“We’ll pay,” Lamar smiled.
“Who is that?”
“One of my friends from out of town. They don’t have anywhere to go.”
“Oh baby. As long as they aren’t thieves they can come.”
“Y’all don’t steal right?”
Both Quinn and Lamar started laughing.
“No ma’am.”
“Well bring them on.”
“Okay. Thanks ma. We’ll see you soon.”
“Okay. Drive safe.” Maverick placed his phone in his back pocket.
“Y’all can ride with me. I have enough room.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. There is no need to drive two cars unless y’all have somewhere to go. I’m sure we’re all going to come back and see if we can find some kind of clues.”
“You’re right. Park the car in the yard and off of the road.”
Lamar moved the car.
“I like you. I hope this isn’t the last time we hang out.”
“I’m sure she would approve. I approve of you.”
“We’re going to find her and she’s going to be alive.”
“Let us pray. I’m not going to lie. I’m nervous.”
“I am too but we got this. Let’s go get this good grub.”
“Can your ma cook?”
“Too damn good.”
Quinn laughed.
“Are y’all ready?”
“Yessir.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The drive to Maverick’s mother house was 30 minutes. It was right on the outside of Wilson. He pulled into the driveway and like always there was only the one car.
“Your mom isn’t going to have visitors?”
“No. She normally cooks and gives the food out. I’m the first one that comes over unless I decide not to come.”
“Your dad isn’t around?”
“He passed away a few years ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Let me stop talking.” She stated from the backseat.
“Yes babe. You’re asking a lot of damn questions. He doesn’t want to hear your mouth. We’re already freeloading.”
“No. I invited y’all over. Don’t think that y’all are a burden.”
“See. Hush, Lamar. You’re always trying to make me mad. I like this house.”
“I do too.”
“MA!” he called out as he got closer to the front door.
“Boy, I don’t know why you always come up with all that noise. Come in the house like a regular person,” his mom stated as she opened the door.
“Good afternoon, ma.”
“The same to you. I hope y’all are ready to eat.”
“I am. I hope you are ready to get ate our of house and home. Let me have manners. I’m Lamar and this is my girlfriend, Quinn.”
“A lovely couple. Maverick where is your date?”
“Ma, don’t start. Guys, y’all can put your coats on the racks behind you.”
“I was only asking. It would be nice to see you with a young lady. Unless you ran her off.”
“I wouldn’t do such a thing,” he laughed.
“It smells good in here,” Quinn smiled.
“It should. I’ve been cooking all day.”
“The bathroom is the first door on the right. Wash your hands and get some food. I’m going to sit down. I’m tired,” she stated.
“I don’t know.”
“About what? She seems too chill.”
“You’re crazy. What did you want her to do? Start talking junk to us as soon as we walked in.”
“Oh, it’s coming. We just got here,” Maverick stated as he walked into the bathroom.
Quinn tried not to get emotional but this was the first Thanksgiving that she would spend without Brinley. They would normally get together some time during the day. Lamar could feel her energy shift. He touched her shoulder and she pulled away.
“I’m sorry.”
She wiped her eyes and walked into the bathroom almost knocking Maverick down.
“Oh, my bad.”
“She almost knocked you into the wall.”
“And my mom is going to have our asses.”
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s having a hard time. She didn’t say anything but I could feel the hurt coming from her body.”
“Oh, you’re that in tuned with her?”
“Don’t start.”
“It’s not a bad thing. I was only asking. She’s your wife.”
“I don’t know if I want to be married.”
“So, what are you dating for?”
“For a good time.”
Maverick shook his head. “I can’t date for a good time. I always dated with a purpose. I guess that’s why I’m single.”
“That’s not it. Your person is missing.”
“What are you two doing in the hallway?”
“Waiting on the bathroom to come available,” Lamar answered.
“Oh ok. I was about to get y’all.” She laughed.
“I never asked what your name was?”
“It’s May.”
“Like the month May?”
“Yes. The exact spelling and everything.”
“Okay.”
“Y’all need to hurry up.”
Lamar knocked on the door.
“Yes,” she sniffled. “I’m coming. I had to fix my face.”
“You didn’t take a bag in there with you.”
“Stop being nosey,” she laughed.
“Oh ok. I need you to hurry up. We’re all hungry.”
“I know you’re hungry. Stop trying to include other people.”
“I’m not.”
Quinn walked out smiling.
Lamar looked at her a couple of times and didn’t see anything different with her face. “What did you do to your face?”
“Mind your business.”
“Ms. May is waiting on you.”
“No she isn’t,” she answered nervously.
“Yes she is,” Maverick agreed.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Oh nothing baby. I want y’all to eat before the food gets cold.”
“I’m sorry. I had to get myself together.”
“It’s okay.”
“Can I sit down for a minute and talk to you?”
“Sure. What’s going on?”
“I have a lot on my mind.”
“Like what?”
“My friend is missing.”
“Missing? Have you spoken to her?”
“Not in a week.”
“What’s going on?”
Ms. May grabbed her cup from the table and took a sip.
“I don’t want to worry you. I’m sorry.”
“No ma’am. You need to sit back down and let’s talk about it. Have you reached out to the police?”
“The police in that town is not going to do anything. They have been harassing her too.”
“We need to get some other people involved. I’m not good with that stuff but I’m sure, Maverick can help.”
“He’s going through it as well. They were actually dating.”
“Oh I didn’t know. That’s why I haven’t heard from him in a while.”
“Yes. We actually fell up on each other at her house earlier. We were riding by to see if her car was moved.”
“Well has it?”
“No. It’s been a week now.”
“I’m going to pray that she isn’t dead. You know that they say the first 48 hours are the most important.”
Quinn let out a laugh.
“I’m serious. Yes, I watch “The First 48” but that’s what they say.”
“I know. I actually talked to her in the first 48 hours. We lost contact last Friday. I haven’t been right since.”
“Maybe she decided on a vacation or something.”
“She doesn’t do vacations like that.”
“What are you two talking about?” Maverick asked as he walked from the back.
“None of your business.”
“Oh, well. I’m ready to eat.”
“And what’s stopping you?” she asked turning in her recliner to look at him.
“I thought—
“You thought nothing. Gone in the kitchen. I’m trying to talk to this young lady.”
“Well excuse me.”
“Exactly. Now you and Lamar make your plates. Make sure to pray over the food even though I did that while I was preparing it. And sit down.”
“Can we watch football?”
“What’s the rule in the house?”
“We have to eat our food before we can watch television.”
Lamar came from the back and smiled at Ms. May.
“You too. You have to eat before you can watch tv.”
“Oh, that’s fine with me. I have no complaints. Let me know how much we owe as well.”
“Pay for what?”
“The food. I don’t want to leave without giving you something.”
Ms. May stood up and walked over to him. “I don’t know where you grew up but thank you.”
“For what?”
“For understanding the value of appreciating someone. I don’t want your money. The meal was going to be prepared if you showed up or not.”
“I hear you. I won’t be leaving without dropping something in your hands. My grandma always told me that. I don’t care if I was invited.”
Ms. May smiled and squeezed his arm before sitting back down.
“When is the wedding?” she asked directing her attention to Quinn who was watching the whole interaction.
“Wedding?”
“Yes. I’m sure y’all have talked about it. He’s raised well, doesn’t seem to be in the streets, he smells great. Groomed and respectful. So, yes when is the wedding?”
“I don’t think that he wants to be married.”
“What about you? Do you want to be a wife one day?”
“Yes ma’am and a mother. I’m not rushing it.”
“Humph. I hear you. I said the same thing and wasted so much time. And then Maverick’s dad came around and showed me what I’m supposed to have.”
“It will happen when it’s supposed to.”
“At least talk to him about it.”
“Right now my primary focus is to find Brinley.”
“Yeah. That’s true. I hope you all find her.”
“We’re going back to look for her once we get finished here.”
“That’s good. I would come along with but I’m not good with stuff like that. Have they put out a missing person’s report?”
“We have not.”
“What about her mother?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“What about her job? Have they reached out to anyone about her whereabouts?”
“Not to me. Maybe to her mother but she’s been going through some things with them as well. It’s been a mess.”
“I see. Sounds like a lot of suspects. This is going to be difficult.”
“I kind of think it was some of the neighbors.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I noticed a lot of different things one day. She started training for a 5k.”
“A what?”
“I’m sorry,” she laughed. “A marathon. Well a race and ever since then things have been sour and weird. The police has been randomly stopping by. A lot of different things are going on in Micro.”
“Micro?”
“Yes. Micro. Do you know of that town?”
“All you had to say was the town. I know how those folks down there are. You don’t have to say anymore.”
Quinn nodded her head.
“You need to go and eat. Try to take your mind off of it. I don’t have any wine.”
“I need to have a clear head. I’m going to join these two. I hope they left me some food.”
“There is plenty. If they ate all of that food, they need a beating.”
Quinn walked into the kitchen which was decorated with black and white appliances and marble floors. She stopped walking because it was like de’ja’ vu.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“This place. I feel like I’ve been here before. The kitchen to be exact.”
“She gets that a lot. She redesigned the kitchen from one of those model homes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Unless you know something that I don’t.”
“I don’t,” she laughed. “Did y’all leave me any food?”
“A little bit. I think there’s enough for a plate.”
“Are you serious?”
“What’s going on in there?”
“Oh nothing. I’m sorry,” she called back. “Did you fools really eat all of the damn food,” she whispered.
“We tried.”
Quinn walked to the stove and drooled over the spread. There was ham, turkey, collards, macaroni and cheese, yams, rice, stuffing and mashed potatoes and gravy.
“The rolls are in the oven.”
“Rolls, too?”
“She throws down. And all of it is so good.”
Lamar couldn’t talk. His mouth was full and greasy.
“Lamar, you can’t talk?”
“Not right now,” he laughed.
“I see.”
“Maverick, take the tea out of the freezer!” she called out.
“Yes mother.” He shrugged his shoulders. “She always cooked like there was more than three people in the house.”
“You’re an only child?”
“Yes. I know I don’t act like one.”
“I haven’t been around you long enough to agree to that.”
“Forget you,” he laughed.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
“Maverick your phone is ringing. It says Kendall.”
“Don’t answer it.”
“I wasn’t,” she stated sitting back in her seat.
“I wonder what he wants.”
His phone started ringing again before he got to return the call.
“Hello!”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at my mom’s. What’s up?”
“You need to get to Micro and soon.”
“For what? What’s going on?”
“I can’t tell you over the phone.”
“How much time do I have? I wanted another plate and to watch some football.”
“You don’t have time for that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were going to be in town?”
“I don’t have to tell you my every move. Get to Micro. I’m giving you an hour.”
“Dam—Dang man,” he correct himself. His mom shot him a look. “I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Okay.”
Maverick ended the call.
“Who was that?”
“I have to leave.”
“You just got here.”
“I know. But it’s important.”
“I’m important.”
“Ma, a lot is going on right now. I need to get to Micro.”
“Oh, did they find her?”
“Find who?”
“Brinley, I think that’s the name that Quinn said.”
“I don’t know. That was Kendall. My friend that was her security for a little while. He’s there and wants me to get back.”
“Oh okay. I understand. Make sure to pack you a to go plate.”
“I might not have time.”
“Micro isn’t an hour from me. Pack a plate. You need to eat. Stress will kill you.”
“Okay.”
“Be safe.”
“I am.”
“Hey, y’all we have to leave.”
“For what?” Lamar called back from the den. He was watching one of the football games.
“I just got a call from my homeboy and he told me to get back.”
“Is it about Brinley?”
“I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me over the phone.”
“Let’s go.�
�
“I need to fix a to go plate,” Lamar stated as he sped walked back into the kitchen to wash his hands.
“Ma,” Maverick called out.
“Yes.”
“You didn’t make dessert?”
“Oh. Goodness, I forgot. Check the fridge. There should be some pies in there.”
“Sweet potato?”
“Check them to see. And stop hollering in my house.”
Lamar started laughing.
“Man, do you see what I go through. Yes ma’am.”
Quinn rubbed her stomach before standing up.
“What do you want?” Lamar asked looking over his shoulders.
“This is not your food. You need to stand down before I knock you down.”
“I need to give your mom a hundred for this food. I don’t think I’ve had a meal this good in years. Like I don’t understand.”
“I agree. It was out of this world. Exactly what I needed to make me feel at home. I miss, Brinley.”
“She’s not going to take the money but you can try and give it to her yourself. I’m not getting fussed out again for you.”
“I don’t mind. She can’t take no for an answer.”
“How about you do it when we’re walking out. She can’t fuss then,” Maverick laughed. “We need to get on the road though.”
“I’m almost ready. I’m trying to get my to go wrapped up.”
“You wrapped that up fast. Do either of y’all like sweet potato pie?”
“Do we? Well I do. I need a big piece,” Quinn started.
“Wrap one of the pies up and leave me the other one.”
“Are you sure?” Maverick asked.
“What did I say? Y’all are going to be late.”
“We’re getting on it.”
“She heard what I said about the money,” Lamar whispered.
“It’s a little too late to be whispering now,” he laughed. “I forgot to tell you that she has great hearing.”
“I sure do.”
Quinn was standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to help clean the kitchen.”
“No, ma’am. Y’all need to leave. It’s important,” she stated waving her away from the sink.
“I tried.”
“I appreciate it. The first time you’re a guest. The second you aren’t,” she laughed.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Y’all be safe.”
“Ms. May, I can’t thank you enough for this beautiful meal in this beautiful home. I’ll be back and not only for the food.”
She started laughing.
Running Deeper Than a Race Page 15