Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 27 - Where Did It All Go Wrong?

The darkness started to quickly envelope the skies. Over an hour had passed since Nate had been sitting in the rest stop in his car. He kept his phone off to avoid hitting a signal tower to show where he was. It was frustrating that he couldn't check his phone because he was sure the news media was going to get information soon on Jolene's murder. Nate was ready to hear it to see what they had figured out so far, but knew he had to wait.

The silence of an empty parking lot brought the orchestra of bugs flying around and small patches of grass moving by the cold chill of the wind. There wasn't as much snow in the area like there was in Washington, but the sharp freeze was generous with the cluster of several adjoining states. A few truck drivers that still used the old rest stop ran through but didn't bother parking in the far corner where Nate's car sat in the deeper shadows.

With nothing more to do then wait on his prize, Nate remembered the conversation with his father in detail. They were details that he planned on keeping from his current girlfriend. When he was on the phone in Colin's office, Nate had told Kayleen that he was promised a quiet night alone with her to celebrate. She had laughed knowing he was setting up to cover his ass because he didn't want Colin to know what he is doing. He was already upset about not telling Colin that Anna was involved in the murder of Jolene because that was the girl that slapped her. He had to take care of one situation before he could figure what to do with another.

It seemed as if all his "situations" were getting too far out of control. What he needed was time alone. That only seemed like a distant wish for they weren't going to be alone tonight at all. The last thing he wanted to do was involve his father, especially with all he was already dealing with.

After attending to his cabin and the machines he used on the property, he had driven by the house to possibly say goodbye, but Colin had gone to finalize his will. He knew Anna and Harmony were getting ready for their party, so he hadn't bothered to stop back by since it was better that nobody knew exactly when he had left. Nate had documented witnesses at a few local stores and one of the best coffee shops on the West coast caught him on camera to show an alibi of his presence.

Right after, Nate had sped over a hundred miles an hour down the hi-way that wrapped around the mountains. He felt he had only a short amount of time to reach the right rest stop that Nikki was hitting next because he planned to cut her off before she reached her destination. He knew Nikki was heading home, or at least to Portland, Oregon which was where she said she was from. That was close to where he picked her up to give her a job and a chance at a better life six months ago. It was more than the low budget charges she was accepting by strangers. If it weren't for Kayleen, she probably would have tried a little harder to be a good person. It seemed sex always won.

Nate looked at the three trucks parked across the lot. He knew Nikki had hitched rides with anyone going her direction because she didn't own a car of her own. All the money she made at the resort went to clothes and partying. She had an addiction for money, but she rarely could hold onto it for more than a few days. Typical woman, Nate thought. He could understand that Nikki figured she was safe from Kayleen if she couldn't be traced by owning a car. If Nate hadn't already known her previous path, she would have been.

The whole situation was disappointing because he was really attracted to Nikki with her dark hair and skinny frame. He still found it odd that Kayleen made her girls have the same look. Nikki was gorgeous either way and lured attention as her rebel attitude was sensually demanding. She was really a diamond in the rough. Kayleen cleaned her up good and the outcome was Nikki was one of her best girls. Anger flared across his face.

Adrenaline ran through Nate, so he dropped three aspirins in the palm of his hand that he washed down with a cup of wonderfully flavored coffee. Normally he drank water. He stayed in shape, rarely drank pop but indulged in coffee gourmet drinks with skim milk which added to the froth. One a day was all he allowed himself and Nate had waited until he left to indulge in his favorite drink. It was odd that he drank coffee because Nate never needed stimulation as he hardly required sleep. It was because coffee didn't help or hinder that he consumed it and it was his desert to his dinner, except at no particular time of the day or night. A freedom of splendor.