Read Online VEX: Valley Enforcers, #1 by Abi Walters - Free Book Online

it and folded the towel to a new section and attempted to pluck out the long piece of glass that had embedded in the bottom of my feet. At first I thought the cut was clean. Long, not deep. As the minutes ticked by slowly, however, it became apparent that I was going to need stitches.
    There was a small hospital in Brown Bear Valley. Or was it an urgent care? Was there an Emergency Room sign outside? I had only passed by it once or twice. My attempt to keep pressure on my arm was failing. I tried to steady myself as I pushed the key into the ignition. The engine hummed and then sputtered. It let out a wheezing breath and I smelled smoke.
    Fuck, fuck, fuck.
    I didn’t even try turning the engine again. I knew basic maintenance for the RV but there was no way I’d be able to do anything with my arm dangling there. I also didn’t know if the person or thing that shook my home was still out there. Had they damaged my RV intentionally? Instead of running for my lone weapon in the back I dropped to my knees and rummaged through the mess until I located my cellphone.
    I dialed 911 and made the operator stay on the line until I saw the flashing lights from the ambulance through the front windshield. And I swear their lights caught a figure moving in the trees. Something tall and furry, but not like any animal I’d ever seen.
    It almost looked like a Sasquatch.
     

     
    The Sheriff tapped his pen against the pad in his hand and looked at me like he knew something I didn’t. I was adamant that I didn’t want the police involved but the nurse who treated me when I got to the emergency room said it was hospital protocol.
    “And you didn’t see anything?” He questioned for the third time.
    I left the Sasquatch thing out of my story. The last thing I needed was another person of authority laughing in my face. He was relentless, though. Pushing in a way that made me feel as if he knew I saw something.
    “I saw a Bigfoot.”
    He didn’t laugh. “You saw Bigfoot? Are you sure it wasn’t an animal? A bear, maybe?”
    “There isn’t just one Bigfoot, sir. There are hundreds of the cryptid across the United States. That explains how you can have a siting in Yellowstone and then a month later have a similar experience happen in the Smokey Mountains. And no, it wasn’t a bear. I know what bears look like. I also know what Sasquatches look like.”
    “And you believe that a Sasquatch shook your RV, cut the wires in your engine, and slashed your tires?”
    “There have been similar reports of Sasquatches encounters. Look, it wasn’t a bear. Okay? I know bears. Believe me.”
    His eyebrows quirked and he looked as if he was going to say something, but as he was opening his mouth the door to my room burst open and Vex came in like a tornado.
    “You’re okay! Thank God.” He rushed in and headed for my side. He glanced at the Sheriff. “Pohl. It’s been a while.”
    “What are you doing here?” I breathed.
    The Sheriff gave a nod as a greeting. “Evening, Vex. I’m sorry we had to meet again like this. I didn’t know you and Acacia were uh, friends or else I would have called you.”
    The doctor who stitched me up stormed into the room without knocking. Two security guards were at her feet. They were both less than half the size of Vex and tried to look intimidating but they were failing miserably.
    “Mr. Carino, what part of ‘no’ don’t you understand? Miss Reed didn’t list you as an emergency contact. You can’t be here.”
    The Sheriff stood and raised his hands. “It’s okay, Dr. Maston. I apologize if Vex was crass, but he works with me.”
    “Of course he does,” The frail woman huffed. She crossed her arms and turned to me. “I’m sorry for the disruption, Miss Reed. I’m still waiting on the results from your last lab but if everything checks out you can be discharged in an hour or two.”
    I thanked her, but as soon as she and the hired goons left I turned my attention back towards Vex and the