Page 20 of Chrome Poppies
Waving my hand, I continued my story, “Whatever. I don’t like him, so I don’t want to remember his name. Anyway, as I was saying before you rudely interrupted me. The two men Levi killed for no reason?” Ezekiel nodded. “I made them see Jensen only to pass a message to Levi. I feel terrible that Levi killed them but at least I made two new friends. Bernie and Steven are super stoked about being our security angels. They are going to help me out if Levi catches up to Jensen and Emilie.”
“How so? Please tell me there will be no firearms.”
I shook my head, then flicked my wrist, “Magic. I am training them on a couple of simple tricks for safe sabotage. A flat tire here, an empty gas tank there. Simple and safe, no one will get hurt.” I continued surveying the parking lot of the truck stop, while Levi and the men enjoyed a meal of greasy food. Ezekiel peered over my shoulder just as Bernie and Steven landed softly next to the bikes. Bernie only flattened the tire of a smaller bike, while Steven effortlessly slashed the back tire on Levi’s bike with a Swiss Army knife.
As soon as the work was done, they disappeared off the screen. “How did we do?” Bernie asked from behind, startling me.
“I told you to stop sneaking up on me like that,” I playfully whined.
Bernie grinned, “But you make this cute little squeaking noise when I scare you.”
Ezekiel stood between me and Bernie, acting like a jealous boyfriend. “Bernie?” The new angel nodded. “May I remind you that you’re only in limbo? I have all the power in the world to give you a first-class ticket to Hell.” He glanced at Steven, who was chuckling, “The same goes for you, Steven. Your mission isn’t complete. Not until Emilie is safe with her aunt and uncle, oh or once Levi is killed. Whichever comes first.”
“Do we get to kill him?” Bernie blurted out.
“It doesn’t matter who kills him. Levi Shields has a lot of victims who are aching for retribution. We don’t condone murder in these parts, but we relish justice.”
I gave Ezekiel a high five, “That was seriously the coolest thing you’ve ever said, Zeke.” The dinner bell echoed through the valley and the four of us rushed to the grand dining hall, or better known as the Angel Cafeteria. It was feast or famine and it was Taco Tuesday, I never missed my fair share of tacos and I made certain I beat these three men to the door. There was no way I was going to get scraps.
***
Dinner was phenomenal, and I was so stuffed I threw myself on my bed, deciding on whether to read or sleep. I was too tired to wrap my head around anything in black and white and closed my eyes instead until I heard the whisper of my name. “I am in bed, please leave a message,” I moaned, feeling the bubble gut caused by too much of a good thing.
“Franklin.”The voice paused. “If you can hear me, it’s Jensen.”
“Jensen?” I sat straight up and waved my hand, making his image appear in the palm of my hand. It always reminded me of that movie where the princess is looking for some guy with a weird name. Anyway, that’s not so important. What’s important is the contact. I told him to contact me in case things went awry, which I really hope wasn’t the case.
“There is no emergency. Emilie is fine, she’s asleep in the room. I didn’t want to freak her out, so I am communicating with you in the bathroom.”Jensen paused and ran his fingers through his hair. “I had a feeling Levi and Detective Lawrence McCrae would follow me, so I threw them off and headed in a different direction.”
“Last I saw Levi and the Chrome Poppies were dining at some truck stop near Stockton.” Jensen laughed at my comment.
“We’re at a hotel in Porterville. I promised Emilie I’d take her hiking tomorrow in the Sequoias. Okay, I didn’t promise her. I told her we were going to see them whether she liked it.”
“How is she doing?” I asked with concern for Emilie’s well-being and mental status.
“She has her moments. One minute she’s a happy little girl. The next she’s withdrawn and would prefer to talk to Pink Bunny or Bimmickey instead of me. It’s got to be a coping mechanism of some sort. Oh, and let’s not forget the night terrors—those I expected. But Franklin—she’s too precious for words and I only hope her relatives give her a good and safe home. Emilie deserves nothing more and certainly nothing less.”
My heart ached for little Emilie right now, though she was in excellent hands with Jensen. “Did you have anything unusual to report, Jensen? I don’t want to be rude, but I am super exhausted and need sleep.”
“No, there is nothing unusual. I just wanted to give you my actual location.”
There was sadness in his voice, but what could I do? Nothing. I couldn’t intervene with how he was handling the child. My job was to make sure Levi was nowhere near them or even the Weatherlys. Once Jensen passed over and became a permanent resident in Heaven, I would see him so much, I’d be sick of him.
SEVENTEEN
LEVI
The food was terrible, probably some of the worst truck stop food I’ve ever had. However, Diamond, a lot lizard, made my night and promised me a trip to the Moonlight Mile for only $500. She promised the works. Well, this man better get the works.
I no sooner reached the outside with Diamond helping me to walk and someone said my name. “Hey, boss! My tire is flat,” Clown, or as I lovingly called him, Loser, called out.
“So, roll it over to the air pump and pump it up. I don’t want to keep this fine lady waiting,” I purred as she giggled while nuzzling her nose on my stubble.
“But yours is flat too,” Loser exclaimed with fear set in his bespectacled eyes.
“Boss!” Bear called out, “your tire isn’t just flat. Someone slashed it.” I wiggled Diamond out of my embrace and pushed Loser aside, rushing over to my bike, cursing at the pain the entire time.
I crossed my arms and waited until Bear pointed his phone at the tire. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” I was stunned initially, and my rage grew to see the six-inch gash in my tire. “Fucking Jensen Grimes.”