First and foremost, apologies for the long delays. Thanks to everyone who has read, commented, and helped proofread the story thus far. Big props to AuroraIncident, Boots, and adub for sticking with me through the multiple iterations of each chapter. As always, I believe it's best when the story passes through several sets of eyes before I hit that submit button. The more feedback I can get, the better. So if any readers have an interest in helping refine the story (or even if you're sitting on ideas that you think would be fun to see fleshed out) hit me up on discord and we can see where things go from there.
All characters involved in sexual activity of any kind are at least 18.
Part II - Second Week of Band Camp
8 - The Most Interesting Day in Belews Lake History pt. 2
10:17 AM, Interstate 65
A black Denali roared down the interstate, occasionally straying from its lane just enough to pass a car failing to pull over far enough. Lights and sirens are only able to do so much to waken groggy drivers from the 'case of the Mondays' that infects them. Ahead, a 2014 Intercepter guided the way. It's recommended that for every five miles per hour the speedometer reads, a driver should give an additional car length buffer between themselves and the car in front. While pushing 90 MPH on the freeway, Bonnie Bergman kept the distance between the SUV and the marked police car at only three.
"I'm glad it's you behind the wheel and not me," the Forsyth County fingerprint specialist, Danica Chapman, said from the passenger seat.
Before she could receive a response, the Chief Deputy's car slowed just enough to stay on the pavement as it turned onto Pine Hall Road. Bonnie was forced to pump the breaks, swerving to keep from rear-ending the smaller car. Neither woman could fully comprehend the impressive display of reactionary timing she'd just displayed. Still, they were forced to embrace the shoulder for the officer ahead just as they had for the late-rising drivers who didn't understand how to maintain their lane. Kicking up loose gravel at the point where the two roads converged, they miraculously stayed on the road.
Once she'd regained control of the vehicle, as well as her own composure, Bonnie yanked the radio-mic from its mount on the dash and barked, "Jeez, Ry. How 'bout a little more warning next time?"
It took Danica an extra second before she could exhale. She made a mental note to say an extra prayer before going to bed. Unlike the officer they were following, neither she nor Bonnie had jobs that required "Advanced Driver Training", and while the woman behind the wheel was competent, they both knew the only thing that kept the top-heavy vehicles tires on the asphalt was Divine Intervention and a lack of four-wheeled congestion.
"Where you think he learned to drive like that? Bowman Gray?" Bonnie asked, her irritation replaced by her normal, jocular, tone.
Danica put a non-trivial amount of effort toward unclenching her teeth to reply, "I'd like to think our tax dollars aren't spent sending uniformed officers to a NASCAR track for training."
Bonnie let out a frustrated sigh, "It was one thing to drive like that back on the highway, but these rural streets? I have no idea what's up ahead."
The answer was near instantaneous. What they'd expected to be an empty road out in the sticks more closely resembled Santa Monica Boulevard on any day ending in a Y.
"My Stars, wha'dja think this is about?" The driver asked as she took in the scene.
"Gotta be the eclipse," Danica said, only remembering the event herself.
"Right!" Bonnie said giddily. "I was so sure I'd be stuck in the lab, I plum forgot it was even happening today. You know what time this whole thing 'spose to kick off?"
"Afternoon I think," try as she may, Danica wasn't able to match her coworkers enthusiasm.
"Now, what's got your bee in a bonnet?" Bonnie asked. "Oh, lookie, seems Ryan isn't trying to pull a Moses and decided going around the traffic is the proper course of action. This'll probably be a bumpy ride. Hang on."
She steered the SUV onto the shoulder and resumed the pursuit.
"Got dangit," Bonnie muttered. "If he don't watch out, he's likely to clip the arm off whatever soul is unfortunate enough to have chosen to stick it out the window. This ain't no amusement park Ryan, we're stopped, and no rules warn ya of stickin' yer arm out the window if yer stopped."
Danica decided to respond to the question the driver had directed at her, "If I received a call like that from Lucy, I'd be hauling ass too."
"You still got a while before... wait, when does Lucy enter high school?"
"Oh, no. We're not there yet. I hadn't even been thinking about the additional fears when she'll go off to high school," Danica shook her head.
"Oh, rubbish, there ain't nothin' ta worry about," Bonnie smiled. "It may have turned my hair grey, but my boys all made it through without a scratch. Maybe some bumps n' bruises. But certainly no scratches."
"Things are different than when your boys were growing up. Now, it's pretty much mandatory that you send your child to school with a phone starting in first grade. And then when they get to class, they get in trouble for having it."
"It's probably for having it
out
, dear," Bonnie chuckled. "Though I understand. Can't say I agree with a child that young having a phone, but I understand."
"They never warn you the peer pressure of being a parent is worse than what you used to get in college and... ugh, High School," new fears surfaced in Danica's mind.
"Oh hush," Bonnie took her hand off the steering wheel long enough to bat at the air in her passenger's direction. "You know that's all a normal part o' growin up. Gotta let 'em make mistakes. Gotta pick 'em up when they're down. You wanna keep 'em safe but ya gotta let 'em live a lil."
"She does. Nothing too bad, but she's willing to step outside her comfort zone," Danica shrugged. "It's my comfort zone that's the issue."
"Well, obviously," again, Bonnie brought her hand off the wheel. This time to pat Danica's knee in a comforting manner. "But again, it's all just normal parts o' growin' up."
Danica dare not pout, lest Bonnie took offense to it, but she felt the driver wasn't seeing how much things had changed in recent years.
"I'm not even sure I want her in band anymore..."
"Don't be like that. You know, my boys all graduated from Carter. I'm still involved in that community and this is the first time I've ever heard of something like this happening," Bonnie assured. "I'm confident this is just a one-off event and not something you or your little girl need to be concerned about."
"A one-off?" Danica scoffed. "Weren't your boys there that year those kids got driven off the road by a classmate?"
It had been quite the scandal. The initial thread pull needed to unravel a local corruption ring. Danica had been working for the County Forensics team for less than a year. It was the most interesting event of the decade. And because it was among her son's classmates, Bonnie was a source for questionable gossip in their nearby town.
"That got blown out of proportion," Bonnie lied. "If it was as bad as people want to remember it, you think Ryan would have stayed there?"
Chief Deputy Ryan Goldstein, the very officer whose car they were following to the campground, had initially been reassigned to the Stokes County Sheriff's Office in order for them to maintain some semblance of order as the depth of debauchery unfolded in the tiny community. Despite the tarnished reputation of the area, including its law enforcement, the single father saw enough unique charm in the town that he committed to ensuring its recovery and eventual prosperity.
Had he been a lesser man, Danica would never have gotten to know him. But he remained in constant communication with their precinct. Not only through the convenience of modern communication, but also frequent visits throughout the years. Equal parts ambassador as he was headhunter. His Utopian description of the small towns they serviced, and the liberty of having a larger area to look after, often resulted in newer recruits requesting a transfer. If it had been busy enough to merit its own forensics lab, Danica would have succumbed to the temptation herself. It was because of these visits that Ryan had been in their station when he'd received the call from his daughter. The look on his face, the color draining as his daughter's words exited his phone to kiss his ears, was all that was needed to send everyone in within eyesight into a frenzy. Cases that already existed on their docket were the only things that prevented every soul in the building from volunteering to assist with the one that wasn't within their own district.
"He stayed because it provided him opportunity for advancement," she claimed.
"It cost him his marriage, you know?" Bonnie stated.
"Don't even joke about that."
"It's true."
Danica lingered on the revelation, "But he never complains or-"
"Course not. He's in love with the town. Why else would he regale us with tales of its splendor whenever he comes to visit?" Bonnie snickered.
