Writer's Block (Complete)

Chapter 20

                                

A large brick building stands before me, foreboding with obvious signs of age and lack of funding to do anything about it. It took an hour for me to find the address on the box now here. I climb out of Alex's truck carrying the box of DNA samples, looking from the building back down at the address on the box, making sure that I have the right place. Once I'm satisfied that I am in the right place I climb the concrete stairs leading to the building.

The wear and tear of years gone by does not seem to have affected the inside of the building, it's interior more inviting than the exterior. The bottom of the walls are painted in warm tones, while the top of the walls are white with a plush filled leather like divider in the center. The stark white floors shimmer as the lights hit them, giving me that clean hospital feeling along with the smell that lingers in the air of disinfectants.

At the end of the hall sits a large desk where an older woman with greying hair sits, waiting to greet whomever should decide to enter the building. I clear my throat drawing her attention long before walking up on her, fearing that I may startle her.

"Hello, can I help you?" She asks, her wide bright smile aimed I my direction. I can't help but think I misjudged her age but the perfection of her teeth and though that if she'd die her hair she'd look ten if not twenty years younger but I'm not here to trade beauty secrets.

"I'm from the Southern Falls Sherriff's department and I have some DNA samples to drop off. Can you tell me where I need to go, please?"

Pointed in the right direction with directions to follow, I make my way to the elevator that takes me to the top floor. After turning right and counting the doors, I stop as the third one on the left. The window in the door reads, Crime lab. I'm at the right place, I think as I turn the knob and push the door open. A cool breeze drifts out of the room, making my body fill with goose bumps, forcing me to shiver. I step inside and am assaulted by a myriad of scents, some of which I can't begin to guess what they are but the one's that stand out the most are coffee and disinfectants. This place may not be a hospital but it sure smells like one, I think as I step up to the window and wait for the woman at the desk to slide it open.

She sets the phone on its cradle before sliding one part of the glass window to the side before smiling at me. "How can I help you?"

After giving her the same speech as the other woman, she stands and opens a door just off the right of the window. She takes the box from me and has me sign what she calls the chain of command form. She explained that it holds each person that came in contact with the samples responsible if damaged or lost.

I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me once I hit the elevator. I am no longer responsible for evidence that could convict a man for a crime committed against me. I wonder if my thoughts are strange, if over the years my way of thinking has been skewed? Maybe I feel a little too sorry for what's coming to this person, maybe I have Stockholm syndrome or something.

I slam the door on my thoughts, choosing to keep them out of my mind or the remainder of the day. Today will be a good day, I tell myself as I step off the elevator, smile at the older woman at the desk and wander back to Alex's truck.

Hours later I have long since gathered the items on Alex's list and have decided to wander around the mall, in search of things that I need for the Cabin. I've ducked in and out of stores all afternoon, my arms are filled with bags inside are curtains, extra sheets a few throw pillows and blankets, and a whole lot of odds and ends, things I didn't necessarily need but couldn't pass up.

"Katrina Cavanagh is that you?" I hear a mans voice call behind me.

I spin around, the bags in my arms spinning with me slapping hard against my legs at the sudden loss of momentum. A tall, ruggedly handsome man smiles widely at me. Alex's other brother. "Jayden," I say rewarding him with a smile of my own. "Does Alex know you're home?" I ask while his arms pull me tightly against him.

"Yeah he called me a few nights ago going on about needed me to come help him and Mason with something They're working on."

"I see, so you don't know what it is yet?"

"Nope, I'm headed that way after I catch a bit at the Chinese place here in the mall. Wanna grab an early supper, late lunch, whatever?"

"Sure."

Jayden grabs half of my begs allowing me the freedom to hook my arm in his. "Have you and my dumb ass little brother made up yet?"

"Define made up?" As ask with a raised eyebrow.

"You can be in the same room for a long period of time without tearing each other's throats out."

"Oh, since that's your definition then, yes." I laugh as we finally make out way to the restaurant that's tucked into one corner of the mall.

Our meals arrived after giving us plenty of time to summarizes what's happened in our lives for the past ten years, my story pretty much ending with me coming back home.

Jayden leans back in his chair his hands laced on the back of his head. "I am full," He announces with a grown, before his brows lower into a frown. "I hear you're living with Alex?" His tone making me swallow my last bite wrong making my eyes fill with water as I cough. I grab my glass with a shaky hand, watching him lower his hands to the table as he sits up straight. "Are you alright?"

I nod, taking a long drink. "I'm not living with Alex. I am renting the cabin...." It was then that I realized that I have no clue where Alex is living, maybe he's just become a private man, I think as I lower my glass to the table.

His hands lace together behind his head again and his foot comes up to rest on his knee, displaying a pair of Military style boots just like Alex and Mason wear. I had forgotten he's a Marine too. I was just so excited to see him that I didn't want to think about anything else. I could feel all of the blood drain from my head as it sunk into the bottom of my stomach.

"What's wrong?" He asked lowering his leg, so he could lean forward again.

"Nothing," I lie, knowing that I'm being unrealistic. Jayden hasn't even been to the island yet, there for he couldn't have been the man standing in my doorway the other night. After pounding that thought in my head I find it easy to recover from the anxiety attack that was sure to follow. "I need furniture. You wouldn't want to tag along while I go look at some would you?"

"Of course, I would, I mean how often does a guy get to hang out with a hottie like you?" He chuckled before lifting all of my bags this time. I gave him a look that screamed that he was full of shit but couldn't hold the smile at bay any longer and eventually started laughing.

I was able to get everything that I needed in one store and let me tell you they were happy when I handed them Alex's credit card and it actually went through. I had paid for everything that I bought earlier with money out of my account, but I did cave and use his card on the furniture and appliances, knowing that there's no way I can afford to get all of them at once even with the money my dad put in my account and my paychecks. Desperate women either cave to a man loaning them money or do something just as desperate. Right now, I'm that woman desperately needing furniture and appliances, I'd rather cave.