“Don’t say anything else. Get those three out of the cars. They are the ones that did this. Don’t ask us shit. We’re taking our friend to her home. It’s a damn shame that she died a mile from her home and nobody cared to notice. This town is going to hell in a hay basket.”
Lamar and Maverick followed behind like they were helping carry the casket.
“Which car are we using?”
“You can put her in mine,” Kendall answered.
“Get y’all asses out and talk to the police,” Lamar demanded.
Officer Miller stood in awe. He closed his mouth as Lamar walked over to him.
“I know you don’t believe us but they did it. They put the dog on her and then ran her over. Once they did that, they put her in the car and placed her in this home,” he pointed at the house behind them. “I’m a retired officer but if you need help. I can get you some. You have a murder case on your hands.”
“Y’all moved evidence?”
“So? And y’all haven’t moved shit. Not one fucking finger. It’s a shame that you harassed her and now look. She’s gone.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Save that shit. We will be around. Don’t worry about it.”
Lamar walked away and went to help them get her inside of the car.
“Once we get to the house. I’ll have to make the call.”
“How are we going to get inside of her house?”
“I think I know where she keeps a spare key,” she stated.
“Okay, cool.”
Quinn cried the whole ride back to the house, as she leaned her against the window. “The feelings weren’t playing with me. I knew something was going to happen but not this soon.”
“Quinn, there is nothing that could have prevented this.”
“If she went with me for a while, that would have stopped it.”
“That could have postponed it but not all the way stop it. She was alone minding her business. She lived here. It wasn’t like she was causing problems. The only problem she was causing was making the neighborhood beautiful. Yes, she didn’t deserve to go out like that but there is nothing that would have stopped this.”
“I still don’t like this feeling.”
“I know. Let’s get inside.”
Quinn walked to the back of the house and searched inside of the recycle bin. There was a little box inside because she hardly recycled that held two spare keys.
“Where is she going?”
“To get the key,” Lamar stated.
Kendall nodded his head.
“Do you think that they’re going to handle the situation?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll be back,” Lamar answered.
“I got it.”
“Okay. Good.”
30 minutes later...
“Hello!”
“Hey, baby. Any news about Brinley?”
“Hey, Ms. Tonya.”
“Do you want me to talk to her?” Maverick mouthed.
Quinn shook her head no.
“Can you come to the house?”
“What house?”
“Hers.”
“Oh my God. Did you find my baby?” She grew excited. “Why didn’t she call me herself?”
“She wanted to,” she lied.
“I’m on my way. I’ll be there in about 30 minutes.”
“Take your time.”
Quinn hung up the phone and put her face in her hands.
“Why don’t we clean her up?”
“I want to but there are parts of me that want her mother to see what we found. I don’t know. I’m having mixed feelings about it.”
“I’m sure that she wants to see what we found.”
There was a knock on the front door.
“That was fast.”
“I’m sure that’s not her. Probably one of those sorry ass police officers."
Lamar went to answer the door. He yanked it open. “Yes, what can I help you with?”
“Can I come in?”
“Hell, no!” Maverick answered.
“No sir. You heard my partner. You can stand right there and tell me what’s going on.”
“Exactly,” Maverick continued as he walked to the door with his arms crossed.
“Did you arrest them?” Kendall asked he stood behind them.
“I would love to come in and discuss this issue.”
“How about we go in the yard and talk about it? How about that? We don’t want your energy invading our space. It’s enough of that outside.”
They all stepped forward causing the officer to back down off of the steps.
“Thank you,” Kendall stated. “What’s the deal?”
“So, we can’t arrest them.”
Maverick walked around in circles. Kendall stuck his chest out while Lamar laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“Don’t ask me questions. I don’t know what the fuck they told you but it was a lie.”
“Self-defense.”
“How?”
“They told me that she charged at them and they accidently hit her with the door handle.”
“Do you hear this shit?” Lamar asked interlocking his fingers behind his head. “You could have kept that shit to yourself.”
“That is true.”
“Get the fuck on,” Maverick yelled. “Don’t bring your ass back over here anymore. Your services were never needed. You’re standing here talking about some fucking self-defense. Do you know how fucking big she is? She would never charge at a car. If anything she was getting out of the way,” Maverick explained taking his gun out of his holster. “I should blow your fucking brains out for coming over with this shit,” he cried. His vision was starting to become blurry from the tears.
Kendall stepped behind him. “Put it down. He isn’t worth it. We’re going to handle it our way.”
“I want to beat your ass. My girlfriend is dead because you want to talk stupid. I knew you weren’t shit the first time I saw you. But I didn’t think that you were this fucking dumb. Like for real.” Maverick slowly lowered the gun and placed it back on his hip. He walked back inside of the house and didn’t bother looking back.
“I would advise you to leave. Her mother is on the way. I don’t know this woman but she could be packing. It would be in your best interest to leave.”
Kendall did a head nod and walked away.
Lamar started walking away and then turned around. “You have started a war. I hope you’re ready.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Tonya grabbed her pistol just in case. She wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen but she double checked to make sure that it was loaded. She tried not to speed but by the vague information in the conversation something was wrong with, Brinley.
She noticed as she was coming into the town from Smithfield that there was a lot more police cars than normal. Her palms became sweaty as she tried to wipe them off. She pulled on the street and let out a sigh of relief. There was two other cars besides Brinley but she was relieved.
“I hear a car.”
“I hope that’s her mother. My stomach is in knots. I can’t keep walking in circles,” Quinn stated.
“I see lights coming into the driveway.”
“That’s her.”
Quinn stopped walking. She held her stomach as her nerves were trying to get the best of her.
“What do I do?”
“Act normal,” Maverick laughed.
“I can’t. This situation isn’t normal.”
“But you’re making all of nervous. I don’t know. Can someone tell a joke or something?”
“We’re all joked out. I hope I don’t get the bubble guts,” Lamar stated.
“Why are you nervous?” Kendall asked.
“Yes, I’m a retired officer but it’s been a long time since I’ve had to turn that side of myself on. I don’t mind being the person to do it but Quinn, you might want it be more personal.”
She nodded her head.
�
�Okay. Purse, gun, phone. Phone, gun, purse. Let’s go,” she said to herself. She closed the door.
“Uh oh, that’s her.”
Knock. Knock.
“Come in. The door is unlocked.”
“If you don’t get your ass up and open the door for her. I can’t believe you did that,” Kendall stated getting up to let her in.
“Umm. Is Brinley, here?”
“I’m Kendall. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Tonya, Brinley’s mother. Quinn called me. Is she here?”
“Yes ma’am,” he motioned for her to come to the door.
“I’m sorry. Hey, Ms. Tonya. Thank you for coming.”
“I thought you had some information on Brinley. Why are y’all here and she isn’t answering her own door?”
“Can you come in?” Quinn asked stepping away from the door.
“And it’s more of you? What happened?”
“Well—
“Did someone hurt her? Please tell me that she’s sleeping and exhausted.”
“Can we sit down? In the den? I don’t mind telling you standing up but I don’t think it would be of great manners to do it like this.”
“Okay,” she stated walking into the den. The fellows watched on as they sat down. Lamar was trying to focus on the television but his mind was wondering.
“I’m glad you called me. I was worried to death,” she smiled as she put her belongings on the table.
“I’m glad to see you. How have you been?”
“Enjoying my retirement. You know.”
“I wish I did,” she laughed.
“Your retirement will come. You’re still young.”
“You’re right,” Quinn got choked up. She grabbed Tonya’s hand.
“Oh, you’re getting serious.”
“There have been a lot of different things going on in the neighborhood and most of them have been against, Brinley. You know about the work issues but there were a lot of crazy things going on around town as well.”
“I saw all of the police cars. Is she in jail?”
“You know, Ms. Tonya,” she paused. “I really wish it was that simple.”
“What do you mean?”
“This town is apparently fill of racism. She was a victim of it and they killed her.”
“My soul. I don’t think I heard you correctly. They did what?”
“Yes ma’am. We had to. Me and the guys here had to go and find her body.”
“I don’t think I’m understanding what you’re saying. Where is she!” she yelled.
Quinn stood up. “You might smell something but we were able to get her body and bring her home.”
“OMG! They really killed her? How do you know?”
“They confessed.”
“Where are they?”
“I don’t know. We left them with the police. That’s all I know from there.”
Tonya stood up with her. “Can I see her?”
“She’s in her room. We didn’t clean her up or anything. We really didn’t know what to do. We were all mourning and trying to see the best way to let you know.”
“I appreciate this.”
“Do you want me to go back with you?”
“No. I think I can handle it.”
“I’m not going to lie. It’s not the prettiest sight.”
“She will always be beautiful to me.”
Maverick lost it. He had to walk outside and get some fresh air.
Tonya stood in the entrance of the master bedroom before walking in. She turned the light on and shook her head as the tears fell. “It wouldn’t be you if you didn’t go out on your own accord. I’m so upset. I can’t believe this. You don’t look like yourself. You look like you suffered,” she stated as she kneeled down beside the bed, holding her hand. The sheer pain of having to bury her daughter overcame her.
“Your soul. Your heart. You took your time coming and you haven’t wasted any time leaving. I wished I had more time with you. I hope you knew how much I loved you and how much you meant to me.” She hummed as she rocked back and forth crying for about an hour.
“Do you think that we should go back there?”
“She’ll be out when she’s ready. That’s her baby,” Lamar answered.
She walked out with her bag on her arm. “I need to call the funeral director. I appreciate you all. I don’t know what all needs to be said but I’m sure she loves you all differently.”
Quinn smiled at her through tears. Maverick stood up and hugged her.
“You don’t know me but I was friends with Brinley. I tried to protect her but they got to her before I could.”
“Baby, you don’t have to explain yourself. Thank you for trying. You weren’t put here to protect her.”
“I feel like I was. She was special to me.”
“Yes she was special,” she cried as she pulled away from him.
Lamar wanted to hug her but his feet wouldn’t move.
“I think we need to get her in a freezer and embalmed.”
“Okay.”
“I can call them if you need me to,” Lamar volunteered.
“I got it baby. I might be a basket case when I get finished but I can do it. I can feel the love.”
Kendall stood up and sat back down. He dropped his head in his hands. There was something about her gentleness that pulled at his heart strings. She was giving him positive energy even while her daughter’s body was laying in the bed.
“Keep being good people. I’ll be back,” she answered as she walked outside.
“Wait. We can step out and you can make the call. It’s cold out there,” Maverick stated.
She didn’t disagree. She nodded her head and waited for them to go outside.
“Hello!”
“Yes sir. I need someone to come and pick up my daughter.”
“What’s the address?”
“538 Franklin Street, Micro NC.”
“Micro?”
“Yes sir. It would be in your best interest to come and get her now.”
“Why?”
“She’s been sitting out and I’m sure dead for a few days.”
“Oh ok. I’m currently in Wilson. So give me 30 minutes at the most. We’re going to be on the way. I’m sorry about your loss.”
“Thank you.”
She walked to the door and motioned for them to come back inside.
“Thank you. I hope they’re on their way.”
“They are. I hope you all aren’t too cold.”
“We’re fine. Some Thanksgiving, huh?” Lamar asked.
“I would say yes but I’m not too big on holidays since I’m not working anymore. Every day feels like a holiday to me.”
“That’s good. Can I come and hang with you? I’m retired too."
"You do not look old enough to be retired.”
Lamar laughed. “I get that a lot.”
She wiped her face as the water works started up again. “It’s amazing how we raise our kids to be good people and that’s the one thing that is used against them. I’m sorry guys. This is hard. I’m trying to fight through it but this isn’t right. It’s not fair. I’ve been trying to process it but I shouldn’t have to. I have revenge on my mind.”
Quinn placed her arm around her shoulder and rocked back and forth with her. “I wish I could erase your pain. This one is hard.”
She laid her head on her shoulder and cried it out.
They needed each other as the guys looked on. They were crying and shaking their heads as they silently plotted on their next move. Quinn didn’t know that the police let them all go. They have to die, Maverick cried.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Saturday November 24th, 2018
The day of the 5k
“ARE YOU SURE THAT YOU want to run this race? It hasn’t quite been 48 hours.”
“I know. She would want this. I know it’s not a good idea because I haven’t been training but I have to. She deserves this from me,” Quinn answered tyin
g her shoes.
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Stand on the sidelines and cheer me on.”
“I can’t do that. It’s cold out here.”
Quinn cut her eyes at him. “You used to do stakeouts. Why are you cold?”
“My ass is old. I can’t take what I used to,” he laughed.
“Lamar, take your ass inside.”
“Who is that?”
Quinn’s face lit up. She reached out and embraced, Maverick.
“What are you doing here?”
“You already know. My baby wouldn’t want it any other way. Plus, she sent me an email.”
“What?”
“Yes, she sent an email.”
“What does it say?”
“Yes, what does it say?” Lamar joined in.
“Shut up.”
Maverick,
I know I stress you out but I love you. Thank you for sending Kendall to protect me. I’m so ready for this 5k. Please, stand at the finish line when I finish.
Love,
Brin
“What the hell? Why did I ask you to read that?” Quinn asked as she wiped her face.
“I’m sorry. She loved me.”
“Of course. She was stubborn but she falls hard.”
“I fell hard too. I wish she was still with us.”
“She’s with us.”
“It doesn’t feel the same. I can’t even lie. I really can’t.”
“I know. I catch myself dialing her number and then I have to stop myself.”
Lamar wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
“I think that’s enough of the emotional stuff.”
Quinn’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She blinked a few times and tried to focus. “What does that say?” she asked as she turned her phone to show Lamar.
“Is that a message from?”
“From, Brinley.”
BRINLEY: Sis, I love you. I’m going to kill this race. I know you can’t be here with me but thank you for always being willing to protect me. Without you I don’t know where I would be. Hurry back so we can have healthy food and wine together. Love you long time. Hey, make sure to bring your husband back.
Quinn fell to her knees. Maverick went down with her.
“How did she do that?”
“Who has her phone?”
“I don’t know. It’s like she sent me exactly what I needed to hear. I never understood how we were so connected and she always knew when something is wrong with me no matter the time of day or night that it was.”
Running Deeper Than a Race Page 19