Chapter 2 Off to NYC

"Ugh!" Lane sighed as he settled into his window seat. Lane wasn't a nervous man, just the situation had him a little uneasy. He has never traveled much less flown anywhere. The drive was taxing, Four hours in a truck was exhausting. "At least it's a night flight, hopefully I can get a nap in." Lane thought out loud.

Lane had to admit he was a little nervous about the flight, but he was more nervous about the meeting when he arrived in NYC. His sister's best friend was meeting him at the airport so he didn't have to rent a car. Susan had been very close with Chrystal since they were about seven years old. Lane and Susan had a high school romance for two years. The pair was only a year apart, and started dating during the summer before Lane's senior year. Sometime after her senior year, Susan decided she wasn't ready to settle down and have a serious relationship. The girls packed up and left for college, leaving Lane to tend to the ranch and his parents with a broken heart. Chrystal didn't leave anything behind or say goodbye, however Susan had left Lane a note:

My Dearest Lane,

I'm sorry, I have to go live my life. Chrystal and I are going to New York to study at Columbia. I don't want to be tied down. Don't wait for me.

Goodbye,

Susan

Lane hadn't heard anything from either one of them until late Friday night when he was jolted awake from a strange phone call. It was a detective from the NYPD reluctantly delivering the news of Chrystal's possible murder. Lane, in shock, hung up the phone and woke his parents with the news, however he did not tell his fragile mother that her only daughter was possibly murdered. Plans were made for Lane to make the trip to find out what had happened and to bring their daughter home. Shortly after their morning breakfast they had received a call from Susan and had arranged for Lane to meet her at the airport when he arrived.

Lane woke with a jolt when the pilot started talking over the intercom. They had arrived in NYC and were beginning to land. Lights started coming on as the passengers woke and started to gather their belongings and prepare to leave the plane. When the seat belt light went off, Lane began to do the same. He stood and attempted to stretch but was too confined in the small space. He would have to wait until they were able to leave the plane. He reached to grab his bag as the flight attendant announced they could start to depart the plane.

Susan:

Susan parked her old Toyota Camry in the parking garage at the airport. Pulling her sandy blonde hair into a ponytail, she breathed a nervous sigh. She hadn't seen or spoken to Lane Peterson since she left him behind over 3 years ago. She had no idea what she was going to say. She hoped Lane would be preoccupied with everything going on, and she wouldn't have to face what she did to him. She knew she owed him an explanation but she didn't have one.

Her car was old and beat up, but it was hers and she couldn't bring herself to part with it. Her father had purchased it for her 16th birthday, and passed away from his cancer a month later. There were so many memories, all her adventures with Chrystal, Prom and everything since had been just the two of them. She still couldn't believe she was gone. Susan wiped a tear from her cheek and gathered herself. She glanced at her watch and realized she was running late, locked her car and began to run to the terminal where she had to meet with Lane.