CHAPTER 142 Terry’s Snack and Gas
Joy
54%
It was almost five in the afternoon when Ki ki and I finally made it home. So now, we were in a rush to
get ready for dinner.
While I was away, Dina was in charge. She hired three new employees to help out at Virtue’s. After
giving each new hire a crash course in sales and merchandising, she took a long nap in my office
knowing Xavier would need her to assist himter tonight.
After we picked K iki up from the airport, we made a pit stop at the small furniture warehouse which
was Cristos’ base of operations before Mandan HQ became operational. There, we changed into
camping outfits, making sure our faces were covered by hats and sunsses. Then, we h ooked a
camper trailer onto a Chevrolet Silverado and drove off
towards Red River.
Since Red River was known for its camping grounds, we decided it was best if we blend in. Driving a
luxury car would definitely alert Pete and his posse, so we needed a disguise.
K iki was happy though. She preferred shorts to skirts.
While we were driving along the road that led to Red River and its popr camping sites, we called
Xavier to inform him K iki was with us, snacking while surveying our location through herputer in
the backseat. One thing about K iki, she always had to have food with her.
I honestly thought our conversation with Xavier would be short, but while we were away,
there was a dramatic turn of events.
“Ford’s out of jail, but he is now the target of some very angry people,” he informed us, “They’re
actually calling him a rapist.”
“Well, he did harass those women at the hospital,” Cristos reasoned. “How did that happen
anyway?
“Some reporter asked if the sexual favors he received from the women who filed sexual harassment
Link’s job to keep his mouth shut,” Kik i said, popping her head in between us. “You know what I think?
I think Link has earned the Sheriff’s respect, especially now that he’s helping all those people. The
Sheriff’s probably already thinking of -hiring him if s hit hits the fan.”
“That’s an interesting theory, but Ki ki, you don’t know these people. They don’t operate with a code like
we do. For them, it’s all about personal interests and their top priority is saving their own skin. If Link
gets in their way, there is no doubt in my mind they won’t hesitate to kill him,” Xavier exined.
“Anyway, Link is trying to worm his way into Liam’s good graces, but Liam is one tough nut to c rack.
It’s safe to assume he’s going to take the pharmacy by
force. If the riot isn’t proof enough, I don’t know what is.”
“You sound worried. Wasn’t that a part of the n?” I asked. “Liam kills Tomas and takes th pharmacy,
then I kill him, and everyone thinks it’s Ortiz. Right?”
“I… worried… think…” We heard static in the background, then a beeping sound from the phone,
indicating the call had ended.
“No cell service,” I said, looking up ahead. “Check it out. There’s the gasoline station. How is it possible
that a gasoline station is in a dead zone?”
“That is puzzling, but camp sites usually have bad reception. That’s how it provides serenity and
tranquility to their campers. No bothersome calls and no angry emails. However, there is a solution to
all this,” K iki said. “Chip, why don’t you gas up while Virtue here buys something at the convenience
store. Remember… use different names, don’t look up, and keep your sunsses on.
“And what are you going to do?” Cristos asked.
2/6
12:18 Wed, Apr 3
CHAPTER 142 Terry’s Snack and Gas
“I’m going to set up my portable satellite VSAT system,” Ki ki answered. I nodded my head, impressed
she had one with her. “I brought it with me from California. Dina kind of mentioned there are dead spots
all over this area. I’ll get the satellite dish running while you guys distract whoever’s maintaining that
dump.”
Dump was an understatement. It didn’t quitepletely describe the gasoline station. It was a s hit
hole.
ording to the tall worn-out signage, the gasoline station was named Terry’s Snack and Gas. There
were two old dirty pumps underneath a teal colored canopy that looked like it was going to tip over.
Beside the pumping station was a small convenience store whose doors and windows were coveredContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.
with so much dirt and grime, it was difficult to see inside.
There was a car shed off to the side, locked, its paint chipping off like the rest of the gas station. Junk
cars were sc attered around the vicinity along with barrels of garbage.
Thend the gasoline station was sitting on had no
vegetation around it. It was just dry
earth. There was a single tree several feet away, but it looked dead.
Dust was swirling all around the area as the wind picked up, making the lone establishment appear as
if it was a scene from a horror movie.
Good thing we had the camper. I didn’t want to know what the restrooms looked or smelled
like.
“No wonder your luggages are heavy. Where are you going to set it up?” Cristos asked.
“In the truck bed,” K iki answered. “I’ll tie it up so it doesn’t fall over. Don’t worry you g ay head, Chip. I
got some military training under my belt.”
Before we entered the gas station, I put on some false teeth, drew a mole on m
my cheek tucked a gun with a silencer in the rear waistband of my shorts, covering it with my
windbreaker.
Instead of names, let’s just use our initials,” I said. “I’m V. Chip, you’re C and K iki, you’re K.
“Fine,” K iki replied. “If possible, refrain from calling out to each other. Just f ucking shoot if anything
goes south.”
Cristos stopped the pickup truck at a pump.
“I see a man.” K iki said, squinting through the car windows. “I think it’s a man, but it could3/6.
12:18 Wed, Apr 3 MO.
54%
CHAPTER 142 Terry’s Snack and Gas
be a woman. I think there’s no one else inside. Hold on, I thought I saw Some
movement.”
She took out a pair of binocrs from her backpack for a closer look. “Da mmit. The view inside is
obstructed by all that dirt. Anyway, V, just scope the ce out while you shop. Look for CCTV cameras,
check the walls and if you’re brave enough, take a peek inside the
restroom.”
As if on cue, we all jumped out of the truck. Cristos went to pump gas, K iki went to the camper to get
her VSAT system from her luggages while I went to the convenience store, not
knowing what to expect.
“Good noon, youngdy,” an elderly man greeted me as I opened the door, reminding me of the horror
movie The Hills Have Eyes.
As I raised my eyes to greet the old man, I stopped at the doorway, shocked to see the ce was clean
and cozy and set up like an old mom and pop grocery store.
“How can I help you, Miss?” The old man asked with a smile, showing me his false teeth. He was a
small fellow, with silver hair, wrinkly leathery skin, ck rimmed eyesses, a white shirt and denim
overalls. “We got some hotdogs over there and my wife’s gourmet sandwiches. It’s lunch time, so I’m
guessing you and your friends are hungry.”
“Yes, sir. We are hungry,” I smiled, showing him my buck teeth. It was hard to talk with my teeth
protruding out from my mouth, but it made me sound like a whole other person.
‘Well, go ahead and grab whatever you want,” the old man said. “There’s soda, juice, water and
chocte milk in the fridge. Help yourself.
I took three hotdogs, three bags of chips, three sandwiches, water, juice and some soda, a the while
keeping a close eye on the old man.
He nced at my direction, every now and then with this weird smile on his lips. Something about him
and this ce gave me the creeps.
After cing the food in a basket, I roamed around, checking all the other merchandise. I tried opening
the bathroom door, but it was locked, so I proceeded down the aisle which was stacked with toiletries.
As I wandered through the store, I saw a bulletin board that had so many pictures of numerous young
women of all shapes and sizes shopping inside this very store. All of them were wearing camping attire,
and from what I noticed, all of them were unaware they were being photographed.
4/6
12:18 Wed, Apr 3 MO
CHAPTER 142 Terry’s Snack and Gas
-54%
At the edge of each photograph there was a date indicating when the picture was taken. The most
recent was about a week ago while the oldest was about six years ago.
As I looked closely, one of the women caught my eye.
I grabbed the picture and rushed to the counter where the old man was waiting. I noticed his demeanor
had changed… from the friendly store owner to a sneering dirty old man.
I lifted the basket onto the counter to put some space in between us while I ced a hand behind my
back.
“We’ve been traveling since this morning trying to get here, so we’re really hungry,” I quickly
exined, justifying the amount of food in the basket. “My friend said the camping sites here are
awesome this time of year.”
“They are,” the old man said, tallying the food items while cing them in a paper bag. “You
have beautiful blonde hair. Your hair color is hard to find. Even your friend over there. She
has pretty blonde hair too.” His lips curved into a leering smile. “That’ll be twenty-five dors and eleven
cents.” I reached into my pocket and gave him a fifty dor bill.
“We have a great hair colourist. Expensive actually,” I replied, grabbing the pa
paper bag. I wanted to get the f uck out of here. “Thank you for all your help. You have a good day, sir.”
“Wait, your change,” he called out to me.
“No, you keep it. As a tip,” I said, my hand reaching for the door handle. I tried to pull it open, but it was
locked.
I slowly turned around to see the old man chuckling gleefully behind the counter.
“I need to give you your change, youngdy,” the old man insisted.
I walked back to the counter, wide-eyed, pretending to be scared.
“Your teeth may be a problem though, but we can tape your mouth shut. Don’t worry about your
friends. After they notice you’re missing, they’lle in looking for you.” His smile was gone, reced
by a grim, forbidding, threatening look.
This old man definitely worked for Pete which meant this was Angels of Darkness territory.
I shuddered at the thought. Of course.
5/6
12:18 Wed, Apr 3 MO
CHAPTER 142 Terry’s Snack and Gas
54%
up a CB radio from under the counter. “Carmichael… Dous… I have another one for you.”
The bathroom door suddenly opened and out came two men, carrying chains in their hands.
This is why I hated camping out in the middle of nowhere.
Chapter Comments
3
POST COMMENT NOW
< SHAR