Fuck The Police by Lauren Summer

Fuck The Police
    W here the hell is it, Rachel thought, as she rummaged through the papers scattered around her kitchen table. As she pushed some paperwork to the side, she spotted the edges of a paper bag sticking out from the bottom of the pile. She pulled the bag free and breathed a sigh of relief, inside was the missing birthday card. After grabbing a pen from the kitchen counter, she wrote out a rushed birthday message then placed the card in an envelope and sealed it shut.
    Ok done, Rachel thought to herself, annoyed at having misplaced the card so easily. She looked up at the clock and realized it was now quarter to nine, shit, I have to be there in fifteen minutes.
    She walked into the lounge and pulled back the curtains. It was dark outside and the roads were almost completely empty.
    Where the hell is the cab? It should have been here by now.
    She pressed her face to the window, allowing herself to look further down the street.
    Nothing.
    With her phone in her hand, she began to dial in the number for the cab company.
    “Hi, City Cabs...how can we help?” 
    “Hi, I’ve booked a cab, it’s still not here. It was supposed to be outside five minutes ago...I have to be somewhere at nine.”
    “Ok, just a moment, can I take your name? I’ll check on the system for you.”
    “It’s Rachel, last name Sermon. “
    “Ok, thanks...please hold for a moment.”
    She waited patiently on the line, continuing to look out of the window, hoping the cab might be just around the corner.
    “Hi Rachel,” the voice said as he came back on the line, “There seems to have been a bit of a mix up on our system. I’m really sorry about this, I can send another cab out for you right away.”
    “What, are you kidding me?” she said, raising her voice, “And how long is it going to take to send out another cab?”
    “Well it’s Saturday night and we’re fairly busy so I’d say...I don’t know, fifteen minutes at least.”
    “Listen never mind,” Rachel snapped, “I’ll try someone else.”
    She picked up her glass of wine from the table and swallowed the contents. As she placed the glass back down on the table, she noticed her car keys.
    Maybe I should just drive, 
    She picked up her car keys and began to twirl them around her fingers.
    No, I can’t, I’ve had almost two glasses of wine...that would be stupid.
    She quickly shook off the thought as she brought her phone closer and began to dial in the number for a different cab company.
    “Hi, I need a cab... as soon as possible,” she said, with urgency in her voice.
    “Ok mam, we’re fully booked up at the moment though, you’re looking at, at least a twenty minute wait.”
    Rachel took a deep breath and sighed heavily in frustration, whichever way she looked at this, she was going to be late.
    It was Michelle, her best friend’s birthday and she was well known among her friends for being late. She had assured them that time she’d make a huge effort to be on time.
    She glanced down, realizing the car keys were still wrapped around her fingers and she thought for a moment, if I drive...I may still make it.
    Fuck it, she reasoned, as she hung up the call. She picked up her purse from the armchair of the sofa and after checking she had everything, she locked up the house and headed out to her car. Within a few minutes she was on the main road. She breathed a sigh of relief as her eyes met the clock on the dashboard and she realized she was going to make it after all. She turned onto the highway, and as she did, her phone started to ring, Michelle’s name flashed across the screen.
    “Hi Michelle.”
    “Hey Rachel, everyone is here now...where are you?”
    “I should be with you in five minutes...ten at the most. I’m literally around the corner.”
    “Ok Rachel, no worries, I’m just checking up. I’ll see you soon ok?”
    “Ok then bye!” she answered, before throwing her phone over to the passenger seat. She turned her attention back to the road.