A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 17

Sonny Ray had been lying across the spare queen sized bed in their suite listening to Hawaiian music when Nikko tapped her husband on the shoulder. Sonny Ray opened his eyes. He pulled out one earphone.
“What is it bub?” Sonny Ray sat up. Nikko sat down with a distressed look on her face. “I wanted to tell you this before, but with your dad dying, and the funeral, I, uh,” Nikko hesitated. “What’s going on babe?”

“Someone called our house the day after you flew down to Arizona. He left a message saying he was a relative, and that it was important that he speak to you.”
“How old did he sound to you?”

“I would say your dad’s age maybe, but I’m not really sure, he said his name was Cyrus, and he was your uncle. Oh yeah, he also mentioned that he was going to visit a family friend in Antelope Springs. He left a number for you to reach him,” Nikko said as she handed the yellow sticky note to her husband.

“Antelope Springs, as in Antelope Springs, Arizona?” Nikko nodded in the affirmative. Sonny Ray’s mind began to churn.

“How do you feel about a detour before we head back to Vegas Maxwell?”

Nikko smiled. She loved that he used her maiden name as a pet name. She picked up her phone off the nightstand. “What you doing?” Sonny Ray asked. “Calling my job. I figure a few more days ought to do. That okay with you big guy?” Her husband nodded smirking.

“I just buried my father, why the hell not,” Sonny Ray replied. After Sonny Ray and his family had their continental breakfast they checked out, and then got on the road, bound for Antelope Springs.

Sonny Ray had no idea how much his life was about to change.

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