Running Deeper Than a Race

by Kendra J. Williams

  “I know right.”

  “They’re racist. It’s a shame that you’re dealing with that at home and at work. I’m ready to set this town on fire. They better leave you the fuck alone and I mean that shit. You got my blood pressure high saying that shit.”

  “You said what I was feeling. I was shocked when she told me.”

  “I can’t believe they did that shit. What did they say?”

  “They sent me an email to go home to finish my work day out.”

  “I hope you didn’t clock back in once you got here.”

  “I sure as hell didn’t. I don’t have the time. And I didn’t have the energy to deal with it. I was ready to quit.”

  “As you should. I’ve never heard any kind of mess like that.”

  Maverick took the last plate out of the bag and walked around the counter to where Brinley was standing. He opened his arms and she fell into his body. She exhaled as she inhaled his cologne. She didn’t bother wiping her eyes as she cried on his chest.

  Kendall grabbed his plate and two white sauces and quietly walked to the dining room table.

  “I’m sorry about those damn idiots. I don’t mind turning up. They know what I look like now. I would still be unannounced but I won’t be an unknown visitor,” he explained trying to lighten the mood.

  “Thanks, but I’ll handle it. I have to take action at a different angle.”

  “I understand. Don’t let that upset you though.”

  “I’m trying not to but they humiliated me because they apparently sent out another email to not have unannounced visitors,” she whispered as she tried to talk through tears.

  He rubbed her back as she got quiet and cried heavily on his chest. He continued to rub her back until she pulled away.

  “I’ll be back.”

  “Did you get the ice cream?”

  “Oh shit. We didn’t put it in the freezer.”

  “You didn’t put it in the freezer. I got my food,” he laughed.

  “Forget you.”

  Brinley stared at herself in the mirror. The exact same mirror from earlier with the same expressions. “Everything is going to be alright,” she repeated as she wiped her smudged mascara.

  “Brinley, are you good back there?”

  “I’m coming,” she smiled as she saw both men sitting at the table eating. “I hope y’all prayed over my plate before y’all started eating.”

  “I prayed over mine,” Kendall laughed. “It’s good too.”

  “What’s this white sauce?”

  “I don’t know the name of it but it’s delicious. Grab you one.”

  “Just like men to start eating something and don’t tell me how to eat it. Y’all know that this is new to me.”

  “You eat it like you eat any other meal. With your teeth. You chew it up and eat it,” Maverick joked.

  Brinley flipped him the bird.

  “He’s a clown.”

  Brinley grabbed her plate, the white sauce and a bottle of water from the fridge. She sat down beside, Maverick. He squeezed her thigh under the table once she was seated.

  “It smells good.”

  “Look at how he’s eating it. It’s good.”

  “Yes, because I don’t eat everything.”

  “Since when greedy?”

  “Since the last time we ate together.”

  Maverick shook his head. Brinley took her first bite without the white sauce.

  “Hmmm. This—

  “Good right?”

  “Who knew this basic meal would be this good?”

  “I did,” Maverick smiled.

  “Put the white sauce on it though. It’s going to take it up a notch.”

  “Let me see,” she smiled making sure to put a little of everything on her fork.

  “It hits, right?”

  “What in the world? Please tell me the name of this place. I can’t believe this is that good.”

  Both Maverick and Kendall started laughing.

  “I don’t know why you didn’t believe me. I don’t have this gut that I’m trying to get rid of for nothing,” Kendall laughed.

  “I didn’t know. I’m assuming the brown coloring is soy sauce.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m hooked.”

  “Good thing that you’re running.”

  “Yes it is.”

  They continue eating in silent until Maverick broke the silence. “Who is ready for dessert?”

  “You didn’t get dessert. We did.”

  “You’ve been hanging around us too long. You’re turning into one of us.”

  “That’s not my fault.”

  Kendall was blowing with his eyes closed.

  “Are you good?”

  “I either ate too fast or that was a bigger plate than normal.”

  “I went to a different place. I think the last place you went to didn’t have the best white sauce. I went to Hibachi 101.”

  “Oh, I see. They packed that plate. I really can’t breathe.”

  Brinley smiled as she took another bite of her food. She wasn’t quite at a stopping point.

  “I think she’s going to finish her plate too.”

  “I’m going to try but if I want ice cream. I better slow down.”

  Kendall got up to make himself an ice cream cone.

  “I hope you plan on making 3 with your stingy ass.”

  “We shall see,” he laughed.

  “Make sure you wash your hands.”

  “Yes mother.”

  Maverick leaned in and kissed Brinley on the cheek. She smiled.

  “I can stay tonight if you need me to.”

  “No, I’ll probably cry myself to sleep and watch a sad show once you leave.”

  “Don’t cry yourself to sleep. Whatever decision you make, make sure that it’s the best one for you.”

  “Look at you giving advice.”

  “I’m trying to encourage you like you do for me.”

  “I see.”

  “Hey, you two love birds. What do you want on your cone?”

  “I want all 3.”

  “I just want rocky road.”

  “See, y’all are asking for too much.”

  “We’re not. Get out of the kitchen,” Maverick laughed standing up to take his plate to the trash.

  An hour later

  “I’m about to head out. I need to see what’s going on outside. I know the drug dealers have started back up.”

  “Yeah. I’m about to head home as well. I’m tired,” Maverick stretched.

  “Okay. Thanks guys. I’m about to shower and get in the bed myself. Kendall do you have your key?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “Please be safe. The both of you.”

  They both turned around to look at her. “Oh yeah make sure to put that extra plate in the fridge. You can eat that tomorrow for lunch.”

  “Yes father,” she laughed.

  “Have a good night.”

  “You too.”

  Maverick went on his way home and Kendall set up his post in his car like any other night. There was no suspicious activity of polices popping up. The night went by smoothly.

  Chapter Sixteen

  A week later which was also a week before Thanksgiving.

  Thursday, November 15th, 2018

  BRINLEY FELT THE WIND throwing her straight hair around for a change instead of the normal curls. She checked the forecast for the week before straightening her hair for a much needed trim. She waved as another runner crossed her path during her morning run. She smiled to herself as she thought about the progress she had made not only in her running life but her personal life as well. She was two weeks away from taking one of her yearly weeks off from work.

  “Yes, I’m still working from home at the same place.”

  She made the turn on Wilson street but backed up. There was something about the abandoned house that made her want to stop. Ever since she started running she wanted to stop by the house. Quinn wouldn’t stop the morn
ing that she decided to run. But today was different. The air was different. You could really feel it being fall with a hint of winter.

  She noticed a car ride by but it kept going. She stepped on the porch and she could hear the wood crack. She smiled. She was wondering if it would do that and she got the confirmation that she needed. She peeped inside of one of the windows and saw the kitchen.

  “Ma’am, what are you doing?”

  Brinley jumped.

  “Ma’am, what are you doing? I’ve seen you running before but this is private property. Is there something that I can help you with.”

  “No, ma’am. I’m only looking inside. I’m not looking to cause trouble.”

  “What are you looking for exactly?”

  “Nothing,” Brinley stated as she backed up off the porch. She never made eye contact with the lady.

  “Thank you.”

  Brinley turned her music up on her headphones as she started back running. She could feel a shift and she glanced to the side, low and behold the dog was back. This time he was sitting on the edge of the road. “Should I turn around or run through?”

  Her heart rate increase as she got closer to the dog. She took off running, it was too late. The dog, which was a golden retriever mixed, started barking and ran behind her. It grabbed her right ankle. She went down and started crying.

  “Get back here,” the owner called for her dog.

  Brinley managed to turn around to see where and who the voice was coming from. The same lady from the house. She shook her head and started crying. She regained her composure and started back running again. This time a car drove directly into her path. She tried to dodge it but it was too late. The car strikes her. The passenger got out and tossed her in the car.

  She was holding her side when she came to in the back seat.

  “We don’t know why you’re in our neighborhood causing all of this commotion.”

  “What commotion? Can you let me go? Y’all fuckers hit me. Some fucking cowards.”

  “We’re going to watch you die a miserable death.”

  “You can’t kill a superhero.”

  “You’re not a superhero. Black people can’t be heroes."

  Brinley felt pain shooting through her body as she tried to sit up. The windows on the vehicle were blacked out on the inside. They could see out in the front seat but not in the back. The tears started falling as she thought about her family looking for her.

  “All I wanted to do was run.”

  “And you ran. Ran right into my car.”

  “Take me to the hospital.”

  “We sure as hell are not.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “You’re drawing attention to our neighborhood.”

  “How? I don’t bother y’all. I know you’re selling drugs too.”

  “Don’t worry about us selling drugs.”

  Brinley tapped her fanny pack to make sure she still had her phone and mace. They both were still there and somehow her headphones didn’t get knocked off when she got hit. Her music stopped.

  “Damn crack addicts kidnapping me. This can’t be serious. Y’all can’t be serious?”

  “And none of your family is going to come looking for you.”

  “Ha.”

  “We’re going to kill them next.”

  Brinley shook her head. They pulled up to an abandoned house and stopped. She couldn’t see.

  The driver got out first. The passenger grabbed a black pillow case and threw it over her head.

  “Y’all punk asses don’t like black people but you’re using black things. Aren’t you a damn hypocrite?”

  “Mind your business, Brinley.”

  “How do you know my name you fucker?”

  “Don’t worry about it. I know your boyfriends names too.”

  Brinley started crying again. Another person stalking and harassing me.

  She tried to breathe behind the covering but the dummy tightened it once they got out that it was hard to breathe.

  “You’re at your new house since you like looking in abandoned houses so bad.”

  “Fucking evil,” she stated as he threw her inside and closed the door. They didn’t bother checking her to see if she had anything on her and then she thought about it. They’re going to kill anybody that comes where I’m at. They think they’re smart.

  BRINLEY: Quinn, don’t panic and don’t send anybody to come look for me but I was kidnapped. My battery on my phone is at 85%. I’m going to try and save it for as long as I can.

  QUINN: What the fuck? Call me.

  BRINLEY: I can’t. I’m scared and the people are racist. They hit me on my run this morning and now I’m in an abandoned house. Please, if you send somebody make sure they don’t send the local police. I think they’re working together.

  QUINN: OMG. I knew this shit was going to happen. Please fight to stay alive.

  BRINLEY: ☹

  QUINN: I love you.

  BRINLEY: I love you too.

  A few hours passed and the pain in Brinley’s body was starting to kick in. The kidnapper, which she named Bill and Joe haven’t come back to check on her. “They really are going to let me die in here. Lord, I’m not ready yet. Please,” she cried as she thought about how great her morning was going. She rubbed her hair and felt a knot in the back of her head.

  Maverick smiled as he pulled up to Brinley’s house and thought about her. It had been a week since they ran together and he wanted to surprise her.

  “Good. It doesn’t look like she already took off. Let’s hope the surprise goes off without a hitch.”

  He knocked on the door. No response.

  “Hmmm where is she?” He went to retrieve his phone to call her and to see if she answered.

  Ring. Ring. Ring.

  Brinley felt her phone vibrate.

  “Oh shit. What does he want? I can’t answer this call. I’m going to start crying.”

  Again no answer.

  “That’s not like her. Let me text and see if she responds.”

  MAVERICK: Brinley, where are you? Did you go running without me.

  Brinley started crying. “I didn’t know that he wanted to go. I wished I would have waited instead of venturing out early.”

  MAVERICK: Please call or text me back. I’m starting to worry.

  “I’m starting to worry too. I might die alone and I don’t even know where I am. I wonder if they circled the block and threw me inside the house that I was looking at.”

  “Do you think we should let her go?”

  “Hell, no. We hit her. She’s going straight to the police.”

  “Bill, I’m serious. We need to let her go.”

  “Joe, you need to stop leading with your conscious. You see what she’s doing to our community?”

  “And what is that? I don’t see anything wrong with the community. We’re selling drugs on our own.”

  “Shut the fuck up. Let me handle this.”

  “What’s the next move?”

  “She’s going to die alone.”

  “Are you really going to let her die?”

  “No, you’re going in there and shoot her.”

  “Who?” he asked as she stepped back. Joe was a white male in his mid-40’s and a native of the town. Bill was a white male in his mid-50’s and also a native of the town; they both had beer bellies.

  “You’re going to go in there and shoot her. I put a silencer on my gun last week.”

  “Excuse you?”

  “I did not stutter. You heard what the fuck I said. This was your idea.”

  “I know but I wasn’t playing on shooting her. I wanted to shake her up a little bit. You hit her with the car and told me to get out and grab her. I can’t believe this is happening.”

  “We’re not going to jail. The police came to me about it, don’t you remember?”

  “Yes but still. She’s someone’s daughter, friend and girlfriend.”

  “Fuck all of that. She has to die. There
are not ifs, ands or buts about it.”

  “Bill why are you like that?”

  “Because I don’t like black people.”

  “That’s racist.”

  “So be it. I’m racist and there is nothing nobody can do about it.”

  Maverick walked to her next door neighbor’s house and paused. He thought about it. “She doesn’t talk to her neighbors.”

  “Hello!”

  “Hey man. What’s up?”

  “I’m stressed. Have you seen Brinley lately? I haven’t seen her in a week.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She’s not answering her phone, the door and she’s not texting me back.”

  “Is that unlike her?”

  “Yes. She normally answers one of them.”

  “Oh shit. Do you think something has happened to her?”

  “I don’t know but I don’t like this feeling. Where are you?”

  “I’m out of town. I don’t come back until tomorrow.”

  “Oh shit,” he stressed placing his hand on his head.

  “Calm down. Maybe she’ll contact you later. Is her car home?”

  “Yes. It’s parked in her usual spot.”

  “Okay, maybe she’s with a friend in a new spot running. I don’t know but try to calm down. I can’t help you right now, Maverick. I could call around but in that town, you know nobody is going to help us. I need to get on the ground myself and look for her.”

  “I know. Fuckers. I pray they didn’t kill her.”

  “Man, don’t talk like that. We don’t need that. I’m going to tear that damn town up if they killed her.”

  “Me and you both. Me and you both,” he repeated.

  “Try and calm down.”

  “I don’t know. I’m going to sit here for a little while longer and see if she comes back.”

  “Okay. Keep me posted. I’m going to text her once I get in a moment.”

  “Okay. I appreciate that bro, for real.”

  “No problem. She’s my friend too. I like her.”

  “Yeah. That’s the sad part.”

  “We’re praying for a safe return.”

  “Yes. I’m going to try but it doesn’t seem like it. Nobody is out and I don’t see any cars riding by like I normally do in the morning.”

  “Yeah, something is up. Let me calm down. I’ll let you know if she responds to my messages.”

  “Thanks. I love you man.”