Okay, so I know Harvey wouldn't be able to get out of work that easily unless he offered his own limbs as payment but bear with me ^.-
'A few miles out of town' turned out the be two hours north of the city in a heavily wooded area with small houses dotting the road side every once in a while. It took copious amounts of ass kissing to Jessica in order to get out of work to go track down his missing associate but Harvey was granted time off. He knew he'd have to make it up in blood, sweat and tears when he got back but he'd deal with that at a different time. He didn't even want to think about how he was going to handle Donna; he'd left her a note while she was out to lunch saying "off to find Mike, -Harvey." That was bound to cause some issues when she found it.
Harvey drove slowly, glancing out the window at the tall, dark trees, heavily laden with snow and ice. The world around them seemed bright and crisp compared early in the morning compared to the cold grayness of the city. The roadsides were bright white with fresh snow and the air seemed much clearer away from the crowded buildings and busy streets of New York. He'd left early that morning, the directions Evelyn had given him sitting in the passenger seat beside him.
Harvey picked up his phone again, absently dialing Mike's number and listening only half-heartedly as the phone rang a few times before cutting to the younger man's voicemail. He sighed, tossing the phone back into the seat next to him and re-focusing his attention back on the road. God help him if he'd driven all the way here only to find that Mike wasn't even at the stupid cabin. He was tempted to throttle Mike senseless the minute he saw him but he knew that would have to wait until he got some answers out of him. Answers first, then throttling, in that order.
The road weaved its way in and out of the trees, long, dark shadows flickering across the hood of the car as Harvey drove beneath them. He had to admit, the drive was very beautiful but he had no patience for scenery right now. Right now all he wanted to do was find Mike and knock some sense into him if he had to.
The road came to a fork, one side veering slightly to the right and the other continuing on straight. Harvey turned onto the side road and continued on his way, casually glancing at the directions he'd scribbled on a piece of paper while talking to Mike's grandmother. She seemed certain he was out here and Harvey just hoped she was right because he wasn't sure if he could take Mike's absence going unanswered for much longer.
A small, hand-painted wooden sign appeared on the right, the words Camper's Creek painted in fading blue cursive. Harvey passed it, noting silently that that was the name Mike's grandmother had given him for the cabin community. On either side of him, tiny wood and brick houses began to pop out of the trees like Easter eggs. They appeared out of nowhere, just suddenly there amongst the winding curve of the road. Small driveways led to each one, disappearing off into a cluster of trees and leading to one of the houses. The cabins along the road were small, just big enough for two or three people at a time, but through the trees Harvey could see evidence of larger, more accommodating cabins further from the main road.
He followed the road for a few more minutes, the road curving and arching its way along through the trees until it reached a small opening at the banks of a lake. Another cabin, a bit bigger than the ones along the roadside, rested just at the edge of the water, a wooden Leasing Office sign staked into the ground beside the front door. The doors and windows were outlined in tinsel and there was the glow of Christmas tree inside the front window. Harvey shut the car off and stepped out, bracing himself against the bitterly cold wind that slashed across his face.
He walked over to the door, catching a sign on the door that read 'Holiday Hours: 9-6. Call 866-731-0928 for after hour questions and emergencies.' Harvey glanced at his watch; it was 9:38, he'd gotten here just after the doors had opened. He turned the doorknob and walked inside.
A smiling, grey-haired man greeted him from behind the front desk. "Good morning," he said happily, smiling warmly at Harvey from behind thick-rimmed glasses. "What can I do for you? Lookin' for a cabin for the holidays?"
Harvey smiled and shook his head, walking over so he was standing right in front of the desk. "Not for the holidays but I am looking for a one cabin in particular. A cabin owned by Evelyn Ross? She gave me the directions for this place."
The man's face lit up and he smiled more broadly. "Oh, Evelyn sent you? She's a wonderful woman, always such a joy to be around! She and her husband used to come out here all the time back when he was still alive. They always took such good care of their cabin when they came out here. Richard really took pride in it."
"Do you know if anyone is staying there now? A relative perhaps? A family member?"
The man hesitated, fidgeting a bit with the pen on the sign in sheet. "I'm afraid I'm not allowed to release that kind of information, son."
"Please, its important," Harvey said, desperate for some kind of information since he's come this far out here. "I really need to know if someone came out here and is staying in that cabin."
The man's expression darkened just a bit. "Did something happen to Evelyn?"
Harvey cursed himself silently and nodded. "Yes, there was an accident and she asked me to come find her grandson; she said he'd be out here. Please, its an emergency."
The man hesitated for just a second longer , debating on whether or not he should divulge this kind of information to a complete stranger, before letting out a long sigh. "He's here; Mike checked in last night right before closing. We're so used to seeing him we don't even put his name down on the books anymore, we just have the key ready for him." The reached beneath the desk and passed a small metal key to Harvey. "He's in cabin #12, the last one at the end of the side street by the office." As Harvey took the key, the man caught his attention. "Please let me know how Evelyn is doing, she and her husband were very good friends of mine."
Harvey nodded, thanked the man, and left the building. He slid back into his car and revved the engine, backing away from the Leasing Office and turning onto the road the man had indicated. The road swiveled down for about another mile before coming to a stop in front of a small cluster of cabins. There were no cars or vehicles or any signs of life around the cabins save for the glow of a lamp coming from cabin #12. Harvey parked the car and got out, walking up to the cabin and reaching for the door. Just as his fingers brushed over the doorknob, the door flew open and Mike was standing in front of him.
"Harvey?" The younger man blinked in a mixture of confusion and surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Harvey ignored the question and felt all his anger and irritation come flooding back at the sight of his associate. "Hey Mike," he said, emphasizing his voice with false cheer. "You've got some explaining to do."
Ohhh Mike's in trouble now!