and let me find out what's happening."
"Well," Dorothy Devereaux snarled, "I never - -"
"Yeah," Max shot back, "maybe if you did once in a while, you wouldn't be so riled up all the time."
Austin bit back a chuckle as he approached the group. "Excuse me. I'm Austin Kennedy, and I was the one to bring your - uh... Miss Devereaux in. If you want to step over here into the waiting area, I can give you some information on what we know so far...."
As Austin led the entitled family out of the lobby, Melinda Allen sat in the manager's office at the bank, shaken by the events that had taken place. Officer Seamus Radha sat in the chair next to her going over the notes he had just taken.
"And you're sure you didn't see the color or make of the car at all?" he asked.
"No," Melinda said, wiping her nose once again with the Kleenex she was holding. "It all happened so fast. I had just been fired - -" she turned and looked out the glass partition at Darren Fontaine, who was speaking animatedly with another officer, pointing at the shattered front window, with the wind blowing rain into the bank, "- - so I wasn't exactly paying much attention to anything else. I just heard the loud bang, and suddenly Miss Devereaux was coming through the front window..."
"It's alright," Officer Radha said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "I know things like this can be a very traumatic experience. You've been very helpful, and I appreciate you telling me everything you can." He handed her a card that had his name and telephone number. "If you think of anything else at all, please give me a call." He stood up, continuing to look down on her. "And if you just need someone to talk to, someone who understand what things like this can do to you, please don't hesitate to call. I'm always available."
Melinda looked up at the man and saw him smiling down at her. His dark brown eyes shone brightly, and his tanned skin almost glowed. Melinda nodded and turned away from him. She was a married woman, for crying out loud, she certainly did not need to be having thoughts like that about a man ten years her junior. She heard him walk out of the office, and she sat for a moment, staring at the mess of paperwork on the desk in front of her. Then something caught her eye. Glancing back at Darren to ensure he was still busy with the police, she stood up and leaned over the desk, moving the papers around so that she could read what was written on the one.
"Oh, my God," she whispered, taking in the full import of what she was looking at. "This can't be! If this is real, then - - then - - "
She picked up the paper and shoved it in her purse. She turned back around and glared at Darren with burning hatred in her eyes. "You and that bitch think you have the upper hand. Well, not any more. With this, you'll be the ones doing what I say!"
***************************************************************
At the Fontaine house on the north part of Treasure Island, Veronica Fontaine lay back naked on her bed, her hands running through the dark, wavy hair of the man who was currently giving her more pleasure than her husband ever could. His strong, tanned shoulders, his 6'2" meaty frame, and his insatiable sexual appetite kept her more than satisfied, and she groaned in ecstasy as he continued to make her squirm.
Nearly an hour later, the two lay next to each other, covered in sweat, both literally glowing with satisfied pleasure. She turned on her side and allowed her hand to explore the entire body of Van Steel. He may have been the one to do all of her husband's dirty work, but she had no problems allowing him to do his own style of dirty work on her.
"Is Darren keeping you here during the storm, or does he have you doing work for him elsewhere?" she asked, her fingers gently caressing his chest and stomach.
"Actually, I just finished up one job for him," he smirked, thinking back to her little trip, following Samantha Devereaux and her crazy aunt from the airport. When she stopped at the bank on the way back to her house, he had thought it would be the perfect time. She was standing outside, talking with that idiot of a bartender, and Van knew he would never have a better chance. But then that dark blue sedan had pulled up right in front of him and the blast that had come out of the car had sent the bartender reeling back and Sam through the front window of the bank. The car had squealed out of there, its tires spinning on the wet road, and Van had sat there staring, wondering what the hell had just happened. It didn't matter, though. Even if someone else had done it for him, the deed was done and Darren Fontaine would be happy.
"Well, maybe you can do a little job for me next," Veronica said playfully, twirling a strand of long blond hair with her fingers.
"I thought I just did that," Van grinned, already feeling his body respond to her seduction.
"Oh, we'll do more of that, no doubt about it," she smiled, winking at him. "But I'm thinking of something that requires a bit more ... of your other skills." She snuggled up close to him, her hand reaching down to ensure he would respond appropriately. "There's someone that could complicate things for us, and I'm thinking if that person was out of the way, you and I could be free to be together as much and as often as we wanted...."
"Mmmmmmm," Van closed his eyes and lay back. "Tell me more about it...."
As Veronica began to tell her lover exactly what she wanted, through the crack in the not-quite-closed bedroom door, the dark blue eyes of Simon Fontaine watched his stepmother continue to cheat on his father, all the while filming it with his cell phone held in front of him. He was tired of her controlling his father and every other man around her. From now on, he was going to the one in control!
