You Only (Cameron Farms Book 1) - Melanie Jayne Page 0,100

attacked, I think some ribs are broken and she’s having trouble breathing.”

“Are you in danger?”

“I’m not sure. She says that Vernon Phelps did this.” Hale glanced at Ina, and she nodded.

Ina whispered, “Wes, help Wes.”

Hale didn’t realize that she kept the phone to her ear as she asked, “Ina, where is Wes?” She dreaded the answer.

“Office. Vernon went into the office with Wes.” Ina panted as she closed her eyes and grimaced.

Oh, Christ. Hale felt a tremor shake her body. “She says that Vernon Phelps is in Wes’s office with him. You need to get the police here now. They were supposed to arrest him this morning.”

“Ma’am, stay on the line. Don’t hang up. I’m sending help now.”

Hale wanted to laugh hysterically. The town had three cruisers, she pictured them all rushing to this address if they weren’t out on other calls. Every neighbor that listened to the police scanner would be lining the street. This would be big news in their little town.

There was a thud on the other side of the wall, and then an anguished cry.

She didn’t know what was going on behind the closed door, but someone was in pain and that wasn’t good. She looked at Ina who was so frightened she was shaking. “Shh, Ina, you stay here, don’t move.” Hale handed her the phone. “Talk to the dispatcher, answer any questions that you can.” Hale glanced at the office door and could hear raised voices. She started to stand.

“Don’t leave me, Hale.” Ina started to cry. “He had a gun.”

“Tell the dispatcher,” she ordered the older woman.

Standing tall, Hale glanced at the closed door and the world stood still. “I need to get in there, to help Wes,” she whispered. Pushing the office chair on its side to block Ina from sight, she scanned the room for a weapon. Her gaze returned to the fire extinguisher on the wall by the copier. It was her best option, and if she swung it and made contact, she could do some damage.

Shrugging out of her jacket, she let it fall to the floor in a heap and she moved to the weapon. The thudding in her chest was all that she could hear as she unhooked the cool metal cylinder from the wall. Focusing on the weight of the extinguisher, she took two swings, feeling the strain in her shoulders and arms. She took in a breath and slowly exhaled. No time to reason, the decision was made. She moved toward the desk. “Tell them to hurry.”

“Hale, you can’t go in there. He’ll shoot you.” Ina tried to sit up again.

“Stay down,” Hale ordered harshly. “I’ve gotta help Wes.” She looked at the office door, maybe ten steps away. Thoughts of Finn flashed into her head, she took in a harsh breath as a jolt of pain hit her heart. This is so wrong. I have no clue what I’m doing. She could hear raised voices again. She couldn’t wait out here and do nothing. She had to try to save Wes. “God, Finn, I’m so sorry, but I have to help my friend,” she whispered and she gathered her courage.

She forced herself to take that first step, counting to herself, one, two, three. She slowly turned the knob and threw it open with all her might. It swung open with so much force that it rebounded into her. She blocked it with her shoulder as she stalked through. Just like a motherfucking badass.

Wes was sitting in his desk chair and Phelps was standing to the side. The accountant had blood running from his nose. Phelps’s head spun in her direction.

“Hello, gentlemen, I’m here for my meeting.” What the hell? She sounded so confident. It was like she was watching this play out like a movie. She acted like she was totally in control of the situation, and not some poor dumbass, who brought a chunk of metal to a gunfight. She continued striding into the room.

“Who are you?” Phelps turned from Wes and pointed the gun at her.

Good, she told herself, get him away from Wes. She laughed and it was a harsh sound in the small room. “I’m the bitch who caught you.” Where was this coming from? She should be terrified, but instead she was furious.

Wes started to stand. “Hale, don’t.”

Phelps shifted, and viciously kicked Wes’s chair, causing her mentor to fall to the floor. “Shut up.”

She wanted to run to Wes, she thought she saw his chin hit the edge of