Chasing Shadows

Chapter 2

The drive from the Harding Farm in Wakita to Enid where they would meet up with the rest of the team was quiet, the Oklahoma landscape rolling by in a blur of green fields and distant storm clouds. Jessica and Javi exchanged occasional small talk, but the weight of their renewed partnership hung heavily between them. As they approached Enid, Javi broke the silence.

"You nervous?" He asked, glancing over at Jessica.

She shrugged, staring out the window. "A little. It's been a while."

Javi nodded, understanding. "You got this. Just like old times."

They arrive at the motel just as the sun is beginning to set, casting long shadows across the parking lot. Javi parked the truck and they both got out, stretching their legs after the long drive.

"Looks like we're the first ones here," Javi says, looking around at the nearly empty lot.

Jessica nods, grabbing her bag from the back of the truck. "Let's get settled in."

They head inside to check in at the front desk. The clerk hands them a single key with a sympathetic smile. "Sorry, we're short on rooms tonight. We only have one room available."

Jessica looks nervously over at Javi, but she starts to laugh. "Looks like it'll be just like old times, huh?"

"Some things never change," he says.

They make their way to their room, a small but clean space with two beds pushed against opposite walls. Jessica tosses her bag onto one of the beds and flops down beside it.

"So what's the plan?" She asks, looking over at Javi as he sets his bag down on the other bed.

"We wait for the rest of the team to get here. It shouldn't be too long. One of the guys messaged me and said there's a system a little south of here that they've been keeping an eye on. If it feels right, we may go see what it's about."

About an hour later, the sound of engines and distant music drifts through the open window. Jessica sits up, curious. "What's that noise?"

She makes her way out to the balcony to see what all the commotion is about. A red truck pulls into the motel parking lot, heavily modified with storm chasing equipment. Behind it, an older RV blares country music through the loudspeakers mounted on top. Behind them, a cargo van and two more white trucks with the Storm Par logo that matches Javi's truck pull into the parking lot as well.

A crowd of people begins to surround the truck as the driver starts to get out. The driver honks the horn a few times before turning the truck off. A man with a camera jumps out of the passenger seat and runs around the front of the truck just as the driver gets out.

The driver stands on the frame of the truck, bracing himself with one hand and raising the other hand into the air to acknowledge the crowd of people that were gathering around him. A bright white smile spreads across his face as he places a cowboy hat on top of his head.

"Hey Tyler, tell the folks how you're feeling!" The cameraman calls out, pointing the camera at the driver.

The driver looks directly into the camera and says, "I'm feeling pretty good, Boone." He then turns to the crowd, his energy infectious, and calls out, "And if you feel it–" He pauses, letting the crowd finish the line with "Chase it!"

The driver clearly thrives on the attention he is getting and amps up the crowd even more saying, "I said if you feel it, chase it!" The crowd around him responds with even more enthusiasm. "Oh, it was a beautiful day."

Javi joins you on the balcony and looks over at you. "Looks like the rest of the team is here."

"The team?" Jessica asks giving Javi a confused look. "That's the team?" She adds pointing at the man who's now signing autographs and taking selfies.