The Very Last Days of Mr Grey by Jack Worr

stopped.
    Mason looked out his side window, at the rear bumper of the car less than a foot in front of them. The license plate had one of those little circled E’s. The top of the car was adorned with a light bar. Its paint scheme was black and white.
    The officer got out of his car. The traffic light was still red.
    He approached.
    Emily pointed at something.
    Mason didn’t dare move.
    The officer looked where she pointed, back to her, back to the thing she still pointed at.
    He looked like he was going to say something.
    Emily got there first. “New brakes.” She shrugged. “Came out of nowhere.”
    The officer shook his head, looked past their car, at the line rapidly forming behind them. Horns sounded from far up. He turned and looked at the light, which was green now. He shook his head, got back in his car, pulled out, and turned left.
    He looked at what she had pointed at. A raccoon sat, just off the road, observing the scene. Mason shook his head. “I can’t believe you have a license.” Then he said, “I’m alive.”
    Emily got the car straightened, ignoring the horns as she backed up into a several point turn. She twisted to look behind them, waved, then put on her left blinker. She shrugged. “I don’t.”
    “No, right.”
    She continued forward.
    “Right! Turn right!”
    “Jesus, calm down.” She swerved right, Mason felt impact. Horns blared.
    She screamed something at the person behind her. Then she turned right.
    “You’re supposed to stop.”
    She just looked at him.
    They drove on.
    Minutes later, they pulled into the lot of the shopping center where the mechanic’s was located.
    Mason confirmed that the car that had hit them was still following.
    Emily parked.
    The car pulled up behind them, about twenty feet away. A large man got out.
    “Awesome,” Mason said.
    Emily looked behind her. “I got this.” She undid her pants.
    “Whoa!” Mason shouted. “What—”
    “Chill.” She took her pants off. Mason was relieved when he saw underwear, but also still disturbed.
    She opened the door and got out.
    Mason sunk down in his seat, adjusted the side view mirror to get a better view, and watched. It was all he could think to do.
    A man got out of the car, left the door open.
    Quick escape, Mason thought.
    The man said something.
    Emily waved at the air, now standing in front of him. She came up to his chest, and she wasn’t a short girl. “Oh,” she said loudly. “I’m so, so sorry, I didn’t realize.”
    Mumbling of the man.
    “I know it’s my fault…”
    Mumble mumble mumble.
    “I’m so totally sorry…” She lowered her voice, and now Mason couldn’t hear her words. Mumble mumble mumble mumble, mumble. Mumble.
    The man gestured cryptically at the air at this. Mumbled something.
    Emily went on: “I’d really appreciate if…” mumble mumble “help me…” mumble mumble mumble mumble.
    The man grumbled something, gestured toward his car, then hers.
    “Oh my God,” she shrieked, “really? You’re definitely right, you can’t even see it. You’re too nice though. Really awesome.” She hugged him. He held his hands slightly away from her body, patted her shoulder once, twice.
    She held on long enough to make even Mason uncomfortable. “You rule,” she said releasing him. “Thank you thank you. I love you.”
    The man motioned indistinctly, mumbled something, then headed back to his car.
    Mason watched in shock as he got in his car, got it turned around, then left.
    Emily got back in the car.
    “Are you kidding me?”
    “What?” she asked, pulling on her pants.

26
    “It’s weird.” The mechanic gestured at Mason’s car. “You’d think there’d be more damage.” He finished wiping his hands on a cloth and stuffed it into the pockets of his overalls. “But it’s fine really. It wouldn’t start because the battery cable was loose.”
    “Thanks for being honest.”
    “No need to thank me.” He reached into his pocket. “Just think of me if you get