The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 142 Terry's Snack and Gas Joy 54% It was almost five in the afternoon when Ki ki and | finally made it home. So now, we were in a rush to get ready for dinner.

While | 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 him later 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 becoperational. There, we changed into camping outfits, making sure our faces were covered by hats and sunglasses. 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 popular camping sites, we called Xavier to inform him K iki was with us, snacking while surveying our location through her computer in the backseat. One thing about K iki, she always had to have food with her.

| honestly thought our conversation with Xavier would be short, but while we were away, there was a tic turn of events.

“Ford’s out of jail, but he is now the target of svery 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? “Sreporter asked if the sexual favors he received from the women who filed sexual harassment complaints against him were consensual or forced. The mob at the Sheriff's station didn’t need much convincing after they heard the word forced. They began throwing rocks at Ford, causing a riot. The Sheriff and his deputies arrested most of the rioters, so Link is sti at the station trying to help the lot of them. When he’s done, he’ll be headed to see Tomas Martin.” 1/6 12:18 Wed, Apr 3 MG.

CHAPTER 142 Terry's Snack and Gas 054% “How did the reporter find out about that? From what | know, the women signed non- disclosure agreements after they withdrew their complaints,” Cristos said, confused.

“Someone leaked a document of all the women who filed complaints against Ford. My guess? Liam,” Xavier scoffed. “Anyway, | had Jake put a tracker on Tomas Martin's car. He said right. after he placed a tracker underneath the car, Liam's driver comes along and does the same. | suspect after Liam’s done at the OI’ Barn, he’s going to pay Tomas a visit. Currently, Tomas is at Norma's house in Highland Oaks waiting for Link to show up. Link did a great job getting Ford out of jail, but he opened a can of worms. | believe the Sheriff has Link on his s hit list.” | glanced at Cristos wondering what Link had dug up. Cristos appeared to be thinking the same.

the Sheriff knows that it's part of “So Link dug up sdirt on the Sheriff, big deal. Link is a defense attorney. For one thing, Link's job to keep his mouth shut,” Kik i said, popping her head in between us. “You know what | 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 explained. “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 asshe’s going to take the pharmacy by force. If the riot isn’t proof enough, | don’t know what is.” “You sound worried. Wasn't that a part of the plan?” | asked. “Liam kills Tomas and takes th pharmacy, then | 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,” | 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 botherscalls 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 sunglasses 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. | nodded my head, impressed she had one with her. “I brought it withfrom 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 quite completely describe the gasoline station. It was a s hit hole.

According 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 covered 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.

The land 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. | 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. | got smilitary training under my belt.” Before we entered the gas station, | put on sfalse 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,” | 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. | think there’s no one else inside. Hold on, | thought | saw S movement.” She took out a pair of binoculars from her backpack for a closer look. “Da mmit. The view inside is obstructed by all that dirt. Anyway, V, just scope the place 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 | went to the convenience store, not knowing what to expect.

“Good noon, young lady,” an elderly man greetedas | opened the door, remindingof the horror movie The Hills Have Eyes.

As | raised my eyes to greet the old man, | stopped at the doorway, shocked to see the place was clean and cozy and set up like an old mom and pop grocery store.

“How can | help you, Miss?” The old man asked with a smile, showinghis false teeth. He was a small fellow, with silver hair, wrinkly leathery skin, black rimmed eyeglasses, a white shirt and denim overalls. “We got shotdogs 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,” | smiled, showing him my buck teeth. It was hard to talk with my teeth protruding out from my mouth, but it madesound like a whole other person.

‘Well, go ahead and grab whatever you want,” the old man said. “There's soda, juice, water and chocolate milk in the fridge. Help yourself.

| took three hotdogs, three bags of chips, three sandwiches, water, juice and ssoda, a the while keeping a close eye on the old man.

He glanced at my direction, every now and then with this weird smile on his lips. Something about him and this place gavethe creeps.

After placing the food in a basket, | roamed around, checking all the other merchandise. | tried opening the bathroom door, but it was locked, so | proceeded down the aisle which was stacked with toiletries.

As | wandered through the store, | 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 | 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 | looked closely, one of the women caught my eye.

| grabbed the picture and rushed to the counter where the old man was waiting. | noticed his demeanor had changed... from the friendly store owner to a sneering dirty old man.

| lifted the basket onto the counter to put sspace in between us while | placed a hand behind my back.

“We've been traveling since this morning trying to get here, so we're really hungry,” | quickly explained, justifying the amount of food in the basket. “My friend said the camping sites here are awesthis tof year.” “They are,” the old man said, tallying the food items while placing 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 dollars and eleven cents.” | reached into my pocket and gave him a fifty dollar bill.

“We have a great hair colourist. Expensive actually,” | replied, grabbing the pa paper bag. | 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,” | said, my hand reaching for the door handle. | tried to pull it open, but it was locked.

| slowly turned around to see the old man chuckling gleefully behind the counter.

“I need to give you your change, young lady,” the old man insisted.

| 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'll cin looking for you.” His smile was gone, replaced by a grim, forbidding, threatening look.

This old man definitely worked for Pete which meant this was Angels of Darkness territory.

| 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 rafrom under the counter. “Carmichael... Douglas... | have another one for you.” The bathroom door suddenly opened and out ctwo men, carrying chains in their hands.

This is why | hated camping out in the middle of nowhere.

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