Sufferable Acceptance

Fifty-One

Amelia

I had plans to visit one of Dominic's clients, but first I spent almost two weeks traveling around to dad's old safe houses. Most of them he sold off, and the ones he still had under his name were empty. Most looked like they hadn't been used in months. I doubted Dominic and Nikolas would agree to go South. Dad had a few resources down there, but it was out of the Petrovs comfort zone. Having struck out, I made a new plan.

I knew Dominic had an old customer that retired and moved to Montana. Dominic only took one week off when I lived with him, and when he left I went through his private journal and found out he went to visit Powell.

I guess that's where I was heading next. I dreaded the thought, but I had no new ideas. Dominic's customer used to work in the military, but retired and moved to a farm. I tracked that customer to Dillon.

I drove into town pretty late, and found a motel. I was tired from driving, so I sent my check-in text to Alfie and headed to bed. I would start looking for answers in the morning. The whole town could be seen from the hill driving in. It wouldn't take me long to find Powell if he was still living here.

The sun woke me up the next morning. I got dressed, packed my bag and headed down to the front desk. The manager at the front desk gave me a map, and directions to the town diner.

A small bell rang when I walked in. I found a booth in the back and started looking at the menu. I had drawn attention to myself and had the locals' heads turning. After a few minutes a small waitress in her mid forties walked over.

"Morning Sweetie can I get you started with anything? A coffee maybe?" She asked.

I gave her a smile, "A coffee would be great. Thank you."

When she came back with my coffee she stuck around.

"Now what's a pretty thing like yourself doing 'round here?"

"I came up here for some work, but it was a waste of time. I spent everything I had to get up here, and I'm starting to think the person that made the ad doesn't exist. I couldn't find their farm anywhere." I said, trying my best to sound upset.

"Oh you poor thing!" The waitress cried. "To get all the way up here, ugh what a shame. What's the name of that farm you're looking for?"

I pulled out my map and started unfolding it. "Well Mr. Powell's ad said to get to town and head North, but I walked out there yesterday and found nothing. Mr. Powell said he needed help with winterizing his farm, but I can't find it anywhere on the map, and the hotel manager wouldn't help me. This was a huge mistake." I said pretending to get emotional.

"Oh dear, Mr. Powell doesn't live up north. You must have your directions turned around. He lives a mile east of the end of the block. Once you start walking you won't miss it." She informed me. "I'm glad he's finally letting someone help him out with that land. He really let it go the past few months."

"Thank you! I don't know what I'd do without you." I smiled.

"No problem sweetie. Ya know what? If you're free tonight, why don't you head down here after work, and I'll save you a piece of pie after dinner?" She said.

"Sounds like a plan!" I agreed. I took a sip of my coffee, left a generous tip and headed East.

Lizzy the waitress was right. It was a quick mile up to the Powell farm. The man that owned Powell farm was Lawrence Powell. He was my last chance at finding Dominic. Now that I could see the farm I needed to get close enough to his house without anyone living there noticing. The closer I got to the house the more it looked abandoned. I didn't see any cars in the driveway and all of the house lights were off. I circled behind the barn and took a look. Nobody was working in the barn or out in the pasture. I walked up to the house and found the door cracked open.