Page 98 of Use Me

I couldn’t speak as I stared at the monitor. The one that was showing footage of Rhys’s car. The one with yellow police tape blocking off part of the street, and the one showing dozens of cops walking around doing their investigation.

This wasn’t happening.

Everett took over. “The victim driving the black Mazda SUV was rushed to the hospital. There’s no word on their condition at this time.”

“Red Mustang. Rushed to the hospital,” I said out loud. It was only a whisper, but again I felt Everett look over at me as I continued to stare at the monitor. “I have to go.” I stood and started to take my mic off. Everyone was silent as they continued to air my departure. They stared at me, and I faintly heard Everett talking to the camera, but all I could think about was that Corey had shot Rhys. Or at least I’d assumed given he drove a red Mustang. How the fuck did that happen? I’d just seen Rhys this morning, and now I was reporting that Corey shot him when he was on his way to work. Shot him only a few blocks from my work.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Abby stopped me as I made my way out of the newsroom.

“Corey shot Rhys.”

“What?”

I moved around her to rush to my desk to grab my purse and car keys. “I have to go Abs.”

“I’ll call Kenny.”

I didn’t wait for her even though I could sense she was following me. I briefly heard her talking on the phone, but I didn’t pay any attention. My focus was getting to Rhys. I knew that Carter was a trauma surgeon and he’d once told me that all gun shots go to his trauma center. That was where I needed to go to look for Rhys, but how was I going to manage driving heavy machinery as my heart raced a million miles an hour and I couldn’t get the crime scene out of my head?

“Kenny had no idea. He said they’ve been trying to call Rhys since he didn’t make it to work.”

“Because he was shot!” I yelled and snatch my purse out of the bottom drawer of my desk. I had to go.

“Let me drive you. I’ll drop you off in front of the Emergency Room.”

“Okay,” I agreed. “Hurry.”

Abby rushed to her desk while I went to the elevator and pressed the call button repeatedly. Just as it dinged and opened, Abby ran up to me. We got in, and once again I was pressing a button over and over. This one was for the parking garage, and if the car didn’t hurry and descend, I was going to lose my mind.

“I’m sure he’s okay.”

My head snapped in her direction. “We don’t know that.”

“I know, but he has to be.”

I sighed. “Yeah, he does.”

We made it to Abby’s car, and we slid inside. As she drove, I thought about what could have happened to make Corey shoot Rhys. Then images of Rhys dying entered my mind. Tears started to stream down my face.

“Everything will be fine.” Abby patted my knee.

I didn’t turn to her. Instead, I looked out at the darkening sky and prayed everything would be fine.

“How do you know it was your ex?”

I blinked at Abby’s question. “Shit!” I hissed and started rummaging through my purse for my phone. “I need to call my brother.”

“I’m sure it can wait.”

“He’s a cop. I need to tell him I think it’s Corey.”

“Oh. Yeah, call him. We’re almost to the hospital.”

I hit the button to call Ethan. He answered after a few rings. “Ash …”

“Are you working the shooting near my work?”

“No, why?”