Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 39 - What Could Go Wrong?

Just as Jake had hoped, he spotted Jose walking through the small information center of the rest area. There were only two other vehicles in the parking lot. Nikki's body was gone. He knew his dad didn't want him to get involved in his cases. But they were seriously running out of time now that a local girl died in their own town. Why the news was making a connection between Jolene and Nikki is what he wanted to know. He had a fuzzy nightmare just a few days ago of this girl Nikki. He hadn't seen the connection to Jolene. Jake wanted to find the path of each girl as bad as his father did, so the nightmares would go away. It worried him that his stupid sister was determined enough to still go on her trip, but at the same time he knew she couldn't hide indoors forever. He started to feel his dreams were mixing together which wasn't going to help anyone. Jake also knew his night terrors would be lighter if he stayed away from any of the girls, but Jake couldn't resist what he would see if he just peeked at what Nikki's essence left.

Jake took his bag he got from one of the fast food joints and put a few treats in it that his Mom had ordered for him. He then stepped out of the car and immediately felt sick from having a sensitive nose. Jake could smell the blood that dripped onto the ground where they found Nikki. He tried to clear his mind and not think of the deceased name or she would open her eyes to his dreams and turn them into nightmares of her last day alive. He felt like he had already seen it before.

Jose was standing next to the two local Criminal Investigators that were still collecting and cleaning up. The paramedics had just taken the body to the morgue. Jake was staring at the area Nikki was found but didn't want to get much closer. Instead he absorbed the scene from a short distance as he walked towards Jose. Jake felt the needed to leave and thought a minute longer he was going to regret staying. He shook his nerves and decided he was just going to make it a quick stop as he didn't really want to delay his trip longer than necessary.

Jose's bright white smile greeted Jake and he embraced him when Jake stepped onto the curb.

"It's good to see you man!" Jose exclaimed.

"It's good to see you too my friend!" Jake muffled into Jose's big muscular chest. Jose was a big man and incredibly strong with the softest heart for people that Jake had ever known. However, he wouldn't ever get into a fight with this man.

Jake was constantly well-aware that he was about fifteen feet away from the deceased small patch of blood. His senses were making his hair stand up on his arms and body. He was sure not to touch anything or contaminate the area as he really wasn't supposed to be this close.

A black bird flew down from the tree above them with its wing scraping Jake's head, which made him duck down and cover his face with his arms. Jose had to turn his body to miss the bird's wing from hitting him. Black birds mourned the dead and paid their respects with blessings from their beaks. That is what Jake had always thought. This one felt like he was warning Jake to leave or to stay, he wasn't sure. The bird landed on the roof of the girls' bathroom.

"What in the hell is that about?" Jake asked.

"I don't know man. There are three or four of them and they've been here since before I got here. They probably have a nest in one of the trees and we're interrupting their peace."

"That bird's almost as big as our dog Luna."

"Yeah, no shit." Jose laughed.

"Here's a little something for you. Mom loaded me up with treats from one of her favorite stores and I thought I'd share."

"You are awesome! My wife and kids love that store! I'd eat everything in there if I could but they don't let me shop there with them. I only get to see what it looks like inside from their website." Jose pouted making Jake laugh. He understood well.