A/N: I know this chapter is a little short, but I'm trying this new style of writing. But I grantee future chapters will get longer.

Wes

Death? Why this fuss about death.

Use your imagination

Try to visualize a world without death!

Death is the essential condition of life, not an evil.

You got yourself a great family over there,” I looked up and starred at the man on the other side of the counter. I blinked trying to figure out what he was referring to, before I followed his eyes that were starring at Bethany, and our nine month old son Hayden, and I smiled.

“Yeah,” I agreed taking out my wallet, “I do have it good.” I took out my credit card and gave it over to the cashier. He laughed at my comment as he scanned the card.

“So I’m guessing you’re new around here?” He didn’t take his eyes off the computer screen, just slid my credit card back to me.

I took it nodding my head even though I knew he couldn’t see it, “Yeah, basically. Is it that obvious?” I asked with a playful smile.

“I know everyone in Hancock, and I have not seen you or your family around here.” The man stated. I stood there studying him, he had a beer bully, a mustache that looked like it came from the seventies, he wore the most hideous hot I have ever seen, with a plaid shirt, and dirty jeans. If you ask me he looked like your regular hill-billy.

I smiled, “Something’s in life never change,” I mumbled putting my credit card away. “Thanks for the food,” I said grabbing the left over’s and headed up to the car.

The brisk cold air hit me as I stepped out, and I closed my jacket and hurried. There were yellow-green leaves all over the ground signs of fall coming in early, and the air smelled bitter. I got into the car, where Bethany had been able to put Hayden to sleep.

“What took you so long?” She demanded taking the left over’s and putting them beside Hayden’s car seat.

I grunted as I put on my seat belt, “The guy was starting up a conversation with me.” I answered, as I headed off the parking lot and into the road. I heard her chuckle as she sat back.

I saw mountains pierce the sky and it almost took my breath away. I had only ever been to the Northeast coast once in my life, but it was just a pass-by, this was the first time I was actually ever to see things in life. I’m from Wisconsin, so I’m use to seeing just plain fields, cows, farms, small villages, basically a rural area, and though New Hampshire is no New York City, it was still a change from what I was use to. I could almost smell the salt water from the Atlantic Ocean when I first crossed the borders into New Hampshire. It was actually a great feeling inside of me, as the idea of change came over me.

I’ve always wanted to do what I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid, basically my parent’s controlled my life, so when I finally get the chance to make my own decisions things don’t exactly go in my favor. For one thing, my parents had been able to keep me in Wisconsin until Bethany got pregnant and gave birth. After that I knew I had to get out, and at once I packed my belongings and my family, and headed out.

“Wes,” Bethany mumbled, “You’ve been doing all the driving since we got on the road, are you sure you don’t want to take a little cat nap?” Bethany asked the exact same question for the tenth millionth time. I had a small smile across my face; it was just like Bethany to worry about me.

“Honey,” I said repeating the exact same answer for the tenth millionth time, “I’m use to being up for all hours,” I reminded her, “in case you forgot, I can be up for almost a week straight without sleeping,” I chuckled.

Bethany sighed, but I knew she just didn’t want to admit the truth, “Sometimes I wonder how long you’ll be thinking that you’re invincible.” Those were the last words out of her mouth before she looked the other way.

In my line of work we were trained to be up and alert. I don’t like being up at all hours, I get headaches all too easily, but it was worth it if a case was solved or closer to being solved. I’m a detective, and Bethany herself should know how serious I take my job, and how sometimes I can never separate my job from my personal life. She herself was a Private Investigator; so she knows why I must be alert.

Being alert is what makes me good at my job.

The early morning sun arose as I drove into the town of Hancock. For some reason I have a thing for small towns compared to big cities. Back in Wisconsin I use to live in a small town as well, and I left because of the people and my situation there. Here I wouldn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know these people, and these people didn’t know me. It was like a fresh beginning.

It wasn’t that I hated my childhood life, it was just that there was only so much a man could take before he knows that he’s got begin again. Stepping into New Hampshire was not just stepping into a new state, but also into a new world. A world where when I walked down the street, no one would say, ‘Hi Wes,’ or that I would see the exact same people doing the exact same thing over and over and over again, and they would just slowly waste their lives away. I know that Hancock isn’t a big city, but there are almost a thousand or more people in this town, that’s more then what I’m use to, where the population was less then 250.

I know that soon these people would get use to seeing me around, but it would be less quick then back in Wisconsin. I was looking out the window, seeing the small town houses that still looked like they came from colonial time, the houses all together instead of scattered around like back in my old home, and Goosebumps went through me as I felt myself walk into one of the oldest states in American history.

“Wes look out!” Bethany shouted, and I forced my eyes off the town and in front of me where I saw a girl, and I quickly pressed on the brakes. My hands were clasped tightly on the wheel afraid that if I let go I’ll lose control of the car. My heart was beating hard against my chest as I looked in front of me. I couldn’t believe I almost ran someone over! The girl looked at me scared, and I quickly got out of my car while Bethany took care of Hayden who woke up crying.

“I am so sorry,” I said breathlessly, “I wasn’t paying attention, and I didn’t know where I was going…”But before I could say anymore she cut me off.

“It’s ok,” She said reassuringly, “You didn’t hit me, and the head of your car just tapped my leg, that’s it. There are no broken bones, there is no blood; I’m alive!” She chuckled as she twirled around to prove her point.

I began to calm down but still couldn’t believe I was such an idiot, “I really am sorry for almost hitting you.”

“Almost,” She said, “That’s the key word here, almost. You almost hit me, but you didn’t.” She was smart, I’ll give her that much. I breathed out a sigh of relief, and stood back and almost studied the girl. She had blond hair that almost reached her waste, and it was amazingly curly and wavy, and so full. She was tall that she could easily be mistaken for someone who was in her twenties, but her facial expression said she wasn’t passed nineteen. She had strong legs and strong muscles; she probably did some work out. She was attractive for a young woman.

She held out her hand and said, “I’m Olivia by the way,” A beautiful name to match.

I smiled politely taking her hand, “I’m Wes, Wes Hamilton.” I felt foolish having my work life and personal life mix in together like that. I don’t usually give out my full name unless I’m on the job.

Olivia tilted her head to the side as if trying to figure out what I just said before a smile spread across her lips, “Hey, you’re that new detective everyone at the police station keeps talking about,” She finally said as if figuring out the worlds biggest kept secret. She shook my hand, and she shook it hard, “Nice meeting you Detective Hamilton.” Great, I just got here and it was already beginning.

I tried to smile at her politeness, “Thank you, Ms. Olivia,” I said, and referred to my hand, “Can you let go?” She looked down and laughed obviously embarrassed.

“Sorry, my parents always said I had a grip of a wrestler,” Before I could make a comment about that, I heard cars honking and realized that my car was parked right in the middle of the street, and people were behind us angry.

“Move your car you moron!” The guy directly behind me shouted.

Olivia laughed, “That’s Hancock courtesy for you,” I looked at her questioning her sanity, before she laughed again, “Sorry, but not too many people in this town are as nice as me.” This was the first time I noticed a Southern accent from her. “Well, anyways, I should get going, got my friends waiting for me, take care Detective.” She said, and before I could say another thing, she was off running.

I couldn’t stand there to fathom anymore of my encounter with the girl because I had angry people behind me. I hurried back to my car, and began to drive. Something about that girl seemed familiar.

“What was that about?” Bethany asked quieting Hayden down.

I shrugged, “Nothing.”