Little White Lies

Chapter 2

"You know what, for a sorority girl, you are not half as dumb as you look," Eric said and Candice rolled her eyes. She knew a backhand compliment when she saw one.

"Thanks," Candice replied dryly. Eric had. They were on their way to Fresno. That should throw them off their trail for the while.

"Hey, it's okay, you're not alone," Eric said. Candice gave him a grateful smile. It did feel better with him here. She turned her attention back to her cell. It had stopped working an hour ago and she couldn't get it to do anything.

"My cell is still not getting any reception. I can't even listen to my voicemails."

Eric checked his phone, which seemed to be working just fine. "Do you need me to check something for you?"

Candice pursed her lips. It didn't seem like their, her, attackers had followed, but the sight of black vans still set her on edge. They knew about the will and her parents, even before she did. How?

Frustrated, she threw her phone down and it hit the table hard. This earned them a tsk from a nearby passenger. Eric turned to give them an apologetic smile.

"It's going to be okay," he repeated. It was his go-to phrase, Candice realized. But everything wasn't okay. Her parents were dead and people were somehow chasing her. "You still haven't told me what's going on."

It wasn't because she had forgotten. Candice could recall every word the lawyer had said to her, yet she couldn't remember when she hung up or if she had said anything. And now she couldn't reach anyone.

"It is stated in your parent's will, that should you survive them, the entire White estate and worth will be frozen. All business must continue as before but no withdrawal could be made. To unlock it and access the accounts, your signature and a DNA test must be performed..."

It turned out Candice didn't need to even be present to do it. But the lawyer told her it's best if she came herself to eliminate any ambiguity of who the White fortune would be passed do. Anyone who could put forward both things would legally be the heir of the White Fortune.

That thought alone sent Candice spiraling into another panic. Growing up, she never had to worry about everything, but the reality of her parent's death was sinking in fast. The idea of being alone in the world was bad enough, but to have her inheritance taken away from her was unbearable.

Why would her parents do this to her? There had to be a reason.

"Hey, a service station stop is coming up. Let's go and stretch our legs!" Eric suggested with fake enthusiasm. Candice nodded. Maybe if she could get off this bus, she'd feel better.

The sky was starting to lighten up, and half of the passengers were still passed out on their seats. Candice envied their escape to dreamland. She could have been back at her dorm by now. Maybe even with Eric...

The man himself had stopped to open the door for her at the service station. Candice gave him a smile - the first real smile since they went 'on the run'- and that's when she caught the reflection.

There were two men and a woman staring at them.

She would have missed them if it weren't for the swinging door. The woman was at the side of the four-by-four, while the two men were still in the car. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to go inside. Maybe she imagined their interest in them.

"I think someone is following us again," Candice said. Eric's head whipped around so fast that Candice swore she could hear it snap. She quickly put a hand on his arm to stop him from looking suspicious. "Let's grab some food first."