Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

CH 114 (kyle) - Are You Really Surprised?

Struggling with his conscience, Kyle parked on a side street at the edge of the city which turned into a long road that led up to Colin Fairfield's house. Without much effort he put chains on his tires to avoid slipping off the cliff that the paved road created up the mountain. He could barely see Colin's house on top of the hill nestled in the thick grey of the storm but for a few spots of lights glowing from what must be windows because of the set distance between each one. His truck navigator told Kyle it was a twenty-minute drive up to his destination but with such an active storm it would probably take him half an hour longer just to get to the top where Colin was probably housed warm and comfortable.

The storm was getting worse and the density of the snow was making his windshield wipers catch on the glass. It would be smart to wait but with his daughter missing every minute counted. Even the chains on his winter tires were struggling to grip the ground as he started to drive his truck towards the long road to Colin's house.

Chief popped into Kyle's head but even in the storm Kyle knew what he wanted to do. His fight was trying to decide to follow protocol or not. As a detective he knew he needed to get permission but as a father he had to go with his instinct. He was correct that the paved road grew longer for the ground of thick snow was already turning into compressed pane of ice. It was almost impossible to drive in but something in him pushed him past thoughts of consequences.

Kyle couldn't focus on his daughter being caught in this horrible storm and hoped some old woman that loved to bake was keeping her busy with stories of the past. Stacy was always into time-period fashion and liked to discuss any fashion trend there ever was. She could hold a conversation with someone who had the same interest for hours. Oh, how he was missing his daughter's nonstop chatter of any subject right now. Kyle would give anything just to hear her voice again.

It took almost forty-five minutes to reach Colin's long driveway. Everything seemed enormous around him. Even the trees covered in thick snow looked like cotton candy crammed together which was bushier than the clouds he couldn't see through. There was a road that Kyle could drive up, but it was dark with only the snow lighting the way. It didn't look as if civilization existed beyond it, so he turned down the driveway slower because he couldn't trust the wall to wall whiteness around him to keep on the road. He was afraid he could drop off at any minute.

As if by magic a path of tire prints was barely visible on the driveway which gave Kyle a safe direction to follow. Colin's house was much larger than he had imagined as he got closer to it. No wonder why it was built on top of a mountain for it looked as if it needed a mountain just to hold its structure.

Kyle pulled up in front of house, he was shocked and impressed by its size. Beside the creep factor of the giant mansion, the lights he was able to see from the distance were coming from several rooms of the house giving it an ominous glow. Colin has certainly done well for himself.

He could never afford a home like this space and emptiness. Kyle wouldn't want a house this big for he would be afraid he would lose his family in it. They wouldn't run into each other often or spend time together except to meet up for dinner. It was so big that his kids wouldn't ever move out to live their own lives. Kyle wanted his kids to have their own directions so that he could travel with Alicia without worry. Adult time was important in a relationship and they needed that break from daily activities. He had forgotten what it was like before kids but not enough to know he should desire it.

It was a good thing that Kyle wasn't trying to sneak up on the house because he fell on his ass a few steps from his truck. Quickly he jumped up like a ninja just in case his slip wasn't an accident. He ran his fingers fast along his body to make sure he hadn't broken anything or been hit by something like a bullet or rock. Paranoia rushed through his pain faster than reason which is why he always stayed safe even in vulnerable situations like this.