A pang hits my chest. Leaving him at my house… It’s not something I want to do. It feels wrong, but I have to go and immediately.
Swiftly, I survey my surroundings. Maybe his boss lied to make Tox think he was being watched, but there's no one here that I can see. Still, I drive to the nearest bridge, park, swap plates, and even give it a quick paint job. Yeah, it should really set, but I'm not going to be driving on the highway, not yet at least.
The next stop is the library. Why? Because that guy of mine who does the driver's licenses uses the library as a front.
He’s always in the back. I swear he lives here, but then his wife is the librarian so they can slip into the back and have some fun whenever they want. I should know. I accidentally walked in on them once.
Before I go to find Kyle, though, I hop onto one of the library’s computers, and I print out the papers I’ll need to start over with a new identity. The guy has a room with a special print setup and the necessary papers and even impressions to be able to make birth certificates and even SSN cards. I’ll be all set in an hour or so.
Once I have the papers in a folder, I head on over and stroll to his room.
Kyle Frasier looks up at me and does a double-take. "What are you doing back here? This room isn't for patrons."
I just smile. I’ve been told that’s the one thing I can’t change. My smile is what can give me away. For the most part, when I adopt a new persona, I make it a point not to smile.
Kyle grunts. “What do you need?”
I hand him an envelope. Inside is the address I gave my new name—Emma Rose Sanford—and a wad of cash to pay for the driver’s license.
“New Jersey,” he grunts.
“Yep.”
“Not that far away,” he says.
“Nope.”
“You look good, Emma Rose.”
I smile again as he winks. He means nothing flirtatious with it. It’s just his way of letting me know that he knows who I really am.
“You know the drill. Come back tomorrow—”
“No can do this time.” I slide him another envelope.”
Kyle flares his nostrils. “Emma Rose—”
“You know I wouldn’t unless it’s necessary.”
"Time-sensitive case?"
I shake my head.
His eyebrows lower, and he appraises me.
“I gotta lay low for a bit,” I mumble.
"You're in trouble. Otherwise, you would just use one of the fifteen other identities you have."
“Sixteen,” I correct.
He scowls. “You went to someone else for one?”
“I had no choice. I was in Italy,” I protest.
Kyle wrinkles his nose. “What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?”
“Two hours?” I plead.
“Three.”
“Fine.” I sit down in a chair.
“You know how I feel when people watch me work,” he complains.
“The more I move about until I’m out of the state, the greater the chance that the one looking for me will find me.” I wait a breath. “And try to kill me.”
“Fuck,” he mumbles.
I grin. “So, yeah, three hours—”
“I’ll make it two.”
“You’re a gem, Kyle.”
“I just don’t want to lose my best customer.”
“Liar. I haven’t needed a new identity in four and a half years.”
“You’re the best repeat customer I have. Plus, I think a few of my other customers have been referred to by you.”
I shrug nonchalantly, playing it cool, but he’s right. There’s been a few cases where I made someone disappear by basically placing them in a makeshift witness protection program. I set them up with a new place, a new name, and no ties to their old lies. It’s not always easy on the persons, no, but it’s either that or be dead.
Only one of the people I did this for gave themselves away. I wasn’t called in again, the thug opting for another goon to collect the bounty, and that person ended up dead after all. I tried to save them, but not everyone is willing to be saved. Sometimes, people get in their own way.
That won't happen to me. I'll do what I need to do to get out of here. Once all of this blows over, and it will, I'll be able to be myself again.
Sophia Clyde is who I am. Emma Rose Sanford is just a stop gate.
When Kyle’s done, he gives me the license plate. New Jersey’s isn’t like Pennsylvania’s. I live on the west end of PA, so it’s going to be a long drive to the armpit of PA, but so be it. I could head south and be in any number of states a lot quicker, but I like the water, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been to the shore.
The war with the Grots changed the landscape of the world in some places more than others. The Jersey shore has been brought deeper inland because the previous shoreline has been wiped away, blown apart. There are a few tiny islands broken off, but they're so small that some have been sunk into the ocean.
With the driver's license in hand as well as my other papers, I head on out. Kyle's wife, Michelle, hands me a bag, and I just lift my eyebrows at her. She grins, and I realize that Kyle must've told her I'm leaving.
I head to my car and open the bag. Some goodies for the road, all finger foods so I can eat and drive. They’re amazing people. I still don’t know the backstory of how Kyle came to be so good at what he does. Maybe he’ll tell me one day. For now, I have a six-hour drive ahead of me, and my legs are sore from my, ah, activity with Tox.
All in all,
