Our Little Nest - 37. Chapter 37

Adam played his radio while he kept his eyes on the road. Yuri sat with his eyes closed bundled up in his coat because of the missing window replaced with plastic. Adam had turned up the heat, but with the speed he was going it did little help.

“I should stop for gas,” Adam said, checking his gas-gage. Yuri opened his eyes and sighed.

“Wouldn’t it be best to wait until we reach the town?” Yuri asked.

“No,” Adam said flatly.

“If you only allowed me to take my car we wouldn’t have to stop.”

Adam found Yuri’s tone a bit condescending as he looked at him.

“Well, you also, could have done this by yourself.”

“You’re saying you don’t want to help?”

“I never said that. I just like doing things my own way. Driving my jeep relaxes me.”

“Was your partner pleased with you leaving him?”

“That really isn’t any of your business. But I am wondering, how did you know where to find me?”

“Your assistant told me where you would be.”

“And the Valdez’s guards just allowed you to pass because you needed to talk to me?”

“I assume you already deduced my, connection, with the Valdez.”

“All I want to know is, are you connected with Patrick?”

Yuri never made eye contact as he tried to think over his answer before responding.

“I knew the Valdez family for years. I’ve met Patrick while he was overseas.”

Adam waited to hear more, but Yuri wasn’t forth coming. He gritted his teeth and clenched the steering wheel. Part of him wanted to know and another part of him already knew the answer. “Why didn’t Patrick say he knew Yuri when he told him?” he wondered. “Was there a pass relationship, and did it end badly? Was Yuri planning to rekindle his and Patrick’s fling but, where does Jamie come in?” Than it hit Adam that Jamie resembled Patrick in some ways. “Was he a replacement?” He would have to talk to Patrick when he gets back.

He pulled into the rest stop gas station and stop behind an eighteen-wheeler, whose driver stood outside his cade talking on his cell.

Adam climbed out and glanced at the trucker who seem deep in his conversation. He checked to see if the pump took his card when he saw a sign saying, ‘Card machine down, please come inside.’ Adam looked back at Yuri who climbed out to stretch his legs.

“I’ll be back, I have to pay inside.”

“Can you get me a water,” Yuri asked. Adam nodded and walked off.

Yuri moved around and saw the truck driver who was still talking on his cell. Yuri’s thoughts went to Patrick, whom he left believing they slept together. Yuri realized now that Adam knew his relationship with the Valdez, he needed to settle things with Patrick to make sure he didn’t feel he needed to confess to Adam about something that never happened. Only he didn’t have his cell phone and didn’t want to ask Adam to lone him his.

Adam returned and toss a bottle of water to Yuri, who caught it with one hand. He opened it and nearly drained it.

“I need a pain killer, I have a headache,” Yuri said, lying.

“They sell them inside,” said Adam.

“Good, I’ll be right back.”

Adam started to fill his tank while Yuri walked back to the station where he noticed the truck driver going into.

Entering, Yuri eyed the truck driver filling a cup the size of a half a gallon with a soft drink. He moved to the counter, eyeing a medium build female late twenty’s early thirties, reading a magazine. She tied her hair to one side in a pony tail as she chewed on a straw. When Yuri walked up, she raised her eyes from her reading and grinned at the heavenly face. She sat up and gave Yuri her full attention.

“Well, it must be my lucky day,” she said.

Yuri flashed his perfect grin at her as he combed back his fallen locks with his fingers.

“Why is it so lucky,” he asked.

“Well,” she started glancing out the window towards Adam, whom she just served. “I don’t get many cute men through here. Are you two an item?”

Yuri glanced out at Adam and found it odd that the woman would confuse them as a couple. Yuri homed his hair, clothes, and style where Adam found his in denim.

“No, we’re—associates.”

“So, where are you and your—associate going?”

“To WillowMoss.” Yuri watched as the woman’s expression changed from flirtatious to what he perceived to be distress.

“Did I say something wrong?” Yuri asked.

She glanced around, and her eyes landed on the truck driver, who stopped filling his cup. Yuri realized she wasn’t looking at him anymore. He turned and locked eyes with the man behind him.

The truck driver smiled and grabbed a lid and straw for his drink and walked out. Yuri puzzled by the man’s behavior turned back to the woman who had returned to her magazine ignoring Yuri.

“Do you sell prepaid phones?”

“No,” she said in a monotone. Yuri had no idea what happened to her once charming behavior, but he decided not to push it as he left and returned to Adam’s jeep.

Adam sat behind the wheel checking his cell for any messages from Patrick finding none. He sexted Patrick a message that he promised he’d perform as soon as he got back. Glancing up, he saw Yuri walking up just as the truck driver started up his rig. Yuri climbed in the passenger side lost in thought.

“Ready to go?” asked Adam.

Yuri stared at the semi in front of them then looked at Adam.

“What is wrong with WillowMoss?”

“I can’t really say,” Adam said, feeling the tug on his throat like someone tightening a collar. “Just—follow my lead. We’ll find Jamie and get the hell out of there.”

Adam started his engine and pulled around the eighteen-wheeler. The driver watched until they were on their way before following them.

***************

Seth Huge enjoyed a relaxing evening at home listening to classical music and drinking a glass of whisky, when a call came through on his landline. He sat with his eyes closed as the ringing echoed around him. A young man came running from the kitchen into the room answering the phone on the fourth ring.

“Yes,” Shawn said, flustered as he listened to the caller and glanced at the man he called Father. “Okay,” he said, hanging up, walking over to Seth. “Sorry to interrupt, Father, but you had a phone call.”

“And?” he asked not opening his eyes.

“Adam Potter and Yuri Jen are on their way here.”

Once Seth opened his eyes, Shawn directed his eyes to the floor.

“Detective Potter didn’t take our warning seriously. You need to go to the diner to greet them.”

“But, what about dinner and Christopher?”

“I’ll keep an eye on both. Go do as I say.”

“Yes, Father.” Shawn hurried off grabbing his coat and rushing out the door. Seth rose and moved to the phone dialing a number. He heard one ring before someone answered his call.

“It’s time to move to plan B. Detective Potter and Mr. Jen will be here soon.”

*************

Adam passed the sign saying the town WillowMoss two miles just as the radio station went to static. Adam shut off the radio.

“The diner will be our first stop.”

“But wouldn’t it be best to go to the hospital. Jamie might still be there?”

“We can’t just walk in and demand to see him. We’re not his family.”

“What makes you think we can get answers at the diner?”

“I don’t know, I just got a feeling.” Adam glanced in his rear-view mirror and saw an eighteen-wheeler behind them. He received a call on his cell and he struggled not to reach for it. Yuri noticed Adam’s hesitation, but also saw his distraction from the road. The jeep drifted into the opposite lane where an SUV headed towards them.

Yuri reached over and grasped the wheel yanking it towards him pulling them back into the correct lane just avoiding the other vehicle.

“Damnit Adam, what are you trying to do, get us killed?” Yuri snapped, still hearing the cell ringing. Adam gave no response as his skin became clammy and he shivered all over. Yuri was about to answer the cell himself when it stopped. Adam let out a gasp as an instant relief washed over him. His eyes began to focus as he realized he was staring at his cell and not the road, he saw Yuri holding the steering wheel.

“What are you doing?” Adam asked, unsteady.

“What am I doing?” Yuri asked, shocked by Adam’s response. “You’re the one who decided to do a head on collision with another car.”

Adam pushed Yuri’s hand off the steering wheel and blinked away his cloudy eyes. He ran his fingers through his hair and wiped his brow.

“I’m alright,” Adam said.

“Are you sure?”

“I said I was.”

Yuri watched Adam as he seemed to be back to normal. When the truck behind them blasted its horn that seem to cut through them. Yuri looked back and eyed the rig getting closer.

“Maybe you should let him pass,” Yuri suggested, just as Adam’s cell rang out. Yuri glanced at Adam and saw his bizarre behavior return only this time Adam’s hand moved to his cell phone. Yuri wasn’t sure what was happening, but he snatched the cell from Adam’s hand and answered it.

“Hello?” No answer, only a numbing hum. Adam settled down again as Yuri disconnects the call. “Adam, what’s going on?”

“What are you talking about?” Adam answered, sounding like he awoke from a deep sleep. More horn blowing thundered from behind. Yuri turned and saw the driver behind them was too close for any vehicle to be.

“He’s awfully close,” Yuri said when the cell in his hand rang again. He looked at the caller ID and saw caller unknown. He quickly answered it again, this time dead silent. “Who the fuck is this?” he said, sounding more in a panic than demanding. The line went dead just as their rear ended. The force jerked both their heads back, causing Adam to veer to the side of the road. He managed to regain control of his jeep and get them back on the road only for the truck to take another run at them.

Adam’s head reeled as he tries to understand what was happening. It all seemed like a dream playing as he stepped on the gas pedal avoiding a third blow from the metal monster behind them.

“What the hell does he want?” Yuri asked, watching the truck pick up speed closing in on them.

Adam could hear Yuri’s question but was unable to respond as he thought all of what was happening to him was not real. He figured if he just rides it out he would wake up. Yuri looked at Adam and saw he was in a fog.

“Adam are you here with me?” Yuri asked, grabbing Adam’s arm that felt ice cold. “Was he sick?” Yuri wondered. He looked at the cell phone in his hand. “This all started with that first call,” Yuri thought. Without hesitation Yuri tore at the plastic that was his window and made a hole. Big enough to put a fist through which he threw Adam’s cell through it. Yuri turned back to Adam hoping what he did would fix the detective. Another jolt from behind almost sent them off the road again.

“Adam, whatever it is fight it, or we’re going to die!”

Adam glanced over at Yuri and seemed to grasp what he was saying. Just as the truck tried to make another strike Adam curved to the left, avoiding contact with his bumper. As the truck passed by them Yuri caught a glimpse of the driver who only kept his eyes forward. Hoping it was all over Yuri watched the truck moved into their lane realizing he was going to ram them from the side. Yuri looked at Adam, who was looking back at him nodding.

Just as the front end turned into their lane Adam hit the brakes jerking Yuri forward, but not out of his seat thanks to his seat belt. He maneuvered his jeep until it reached the tail end of the truck. The rig kept going until it slowed up ahead. Adam sat and watched what the driver’s next move was.

“Adam,” Yuri said.

“It’s all good, I’m here now. I got this.”

“You have what?”

Adam smiled and constricted his hold on his steering wheel as he watched the truck trying to turn around. Once the nose curved to face him Adam slammed on his gas pedal and shot forward.

“Hang on, the road is going to get bumpy,” Adam said to Yuri, who braced himself for whatever Adam had planned for them. The jeep lunged towards the half-turned truck then Adam went off road around the tail end. When the driver became aware of what Adam was doing the jeep managed to get around the ridge and back onto the road speeding off. Adam drove at eighty before glancing in his rear-view mirror and seeing no one behind him. He didn’t care if he’s pulled over. In fact, he’d hoped he would be, but he saw no state patrol car even when he reached the Welcome sign to WillowMoss.

************

Seth received another call as he slid his arms into his regulated police jacket. He showed no urgency to answer as he picked up the receiver on the fifth ring.

“Yes,” he said.

“They got past me, Father. I’m sorry,” the cracking, dismal voice said.

“I can’t say how disappointed I am. But, you already known that.”

“I do, Father. I do.”

The line went dead as the truck driver who just earlier tried to run Adam Potter’s jeep off the road, erased the phone’s history before destroying the phone and scattering the pieces out his window as he drove back to the rest stop. He parked in an isolated area, retrieved a sawed off shot gun from under is seat. He placed the barrel under his chin and pulled the trigger.