Free Burden Of Blood by Wenona Hulsey Page B

your dad’s truck.”
     
    Time seemed to stand still.  She couldn’t form a response, a thought, an emotion, nothing.  A flash of a familiar place went across her eyes.  It was a recreation area on the opposite side of the lake from where she was now.  Nicole’s parents had taken her there every summer for family camping and fishing trips.  She could clearly see her dad’s truck sitting in the parking lot designated for picnickers.
     
    “Nicole, are you there?  Hey?”
     
    Luke’s words brought her out of her haze.  “Have they moved the truck yet?  She asked.
     
    “No, but…”
     
    “Good, it will take me about twenty minutes to get there.” she hung up.  She didn’t know why she wasn’t freaking out about what just happened in her head.  She just knew what she was seeing was the truth and she didn’t have time to second guess herself.
     
    “Kat we need to go.  Luke has found Dad’s truck.” She put the Chevelle into gear as her mind added, “ But not Dad"
     
     
     
    *****
     
    Nicole and Kat sat in a tense silence with both of them lost in thought.  Nicole’s mind was running in different directions and she was sure Kat’s was doing the same.  Now was not the time for Nicole to finish what she wanted to tell Kat.  It would have to wait until later.  They arrived at the campgrounds in record time without any complaints from Kat.
     
    Nicole stopped the car outside the ring of yellow and black police tape.  Sheriff Thompson, Luke and Detective Mike Spade turned to watch the two women approach.  The scene was just like Nicole has seen in her mind.  James’ truck was parked in a parking spot as if he was out enjoying the campground’s picnicking area.  There was no sign from the outside of the truck indicating a struggle or any foul play.
     
    “Nicole, I’m sorry but there’s not much to tell you.” said Sheriff Thompson with a sigh.  “There’s no sign of your dad in or around the truck.  The only thing inside was this hat.” He held up a brown hat with fishing lures placed all around the floppy bill.
     
    “That’s Dad’s.  He was wearing it when he left yesterday.”
     
    Detective Spade cleared his throat drawing her attention.  “It could be that your daddy is out here in the woods somewhere, Nicole.  I hate to speculate the worst but with his fishing pole gone, it points to him hiking down to the lake through the woods.  Maybe he had a medical problem, like a heart attack or maybe a snake bite, and collapsed somewhere out there.  The man should know better than go out in these woods alone at his age, but we all make mistakes.”
     
    The detective spoke to her in a condescending tone that made her dislike him even more.  He had always been an uppity jerk in her eyes and he wasn’t doing anything to help out his case right now.  She had never been around the detective enough to get a real gauge for his attitude before.  He always seemed to exit the room when she entered.   She wondered if she had offended him, but right now she didn’t care what he thought or how he felt about her on a personal level.  She needed him to hear her out if he was going to be any help.
     
    “My dad is not out there in those woods.  He was excited when he left about going fishing with Wallace.  He wouldn’t change his mind like that.”
     
    “Ever think your daddy might not tell you everything?  Maybe he decided some time alone fishing would be better.  After all, haven’t you been staying with him?  A man who is accustomed to living alone will crave solitude, Officer Keenan.”
     
    In the next second, Nicole was standing toe to toe with the detective.  Her fists were balled tight at her sides and her jaw was set in a hard line.  “Are you trying to push me?” she hissed.  “You don’t know a damn thing about my dad !  I don’t care how good you think you are, right now you’re not worth a shit to me until you find him.  Do you hear me?” Her words