Page 14 of I've Found Her

I get my phone out and send a quick text to Damien thanking him for his generosity for tonight but tell him it’s too much. Something is really bothering me tonight and I can’t put my finger on what it is. It’s possibly a mixture of things. Chloe returns so I down the rest of my drink and go to the toilet myself.

All the alcohol in the cocktail must have settled at the bottom, it almost made me gag it was so bitter. I stand in the queue for the toilet and start to feel really dizzy. Finally, it’s my turn. I spend a penny and reach for the cubicle door. Strangely, my arms are so heavy I can hardly lift them to open the lock. I keep trying and almost reach it but my arm drops and so does the rest of my body. I feel myself hit the cold floor and everything goes black.

Chapter 10

Damien.

I’ve been working late tonight. We’ve a lot going on in King security. We are about to expand and there is still a lot to do. I call it a night and retire to my bedroom when my phone rings. It’s Josh.

“Hi mate. There’s been an issue tonight with one of the teams at Bar Seven. A girl passed out in the bathroom and the guys had to break the door down to get her out. They got her an ambulance because her mate was kicking up such a fuss saying she must have been spiked. The guys rang me to check the bar footage as this girl’s mate was adamant that someone had spiked her drink and we needed to call the police to report it. I got the footage sent over and I’m looking at it now. The girl’s drink is definitely spiked. She’s at the bar on her own messaging on her phone and a guy reaches round her and puts something in her drink. When her mate returns, she downs the drink and then goes to the toilet. It must have been a lot or some strong s**t because within minutes she’s out,” he explains.

“So, ring the police and hand them the footage. Why are you ringing me with this Josh?” I respond, gruntled.

“Because the girls in video are Bella and Chloe.”

“I need to get to hospital now!” I cry.

“I’m outside, I’ll drive you,” Josh says calmly.

Josh didn’t say which of the girls had been spiked but I know it’s Bella. I feel it in my stomach. I don’t know Bella’s condition but it can’t be good. We arrive at A&E and I see Chloe talking to a nurse.

“She’s awake now you can go in and see her.” Chloe looks relieved as the nurse leaves her. Josh pulls Chloe into a hug and she starts to cry on his shoulder.

“Is she ok Chloe? What the hell happened?!” I demand. She pulls away from Josh and looks at me.

“I thought I’d lost her Damien. When we arrived at the hospital she started fitting and all these alarms went off and they took her away and said I was to stay here.”

“How is she now?” I ask.

“The nurse said we can go and see her now and that she’s awake. She’s through here.” I follow Chloe but Josh stays in the waiting area- I’m assuming to make some calls and find out who the hell did this. My blood is boiling. I feel like finding the person responsible and ripping his head off. But now I need to be calm and make sure Bella is well.

“Hey there, you gave us all a scare.” Chloe strokes her head as she speaks to her.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened. I went to the toilet and then it all went black. I’m sure I hadn’t drunk that much.”

She looks so tiny and fragile in that big hospital bed. She has tubes up her nose and in her arms. The anger and hurt inside me seeing her like this is something I haven’t felt for anyone other than my parents.

“Bella, you had your drink spiked. I have Josh and our guys working on it now. We will find the arsehole that did this to you. I am sure it was just a random attack so you must not worry- just concentrate on getting better,” I say as I kiss her on the top of her head. “I am going to go and help Josh. I’ve one of the guys en route to the hospital now. He will stay at the hospital until you leave. As I said, I am sure it was just random but just for everyone’s peace of mind he will be here. No doubt the police will be here soon to talk to you about the incident- he will be there to get rid of them if it gets too much. You have my number. If you need anything at all just ring. I also have Penny on her way with some necessities. When she gets here you can ask her to get anything from your apartment too.”

Bella looks at me overwhelmed. She smiles a tired little smile and thanks me. I nod and leave the room. I need to see those cameras for myself and get my hands on this guy’s throat. I find Josh in the waiting area with one of the team. He’s briefed on what we need him to do. Josh and I leave and head to Bar Seven. I also want to know how this has even happened under my watch.

I go through the video footage, and clear as day, a guy in a cap drops something into Bella’s drink.

“Boss, we’ve got him,” says a King Security employee.

I follow him out of the room into the bar’s office to see the guy from the video facing me. He’s looking very worse for wear- a burst lip, nose and eye that he will struggle to open for a few days. He looks up as I enter.

“Seriously, mate I’ve told your guys all I know. This guy came up to me and said he’d give me £100 to put something in someone’s drink. I’m a shit I know but I needed the money mate. You’ve got to listen to me mate I never meant to hurt anyone!”

“ I’m not your mate,” I think.

“Do we have a description of this other guy?” I ask.

“Yes boss.”

“Good!”

WHACK! I crack the imbecile around the head and he’s out for the night.

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