Page 19 of Chrome Poppies

I want a divorce.

I want a divorce.

Never in ten years of marriage to this amazing woman did I ever fathom hearing those four words from her. Rae was my world until 2017 and I blew it. I ruined our marriage and the opportunity to raise my precious sons. I had it all and threw it away because of this assignment. Of course, I couldn’t blame the department or the Chrome Poppies. I blamed myself for being the weak one, who became one of his disciples to keep up appearances. Yet, I never once considered I’d become so immersed in being a Chrome Poppies member.

“Yeah, I have two kids, Emilie. Andrew is a year older than you are and I think Teddy is about seven now.” I smiled faintly.

“Do you watch over them like me?”

It was at that very moment she knew I wasn’t human, and I had to play along; what choice did I have? There was no moss growing on this child and she was too smart for her own good. “Yeah, I plan on it—once I—uh—get you to Napa.”

“Okay, that’s good because I bet they’d be happy to see you.”

A child didn’t need to hear about an adult’s trials and tribulations in his or her life. It was best to maintain that innocence for the real world was a cruel place, which she learned even at such a young age.

“I can’t wait to see them, Emilie. Andrew would like you—I bet—I mean, he’s as big a nerd as you are.”

She laughed at my comment and straightened her posture, puffing her chest out, she commented, “I’m a nerd and proud.”

Was it possible to fall in love with a child that wasn’t yours? Emilie was making it damned near impossible not to fall in with her.

FIFTEEN

LARRY

“Don’t you think we are wasting time pursuing a ghost?” It was the first thing Sherman asked when he woke up from his nap. I enjoyed the peace and quiet, though I could’ve done without the snoring.

“You saw it, that was Jensen in the restaurant with Emilie Dillon and he didn’t deny who he was this morning at the hotel.” Maybe those around me saw a different man, but it was clear I was conversing with my old co-worker. I know my mind was gradually rotting, but maybe I have lost it for good this time. A thought occurred to me as a test, “Sherman. Can you tell me the physical descriptions of the person who’s been escorting Emilie?”

Sherman arched an eyebrow and tightened his lips, “You were talking to them, did you already forget their descriptors?” I envisioned popping this punk’s smart mouth so often that one of these days it was going to happen.

“Just answer my question already,” I told him while struggling to get the lid off my water bottle.

“Do you want details or a vague description?”

I lost the fight with the lid and groaned when water splashed onto my lap. “Details, Sherm, details—for fuck’s sake. Why couldn’t you get water bottles with different lids?”

He shrugged at my bitching and answered my initial question instead, “You are losing your mind. You were speaking to a woman, and I think the kid is losing her mind too, she kept calling her Jessen. Maybe the chick’s name is Jesse and just pure coincidence.”

I burst out laughing until Sherman showed me the picture he took with his phone. Sure enough, it was a female with dark hair that was covered with a worn down, straw hat.How in the hell are me and Emilie able to see Jensen Grimes but everyone else sees a female? There was no need to dwell on this since Sherman had the proof on his phone. This did, indeed, concrete the aspect of losing my ever-loving mind and I was too young to deal with dementia.

We got off to a much later start than I wanted, two in the afternoon to be exact and it was too late to continue pursuing Jensen and the child for the night. He was more than likely in Napa Valley, as was Emilie; only giving me the thought that this was all for nothing.

“Um, Sherman, it’s almost dinnertime. How about if we stop in San Jose for dinner and for the night?” I was exhausted and starving since Sherman wiped out the snacks meant for both of us. “I think we’re done and should head back to Tehachapi tomorrow morning.”

“I have a thought. Do you think, maybe, the person escorting Emilie took a different route? I’m sure she got word that Levi and his posse are after her and knew he’d head off the highway.” This was possibly the most logical thing to come from this guy’s mouth and he may have hit the nail on the head. Sherman dialed his phone, and I could hear dispatch on the other line. “Yeah, this is Detective Brent Sherman. Can you do me a solid? Run the plates for a 2022 Indian motorcycle. California 22ANG8L and tell me if and where this bike was spotted?” He paused while the dispatcher had him on hold. “Okay, sounds good. We will be on standby. Thanks.” He disconnected the call, “Dispatch is going to run the license and call back within the next half hour.”

SIXTEEN

FRANKLIN

“I am a genius, Zeke!” I announced as I pressed the pause button on the monitor. “Did I tell you that I made it to where the only ones that can see Jensen are Detective Larry, that evil no-good Levi Strauss and that adorable little Emilie?”

Ezekiel clapped his hands together, applauding my efforts. “That is brilliant, Frankie. So, what does everyone else see?”

I jumped out of the chair and did a little dance around Ezekiel, “They see a rather tall girl who looks like me but dresses like Jensen.” I bit my lower lip. “You know the two men that Levi Strauss—”

He interrupted me, correcting the name, “It’s Levi Shields.”

---