By Steve Huff

HOUSTON (Crime Library) — Continued

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Even families who know that their loved one is somehow troubled are not prepared for suicide, most of the time. Sometimes they would even rather believe foul play is involved.

Nate Hendrickson's boss at Pappasito's, a Mexican restaurant, was quick to point out how responsible Hendrickson had been where his job was concerned for the year the young man worked there. Surely that was an ominous sign in and of itself, Nate just not showing up, not calling.

Plenty of people show signs all along the way they have marked periods of depression, mood swings. Many will even threaten or attempt the act more than once. People think they are just seeking attention, until they succeed.

Nate Hendrickson, as far as anyone could determine prior to December 30, was not a man living a life he was ready to end. He had a messy car, but then again, many waiters live out of their cars — that alone didn't mean Hendrickson was depressed. He might drink with his friends after work but that's almost par-for-the-course with many singles in their early '20s. Interviews with friends and statements from family members rarely seemed to incorporate the idea that Nate's disappearance was his own doing, in any fashion.

The sole clue Nate Hendrickson seems to have left behind may be found at his myspace.com profile. There, it quickly becomes clear that though Nate himself did not apparently write he'd majored in Geography and at was majoring in Education at U of H-Downtown one of his heroes was legendary gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

Thompson was the author of a number of remarkable books and articles, his career stretching from the 1960's to the 21^st century. Movies were made from his books, of Thompson's often drug-fueled exploits. His writing was original, hilarious, insightful, razor-sharp when Thompson had a high-profile target, like former president Richard Nixon, in his sights.

Thompson was legendarily paranoid and moody, as well, especially toward the end of his life. It isn't known for sure that the "king" of gonzo journalism suffered from a readily-apparent mental illness, yet many who worked with Thompson conceded that a kind of madness rode piggyback on Thompson's genius.

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Steve Huff can be reached via email at steve.huff@gmail.com .