It was dark outside, too dark to see much. The road dipped and curved beneath the big muscle car. Lind drove as fast as he dared, relying on instinct. Relying on the vision that kept slipping away.
He drove west, through China Grove toward Mooresville. Carried on north, circling the town and meeting up with the interstate on the other side. Nothing looked familiar, not in this darkness. Nothing made sense at all, but Lind had long ago shut down his mind. He’d stopped thinking. Let his hands on the wheel and his feet on the pedals make the decisions. He followed and tried to keep his mind empty. Tried not to think about what he’d have to do when he found the man.
He drove over the interstate and past a couple gas stations, a fast-food joint, and a big-box store. Then he saw a sign. Lake Norman, it read, with an arrow. Lind slowed the car.
Lake Norman. Lind searched his memories, chasing the vision through his subconscious. Then he remembered. The man had stopped the Cadillac at the McDonald’s across the street. “Better get us some victuals,” he’d said, grinning. “Wait here.”
Lind had sat in the Cadillac and watched the man inside the restaurant. The man had looked out at Lind every couple of minutes, kept glancing back, like he was afraid Lind would run. Lind sat and watched the man until he came back with a paper sack and a couple of Cokes. “Dig in,” the man said, handing the sack to Lind. “You must be starving.”
Lind hesitated. Then he opened the bag. He unwrapped a chicken sandwich as the man piloted the Cadillac out of the parking lot. He was chewing the sandwich as the man pulled back out onto the road. As he passed the road sign and turned to follow the arrow.
Lake Norman, the sign said. Lind remembered. He drove the Mustang to the intersection and followed the sign.