Running Deeper Than a Race
Page 14
“I wish you would kill me.”
“I can’t kill anybody.”
“Drop me off at the hospital. I’m hurt and I’m going to die in here from internal injuries.”
“You don’t look too bad. I see a black eye, a few bruises, and your hair is a little disheveled but that’s it.”
“Why are you here? Did you come back to torture me?”
“I did not. I came to bring you food.”
“Nobody saw you come in here. I feel like I’m at the house where I was looking in. Is this that house on Wilson street?”
“Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. I’m trying to figure out where I am,” she cried.
“I know you have a phone. I’m sure you’re texting people to come and get you.”
“Why didn’t you tell your master?”
“Because that’s not my business. I didn’t want to do this. I only wanted to scare you.”
“Scare me for what?”
“Being hateful.”
“Racist? When I’m running I’m not bothering anybody. I’m minding my business.”
“That’s the problem. You aren’t bothering anyone.”
“You sound stupid.”
“I could be stupid but I was tired of watching you run through the neighborhood.”
“So, instead of stopping to talking to me,” she stopped. “You decided to call another one of your redneck friends to come and hit me?”
“That was not the plan when I got in the car.”
“Please tell me the fucking plan. I should scream to the top of my lungs but then again, nobody would come to save me.”
“It was to shake you up a little bit. Make you nervous.”
“When I got chased and bit by the dog, I was already scared. I can’t believe this was supposed to be a scare tactic.”
“I’m serious. I didn’t have any intentions on hurting you.”
“I don’t want your food. There is probably poison, cat piss or rat poison in it. You can leave and take that with you. I will rather die of hungry than to eat anything from either of you.”
“Are you serious?”
“Don’t I look serious? Look at my fucking head. I have a knot in the back, my eyes are swollen from crying all night. And you’re asking me if I want some food from a racist. Hell fucking no. Leave and lock the door behind you,” she stated leaning on her right side. She winced from the pain.
“You aren’t handcuffed or chained down. You can walk out of here if you want to.”
“I can’t you asshole. I’m in pain and hurting. I can’t even get up if I wanted to.”
“I can help you.”
“Help me do what?”
“Get out.”
“I don’t trust you no more than I trust your sidekick. You aren’t innocent.”
“I’m not but I don’t want to harm.”
“You don’t want to any further. I’m not stupid.”
“Okay.”
“Oh yeah, take the food with you. I’m not going to cover for you. He’s going to run you over next if he finds out that you came alone.”
“I don’t care about that.”
Boom. Boom.
“Joe, I know your punk ass isn’t in here without me.”
“See. He’s about to shoot your ass.”
Joe froze. He didn’t know what to do. He ran and hid in one of the rooms on the left side of the house.
“I know you’re in here. Your car is parked at the road. Don’t hide. Brinley, where the hell is he?”
“Fuck you. You can kiss my ass and shoot me. I don’t care. Pull the trigger.”
Joe started pissing himself.
Brinley looked in the direction of the noise and shook her head. What in the hell?
“Joe, come out.”
“I’m not.”
“You don’t have anywhere to run to.”
“You will have to shoot me too.”
“Come out from behind the door so I can since you’re so brave. I heard you piss on yourself,” he laughed.
Joe stepped out and his dark denim jeans had a wet stain in the middle of his pants.
“Get over there behind her,” he pointed in the direction of Brinley.
“What are you going to do?”
“I going to shoot you both,” he stated sitting down on the floor.
“For what?”
“I see that you’re in cahoots together.”
“Naw. He came to bring me food because he knew your ass wasn’t going to do it. I don’t like either one of you. For what?”
“That’s not true.”
“Where’s the food, Joe? Bring the bag out. Unless you pissed on that too.”
“Is this a joke to you?” Bill asked.
“Of course. What more can happen to me? My mind is already made up that I’m not going to make it out of here alive.”
“You can walk out.”
“I’m sure that I can but at what expense. I can’t run. I can’t walk. I’m barely sitting up. You two idiots need to be shot. Running someone over as a scare tactic. Do you know how crazy that sounds?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Shoot me. Go ‘head. I can’t keep listening to the lies. Y’all lie so much because you get away with it. I hope someone finds out about you two and beat the shit out of you.”
“I doubt it. We’re the men around town.”
“How much crack do you smoke? I’m sure I can make you some.”
“Are you trying to insult me?”
“Maybe I am,” she laughed. “Joe, are you good? You act like this isn’t your homeboy. He’s not going to turn on you.”
“Yes, the hell I will. He decided his fate when he came alone.”
“Well, that lets you know what’s going on.”
Joe stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going home. You can’t hold me and I’m not obligated to listen to anything that you have to say.”
“The watch wouldn’t like that decision.”
“The watch. Who the fuck is the watch?”
“The crew.”
“Oh, the redneck crew. I’m sure they wouldn’t like that you two turned on each other.”
“They would not. So Joe, please sit down before I do what needs to be done.”
“Neither of you are about that life. A lot of talking in circles and nervousness. Pull the trigger or put that gun in your pocket. I’m trying to go back to sleep.”
“Ain’t no sleeping. We’re about to be on the move. I’ve noticed some activity around this area and I need to get you out of here."
“And go where?”
“Shut up Joe. If your stupid ass would have met up at the spot we wouldn’t be having this conversation in front of her. Get up. Let’s go.”
“I can’t move you fucking idiot. My body is broken up.”
“I’ll help her,” Joe stated hurrying up to help Brinley get up.
“Don’t pull this side too hard.”
“How are we going to make it outside without the people seeing us.”
“You aren’t going to see. I got my pillowcase again.”
“I’m not doing it. Nope,” she cried. “You are not putting a pillowcase or anything else on my head. I’m not doing it.”
“How else are you going to walk outside?”
“Like a normal fucking person. I swear, if I could move without crying. I would whoop your ass. Your parents didn’t discipline you properly because you act like a few screws are missing.”
Joe let out a chuckle before covering his mouth. Bill slapped him with the gun.
“Let’s go.”
“We’re coming you fucking idiot.”
“Hold on. Let me move the car to the back. I need you to bring her round the other side of the house. We can’t let anybody else seeing her walk out.”
Brinley stopped walking. Bill ran outside to move the car.
“I
don’t know. I’m sorry. We can try and run for the hills.”
“I can’t run with you Mr. Pissy.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“I’m ready.”
Brinley was able to walk outside free from any coverings on her face. She frowned when the sun kissed her face. The light hurt her eyes. She stopped walking.
“What’s wrong?”
She passed out where she was standing.
Chapter Twenty-One
Thanksgiving Day...
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd 2018
“GOOD MORNING!”
“Hey. What’s wrong?”
“Have you seen my daughter?” Tonya asked.
“I have not.”
“Have you heard from her at all? I’ve been calling her phone and it’s going straight to voicemail.”
“No ma’am. I haven’t heard a word from her in a week.”
“Something isn’t right, Quinn. I can’t put my hand on it but something isn’t right.”
“I understand. I’m out of town right now.”
“Oh ok. I didn’t mean to bother you.”
“It’s okay. The last message I got from her was that she was okay,” she lied.
“This isn’t like her and it’s Thanksgiving. She always calls me asking about a recipe.”
“Maybe she’s with a friend and will call you later.”
“I hope so. Thank you for taking my call.”
“Who was that?”
“Brinley’s mother.”
“Oh shit. What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what to tell her. Do I call her back and tell her that she was kidnapped and the last message that she really sent was that she was scared and she hasn’t said anything since then?”
“I don’t think so. That’s going to be a bad idea. Do you know where she lives?”
“I do but I want to keep searching for her. We haven’t been sleeping trying to find her.”
“I know but it doesn’t make sense to make her worried when we could find her alive. I’m not going to lie. I feel like those chances are slim to none.”
“We aren’t giving up hope. I can’t. I felt bad lying to her like that.”
“We’re going to keep looking. I hate that Sean had to stop searching for her.”
“HEY MAN. I HAVE TO go out of town for another job. I can’t finish up the job in Micro for Brinley. Hopefully she comes up. Let me know if you need me to reach out to someone else to help.”
“Naw. We’ll figure something out. Thanks for what you were able to do so far.”
“No problem. Keep that license plate number.”
“Yes. Do you remember what kind of car it was?”
“An older model Ford Taurus.”
“How old?”
“It was old. Maybe a 1990 something. I can’t say the year but it was older.”
“Okay thanks again man.”
“No problem. I’ll be back at the end of the month to do security for some race in November so let me know if you still need me.”
“I will. Stay safe.”
“WHAT’S THE NEXT MOVE?”
“We need to find somewhere to have dinner. I can’t work under these conditions.”
“Can we go by her house one more time? I need to see if someone is there.”
“Sure.”
Lamar circled the block as he pulled up to Brinley’s house. Her grass was starting to grow up even though it was Fall.
“It doesn’t look like her car’s been moved since the last time.”
“It’s not going to be moved because she’s missing.”
“I know. I keep praying that she’s messing with me and is going to pop-up like normal.”
“We’re bypass the normal stage.”
“Hold up,” she stated. “Is that someone pulling up behind us?”
“Yes. Looks like a man. Maybe he knows something.”
Maverick jumped out of his car almost forgetting to put it in park.”
“Excuse me,” he called out as he got closer to their car.
“Did he stop his car?” Lamar laughed.
“I don’t think so. He needs something.”
Quinn stepped out of the car as he was getting closer.
“Hey. Do I know you?”
“You don’t but I need answers. Do you know, Brinley?”
“I do. Do you know her?”
“We used to date. Well hang out.”
“What happened?”
“She never came back. I’ve been thinking about her. She hasn’t responded to any of my messages. I’m starting to take it personal.”
“Can we go and sit on the porch? We need to talk,” she stated motioning for him to take a seat.
“Oh sure.”
“Babe, I’m going to talk to him. You can get out of you want to,” she stated as she walked to the porch.
Maverick started crying.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Something in my soul is telling me that she’s not coming back. I want her to but she’s not. What do you know?”
“I know that a week ago she went for a run and got hit by a car.”
“What?” he yelled.
“Calm down. I know. My boyfriend and I have been looking for her ever since.”
“How did you know that she got hit?”
“She was able to message me and let me know but we lost contact that Friday. She messaged me and said that she was scared and that’s the last message that I got.”
“Oh damn. Did they kill her?”
“Who?”
“The racists.”
“You know about them too?”
“Yes. I actually had one of my friends watching her house at night and stuff.”
“Babe!” Quinn motioned for Lamar to get out of the car.
He got out and joined them.
“I wonder if it was the lady that let her dog out on us.”
“I don’t know. I’m sure it was men. I don’t think women would do something like this.”
“I can’t call it.”
“Do you think they’re watching us now?”
“I’m sure the fuckers are.”
“Yes. I wouldn’t ask the stupid ass police officers in this town anything. They’re just as bad as the residents.”
“I know. I had an encounter with them too.”
Quinn stepped down off the steps and as soon as she touched the grass a car zoomed in the yard.
Maverick shook his head. “It was only a matter of time.”
“Don’t jump out saying anything stupid. Miller, right?” she asked.
“Yes ma’am. Is there a reason that y’all are here?”
“I need you to tell us the same thing. We are not bothering you. Are you the same one that harassed my friend?” Lamar asked.
“Do I know you?”
“You’re about to,” he stated standing up.
“What’s going on?”
“You brought your happy ass into my friend’s driveway and you’re asking us what’s going on? I should be asking you the same question. What do you know about her disappearance?”
“She’s missing?”
“Shut the fuck up,” Maverick stood up. “Every time you’re always on some bullshit. You need to gone ahead down the road.”
“Can you calm down, sir?”
“Hell no. And I’m going to tell you why. Y’all have been harassing her for too long. You zoom in the yard like you’re doing some kind of neighborhood watch and you’re only watching this damn house. Go and watch your redneck friends.”
“It might be a good idea for you to leave. We’re going through enough without you zooming in like the matrix.”
“I was coming to see how everything was going.”
“You always say that shit.”
“I’m sure you have some friends named Bill and Joe. Go and ask them where my friend Brinley is? I’m going to let you know now,” she paused as she stepp
ed closer with her finger pointed in his face. “I’m going to kill them sons of a bitches if they killed my friend and that’s on everything in this raggedy ass town. Don’t say anything else. It would be a good idea to gone about your way.”
“You heard the lady,” Lamar chimed in.
Officer Miller turned on his heels and got back inside of his car. He rolled the window down and stuck his head out. “I’m really sorry to hear about your friend.”
“Fuck you,” Quinn flipped him the bird.
“I see why you’re her best friend.”
“She’s a pistol.”
“You aren’t any different. You went off on him.”
“Because I’m sick of his ass. He acts like when he sees black people outside he has to stop. He needs to stop his ass from stopping around me and leave me be. I’m the one because I miss my friend.”
“I miss her too.”
“I can’t believe someone hit her though. I knew that story about her going on a date was a lie.”
“Huh? What date?”
“She told my friend, Kendall that she went on a date and didn’t want to talk to me anymore. I haven’t been right since.”
“Yeah. She didn’t want me to get the local police involved. I feel like he knows something and is trying to do damage control.”
“Well, he better get to it before we do. I’m serious. I hope y’all are ready to turn this town upside down.”
“I was ready before I left to chase my dreams.”
“I know that’s right. If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.”
“Y’all two act like friends,” Lamar laughed.
“His energy is on kicking ass like mine.”
“You got that right.”
“I need to find food,” Lamar smiled.
“That’s right. My fault. That was the plan before we stopped and you pulled up.”
“I know someone that has bomb food.”
“Are they taking invites or is it family and friends only?”
“I don’t know let me call and see.”
Maverick dialed his mother.
“Hey, baby. I was just about to call you and see if you were coming over for dinner.”
“I’m glad you said that. How much did you make?” he smiled.
“You know how I cook. I don’t know how to cook for one person. I have plenty.”
“Do you have enough to feed two more people?”