"Well, at least the weather is nicer here…"
Stepping outside the terminal of Indianapolis international Airport, Mike glanced up at the bright blue sky, grateful for the shade that the rim of his fedora provided against the powerful sunrays he so rarely got to see.
Next to him, Steve put on his aviator sunglasses, a small bag pack in hand and playing with the keys to their rental car in the other, as he smoothly crossed the two-lane road toward the parking lot.
"Seems like that ride in first class did wonders to your disposition…", the young Inspector chuckled, flashing his immaculate smile beneath the dark shades.
"Charming the stewardesses to get us poor cops better seats…I knew your flamboyance would come in handy one day…", Mike countered teasingly and rested his hand on his partner's shoulder, as they made their way across the long lanes of parked cars, "Say, it's already 2pm here. According to the map, it should take us a couple of hours to head to Nappanee. Do you know where you're going?"
"Already two steps ahead of you, Lieutenant."
Stopping at a bright red Galaxy and verifying the plate number against their paperwork, Steve grinned in overconfidence, as he opened the trunk with the rental car keys.
"We'll be taking 465 to bypass the city, then get onto 31north, then hit up route 6 going east. But it's going to take a little bit, especially with the traffic backup I saw as we landed. Did you want to stop someplace for lunch first or wait until we're on the way up?"
Mirroring his partner's action and placing his suitcase into the large trunk, Mike shrugged, and headed for the passenger side, before leaning across the roof of the sedan.
"Lieutenant Daniels said he will be in the office all day and is awaiting us whenever we get there. By the sound of it, he's been doing some of his own research since I called him yesterday. Let's get out of the metro area and see what the countryside has to offer. I hear that poultry is extra tasty in the Midwest!"