Mile 43
By Alden Bauers
()
About this ebook
South Carolina State Trooper Brian Dunn wants to know why men are abandoning their cars at the long-disused Milepost 43 rest area. He's curious as to why the cars are removed before the required 48-hour window expires. And, he really wants to know why his captain is so against his investigating the matter. Against orders, Dunn digs deeper and comes face to face with an ancient evil.
Alden Bauers
Alden Bauers was born and raised on Long Island. He currently resides in Spartanburg, South Carolina where he works as a computer technician. He's married and has two young children. When he's not writing or spending time with his family, Alden enjoys modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
Read more from Alden Bauers
She's So Catty Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNightmare Highway Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Transformation of Jessica McDade Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCataloosa Island Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOnce in a Blood Moon, A Werewolf's Tale Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Mile 43
Related ebooks
Mile 43 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Unspoken Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings50 Stories in 50 States: Tales Inspired by a Motorcycle Journey Across the USA Vol 3, the South Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShadow Grass Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnywhere With You Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLeap of Faith Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTaken for a Fool: A Caroline Spencer Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDetour to Death Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRunaway Bones Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYellow Cab Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It Is Morning Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQueer and Loathing on the Yellow Brick Road Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBreaking Melancholy's Mourning Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWeekend At Lake Lucy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Girl Who Couldn't Remember Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Deadly Deception (Danielle Ross Mystery Book #3) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All I Need Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCarousel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Winter Rider Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Vaudeville Ruckus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOpen Roads: The Men of Marionville, #2 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Family Feud Texas Style: Denny McConnell PI, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Malevolent Voyage of the Lorenzo Vittorio Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Kilted Cowboy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Compass North: An Alaska Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsExile, Texas Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stuck in Winter Wonderland Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDead Man's Hand Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Glassheart Chronicles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummer of Darkness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Thrillers For You
Shantaram: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Leave the World Behind: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pretty Girls: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Razorblade Tears: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Only Good Indians Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Animal Farm Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cryptonomicon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Housemaid Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rock Paper Scissors: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Needful Things Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Eyes of the Dragon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Institute: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Flight: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Golden Spoon: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mr. Mercedes: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fairy Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Huntress: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Perfect Marriage: A Completely Gripping Psychological Suspense Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Billy Summers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Whisper Man: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'm Thinking of Ending Things: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The It Girl Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Girl Who Was Taken: A Gripping Psychological Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Long Walk Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Paris Apartment: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hunting Party: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Cabin at the End of the World: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Mile 43
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Mile 43 - Alden Bauers
Mile 43
Copyright 2019 Alden Bauers
Published by Alden Bauers at Smashwords
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Author’s Note
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About Alden Bauers
Other books by Alden Bauers
Connect with Alden Bauers
Author’s Note
Inspiration can strike you in the strangest places. In the case of the story you’re about it read, it struck along a rural stretch of Interstate 26 in southern Spartanburg County. You see, I rather lovingly refer to the stretch between Spartanburg and Clinton as the dead zone.
The exits are far apart and generally lack services.
At the time, I was on my way to a client in my 2004 Honda Pilot. This car was a hand-me-down from my in-laws and both a bottomless money pit and an endless source of frustration. So I’m driving this car on this stretch of 26 and I thought to myself yup, if this thing’s gonna shit the bed, it’s gonna be here, in the middle of nowhere.
Fortunately, I made it to my destination. While I was waiting for software to download to the client’s computer, I was messaging fellow writers and fleshing out the bones of what would become Mile 43.
Chapter One
Summer was still going strong one late September afternoon in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The air was hot and thick with humidity. A yellow Chevy Cobalt headed east on I-26. Sucks to be you! The Cobalt’s driver, one Dennis Stuart thought as he saw a Mustang pulled over on the westbound side.
Dennis, age 22, was making the trip from USC Upstate back home to Orangeburg. He shifted his weight in the seat and turned up the radio. DNCE was signing about cake by the ocean. God damn Winnebagos! He put on his signal for the fast lane and mashed the gas. His little Chevy zipped past the RV.
Ah shit,
he said to himself, feeling the Cobalt stutter. Please not here!
Despite his plea, the Cobalt’s ignition coil pack picked that moment to fail.
God damn it!
Dennis shouted, pounding the steering wheel.
He hit the hazard lights and shifted into neutral. Just ahead, he could see the entrance to the long-abandoned rest area at Milepost 43. The car slowed down as it knocked over a handful of the plastic candlesticks
blocking the ramp. He came to a stop just shy of a faded plastic barricade.
What the fuck am I going to do now?
he said. I don’t have the money for this!
Despite having little knowledge of the workings of an internal combustion engine, Dennis popped the hood.
This is just fucking great! Out here in the middle of east bumblefuck and it’s hot as balls!
Dennis pretended to look under the hood for a few moments before pulling a pack of USA Golds out of his pocket. Nothing but the best, right? He lit his cigarette and glanced around. He had no idea how long the old rest area had been closed down, but based on what he saw, it had been a long time. The macadam was bleached nearly white by the unrelenting southern sun and bore a spider web of cracks. Through these cracks grew a jungle of weeds.
Whoa shit!
Dennis gasped as a semi blasted by.
Luna Royce sat at the wheel of her black BMW 325. She was parked on an overpass carrying some nameless country road over the 26. To her left, she saw a state trooper busily writing citations for a very unlucky Mustang driver. Perfect! Keep the smokey nice and busy! To her right, she saw Dennis Stuart’s stricken Chevy, hazard flashers blinking away at the mouth of the old rest area. He’ll do. She dropped the Beemer into drive and made her way onto the freeway.
Dennis had just flicked his cigarette butt to the ground and raked his shoe over it when he saw a black BMW slowing down, its right turn signal on. The black convertible took out a few more plastic candlesticks and came to a stop just behind the Chevy.
Dennis’s jaw dropped got a load of the driver. She was the hottest woman he’d ever seen! She had long, straight ebony hair, alabaster skin, which set off her luscious crimson lips. She wore a long, flowing black dress showing just enough of her ample bosom to give Dennis’s imagination a day off.
Greetings,
She said in a voice that soft and melodic. It appears you’re in a bit of a pickle.
Dennis felt his heart jackhammering. She may have been his age, but she was miles out of his league.
Uh, um, yeah,
he said. Engine died.
Such a pity,
The woman replied. And on a day like today. You look so hot and thirsty. Would you like a water?
Yeah, I’d love one.
Ask and you shall receive.
The woman reached into the back seat and produced a bottle of Fiji Water.
Thanks,
Dennis replied, accepting the beverage.
He eyed her with a strange curiosity. Expensive car, expensive water, maybe she's a trust fund baby or a one-percenter's daughter. At least that's what his brain