“I don't think so,” Jamara frowned. “I try to avoid law enforcement types at all costs. Hanging around Garrett is enough for me.”
“I understand,” Marcus said, knowing she was on probation. Garrett walked up to Marcus.
“Here,” Garrett said, attempting to hand Marcus a gun. “Take this. You might need it.”
“Thanks, but no thanks, Garrett,” Marcus replied pushing the gun away. “I think we'll be all right without it.”
“You sure? If we're right about this, at least five people have been killed over this information.”
“Really, Garrett, I'll be fine.”
Marcus and Carmen walked to the car and got in. “Are you sure we didn't need that gun, Marcus? Garrett is right, a lot of people have gotten killed over this,” Carmen said as she drove off.
“Will be fine, Carmen. Trust me.”
“Okay, if you say so. And speaking of Garrett, I think him and Jamara got a thing going on.”
“I wouldn't be surprised if they did. Jamara's a very pretty woman and besides, he thinks Paven is seeing somebody else.”
“What makes him think that?”
“His oldest daughter, Aleana told him that Paven goes out late every night and she doesn't come home until early in the morning.”
“Sounds like she gotta man to me,” Carmen said as they approached a red light. Carmen put her foot on the brake, and it went down to the floor board. She tried again; the brake light on the dash board came on. “There's something wrong with the brakes!”
“What's wrong?”
“They don't work!”
“Look out!” Marcus yelled as they approached the cars stopped at the light.
Hydroplaning out of control on the wet surface, Carmen was able to maneuver her way around them. As she sped through the intersection, an oncoming car approached with the driver leaning on his horn.
Carmen was almost passed him, but he clipped the tail end of her car, cau
sing it to go into a spin. Another car hit them and forced them off the road. The car sailed down the hill headed for a cluster of trees. Carmen pulled up the emergency brake. The car began to spin again.
“Cut the wheel hard to the left!” Marcus yelled.
Carmen turned the wheel as hard as she could.
The back tires burst, as the car came out of its spin, continuing to slide down the hall sideways. Getting closer to the trees. The car collided with a tree, just behind the rear passenger door. The window shattered. The passenger cabins multi-chamber air bag system deployed from the headliner when sensors detected the side impact, protecting Marcus from head injury and the broken glass. Instead, his head slammed into the airbag. Carmen fell into Marcus. The front of the car hit another tree and bounced off. Marcus and Carmen held each other tight as they jerked in the opposite direction.
The car stopped.
“Marcus!” Carmen took off her seatbelt. “Are you alright?” she said removing his seatbelt.
“Huh?” Marcus muttered.
Carmen grabbed Marcus by the shoulder and dragged him out if the car.
“I'm all right, Carmen,” Marcus said leaning on Carmen's shoulder, as they moved slowly away from the car. “I'm just a little dizzy, that all.”
“Really, Marcus? I would have never guessed. You did hit that airbag pretty hard.”
“That shit hurt, too.”
QUINTESSENTIALLY