Maverick Effect (Chapter 23)

Maverick was going home.  The jet was flying them all the way from his summer house near Kyoto, Japan to his hometown in southwest Texas.  The girls had all cleared their schedules, both Natalie and Jessica at the expense of leaving some very huffy publists behind.  They all noticed that Maverick spent most of his time aboard in the other compartment, making calls that they guessed had to do with funeral arragements.  They at least knew that he wouldn’t have to make many because his father had been in the military and they would provide the burial plot and the like.  They also noticed that Maverick had come into the jet with both of his hands bandaged.  None of them had said anything, fearing that Maverick would throw them off the plane before they left.  Now, it didn’t really matter if they asked or not, but none of them had the chance.  It was easy to guess that Maverick had been in the rage room again though.   They had attempted conversation when the jet had taken off, but it had tapered off quickly.  Now everyone was silent with their own thoughts.  Angie looked down at the case next to her.  She had to reread the text message that Maverick sent her twice before she was sure she had read right.  He had told her to get his acoustic Red out of its storage unit and bring it with her.  Maverick hadn’t played his acoustic for years.  No one, with the exception of Lily had even seen the Red.  Maverick had only played the violin once, right after he bought it, using the money from his first album.  It was one of the most valuable instruments in existance.  Lily had only seen it in the case since she was usually leading the security detail that accompanied it whenever Maverick transported it.  Angie didn’t know why Maverick would ask for it, but she had brought it regardless, accompanied by Lily.  Just the case was interesting enough.  The case was made of wood, steel, and silver.  It had been incased after that in a composite similar to carbon.  Except this was bulletproof, shockproof, g-force proof, vibration proof, and fire proof.  It was sealed in its own temperature controlled atmosphere with a area adjust unit.  It was totally sealed making it waterproof.  You could leave it for three months in the bottom of the ocean and not a bit of moisture would make its way into the case.  The case had a handprint and DNA signature lock on it.  It was coded to open to Maverick and to Maverick alone.  It had two tracking units, both permantely attacted to each the violin and the case.  It had a unit with the ability to offer a debilitating shock, similar to a electrified fence or if, at last resort, could self destruct.  Angie was still looking at the case, thinking to herself when Maverick walked into the compartement.  Everyone looked up.  He looked at each of them in turn.

  “We’ll be landing in ten minutes.  My family is waiting at the airport.  And, I haven’t said it before, but thank all of you for coming with me.  Things are going to seem very strange while we’re here, so I just ask for your patience and support.”

  Angie got up slowly, hoping Maverick wouldn’t push her away and hugged him tightly.  She felt his arms encircle around her and she had to fight back the tears that she knew he wouldn’t shed in front of them.  One by one the girls came forward and joined in hugging Maverick.  They stayed that way until the jet finally came to a stop at the gate.

-Damien