“So, y’all cleaning the fucking place and everything.” Kendall took a deep breath as he prepared himself for the worst.
“We didn’t want the place to start smelling in the neighborhood.”
“It didn’t matter. The neighbor didn’t care for her anyway and I’m sure that she wasn’t going to call the police.”
“We don’t know about the other people.”
“Y’all are all in cahoots together. Stop trying to throw me off. Open the fucking door.”
Joe walked in and moved out of the way.
“Where is she?”
“In the room to the far right.”
He let out a deep sigh as he slowly walked into the house. There was a mixture of Clorox, Pine Sol and another cleaning solution that he couldn’t put his finger on that filled the air.
He stopped at the entrance of the room as he saw her laying on her side. Her hair was all over her head even as it was in a ponytail and her clothes were dirty. He shook his head as he quietly stepped closer to her. The tears were burning the back of his eyes, causing tension.
Joe bring your ass in here. He creeped and stood beside him.
“Y’all let her die like this?”
“I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. I can’t believe that y’all didn’t try and find her people. I can’t believe this,” he stated as he kneeled down in front her. “I’m so sorry baby girl. We knew something was going to happen but not this soon. I can’t believe that I couldn’t protect you,” he cried. He gathered her stiff body in his arms as he rubbed her face. He tried to smooth her hair out, which was no longer straight. He laughed as he thought about the bonnet that she once wore. He glanced down at her feet and his crying got heavier. Her bright orange Puma’s were dirty and soaked with blood.
“I’m sorry.”
“Shut the fuck up. I can’t believe this,” he wiped his eyes. “Maverick is going to shoot this place up. I hope you’re ready to die behind your decision.”
“It wasn’t mine to make.”
“Guilty by association. You kept this from us. You don’t get to say that you’re innocent.”
Kendall slid from under her and stood up. “I’m ready. I have to get my crew. Let them know what’s going on and come back.”
“Okay.”
As they were walking out of the house the police had his lights on.
“Here we go with this shit again. I’m going to the car. Handle your people. Let him know what’s going on and no details.”
“How do I do that?”
“The same way you kept this secret. Do it again. And don’t ask me nothing else.”
“Sir, where are you going?”
“Unless, I’m under arrest. Don’t speak to me. Thank you,” he said over his shoulder.
“What’s his problem?”
“Oh, he doesn’t have one. Nothing is going on.”
“Is that young lady in there?”
“What young lady?”
“The one that they’ve been looking for?”
“No. That’s why he’s mad. We’ll be back.”
“Where have you been? I haven’t seen you around lately.”
“I went on vacation for a little while.”
“Vacation?” he chuckled. “You don’t have a job to take vacations.”
“You don’t know what I have.”
“You deal drugs and sell them. You do not have a job to vacation from.”
“Selling drugs does require a vacation.”
“Oh ok. Whatever you say. I’ll be watching y’all.”
“Joe, bring your ass on. We need to get back.”
“I’ll see you around.”
Officer Miller looked on as Kendall pulled out knocking up dirt.
Kendall slapped him with the butt of the gun, busting his lip.
“What was that for?”
Kendall looked straight ahead and kept driving. He remembered the way back like he was heading home from work.
“I WONDER WHAT’S TAKING them so long?”
“She’s still alive and they’re talking to her.”
Betty shook her head. She knew that she was dead because she walked back inside of the house last Friday when she fell outside of the house.
“What are y’all doing with her? I thought she would be long gone by now?”
“I did too. Joe’s ass got scared.”
“I did not. I didn’t want to do this to begin with.”
“Whatever. We can’t keep fussing about this.”
“She’s losing a lot of blood.”
“Y’all help me, please.” She cried holding her side.
“We’re going to help you. I promise,” Joe tried to reassure her.
“Why are you lying? She’s dying and we know that.”
“I know y’all don’t like me but this is serious. Can you call somebody, please.” She cried as she continued to hold her side.
“Call that nurse that you know.”
“And do what? She can’t help us.”
“What about that doctor that you know?”
“He’s at work. Today is a work day.”
“I’m going to the store and get some pain meds.”
“Don’t,” she stood up. “Don’t worry about it.” She tried to make it to the front door and collapsed again.
Joe checked her pulse and there wasn’t one. “I think she’s gone.”
“Good,” Bill stated.
“I know I didn’t care too much for her appearance but I didn’t want her to die.”
“Why did you follow us inside? You knew something crazy was going on.”
“I thought she was going to be okay.”
“Stop lying.”
Betty shrugged her shoulders.
“THEY SHOULD BE ON THEIR way back now,” Bill stated. “Why did you bring them to us?
“They threatened to kill Bobby?”
“Fuck that dog.”
“Exactly,” Lamar agreed.
Quinn was sitting in silence. She was trying to gather the words that she would have to share with Brinley’s mother.
“Quinn are you okay?” Maverick asked.
She looked up and locked eyes with Maverick. They exchanged looks before she got up and walked over to him.
“I don’t want to cause a scene,” she paused. “She’s gone. I’ve been trying to shake the spirit all day but I can feel it. I normally get a vibe or two when she’s in distress but my radar isn’t going off. It hasn’t been.”
“I don’t want to call it until Kendall comes back.”
“I understand. I was in denial too,” she nodded her head hugging him.
Lamar looked on. They needed their moment. He didn’t know much about her other than the conversations Brinley would share with him. He couldn’t relate in that sense and she knew that. Lamar looked at Maverick who was visibly having a hard time. His posture changed as he released Quinn out of his grip.
“We’re going to be okay either way.”
“I don’t know,” he stated looking down.
When he looked up, Kendall was pulling into the driveway. He stopped the car and put in it park. He stayed in the car as Joe climbed out.
“Where is she?”
“We found her.”
“We know that but where the fuck is she? Did y’all bring her back?” Lamar snapped. He was pissed because Maverick was shaken because he was still sitting in the car.
“What happened?”
“I’m going to let him tell you.”
“I want you to.”
“I can but I won’t. It’s not my place.”
Betty sat down on the ground Indian style.
Kendall took a deep breath and got out. He closed the door and looked up. Lamar’s face was frowned and giving Joe the side eye as Maverick was in emotional distress and Quinn was smiling.
“I’m glad you came back,” she smiled at Kendall.
“I’m glad to see you.”
“What’s the deal, Kendall?”
/>
“Well, do you want the sad parts first or?”
“There aren’t any good parts so go ahead and spill it.”
“Let’s go back to town. I don’t think it needs to be discussed in front of them.”
“Why? I don’t want to ride back in suspense the entire time. Tell us.”
“We need to get them back and handcuff them so we can set the house on fire.”
“What house?”
“The one— he cut himself off. “You will see.”
Quinn could see that he was stalling and was nervous about relaying the message. “Y’all it appears the no answer is an answer. We know how to read in between the lines. We don’t need to sit here and let them see us upset. I agree. We should go back to town and handle this.”
“What’s the plan?”
“We’ll figure that out once we get there.”
“You take Betty and Bill with you. We’ll take Joe with us,” Quinn stated.
“That will work. We’ll meet back at Brinley’s house and figure out what we’re going to do there.”
“Can we go?” Bill asked boldy.
“Go where? To hell or six feet under?”
“I’m going home.”
“Ain’t this your home?” Maverick asked.
“No, this is one of many.”
“You need to burn this bitch down. It doesn’t need to be one of nothing. It’s not livable.”
“Let’s go.”
Lamar followed behind because he didn’t remember how to get back.
“Joe?”
“Yes?”
“How did she die?”
“Well.”
“How did she die?” she asked again.
“She fell and lost a lot of blood. We don’t know for sure but internal injuries.”
“And I’m sure she asked for y’all to take her to the hospital.”
“Yes,” he whispered.
Lamar swerved a little before getting back on the road. He glanced at the clock. 5:31 and the sun was setting. “My bad.”
Quinn nodded her head. “Does she have her phone?”
“Yes. Bill didn’t know that she still had it. Are you going to let us go?”
“I am not,” Quinn answered.
“How is that still a question? You can’t plead for your life. It’s not going to work. You crossed a line and you’re still asking for mercy. I don’t have mercy. You have to pray for that. I’m heartless now. You took a part of us away that we will never get back.”
“The level of pain you’ve caused us. Don’t ask to leave again. The only person that can save you is your police friend. I’m sure he knows what happened. And I’m sure he’s going to be waiting for us when we pull up. I can’t believe I’m spending my Thanksgiving mourning my best friend. My sister. All she wanted to do was compete in her first 5k and y’all took that chance from her because she was running in the fucking neighborhood,” she cried. She could feel the pain. It overwhelmed her mind as she knew she was struggling and there was nothing that she could do. “I failed her.”
Lamar pulled into the driveway and put the car in park. He glanced back at Joe who was sweating. “Don’t piss in my car or you’re going to get beat down for real.”
Joe looked ahead as Lamar stared at him.
Kendall circled the block and pulled up but didn’t pull in the driveway. He rolled the window down. “I think they’re at the house.”
“Who?”
“The fucking police. I swear they probably already moved her.”
“I don’t care. Where is she?”
“In that house at the end of Wilson street.”
“Are you serious? We were at the place and this bitch stopped us from going inside.”
Quinn walked to the car and pulled her out by her hair. “I should kill you with my hands. I’ve never met some of the most heartless people in my life.”
“I didn’t know that she was there,” she screamed. “Help me.”
“Beat her ass, babe.”
They all looked on as Quinn was beating her in a circle until she got tired.
“Let’s try and go down there before they move her. They will let us in,” Joe stated.
“Joe, I know you think that you’re some hero but you’re still on the shit list.”
“Let him talk. He might be on to something.”
“You think so. I don’t think that the police will allow it but let’s all walk down and see. I’m ready to give it a try.”
“We are not walking. Y’all might try and run. Let’s go. We’re all in. They don’t have a choice.”
“I’m ready.”
Kendall pulled off and drove towards the house. He saw Officer Miller looking in his direction as they got closer.
“Let one of us talk,” Bill stated.
“For what? I don’t believe that’s going to be any different than before we can see.”
“I’m for real. He’s a close friend. He’ll let us in.”
Bill tried to get out of the car. “Hold the fuck up,” he stated pushing his back against the seat.
“I’m not going to run. I’m serious. I know that y’all need closure.”
“Don’t worry about that. You’re not getting out of this car without me. I’m sorry. I don’t trust any of you.”
Bill looked over at Kendall whose face was laser tight. He wasn’t playing and he could feel the heat from his stare.
Officer Miller walked over to the driver side of the car and Lamar pulled up beside them in the road.
“What’s going on? Y’all can’t be here.”
“Officer Miller, right?”
“Yes.”
“What you’re about to do is trespass. This house belongs to Betty and she’s in the back seat. I don’t need any of you going inside of that house until I do. I lost something in there.”
“This is not her house. Where did you hear that from?”
“I was assuming because she was protecting it so damn hard that it was hers.”
Betty looked ahead. She started sweating as Kendall looked back at her. She turned her head towards the window.
“Hey, Kendall what’s the deal?”
“We’re surrounded around a bunch of fuckers man. I don’t know how we’re going to move about this situation.”
“Why are y’all together?”
“The same reason why you’re standing in front of my car. We need to go inside of this place. It won’t take but a minute.”
“Do you know what’s in there?”
“I do. Do you?” he asked staring up at him.
“I don’t. I have my suspicions.”
“Your suspicions aren’t going to help us. We need to go inside,” Kendall stated putting the car in park. He got out. He paused, “I don’t need either of you getting out of the car. Stay here. And if you’re froggy and get out. Trust me it’s going down.”
“Where are you going?” Lamar asked putting the car in park.
“Y’all can’t park in the street.”
“Watch us. Let’s go. Maverick, Quinn and Lamar. Let’s go. We have something that needs to be handled.”
“I don’t know where you think you’re going.”
Kendall looked down at him and crossed the street. Their cars were parked at the stop sign across the street from the house.
“Excuse me. Y’all can’t go in there.”
“Watch me.”
“What’s their problem?”
“They need to get inside. This is personal,” Officer Miller told one of the other officers.
“You aren’t going to stop them?”
“Man, why don’t you do that? You’re talking around us like we aren’t standing here.”
“I was talking to Officer, Miller..”
“I don’t give a damn who you were speaking to. I’m standing here. Talk to me. I know how to speak for myself,” Maverick stated.
“What’s the issue?”
“There isn’t one. We’re going in. They c
an stand outside. I found what I needed earlier and his pissy ass hasn’t done his job the entire time. I don’t care what they’re going to talk about,” Kendall stated giving all three officers a once over before walking inside.
“Alright. That’s our cue. We’re ready,” Quinn stated.
Kendall lead the crew inside. Quinn was holding her breath as Lamar held her hand. Maverick was trying to embrace himself but it wasn’t going to prepare him for what he was about to see.
“She’s in the room to the right.”
“Kendall,, is she really gone?”
“Yes, Quinn. Those bastards did this.”
Lamar dropped Quinn’s hand as he stepped closer to the door. He opened it and she sat on the floor in an awkward position.
“And she went out like this?”
“I said the same thing. She looks like she went in pain. I don’t understand how another human could watch someone else die like this,” Lamar shook his head.
“What the fuck is this? Her hair?” Maverick stated. He wiped his eyes as he went and sat down beside her. He picked her up and placed her in his lap. He brushed her hair out of her face. “I can’t believe they did this to my wife. We were going to get married,” he cried as tears hit her face.
“Somebody needs to go and get him,” Quinn whispered.
“He’s okay. He needed this. I cried and held her too. They let her die after running her over. I can’t believe this still happens in even in 2018.”
“Racism will never die. And we can’t kill them all,” Lamar answered.
“You’re right but those three need to die for this.”
“We can’t do it though.”
“I will,” Maverick answered. He gave Brinley a kiss on the head before gently placing her back on the ground.
“We need to get her out of here.”
“But where are we going to take her?”
“Home. She deserves to be at home when we make the call to her mom. She doesn’t need to find her like we did,” Kendall stated.
“You might be right,” Lamar nodded.
“Who’s going to take her out?”
“I will,” Maverick stated.
“Are you sure?” Quinn asked.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
They all backed up as Maverick picked her up and hugged her closed.
Quinn started brawling as she followed close behind. She touched her hand as they walked outside.
“Umm.”
Running Deeper Than a Race Page 18