Protein. Carbohydrates. Vitamin A, B and C. Keys. Purse. Cell Phone. Doctor Jane Parker stood alone in her apartment checking over everything before heading out to work. She was going through her usual morning routine. First she would wake up exactly at 4:35 in the morning. She would shower, brush her teeth and get dressed. She wore a black turtleneck sweater with black dress pants, black stockings and black high heels. She has bright blue eyes which she hid behind black reading glasses and her hair was a bright orange which she restrained into a tight bun. It was at this point that she was about to head out and go to work. The time was 5:45 am. Right on schedule. Just the way she preferred.

Everything would have gone as planned if not for her cell phone ringing. The ringtone of the United Kingdom national anthem broke the silence in her apartment. She paused for a moment. This wasn’t supposed to happen. No one calls this early in the morning. Maybe it was something important? Someone was hurt back in London? Her stomach began to swell. She took a deep breath and answered her phone.

“Doctor Parker speaking.” Jane said in a professional dry british accent.

“Parker! Holy hotdogs I got you!” An irritating yet familiar voice cried out. It didn’t take long for Jane to put two and two together and then find the square root of the new number only to get back to two.

“Doctor Aue, so good to hear from you again. It has been awhile-”

“Yeah yeah yeah cut the formality Parker” Evelyn said as she interrupted Jane. “Look, I don't have enough time. I’m in jail-”

“No surprises here.”

“And I need you to come bail me out.”

“No..”

“Parker, come on.”

“You’ve been getting into trouble again haven't you?”

“Well yeah I guess.”

“Your fault. Own it.”

“Parker...we used to be friends. Roommates or flatmates in your case. Please, Jane. I’m begging you. Help me out and I’ll do anything for you.”

“You still have your license revoked?” Jane asked. There was a brief moment of silence. Then Jane continued. “If I help you, I want you to work getting your license back. I want to see you improve your life, Evelyn. You lost your job. Your license. You were evicted from this apartment and now that I think about it I am several minutes late for work-.”

“No wait! Okay fine Parker. I’ll do it.” Evelyn said with defeat in her voice. She thought for a moment she could get Jane to help her with no strings attached. But she didn’t want to hang around in a jail cell again. And talking to Jane reminded her of the mess she was in. The job she had, the small apartment she now lives in. The constant drinking that has consumed her life. She stood there in silence. A tear began to form in her eye. She was scared. She didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts. Left to her own devices. Too many bad memories came flooding back to her and she has already used her one phone call and this was the deal she was faced with.

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Jane on the other hand, though presenting a cold exterior, actually cared about Evelyn. When Jane came to the United States a few years back Evelyn was one of the first friends she met. She was also the only friend she had that put up with her and her personality. Even if it was all a trick by Evelyn, Jane would still try one last time. For old time’s sake.

“Parker I got to go. They’re about to take me back. I am at-”

“I know where you are. I’ll be there soon.” Jane said with an icy tone. A tone that could freeze the phone to someone’s ear. She hung up her cellphone and glared at the empty screen.

“Brilliant.” She mumbled to herself with a sigh as she walked out the door. The apartment where she lived was one of those fancy ones that would take more than just a high paying job to cover just the rent. It was very clean and symmetrical. It also came off as cold and robotic. Jane stood there alone in the doorway of her apartment for a brief moment and looked back. She left with a scowl on her face as she walked to the elevator.

She got in her car and drove. There was only one police station in the area where Evelyn could have called from. She kept looking at her watch every passing moment. Anxiety crawled like a spider up her spine and into her arms. This was something out of the ordinary and it made her agitated. She was supposed to be on the road ten minutes ago with a thirty minute drive to her work with twenty minutes to spare to get herself some tea and a bagel from the breakroom. And now her entire schedule was off track with this detor.

“Why am I doing this?” She said to herself as she turned off the highway. “Have I lost my mind? Why should I help her? She’s just going to make the same mistakes again. She needs professional help. And I’m late for work. Ten minutes behind. It takes two minutes to heat up the tea and three and a half minutes to get a bagel at the right temperature.” Jane said to herself as she slowed down at a redlight.

“I can just leave her there. I can just get back on the highway right now.” She said with a sigh.

“But it wouldn’t be the right thing to do. I already gave her my word. She needs help, yes. But right now, I’m the only one who can. Okay! Pick up Evelyn, drive her over to the nearest clinic and get her in to see a therapist. Leave her there and drive to work. If I do that I will only be thirty minutes late. But if I cut out the bagel and tea then it’ll only be twenty five.” Jane said as she let out a small whine. Numbers and clocks ran back and forth in her head. Endless possibilities with endless calculations. It wasn’t long before she pulled up to the small police station and got out of her car.

She was only five minutes behind but the anxiety made her walk much faster than she was used to. In that moment she didn’t notice another figure approaching her from behind. The figure reached out and grabbed her from behind and cupped their hand over her mouth. Jane froze up with fright as she felt something hard being shoved in her side. The figure behind her was dressed in a large black trenchcoat and he wasn’t alone. Several more figures emerged from the shadows with long coats on. The man behind her held a small caliber pistol to her side. He had short dirty brown hair and he leaned in to Jane’s ear and whispered.

“No sudden movements, Miss Parker. Cooperate and you’ll be fine.” The figure said behind her. Jane remained frozen and didn’t say or do anything. By this point several officers took notice of what was going on. The other figures, in a swift motion revealed submachine guns from under their coats. Before she could react the officers fell to the ground. Their bodies are riddled with bullets. Scarlet coated the bodies and the ground beneath them. A sharp high pitched ring pierced Jane’s ears and for a moment she couldn’t hear. Then she looked at what had done and froze in terror. The figure put the gun back to Jane’s side and motioned her to move forward into the police station.