Chapter 1
The snow flying into the windshield reminded Derrick of scenes from sci-fi movies when the spaceships went into warp speed and the stars turned to streaks of light.
I shoulda listened to Coop and stayed ‘til morning, he thought anxiously. Too late now. Gone too far to turn back. By now the road was completely snow covered.
Maybe the interstate’ll be clearer.
Wump, wump, wump, the wipers droned as they valiantly tried to keep the glass clear of the driving snow.
Crap! I can’t even see where the lane markers are.
He rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath as he crawled along the two lane blacktop. It wound its way between tall stands of pines barely visible in the swirling snow and blackness of the early winter night. He could feel his pulse in his temples.
“Why do they schedule meetings so early in the fuckin’ week?” he fumed, remembering the conversation with his secretary from the previous Friday…
* * * *
“Mary Jane!” Derrick barked into the intercom. It was Friday afternoon and he was in a hurry to get out of the office and on the road.
“Yes, Mr. Fredricks?” Derrick could tell she was nervous.
“There’s a note on my calendar about a meeting at 8:00 A.M. Monday morning. You know I don’t do meetings on Monday when I’ve been away for the weekend. I’ve told you that a dozen times. Whoever it’s with, re-arrange it!”
“Ah…um,” Mary Jane stammered. Clearly he’d upset her. “The meeting is with Mr. Clarkson and the board…I…I’m sorry. I—”
Derrick sighed, “Never mind,” he said and clicked off the intercom…