III

Dream of Me.

One year prior.

"Thanks Martin, I really owe it to you. A man can starve out here." I raise my styrofoam cup of coffee in toast to the old man behind the food truck's window.

Martin laughs, years of smoking has given him this husky tone. His deep brown eyes crinkle with amusement. "You wouldn't starve, no, not with that pretty little wife of yours. You just use me for my greasy fries and old ass coffee."

I'm grinning from ear to ear, Martin has been a constant in my career. My late hours and long shifts depend on him but he's right. Nothing will top Missy's cooking.

"You go on and take care of ya self out there, ya hear?" Martin throws one of his hand's up in a quick wave and starts wiping down the prep counter again.

I turn and walk back to the cruiser. My partner, Sam who is already waiting for me. The scanner crackles a bit in the background, but other than that, it's dead. For now, at least.

Sam quickly hangs up his cell when he notices me approach.

"Lover girl's got you by a short leash my friend."

"And Missy doesn't?"

I take a sip of the stale, black coffee, "Ah, that's different and you know it." I flash him my simple gold band to further prove my point.

"Oh whatever. Say, why is it you always eat here at this diarrhea joint?" He flips the car in reverse and peels out.

"It puts the hair on your chest and secondly, you wouldn't understand Greenhorn."

It's true, too, Sam's only been on the force less than a year. He's got a lot left to learn, but he's under my wing and that's a good thing. I've had two other officers learn under me and now they've moved on.

"Yeah, okay, old man."

I wince, point taken, "Alright, alright. I hear the shit you're talking. This old dog still has a few tricks up his sleeve, keep that in mind."

Sam makes a turn after the red light, "Will do, Old Yeller."

My rebuttal falls flat on my tongue when the radio cuts in, "Calling all units. Possible 10-18. Location is near New Haven."

I'm quick to grab the mic, while Sam turns on the lights and turns down an old road near there. "Unit 618, in pursuit. ETA five minutes."

The drive there is swift, and before we know it we spot the abandoned vehicle. It's still running, the light glaring through the tall grass, the driver's side door is wide open.

Immediately the hairs stand up on their ends, "Take it easy now, Sam. We don't know what we're dealing with yet, okay?"

"Unit 618 to dispatch, 10-18 spotted and cautiously approaching."

Sam throws the cruiser in park and assumes a ready stand, gun drawn.

We look around before stealthy walking to the vehicle. It's a dark blue hybrid of sorts, it's dinged up pretty bad but otherwise unsuspicious. My flash light beams like a beacon to the front seat, the backseat and underneath. So far I don't spot anyone.

"Probably just a drunk out joy riding. Wouldn't put it passed any idiot, not with it being a Friday." I walk to the back of vehicle and notice there aren't any plates. Now I'm back to being at attention, "Sam, no plates. We're looking at a possible theft."

I can see Sam nod as he scans the area. Then he pauses and looks down. He kneels briefly and then shoots straight up.

"Garette, We need to call for backup, and an ambulance."

He tries to grab me by my arm but I yank it away, "You do that."

"No, you shouldn't. We can't. Look, we can't work this case." His eyes are pleading with me not to fight it. Not to question why we can't work this. Deep down a part of me knows why, but I can't admit to it. Not until I've seen with my own eyes. Not until I know for sure.

I don't even answer him when I turn and stalk down to the tall grass. He reaches out for me one more time but I turn around and deck him. He scrambles back up and notifies dispatch.

"Possible homicide." is the last thing I hear before I see her.

Her mahogany brown locks are matted, insects swarm around her. One of her legs is bent in an awkward position and she's face down. Her clothes, what are left of her garments are tattered and caked with blood.

I will myself to keep going, I'd just talked to her this afternoon. She'd had a good day at the school with the kids. Her laugh rings through my head and I can see her giving me our "sign". I stand right at the body, looking down.

This isn't her. It can't be. She's at home, already laying in our bed, finishing grading the spelling tests. 

My voice runs through my head. I'm about to hang up when I say, "Dream of me, baby."

I tilt the head slightly, her sweet amber eyes stare blankly back at mine.

I don't know where I am, "No, no, no. Honey, wake up. Missy, baby. It's me, you can stop pretending. You're safe."

I drop to my knees as the sirens sound in the distance.

The cicadas eerily play around us and soon more bodies join us. Everything is moving fast, yet not fast at all. It's as if I'm having an out of body experience.

This isn't happening to me. Missy's home, in bed, dreaming away. Maybe I'm also dreaming.

This is all a nightmare and I'll wake up at home, right next to her.