LYNN
Angie broke in. "How about...Would you like a burrito?"
At the word 'burrito', Kanu's let out a bark. It took me a second to realize she had laughed.
"A burrito? Ha! Ah ha ha..What? A burrito?" She laughed again, then let out a bunch of big laughs that tumbled around the room.
I started too, I couldn't help it, "Ha Ha Ha! Oh, oh my gosh. Angie, why did you say that? A burrito! That's so ridiculous! From blackmail to burritos!"
We're right in the middle of...and then she asks about a burrito?
Angie was holding her belly, trying to stop. I had fallen off the beanbag chair onto the floor. I have no idea what was so funny. Kanu managed to get a few words out. "Are you kidding me, you think I want a burrito at a time like this? Ha ha, ah-ha ha I can..I cannot hold it in, this hurts ah ha ha ha. A burrito."
I was the first one to recover. "Okay," I said, "That was completely silly...Hah hahhhh." I tried to straighten out my face, took a deep, long breath and tried again. "Are we past the burrito moment? Can we talk for real?" I turned to Kanu. "I mean, I'm not blackmailing you, but you are dating my brother, right?"
Kanu nodded. "Yes, I am. I know who you are." She pulled a headband out of her handbag, and used it to pull her hair back from her face. "But it is really private information, meant to be undisclosed. You cannot tell anyone."
"Why?" asked Angie. "Is there a rule? And what's all this about blackmail?"
"Yes, in that he would lose his stipend if we were caught. It has to do with the deal he made with the University, and his department sponsor. Also, as a result of losing the money I understand that he would have to move back to New York City, and be with his family again, which would make him sad." She looked at me, and shook her head. What did she mean by that? "As for me, if my family found out I would definitely lose him. I would pay anything to keep that from happening."
"Why would your family make you guys break up?" I asked. Angie picked up a stuffed duck from her desk and threw it at me, just missing my ear. "Hey, what did you do that for?"
Angie said, "Because, you aren't supposed to ask people questions like that." She made a face at me, and for a second I was reminded of my mom. I was about to say so when I heard Kanu say something.
"Wha-, what did you say?" I asked.
"I said, my parents are very far away. They are back home, in India. Delhi, actually. So they do not know who I date, and they trust me. They would not be happy with me dating a non-Indian man. If they found out, they might not just break us up. They might even stop trusting me, and send me to a different school. Even back to India." She sighed. "That photo could end my life. I am very sorry for accusing you, Lynn."
Wow, someone's life depends on my brother? On me? "No...I mean...it's okay." I didn't know how to feel about this. Who was this girl?
"So yes, I am dating your brother. Finally, I am happy that I can talk about this to someone! Your brother, Jimmy, is a gentleman and we are having a nice time together. Look here, he bought me this necklace last week." She lifted her hand and pulled her shirt neckline down, just a little bit. A small heart pendant with a shiny stone decoration was hanging there on a gold chain. A fake diamond, I'm sure. But where did he get the money to buy even that?
She covered the necklace up, and continued.
"But I am not showing this present to anyone here, I am not telling the other kids here, in the dorm, and I am definitely not telling the other students in my classes. We are careful when we go out, we only go to places that students do not usually go. I have been to his apartment, and I know that Jimmy hides all of his pictures of me. He knows to keep it a secret. So tell me, how did you find out about us?"
Angie gave me an encouraging look.
"I took it," I said. "I mean, I found this picture while looking for clues about my brother, in his room. You can look at it, for a minute." I held it out again. "The important thing is I haven't seen him for days, and I'm worried. I don't know where he is. I think he's missing."
"Missing? You mean, as in 'hasn't been home in three hours' missing? 'Gone astray'? 'Wandering'? Or as in, 'must report to the police' missing?" Kanu had been smiling softly at the photo, but now she looked surprised. "But that is ridiculous. I saw him just yesterday."
My heart leapt into my throat. I gulped, and asked seriously, "You did? Do you know where he is?"
Kanu got a thoughtful look on her face, and touched her chin with one finger, which made me notice her heavy makeup. She replied, "The last time I saw him, we had just finished meeting for lunch at this Italian place on the far side of the Greenskill, do you know the one?" She looked expectantly at both of us. "No? Okay well it is a nice restaurant. They make very large meatballs. When he left me, he said he was going to go into town and meet some friends. I was expecting to call him later tonight."
Quietly, I said, "You can't call him. He hasn't been home for a while, two days, at least. I think that maybe, you were the last one to see him."
"That is ridiculous. Jimmy is always around." She looked concerned. "He must be."
Angie and I looked at each other, then back to Kanu. "I'm sorry, I just don't know," I said sadly. "But I'd like to find out."
We sat in silence for a beat, then Angie said, "Lynn, I think it's time for us to call the campus police. They can help us look for him."
But Kanu was shaking her head. "No, no, we can not call the police. They will ask too many questions. My cousin, who lives in Boston, will be called. Even if my parents do not find out, we must not risk losing Jimmy's stipend. He would be so mad at me. He does not like the police, as I understand he had some trouble with them in the past. Do you understand? I believe you do, Lynn. I know all about you."
"What do you mean?" I asked. "You know me, how?"
"I have heard many things about you from your brother. That you love to solve mysteries, and fix people's problems. That when you want to help someone, nothing can stop you." I felt my cheeks get hot. "This I have heard many times from your brother, he is very proud of what you have done to help your friends back home." Then she smiled. "He loves you."
"It's hot in here, right? I mean...what I mean is... I had no idea he felt that way." I swallowed. "At least not now, these days. He hasn't been around to tell me. I miss him." I took a deep breath. What's wrong with me? "I really, really need him. I need my f-family." The pressure was coming now, and I couldn't stop it. My throat tightened, and I tried to cover my face with my hand. My eyes filled with tears. I held my breath. I didn't want to cry.
Angie was by my side without me even knowing she moved. Her arm was around me and I heard her say, "It's okay, Lynn. He's lost, but we'll find him."
I let it all go. I heard myself wail, like I was watching it from the outside. Tears overflowed and ran down my cheeks, and my breath came in long and short moans. I hiccupped.
The only thing that felt real was Angie's arm around me.
After a few minutes, the tears slowed enough for me to hear that the commercial break was over, and the DJ was talking. "Here's some new music out of Seattle. You heard right, that's Seattle, Washington. This is Nirvana with, "Blew."
Huh? Blew what? Blew my nose? I hugged Angie, and wiped my eyes. "Uhhhggh," I said. "Oh, I totally needed that." I forced my mouth into a half-grin and pushed Angie out of the hug. "Thanks Angie."
Is there
Another
Reason for your stain?
The song was loud. Too loud for Angie, I guess, since she reached over and turned the dial down, then off.
Kanu was still sitting there, looking at me. Waiting for me, I think."So Kanu..?" I began.
"Yes?"
"I need to find him, now. Will you help us?" I asked.
"Yes, yes of course I will," Kanu replied, making me grin for real. "I will start," she said, "by telling you something you perhaps did not know about me. I have a car."
We lurched forward in our seats and said together, "You do?"
"Yes, I do. We can drive into town right now, and find Jimmy." She reached out with her hand and almost touched Lynn's arm, but stopped herself. "It will be okay, Lynn. It will be very easy. You will see."
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Janet