Role Play by Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker

Author:Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker [Whitaker, Tu-Shonda L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35

Lorenz

Lorenz tucked the evening edition of First Look Journal beneath his arm and walked into an intimate luncheonette in Low Bottoms, West Oakland. “Welcome to Miz Martha’s Kitchen,” said a tall and thin honey-colored woman, dressed in a baby-pink waitress uniform. “I’m Miz Martha.”

“Good afternoon, Miz Martha!” Lorenz eyed the 1950s décor, complete with a pink Formica lunch countertop, where four elderly men sat and carried on about politics and one sipped a steamy cup of joe. Beyond the counter were five red vinyl booths on either side of the room, and a humming jukebox in the far-right corner.

Miz Martha continued, “That last booth on the left is empty; take that one. Once you get settled, my grandson, Tarique, will come and take your order.”

“Thank you.” Lorenz took his seat, and a few minutes later, a young man about eighteen took his order of sweet tea and tuna on wheat.

Lorenz glanced out the picture window and watched the back tires of a silver Camry roll over the curb. The car jerked to a stop, and a white woman—wearing oversized sunglasses and a black linen scarf over her hair and tied under her narrow chin—rushed out of the driver’s seat and disappeared.

The luncheonette’s front door swung open.

“Afternoon,” Miz Martha shouted.

“Hello. Afternoon, I was looking for—” the white woman said as she untied her scarf and slid off her glasses. “Never mind. I see him.” She walked to where Lorenz sat, slung her oversized shoulder bag onto the bench across from him, and sat next to it. “Lorenz?” She extended a hand.

“The one and only.” He smiled, accepting her gesture.

“I’m Rebecca. Thank you for meeting me here.”

“Of course,” he said, as Tarique delivered his food and looked over to Rebecca.

“May I take your order?” Tarique asked.

“I’ll just have a cup of coffee.”

Tarique quickly returned with her coffee and walked away.

Her hands trembled as she lifted the cup to her lips. As she sipped and sized Lorenz up, he took a bite of his sandwich and gave her the space she needed to measure his vibe.

The woman set her cup on the table. “Whatever I share with you—you cannot use my real name or give any hint that it’s me. Please.”

He covered her trembling hands with his, then looked into her eyes. “I always protect my sources.”

“You’d better.” Her hands quivered beneath his. “I’m putting a lot on the line.”

“Trust me.”

“I want to.” She slid her hands from his and placed them in her lap.

“No worries,” Lorenz assured her.

“I’m always worried, more today than ever.” She looked out the window and lightly clasped her throat. A sudden coolness covered her face.

“What’s wrong?” Lorenz pressed.

She pointed across the street. “See that black van?”

Lorenz followed her gaze. “What about it?”

“It’s the third time I’ve seen it this morning. I think it’s following me.”

Lorenz hesitated. He pointed to two farther up the street. “Actually, it’s not a van, per se. It’s a Mercedes Sprinter. And there are two more up the street. Are you sure it’s the same one?”

She shrugged, lowered the blind, and turned back to him.

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