WHO: Nate Griggs and a homeless woman WHEN: Monday August 6, around lunchtime WHERE: Fall City to Seattle and back SUMMARY:Surprise, motherf**ker. Nate Griggs, serial killer, goes into Seattle to release some stress (by finding someone to kill). WARNINGS: Implied murder.
Nate prowled back and forth in his house like a caged tiger. He was itching inside his skin. The darkness inside him, which he worked so hard to shove down, was threatening to boil over. After running into Officer Barbie outside Carson's, he had returned home empty-handed, but he needed to get out. He should leave, like Wynnie had said. Pack some things, get in his truck, and just start driving. Nobody wanted him here. He was only staying for Eli, and his son hadn't wanted anything to do with him in two decades.
But if he left, he would just be confirming to Eli and Wynnie both that he would just cut and run whenever things got difficult. If he stayed… would they even give him a chance? To prove that he wasn't what they thought?
But he couldn't stay here right now, not with the darkness dragging him down. It would take over and he would snap, and then everything would be out.
No, to protect Eli and Wynnie, he had to let the darkness out. But not here.
Grabbing his keys, he stuffed his feet back into his boots and walked back out of the house. Climbing into his truck, he shoved the keys in the ignition, started it up, pulled out of his driveway, then pointed the truck in the direction of Seattle. Close, but not too close. Busy, especially during a Monday lunch rush. Nobody would notice him. He'd be back by mid-afternoon and the darkness would be gone, and he could focus on being who his family needed him to be.
On the way into the city, he stopped at a small store. Keeping his head down and avoiding looking at cameras, he picked up a hunting knife, paid cash for it, then climbed back into his truck. Once he reached the city, he found somewhere to park and turned the truck off. He wiped down the handle and sheath of the knife, removing any fingerprints he'd already left. Retrieving a pair of black work gloves from the glove compartment, he pulled them on and slid the knife into place under the waistband of his jeans, hidden under his shirt. Removing the gloves, he stuffed them into his back pocket as he climbed out of the truck. Locking it behind him, he started walking.
It wasn't long before he found someone suitable: an older homeless woman, curled up in a doorway. Crouching down near her, all smiles, he offered her a little cash, then also offered to buy her some lunch. With the promise of a hot meal, she readily followed him.
He was back on the road to Fall City not long after that. He could handle things better now. He could focus on doing what he needed to do, to get his life back. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he melted in with the traffic, still busy. But he was patient and calm, he didn't mind having to wait at red lights now. It wasn't like anyone would have noticed or cared that he had left town for a couple of hours.