Phone.She needed a phone.
She blinked in the darkness and slid her slippery feet over the hardwood floor.Large windows let in what little illumination the moon gave off.She passed a door on her right and poked her head in: lunch table, microwave, small kitchen area, and fridge.She continued down the hall.Straight ahead was the front sitting area and welcome desk.
It’d been a while since she’d been in the back of the building, but she knew the offices were close.She peered into the next door on her left.A wide wooden desk took up the far end of the room, and a tall brown leather chair sat behind it.Above, an axe was mounted on the wall.A large picture window with its blinds pulled up overlooked the lawn at the side of the house and the wall of forest beyond it.A phone sat on the desk.
Bingo.
She entered the room, shut the door behind her, and then grabbed a chair from in front of the desk and tucked it under the door handle.It wouldn’t hold for long, but it was something.She ran to the desk, sank into the chair behind it, and snatched the phone from the receiver.
A dial tone sounded in her ear.
She sent a thank-you skyward and dialed Quin’s number.Waiting, she tapped her fingers on the desk, anxiety sloshing in her gut.She glanced out the window.
A dark figure stood on the lawn, staring at her.
Terror rooted her to the seat.If by chance he hadn’t seen her, he would if she moved.
“Cody, man,” Quin said in her ear.“It’s not a good time.”
“Quin.”The word came out on a whisper.Urgency made her throat threaten to close.“It’s me.”She kept her gaze on the dark, unmoving shape outside.Her eyes burned with the need to blink, but she didn’t dare for fear he’d materialize in the room with her.
“Why are you—”
“It’s Cody.It was Cody the whole time.I’m in the office at the logging company’s main building.”
“What?” The shrill word vibrated her ear.“Where is he?”
She swallowed.“Watching me through the window.I don’t know if he can see me clearly, or—” The shape moved.His stride was quick as he advanced toward the back of the building.“He’s on his way in here.He knows where I am.He’s going to—”
Quin cursed a slew of cusses.“I’m not far.I followed the tire tracks.Put the phone on speaker and find a way to lock the door.”
She tapped the button on the base of the phone.“Done.”Shoving out of the chair, she got to her feet and flicked on the light.The burst of white made her blink and then cringe, given that her instincts screamed at her to hide.That ship had sailed.Now she needed a weapon and fast.
“Josie, are you there?”
Cody would be at the back door by now.Probably searching for his key.
“I’m looking for a weapon.”She scanned the desk.Rolodex, paperweight—that could be an option—stapler.No, she needed something sharp.There was no closet in the room.Running back to the desk she yanked open the drawers.“There’s nothing.”
The bang of the back door bouncing off the drywall echoed through the building.Fear cinched her windpipe, bottling a scream at her throat.
“Quin, he’s coming.”
“Hold on.I’m ten minutes away.”
She rounded the desk and moved to the door.When he barged in, she didn’t want to be across the room and at his mercy.Better to be close and have some way of attack.She pushed her weight onto the top of the chair under the door, holding it in place.Footsteps shook the floor, his stomps as angry as a bull’s.
She turned her attention to the desk where the phone sat, Quin still listening like a lifeline.So close, yet so far away.He wouldn’t make it in time.“Quin.”Her voice wobbled.
“I’m here, honey.Hang in there.”
“I want you to know it wasn’t a mistake...everything that happened between us.I—I’m glad.I wanted that, okay?I wanted you.”Tears burned her eyes.
“Listen to me, Josie.He’s not going to hurt you.I’m almost there, and the sheriff is coming.Won’t be long, babe.”
She blinked the tears away, and her gaze lifted to the wall above the desk.The axe.Her heart galloped with hope.Abandoning her position at the chair, she ran to the wall and lifted the heavy weapon.Its weight pulled on her forearms.The head was solid steel.Could use a sharpening, but it’d do the trick.
She crossed the room again and flicked off the light.Pressing her back to the wall on the left side of the door, she held her breath.
