And1One

The car ride to base wasn’t exactly the liveliest. The tension between Capt. Sharpe and Charlie was the loudest thing in the car as they passed over the Harvard Bridge into Cambridge. As Terri peered out the back seat window, she thought about how her mom loved this bridge. Especially at night. The lights from the buildings under a clear night sky was as beautiful a sight you would find anywhere in the world. Stanley sat in the middle afraid they were being followed. And Charlie sat in the back trying to maintain his composure. The streets were always busy in the summertime, mostly filled with college kids looking to have a good time. It took Stanley’s mind off of everything going on, even if it was for a minute or two. Remembering his days in college, some of the best years of his--

“Talk to me.” Capt. Sharpe said sternly into his phone. He listened intently for a little, and then said, “We’ll proceed with the plan.” Then hung up the phone. 

“What’s the update?” Terri called from the back seat.

“Good news, your mom is at the base. The bad news is they found our moles so we no longer have eyes on them. But, we’ll worry about that later. For now, we get back to base to check on your mom, and come up with next steps.

“So Sharpe—“

“Captain Sharpe.

“Who are these people? And Why was our mom involved with them?”

“They are known by many names. But, their name of origin is: The Manumit. They are an organization that is geared toward taking everything from the rich and wealthy. Their reach extends from the U.S. to parts of the U.K.”

“I’ve never heard of them before.”

“You have. It’s in people’s faces and no one realizes it. But, the best way to win in secret is to keep people believing you don’t exist.”

After driving a bit further. They came up to what seemed to be a shop full of Harvard Merchandise in the windows. It was a small shop on a corner, smack in the middle of Harvard Square.  

Stanley and Charlie gave each other a confused look.

“What are we doing here?” Charlie asked.

“We’re here.” Terri said as she got out the car. 

They all exited the car and the driver sped off with his orders to execute. The four of them walked in with Capt. Sharpe at the front. 

They approached a woman who worked at the register who Stanley couldn’t take his eyes off of as soon as they walked in. Her skin was a dark and delicate brown, full lips coated in burgundy lipstick, and had thick curly hair. Her name tag read Mary on it, She was almost as tall as him-- he was 6’3-- and her curves were hard to miss. She nodded at them as they walked in, handed Capt. Sharpe a folder, and winked at Stanley as she slipped her finger underneath the counter and pressed a black button. The store was closed so no one was in there but them. The store was small, but fit in as much as they could. There was a section of magazines that were held by a huge book wide bookshelf that created two aisles for people to walk down. On both sides of the bookshelves held magazines, but the sides near the windows were different Harvard Merchandise and apparel. They reached the middle of the huge bookshelf and saw the eye scanner that had been opened up by Mary. 

With Stanley still staring at her, Terri said, “You’re not her type.”

The eye scanner accepted Capt. Sharpes attempt and the middle shelf opened itself to reveal an elevator. “How do you figure that?” Stanley asked, almost offended.

“Like, she’s into men whose beards actually connect.” 

“So I guess I’m up then.” Charlie blurted out.

“Sorry, loyal men whose beards connect.” She responded, making sure to look at him.

“Can we focus please? This isn’t the time for all that.” Capt. Sharpe commanded. Clearly annoyed with them going back and forth. 

“Yeah, it’s not the time to be an ass, Terri” said Charlie.

“Says the cheating--”

“Enough!” Capt. Sharpe Shouted, cutting off Terri. If you want to do this, do it later.” He said as the doors opened up. The three siblings attempted to get out, but Capt. Sharpe stepped in front of them. “Leave that childish shit outside and focus. We are not on a family outing, this isn’t a damn vacation, lives are at stake. Your lives especially. Go see your mom, then in 30 minutes, meet me in the meeting room to catch everyone up to speed, and discuss what to do next. Dismissed.”

“Understood, I apologize Captain.” She lightly tapped her right hand over the left part of her chest and Capt. Sharpe was off. 

When they stepped off the elevator, both Stanley and Charlie were completely amazed at what they saw. They looked down off the balcony and saw a group of people testing new tech that was just developed, a combat training section, weapons being repaired and enhanced, etc. 

As they started walking again, the more they saw, the more the questions the two of them had. So Terri thought she would answer some of them.

“We are known as The Crown.” She started. “We have been around for decades geared towards bringing down The Manumit. We were founded in 1968. Martin Luther King Jr. along with a few other men and women founded us. Because of MLK’s last name and a few others with royal sounding names, they jokingly made up that name, and it stuck.”

“Wait, 1968? Isn’t that…”

“I know you three can hear me. The body you’re hovered over has a tracker in it. And with it being in the same spot for as long as it has been, and no one able to find you elsewhere in the penthouse, I thought it was safe to assume you are with the body. So I just wanted to take the time to introduce myself. I think it’s just rude to just kill someone and not introduce yourself.”

As he finished speaking, the three siblings heard multiple footsteps entering the penthouse. Terri tried to make out how many they were up against, but it seemed like way more than the four that came in before. Trying to think of how to get out of the situation, she sat by the door leading to the hallway and leaned her back up against it.

“Terri, what are we gonna do?” Stanley asked, with the gun shaking in his hand.

“Just wait.” Terri responded with her eyes closed.

Charlie collapsed down on the toilet, “I can’t believe I’m gonna die like this.”

“Oh ye of no damn faith.” Stanley growled.

“You have an bright ideas?!”

“Guys!,” Terri whispered harshly, “Just… wait.”

“Commander Cross here.” A voice came through the radio. “I was told to give one more chance,” He started, as his grinned welcomed death and all its splendor. Either one of you die, or all of you die. It makes no difference. You have 10 seconds. “10”

Levi spoke into her watch, “Fox, are you ready?”

“9”

“Fox!”

“8”

“Fox! Do you copy?!”

“7”

“6”

“5”

“4”

“3”

“Panther! Brace yourself!” A voice shouted through the watch.

Terri instantly took the boys by their arms, and as the sounds of little explosions sounded, the floor beneath them collapsed to the floor below. When they crashed to the floor below, Terri saw men and women positioned with their guns pointed up to the floor they came from. Letting loose on the intruders that had them cornered. Bullets flew down from the intruders above, but the team below overpowered them, killing anyone who attempted to shoot down at them. There were also intruders that jumped down into the hole that Terri and her brothers fell through, but they also failed to do any damage. Before long, the firing came to a halt, and Commander Cross ordered his team to retreat. Terri was frozen on her back with her gun still pointed in the air at the hole above. She was always protective of her brothers. Even though it was weird for them, she always helped them when they needed it. And today, she was not ready to lose either of them. She--

“Terri,” a man called out as he reached out his hand to help her up. “It’s over now. You can get up now.” As the man took off his mask, the scars of battle were the first thing anyone noticed on his caramel brown skin. A scar that almost reached his right hazel colored eye and a few others on his cheek and forehead.

She looked at him and she began to calm down. She looked at her brothers still on the floor. Alive, but in shock. She exhaled and brushed herself off, then picked her brothers up off the floor.

“Terri, who is this?” Stanley asked.

She looked at him then looked back at the mystery man in charge. She looked back at him and started “Well, he--

“I’m Captain Julius Sharpe. Your guiding light, your best plan of escape, your life line to stay alive. So you have two choices. Leave if you don’t trust me and your sister, Or stick with us if you want to live.

“Even if we do go with you, what happens from here? What do we do now?” Charlie asked, emotions still running high.

“We get to mom.” Terri answered.

“But, it won’t be easy.” Commander Cross added. “She was moved by our people to a secure location. But, we have to assume that who your mom is working for, knows this, and is currently on their way to her as we speak.”

Stanley’s eyes widened, “So what are we wai--”

“We are waiting,” Capt. Sharpe interrupted, “For you two to get your shit together and come with us to help your mom.” He said as he took a step closer to them, staring them down.

Charlie and Stanley looked at each other and then looked at Terri.

“Guys,” Terri started, “You can trust us. I know I kept this part of my life away from you both. And I’m sorry about that. But, for now, we have mom’s safety to worry about. Can we handle that?”

Stanley sighed, “Sure, I’m with it. But, you have a lot of explaining to do.” And walked off.

“What about you choir boy?” Terri asked as she turned to Charlie.

“Sure whatever, Charlie responded quickly. “But, Captain Prick here,” glancing at Sharpe, “He better know what he’s doing.”

“I guess me saving your ungrateful ass doesn’t count for anything does it?”

Charlie attempted to get in Sharpe’s face, but Terri stepped in. “You two settle the hell down. We need to focus on what’s most important, getting to HQ.” She turned to Charlie, “We have to hurry. So whether you like him or not, we all need to work together right now.”

Charlie backed up, not breaking his stare down with Sharpe, “Sounds perfect. Can’t wait.” Then he walked away to find Stanley.

“He’s just like you know, ya know? Terri said to Capt. Sharpe.

Still, Charlie wouldn’t back down, “Terri!,” He shouted over incoming bullets and glass breaking, “What are you hiding from us?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you!”

“Try me!”

Terri looked at both Stanley and Charlie. Knowing she could no longer keep his secret, she looked at her watch, held it up to her mouth and said, “Fox, what’s your position? We are taking heavy fire!”

In complete disbelief, Charlie screamed, “This isn’t the time to-“

“Copy Panther!” A voice said back through the watch, “We’re a few floors below you, and sending men over the other building. Hold your position for a little while longer.”

“Who the hell is that Terri?” Charlie screamed.

Terri couldn’t look at Charlie or Stanley. She knew if she said anything about his mission, they wouldn’t believe her, or possibly they’d resent her. Would they believe her? She had to kept this secret from them for so long, how would they take it? She couldn’t imagine how they would respond if they found out--

“Terri!” Stanley yelled again, finally getting her attention.

Terri snapped out of her thoughts, not realizing Stanley had been saying her name a few times. “What?” She asked sternly as she looked at Stanley.

“They stopped firing, what should we do?”

She didn’t notice it before, but the bullets stopped flying through the condo. And there was nothing but silence, bullet holes, and a secret waiting to make itself known. Whether she wanted it to or not. He took in a deep breath and exhaled--

“Panther, Hawk and his team took care of the other building and picked up four unfriendlies coming your way. They’re rappelling down the side of the building to you.”

“How long til you get here?” Levi asked quickly

“Not sure.” The voice replied with gunshots flaring in the background. “They cut the power to the elevator. So we’re making our way up the stairs, but—

Levi quickly covered her watch to mute the sound. Hearing footsteps on the shards of glass on the floor, she gestured toward Stanley to give her the gun.

She checked the clip and saw there were 15 bullets left. Quietly taking the gun off safety, she took out her phone and brought up live feeds of the condo on the screen. Even though a few of the cameras were knocked out, she still had a good view on them. As the three of them lay hidden behind the island in the kitchen, she quietly told them to stay where they were. She checked the video footage and saw one man coming towards the the kitchen and the others headed towards the rest of the condo. She reached into the coat pocket of her blazer and pulled out a silencer and put it on the gun.

Charlie and Stanley made a quick glance at one another, scared, and anxious to see how this would play out. But, Levi was calm and collected. “

So you just walk around with silencers in your pocket?” Charlie whispered.

“No. I have a gun it goes to, dumbass” she whispered back sharply. Showing him her gun she had hidden.

She’d been in this type of situation plenty of times. In this situation she knew she could only use so many bullets for one person. One kill shot for each of them if she could pull it off. Cause If it ended up in a shootout, Stanley and Charlie were at a disadvantage because they were unarmed. And she didn’t know if the four in the condo would be the only ones, so every bullet mattered. As the others dispersed to other sections of the house looking for the brothers, one of the invaders slowly approached the kitchen. She quickly thought of how to handle this one. Instead of the gun, she thought it was about time she used what Dr. Hamm little project. As the intruder reached the island, circling around to where the siblings were, Terri reached for her waist, and took out a small metal object from off her belt buckle. She pressed a button located on its side and it quietly floated above her hand. Controlling the little drone from her phone, It silently circled around the island to the back of the intruder. As the intruder moved closer, she was trying to position the drone to get a proper shot. Just when the intruder had eyes on them, he felt a sharp pain in his neck and was unable to move. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and started to fall.

Terri got up quickly to catch the intruder on the way down. She checked to see if any of the other intruders were coming, but no one did. Stanley sat wide eyed on the floor. His heart was racing, sweat forming in his hands, and Charlie was right behind him in awe as well. They didn’t know their sister was, um, this person. Stanley thought she was amazing. Charlie still couldn’t believe what he was seeing or what was happening.

“For now,” Levi spoke quietly, hovering over the intruders body, searching for weapons and any communicating device, “We are being hunted. As many questions as you might, and likely do have, that needs to be put on hold. We need to deal with his first. Understood?

Both of them nodded their heads.

“Good, now Charlie, take this bullet proof vest. Stanley, you take the gun.”

As she handed Stanley the gun, Charlie blurted out, “How come he gets the gun? Before this, he probably never touched a--

“To let off some steam, when the gym isn’t doing it for me, I go to the gun range. I’ve been doing that for about two years now.” Stanley stated. “Have you touched a gun, church boy?”

Charlie knew he didn’t, so he had no words to argue back.

“Didn’t think so.” Terri added. Then she looked at Stanley and said, “I saw how you handled the gun when you shot the phone. I could tell it wasn’t your first time. So, I need you to be my backup. There is no telling when my team is going to get here.”

With fear overcoming him, Stanley stumbled over his words, “B-b-but, what if I--”

“Little brother, you’ll be fine. I know you’re scared, but use that fear to defend us. But, more so, defend yourself.

Stanley was still scared, but he nodded his head, trying to normalize his breathing.

Terri looked at her phone and saw that one of the intruders was still downstairs in the office room. The other two went upstairs. The intruder in the office area was at the other end of the hallway. They started to move to the other end as well. She led, Charlie was in the middle, and Stanley was watching the rear. They made it down the hallway to where the bathroom was. She led them in there and told them to wait.

She looked at her phone and saw that the intruder was still in the room. knowing the intruder was headed towards the stairs. She pulled Stanley to her and said, “Stanley, here’s the plan, you see the bookcase there?”

He nodded.

I’m going to go in when he passes the book case. Wait by the door, I need you to open the door and catch the body before it falls to the ground.”

“How am I supposed to know when?”

“Remember that counting game we did when we were younger?”

“The one you taught me to learn how to count backwards?”

“Yes, countdown from five fast. When you see me go through the door to the office. Okay?”

She looked at her phone and saw the intruder was finally leaving, she smiled and went through the door.

He started, “5 apples 4, 3 apples 2. 1 apple for me, and 0 for you.” He quickly flung the door open and leaped toward the intruder just before he hit the floor.

Terri quietly made her way to Stanley, “Nice. Two down, two to go.” She looked at her phone, just when she did, she saw an intruder about to walk down the stair well.

She mouthed to Charlie “Hurry! Grab the body and move it!”

Charlie quickly came out the bathroom and picked up the body, and carried it in the bathroom and closed the door. When he set it down, he heard one of the intruders on the person’s radio.

“No sign of them up here, Miller, what you got?”

Charlie looked back at Terri, “What should we do? Should we say something? What--”

(“Miller, do you copy?”)

“Calm down! How can we imitate a voice we never heard, stupid?”, Terri shot back.

(“Hall, do you have eyes on Miller?”)

“Well, this obviously wasn’t in your plan, so I’m jus--”

The intruder trying to open the bathroom door interrupted Charlie from continuing.

Terri and Stanley looked at each other and pointed their guns at the door. The intruder tried the door once more and stepped back from the door. Stanley and Terri stood still like action figure dolls, unwilling to be caught off guard, ready for whatever was to happen next. Stanley’s hands shook, sweat rolled down the side of his face. While Terri stood resolute, unwilling to let her brothers die.

The intruder spoke over the radio again, “Commander Cross, requesting back up, I think Mil--” The intruder looked over at the kitchen and saw the body of his comrade on the floor. “Miller is down, I think Hall is too. They didn’t set off the trap at the front door, so I know they are still here.”

“I send four highly trained professionals to kill three civilians. But, not only do two of you get killed, now you need back up? Let me in.”

The intruder quickly went to the door and unarmed the trap intended to surprise the three siblings. The door opened. And from the bathroom it sounded like multiple people came in. They made their way back to the front bathroom door.

The intruder continued, “I’m sorry I wasn’t--”

“Were you about to seperate yourself from the group Yates?”

“No sir, I--”

“Now you’re telling me I’m wrong? It’s okay Yates, I get it. You weren’t responsible. But, since you’re not part of the group, I’ll help you separate yourself.

“Sir! Wai--”

Before he could finish, he was shot in the head.

In the bathroom, they heard the body falling to the ground.

Mr. X stood up from his seat, which was positioned in the window directly parallel to the condo the boys were in.

“Well, since you asked, I suppose it would be rude of me to ignore your inquiry.”

They were all on the edge of their seat. Awaiting his answer.

Mr. X, exhaled deeply and said, “Loyalty.”

“Wait,” Charlie interrupted. “You want one of us to die to prove our loyalty? How would killing my brother or sister prove my loyalty?”

“It would prove your loyalty to us. Your extended family.”

“What kind of ‘family’ makes us choose between killing each other or letting our mom die?”

"Well, how do you think your mom got to join our family in the first place?" Mr. X responded with a smile. Silence spread over the room. They were left speechless. Their minds trying to come up with an answer for that dreadful question. "Never crossed your minds I see. Going from barely hanging on mom to 'self-made' millionaire seems like such an awesome story. When you leave out certain parts, of course." He chuckled.

"Who did she have to kill?" Stanley finally blurred out.

"Would you even believe me if I told you?“asked. “Besides, you really shouldn’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to, young man.”

Stanley cocked his arm back as if he wanted to throw the phone, but knew he couldn’t. They needed more answers. But, it seemed the more answers they got, the more confusing and unbelievable things became.

Stanley stared at the ground, “You don’t think she—“

Charlie cut him off, “That Mom killed somebody? I mean, can we put it past her now?

Terri head shot up and she glared at Charlie, “What does that even mean?”

Charlie got out of his seat, “Mom has had her hand in all of our successes. In ways that most of society would deem ille—“ Charlie paused for a second. “Wait a minute, we never really got around to you, Terri. How is Mom helping you these days?” He asked as he leaned up against the wall.

Terri chuckled, “You find that more important than what’s going on right now? Seriously?”

Starting to pace, Charlie answered, “Cause last I heard you were in prison. Solitary confinement. Got out, and just a few years later, you’re pullin’ up in new Mercedes GT. Seems kind of odd doesn’t it?”

“We don’t have time for this Charlie, we need to—“

“We need to what?” Stanley blurted. “What is so secretive about what you and Mom do that you can’t even tell us?”

“Listen, it’s not what y’all think it is,—“

“Not trying to budge on those secrets, huh Terri?” Mr. X said with a chuckle. “Getting a bit tense over there, I see.”

“What were you saying before? Who was it that our mom didn’t tell us about?”

“Your father of course.” He answered quickly. “Just how do you think he died? It was your mother’s doing.”

“Bullshit!” Charlie screamed.

“I say Charlie. You talk to God with that mouth?” Mr. X asked as he chuckled. “But, Why is this so hard to believe? This is the same woman that got a person injured so Stanley could play on a team? Why wouldn’t she take your father’s life to better her own?”

“Don’t you dare insult our Mom like that, She loved our father!”

“Oh Charlie, money can’t buy love, but love has sure as hell never paid a bill.”

Stanley finally broke his silence and blurted out, “Terri, what aren’t you telling us?”

Levi shot a look at Stanley, not knowing what to say. Caught off guard by the timing of it. “Stan I—“

Stanley picked up the gun and pointed it at Terri. “What are you hiding from us?”

Terri raised her hands slowly, “Little brother, put the gun down. I know it sounds—“

“Sounds like you have a secret agenda?” Stanley responded, “Yeah, it kinda does.”

Terri didn’t know what to say in this situation, she was left in shock. she tried to open her mouth, but she couldn’t say anything that would make sense.

“I want answersTerri, stop stalling, and give us the truth.” Stanley demanded, with the gun still shaking in his hand.

“Trouble in Raynes paradise I hear.” Mr. X teased.

Stanley glared at the phone and shouted, “You shut your damn mouth!”

And not a second later, a bullet flew through the window and grazed Stanley’s cheek.

The room went silent, as if the bullet snatched the sound from the room. They could not move, they could not talk, they didn’t know what to do besides breathe.

“Now that I have your attention again, I have just a slight word of caution: Don’t ever tell me to shut my mouth again. Are we clear?"

Stanley felt his cheek and looked at his hand smeared with blood and said, “No”. Then shot the phone.

“Dr. Thomas?” Charlie asked, too shocked to think straight. 

Terri shifted in her seat, “You mean our doctor? The weird quirk with the glasses?” 

Stanley responded, “That’s the only Dr. Thomas we know, but why--”

Charlie charged at Stanley, but Terri intercepted him. “What the hell is going on with you and Dr. Thomas?” Charlie growled.

“How many damn times are you going to ask me that? I don’t even know what the hell is going on!”

Terri interjected while still holding onto Charlie, “Calm down, we can’t just blame Stan for anything just yet. We need to know the facts.”

“And just how do you suppose we get those facts, Terri?”

“The letter said we would be shot if we try to leave the condo right? Why don’t we test that out?”

They all looked at each other, frozen in fear of this possibly being real. Then Terri chuckled, “Well let’s not all volunteer at once.” Her sarcastic tone failed at breaking the tension in the room. She walked over to the door calmly, being the only one under control in the room. She stood in front of the door and turned around to face her cowardly brothers. With a smile she said, “Since that’s over, can we get back to how sexy that gun is?”

Immediately after he spoke, Charlie noticed--

“DON’T MOVE!” Stanley shouted as his eyes widened. 

“The hell is wrong with you Stan? There’s nothing--”

“Terri, please. Don’t move.” Charlie added, as two more red beams were planted on Levi’s shirt. “Just look down.”

Levi looked down and her heart started to race a little, “Feels like 2010 all over again.” She said to herself with a little chuckle.

“Terri, just come back over here, please,” Charlie called out, as his voice shook. 

Terri stepped slowly away from the door, right back to the kitchen. 

Stanley fell into the seat, staring at the ground  “What the hell is going on?” He asked himself.

Charlie sat down and pushed the box with the gun to the middle of the table. And Terri collapsed into her seat as well. 

Silence took control of the room. Not knowing what to say, what to do, or what to think. Stanley was going over every possible scenario he could think of to get out of this problem, Terri had her head down on the table, and Charlie leaned up against the wall. So wrapped in their thoughts they--

“Do you think we can call the police?” Stanley asked subtly. 

“Nah man. If Dr. Thomas is involved, he’ll kill mom before they even get to her.” Charlie said. 

“So then what do we--”

“I DON’T KNOW!” Charlie yelled.

“You know, for a Christian man, you sure let your temper get the best of you,” Terri said as she lifted her head off the table and sat back in her chair. “Is that stuff really workin’ for you?”

“Don’t start with me, Terri.”

“Stan is trying to come up with solutions and all you can do is be in your feelings.”

“So you expect me to be happy right now? With all that’s going on, do you expect me to be calm and upbeat?”

“No, but at least have some respect for your brother.”

“You’re gonna talk to me about respect? When have you, respected mom?”

“Here we go…”

“Yeah, here we go. Whenever mom tried to help you or be a part of your life, you never respected that!”

“Cause,  you just know my life so well don’t you?” Terri responded. 

“We only know as much as you tell us, now don’t we?” Charlie shot back, “Not even mom knew what the hell you were up to!”

“Typical Charlie. Everything always has to be about you and your feelings.

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?

“Exactly what I said. Mom always had to clean up your messes and coddle you so much because you never knew how to control your fucking feelings.”

“Yet I have multiple businesses, homes, and--

“A broken marriage, a baby you rarely see, and lingering daddy issues.”

Charlie walked over to the table, “We all have daddy issues.”

“Speak for yourself.” Terri said as she got up to pour herself another glass.

              “And you have some nerve talking about my family, what about you? I don’t see a ring on your fingers Terri!”

Terri chuckled and nodded her head. “You’re gonna compare my relationship to your shit show of a marriage?”

“Oh really? What happened to your baby Terri?” Charlie scowled.

Stanley turned to Charlie, “Are serious right now, bro?”

Terri stopped the glass at her lips before she could take a sip. She smiled and crossed her legs. “The same thing that happened to your poor excuse of a marriage: It died.”

Charlie stood in silence, consumed by his rage.

“And how did it die you may ask?” Terri said as tear rolled down her face.

“Terri--”

“Because you couldn’t keep you couldn’t keep your hands off your business partner.”

“I’m warning you--”

“It didn’t matter your life partner was pregnant at home. You just needed to stick your dick in someone that wasn’t your wife, huh?”

Charlie lunged across the table, grabbing Terri’s shirt, Stanley intercepted him, and the phone rang.

Terri chuckled, “You might want to get your phone, might be your business partner wanting another round.”

Charlie couldn’t let her go. His rage has always been something he struggled to maintain a hold on. At that moment, the gun flashed in his mind--

“Hello?” Stanley asked, “Who is this?”

“Hello Stanley, who is calling isn’t important, but why I’m calling is.”

“How do you know my name? Do you know Charlie?” 

“I’ll answer that in one second, young man. But first, Can you put the call on speakerphone please?”

Stanley put the call on speaker and Levi called out, while still being held by Charlie, “Who is speaking?”

“How do you do? You all can call me Mr. X, I will be your trusted liaison for the night.”

“Mr. X, huh? Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on? And how did you get this number?” Charlie called out.

“Well Mr. Raynes, we know a lot about you all. Like your ex-wife Ashley and daughter Tami. We know about your businesses in upstate New York, we also know about how you're getting the money to pay for that. We know about your little brother the Rain Man sitting idly by as you and your sister smooth things out. By the way, Rain Man, I'm a huge fan. Your birthday, which is next week, hope your brothers get you something nice. Oh, and did he tell you guys how he just magically made his way on the team?... No, oh my mistake, I didn't know it was a secret--”

“Alright!” Stanley shouted, “What do you want?”

“Now now, Stanley, let’s remain calm, I'm just the messenger.” He said as he chuckled. “I'm just here to make things easier for you.”

“And how are you going to do that?” Terri questioned.

“Well first, by giving you the truth. Like clearing the air on one important fact: Each of you has benefited from your mother living. But, I must take another call, talk to you all soon.” 

The phone call ended and both Charlie and Terri were looking at Stanley. “So we aren’t the only one with secrets now are we?” Terri said, taking the phone away from Stanley.

“You guys,” Stanley started, “It’s not a big deal, there isn’t much to talk about.”

“Then explain to us, if it’s not much.” Charlie demanded, “What was that guy talkin’ about?”

“Guys, I--”

“Come on Stanley, no use in lying too.” Terri responded

“Look I--” Stanley started, hesitant to say anything, “I don’t think I can say anything about this.”

“So you can’t talk to us now? I thought--”

“You thought what? When have we ever been close?!” Stanley asked. “When have we ever been able to just talk about anything? Never! Ever since we got adopted to the same house, the only thing that kept us together was mom.

“Then why don’t you start us off Stanley, how did you get on the team in college?” Levi asked.

“Alright. Seeing how you two are just as messed up, I’ll tell you. It took me a while to believe in myself. I was always good at ball, but I never believed I could go far in it. But, when I wanted to try out in college, I thought I was too late. But, St. John’s held a tryout for someone to walk-on. A way to join the team without initially being scouted and given a scholarship to play. And I was ready to take that spot. But, when the day came, and we were showin’ our skills, someone had a better day than I did. John Jones was his name. He was better than me that day. And the coaches were talking about him and I. But, it seemed like he was going to get chosen over me. So, I talked to mom about it, and she said she would handle it. We had tryouts on Wednesday and Thursday, and by Friday the results would be up. And on Friday I got the nod because John was hurt in a car accident. I was shocked, but something told me to ask mom about it. And it turned out she had taken care of it like she said she would. And gave some money to the coaches to make sure I was chosen.”

“So let me get this straight, you're trying to tell me, mom got someone injured, and bribed the coaches so you could get on the team while you were in college?” Charlie asked.

“If you want to call me a liar, you can just say it,” Stanley replied as he stared at the ground.

“What would mom have to gain from this?” Charlie asked.

“How would I know? But I have proof.” Stanley got up from his seat and showed them an article about the car accident. “It’s the same day as the second try-out day.”

While Charlie looked at the screen, “How does this prove anything?”

Stanley leaned back in his seat, “It’s the truth.”

“You know what? Charlie said, annoyed and confused, “Let me make a phone call.” He called back the number that called them.

“Well hello, Charlie.” Mr. X’s obnoxious voice pierced through the phone. “Finally someone had the common sense to call me back. Didn’t think it would be you, to be honest.” He finished with a chuckle.

“Alright, asshole. I just have a few questions. First, what does my mom do exactly?”

“Well, in short, she is one of few that makes sure we are always supplied with property and finance.”

“What do you mean?” Levi asked. 

“Have you boys ever played monopoly?” He answered.

“Yes,” Levi answered. Already knowing where Mr. X was going.

“As you are already familiar, In the game, whoever owns the best or most properties, backed with lots of money to spend, they are usually the winner. To have our sort of business, we need money and property.”

“So our mom was not working for herself in real estate, she was working for you,” Stanley stated.

“Very good, yes.” Mr. X confirmed.