Cornered: Episode Two of the Sister Planets Series

by Leviticus James

“I found Maverick performing in a park. I was the one who hired her. Don had nothing to do with that.”

  “You honestly think a man with Don’s connections couldn’t have made sure you ran into each other that day?”

  “But he didn’t know I was looking for a musician. I didn’t talk about that with anyone.”

  Norah frowned. “Really? With no one? There’s no way you could have let that information slip?”

  Greenstreet’s squints at Norah, calculating her next move. He doesn’t say anything, so Norah continues. “Regardless of whether you’ll accept it, Don planted Maverick right where he wanted her. In exchange for information, he promised her comfort and stability after his death and a leadership position on the Foundation board. Without heirs, he willed his number to her. She agreed, and here we are.”

  Greenstreet is still silent. He’s chewing over every word Norah is saying, running it through the litmus test he’s designed in his mind to determine a lie from the truth. We’re silent for what feels like ages. I don’t dare fidget, in case that somehow betrays me.

  “So now what?” he asks.

  “I finish settling Don’s estate. I’d like to suggest making Maverick one of your legislative assistants.”

  “And why would I do that?”

  “Quit being prickly, Michael. She’ll be in your inner circle because Don also made provisions in his will on how his money could be spent by others. You need Don’s money to run your campaign, and you won’t get any of it unless his best interests are looked after. While she’s not an inheritor of any other part of his estate, Maverick possesses Don’s number and has had a previous relationship with him. She’s as good a person as any to observe.”

  With that last word, she gives a sly smile.

  “I suppose she gets every benefit of inheriting Don’s number?” the senator asks.

  “Yes, she does. First served when it comes to food, shelter, and medical attention. Those are the rules.”

  Greenstreet turns his icy gaze toward me. I try to stay resolved, but my insides quake like jelly.

  “Didn’t you hit the jackpot?” The room falls into a tense silence. Without breaking eye contact, Greenstreet continues. “Now that I know how accomplished you are, I’m thrilled to have you on my team. I’ll need the extra help now that there’s an open position.”

  Norah’s brow lowers ever so slightly. I wasn’t concerned, but I sure as hell am now.

  “What opening, senator?”

  Greenstreet pivots dramatically. He even puts his hand on his heart. “You mean you didn’t hear? Why, not half an hour ago, Sybil Metross was killed in a car accident. She was a royal pain in my ass … and will be sorely missed.”

  He turns back to me and looks directly into my eyes. “I’m holding a meeting with all my legislative assistants in two days.”

  “I’ll make sure she’s here with plenty of time to spare,” Jacob says, drawing the gaze of the senator off me.

  “Wonderful. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have another meeting.”

  We all stand. I suppress the urge to sprint to the door. Mika opens it for all of us, and soon we’re walking back to the foyer without the senator. Chopin’s “Piano Sonata No. 2” plays in my head with every heavy step I take.

  I’m going to die.

  If Sybil Metross—a former secretary of defense—couldn’t protect herself from Greenstreet, I never stood a chance.

  “Maverick!”

  I frantically look around to see who is shouting my name. It’s a woman dressed in white standing in the middle of the hallway that leads to the other side of the mansion.

  The only woman who can help me.

  “Amina!” I call out.

  I start walking briskly toward her. I hear Jacob and Mika both angry whispering, “Mav! Mav, what are you doing?”

  Amina speed walks toward me, her straight black hair swaying back and forth in time with her quick movements. The white pantsuit she’s wearing—which contrasts beautifully against her chestnut-colored skin—and the old-fashioned glass tablet cradled in the nook of her arm are her trademarks. Despite the fact she’s the highest-ranking member of the house staff, she chooses not to wear makeup. I’ve always respected her for that.

  We meet just outside the main lobby. “Where have you been?” she asks with pursed lips.

  “Didn’t you get my message from Ali?”

  She slow blinks and puts her free hand on her hip. “A note that says, ‘I’m sorry, ping some random lawyer to talk to me’ doesn’t tell me where you’ve been. I’ve been in a mad scramble trying to replace you.”

  Jacob and Mika enter my peripheral vision. They’ve finally caught up.

  “I’m really sorry about that,” I say to Amina. “My life is … we’ll call it ‘complicated’ and leave it at that.”

  Amina squints at me. “Ali’s recounting of the party speaks to that end.”

  I roll my eyes. “To be one hundred percent honest, I’m amazed Ali got the message to you.”

  Amina sighs. “He’s just a kid.”

  “So am I.”

  Amina squints at me again. “You don’t count.”

  I smile and roll my eyes. “Would you have time for coffee or lunch in the next couple of days?”

  Amina looks Jacob and Mika up and down with a critical gaze. “Sure. I’ll forward you my schedule.”

  “Send it to Norah,” I remind her. “The new job makes me keep a low profile.”

  She frowns. “Well, well. I can’t wait to hear about this new career. By the way you’re dressed and the company you keep, it must be more important than being the senator’s musician-in-residence. Because you don’t have that job anymore. To be clear.”

  She gives me a coy smile. I give one to her in return. “To be clear in return, I’m fine with that.”

  I give her Norah’s information and exit the mansion. Norah waits outside, frowning and with her arms crossed.

  “What took you so long?”

  I shrug and scowl. “I was talking to Amina.”

  Her frown deepens. She turns with a grunt, walks ahead of us without a word, and gets into her separate car. It doesn’t take a genius to see she’s mad. I would blame it on our spat or the fact I talked with someone she didn’t approve, but that’s not it. The meeting we just had made one terrible thing inescapably clear: Greenstreet is coming for me.

  I take a deep breath. It’s time to take a chance. I have nothing else to lose.

  Jacob, Mika, and I get into our car. Henry and Esau are inside. It isn’t until we pull out of the private drive that I break the silence.

  “Is there anywhere else we need to be right now?”

  No one in the car answers.

  “Okay, then I want to go to a resource center.”

  “What? Why?” Jacob asks.

  I want to tell him it’s because I know I’m on the edge of ruining this chance I have with Greenstreet. Of ending up dead. I want to say that I’m terrified of trying to intervene and turn things in my favor, but I’m even more terrified of doing nothing.

  I want to tell him about a plan I put into motion the day of the senator’s party that could be the saving grace of this mission. Or what blows it to bits.

  Instead, I say, “I bought some stuff. I need it for something I’m doing tomorrow.”

  “What did you buy at a resource center?” Mika asks.

  “You’ll see when we get there.”

  Mika and Jacob shoot me wary looks. Even Esau looks up from his screen.

  “Maverick,” Jacob says, “answer the question. What did you buy?”

  Chapter 11

  I walk into the empty lobby of the Salvation Army. It’s only nine in the morning, so the place is empty. The building is well-kept, but everything in it is old. Nothing has been replaced in twenty years. The man sitting behind the front desk looks like Santa Claus without the beard.

  “Good morning! How can I help you today, young lady?” he asks.

  I reach the desk a
nd tap on it nervously. “Well, I’d like to make a donation.”

  “Wonderful! Will this be a monetary gift, or will you be dropping off?”

  “Dropping off. It’s in my car outside, and it’s rather large. I have some people here to help. Can we just bring it all in here?”

  “Of course. Just have your friends leave it here in the lobby, and I’ll take care of it.”

  I inhale through my teeth. “See, when I say large, I mean huge.”

  The man’s smile freezes. “What kind of donation is it, miss?”

  “It’s a food donation. There are clothes and household goods in there, but it’s mostly food.”

  “Do you mind if I come and take a look at it?”

  “Sure, if you’d like.”

  I lead him to the front door, and we both step outside.

  “Which one is your car?” he asks.

  “That big blue and white one right there.”

  I’m watching his face as I say it. He surveys the street for a second, then his jaw drops when he sees the tractor-trailer parked half a block away.

  “Miss, are you saying that whole thing is for us?”

  “Yes, it is. I’ve got several other donation centers to visit today. If you don’t mind, I’m going to leave this with you. You don’t need anything else, correct?”

  He makes a noise that sounds like a fish trying to breathe out of water, so I stop him. “I don’t need a receipt. Make sure this gets to people who need it.”

  “Of course!”

  “Great.” I whistle. “Bring it on in boys!”

  The crew opens the back of the trailer. They drop a ramp and a forklift rolls out. It swivels and drops pallets into the street. The other crew members take pallet jacks and wheel the stacks of food, clothing, and household materials through the lobby of the donation center and into its back storerooms.

  As they start to file past me and preoccupy the clerk, I slip out of the lobby and into the black car parked across the street. Mika, Jacob, Esau, and Henry are inside.

  “Well,” I say, “that’s thirty-six down, seventy-six to go.”

  * * *

  The Net Mirror in my apartment has the same story on every channel.

  “Reporting live tonight from Paseo Red Cross, this is Lindsey Rivera. Dozens and dozens of tractor-trailers filled with a month’s worth of resources poured into the city this afternoon, delivering pallet after pallet to local charities like the one behind me. Every charitable organization in the city received at least one truckload—some two or three—and told to disperse them to any and all who visited.”

  The scene cuts to an elderly woman without any teeth. Her black skin sags, but her eyes glisten. “I was gonna run out of food before the month ended. I don’t know who went and done this, but I’m mighty grateful.”

  Shots of people lined up for blocks fill the screen.

  “While no official word has come from its offices, several sources are reporting that Amrian Enterprises is responsible for the gesture. An anonymous tipster told the Unity City Star that the late Don Merkatz’s estate coordinated this effort in an act of goodwill to the people of the city. We’ve contacted Amrian, but they have not yet returned our calls.”

  “Screen off,” Norah says. The Net Mirror goes black, and the room stays quiet. Norah stands with her arms crossed, tapping her foot. Without looking at me, she says, “You clever, clever girl. When did you start stockpiling?”

  “The day I found out I could buy whatever I want.”

  “How did you hide something like that? Why didn’t it show up on the books?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. Once you didn’t try to stop me, I figured you either weren’t paying attention, didn’t care, or it was coming from an account you didn’t know about.”

  Norah squints, then points at me. “You’re going on CNN tomorrow to announce that Amrian was responsible for the generous donation, you are the new chair of the Amrian Foundation, and you are the one who decided to honor Mr. Merkatz in this way. This puts you in an excellent light with the community and keeps Greenstreet from distancing himself from us or getting rid of you.”

  “Getting rid of her? He wouldn’t do that, would he?” Esau asks from his spot on the edge of the room.

  Jacob shakes his head. “You weren’t in that room yesterday, Esau. Greenstreet was icy the whole time. I wouldn’t have thought Maverick’s idea was any good if I hadn’t been there myself.”

  “She got it right this time, for sure,” Mika says with a smile. “Greenstreet can’t get rid of a Robin Hood. That would make him the Sheriff of Nottingham.”

  Norah looks my way for half a second and grins. “Nicely done, Maverick. I knew you had it in you.”

  I smile and bow my head. “Thank you. Whose money did I spend, by the way?”

  “Don’s personal money. The gift technically didn’t come from the Foundation, but it shouldn’t matter. I’ll just make sure his accountants allocate the funds correctly and it doesn’t look like Don was planning on writing this off on his taxes or anything.”

  Norah turns away and heads toward the door of my apartment. “His office hasn’t contacted me yet, but I’m sure the senator will want to talk to you first thing in the morning. I’ll go book the main news networks for tomorrow afternoon and have speaking notes sent up to you before the end of the night.”

  “Public broadcasting,” I say.

  Norah turns. “What?”

  “Public broadcasting. That’s where I want to break the news. I don’t want a corporation to be the first one profiting from an interview.”

  Norah squints. “Public broadcasts tomorrow. Major networks the day after.”

  “Deal.”

  She shakes her head. “You’re a strange one, Maverick.”

  “Thank you.”

  “One last thing. I want you to stop talking to Greenstreet’s Chief of House Staff. It’s too risky.”

  “Absolutely not,” I say dismissively.

  “This isn’t a negotiation, Maverick.”

  “You’re right, it isn’t. Amina is the only person who’s ever cared about my well-being. She nursed me back to health after Greenstreet installed my kill-switches, and she’s the only living soul who’s ever genuinely worried about me. I refuse to cut her off.”

  Norah opens her mouth to rebuke me, but I interrupt. “And she’s the best shot I have at finding your Martian room.”

  Norah stares at me with those penetrating, lawyerly eyes. After a few seconds of awkward silence, she turns and enters the elevator. Mika follows after her, as does Esau. Jacob stays behind and sits down on my couch. He’s back in his street clothes and looks more at ease than he did dressed as a lawyer.

  Norah places a wrinkled hand on the closing elevator door. “Jacob, what are you doing?”

  “Apparently I’m stunted when it comes to movies that matter. I’ve been told I need to watch more Johnny Depp. I figure now is a good time to start.”

  The arrangement of reactions in the elevator strikes me so funny that I laugh out loud. Esau rolls his eyes, Norah looks like she took a bite of some bad sushi, and Mika looks like a kid on Christmas morning. He runs back into the room.

  “Let’s watch Pirates of the Caribbean first! I don’t care what you say, Maverick, we’re watching the first Pirates movie.”

  Jacob turns with a face set like flint. “Mika, I swear to God I’ll murder you if you stay.”

  Mika rears back like a dog who has been struck by someone it loves. He turns around and sulks back to the elevator. Once he’s inside, Norah smashes the button.

  “You all are exhausting. Maverick, if you aren’t rested for your interview tomorrow, I’ll kill you and make it slow and painful. Do you hear me?”

  Fortunately for me, the elevator doors close in her face, and I don’t have to agree to anything.

  Chapter 12

  For a few seconds, Jacob and I don’t say anything. Obviously, I’m going to say something if he isn’t.

 
“Is this where you apologize to me?” I ask.

  He sighs. “Yes.”

  I pounce. “So you admit it. You’re a lying cheater.”

  Jacob purses his lips and puts his hands in his pockets. “Mav, I said I was going to apologize. Not confess something I didn’t do.”

  I grit my teeth, cross my arms, and start to walk away.

  “She’s my sister, Mav.”

  “Oh, come on, Jacob,” I’m over this. I head for the sofa. “I don’t care what kind of fraternity you think you’re a part of, nothing’s off the table unless you’re actual family.”

  “That’s what I’m saying. She’s my sister.”

  I turn my head so quickly that the muscles in my neck ache. “She’s your what?”

  “She’s my half sister. We share a father.”

  I sit down on the sofa. Instead of the superior drape I’d planned, though, I plop ungracefully.

  “Damn it, Jacob!”

  He throws his hands in the air. “What did I do now?”

  “Now I’m the one who has to apologize.” I collapse into the fluffy cushions and kick my feet. If I look like a toddler throwing a fit, that’s because it’s exactly how I feel.

  I sit back up. “Why didn’t you say that during our fight?”

  “No one knows but Nora. And Esau, obviously. Having lots of family ties within a secret assassination attempt makes things complicated, so we didn’t tell anyone else.”

  I close my eyes and massage my temples. “How does no one know you’re siblings? Isn’t that something that can be discovered easily by others?”

  “I never knew about Naomi. She never knew about us until she tried to find out who her father was. She’s actually who recruited Esau and me into The Red Hand.”

  I keep my eyes closed. I don’t like looking at people when I apologize.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “The whole situation wasn’t fair to you. I’m sorry for the miscommunication. Now come on. Let’s make some popcorn and watch a movie.”

  Without another word, I hear him walk into the kitchen. I take a deep breath, open my eyes, and stand. I follow him, and we both start to dig through the cabinets, half looking for popcorn.