Zero Worship: Confessions of a Fake Psychic Detective #6

Chapter 24 - Slow at First, Then All at Once...

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"What just happened?" Bexley says after Zandra returns to the backseat.

If you saw enough to ask, you saw enough to know what happened.

Zandra lights a cigarette and says, "What just happened is us getting one step closer to getting wet in the Wisconsin River."

Chad wakes up long enough to ask for a gyro before nodding off again.

"Are they...are they...going to kill him?" Bexley says. Her face in the rearview mirror shows genuine concern.

That's not for me to decide.

"Let's find out," Zandra says. "They'll be heading to the cul-de-sac house shortly. Let's beat them there."

Bexley doesn't turn the steering wheel or hit the gas.

"No, really. Is he going to be OK?" Bexley says.

If you're going to claim you're "almost" a psychic detective, you're going to need less of a heart. Shit happens. It's just how it is. You learn that when you see more of reality with that "third eye."

"Honestly? The sooner we beat that van to Pixie's house, the better the chances everyone makes it through this alive," Zandra says.

Bexley grimaces, but it's good enough for her. She pulls the car away from the gyro restaurant.

Zandra sucks down smoke as the car weaves its way out of downtown. She straightens a crease in the sleeve of her purple gown.

How did Bexley know to get me this? It's identical to the purple gown I had before.

Zandra watches out the window as two birds chase each other across a tree branch.

Just a coincidence. But what if it isn't?

Bexley stops the car at a red light. The brisk traffic in front of and behind them does as well.

Suppose I thought that little coincidence was more than a convenient blip. Suppose those times I "communicated" with Bexley weren't just my imagination and good timing. If that were true—if—then, being the cautious person I am, I'd want a plan B. I wouldn't even think the things I think. I might mislead. I might misrepresent a critical piece of information.

Suppose that was the case.

"Is Chad OK?" Zandra says from the backseat.

Bexley places a hand over Chad's chest. "Still breathing."

"That's the same as OK?" Zandra says.

"That's the same as OK," Bexley says. "Everything OK back there with you?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I think so," Zandra says.

"Yeah, I think so, too," Bexley says.

The light turns green. Bexley taps the gas. The cars around them pull forward.

Trend. We're living it right now. What's the next phase? Contraction. Except that contraction won't be like the previous one. The previous contraction—the house—will be gone the same way the contraction before that is gone—the Curd Queen. I wonder if there's a way to test that.

"Let's stop by the house first," Zandra says.

The turn for "grandma's house" isn't far away. Bexley doesn't change lanes for the turn. "I thought you said we need to get to cul-de-sac house before the van does."