Page 49 of House Divided
“No,” breathed Madeline in disbelief. She slumped in her chair, feeling like she had been gut punched. “He promised to leave me alone…that this would be my career,” she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
“Madeline?” asked Enoch. “Who are they talking about?”
“Maddie’s daddy is Johnathan Marx, the owner of Marx Amalgamated Concern,” sneered Rachel. “Only the largest corporate business cluster in the galaxy. Oh, sweetie,” she continued, addressing Madeline, “did you really think he’d leave you alone, when there was so much money to be made turning your Pleasure House into a legitimate sex trafficking operation?”
Madeline sat in stunned silence. Enoch looked reflective. Aurelian stepped in to fill the shocked silence. “I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised,” he said. “I never thought you were clever enough to do this on your own.”
“Oh, I remember you!” replied Rachel, clapping her hands. “You’re the one I kidnapped and left for dead in a bar somewhere.”
“Yet here I am,” Aurelian replied. “And between my paramour and myself, we did stop your first scheme and expose your misdeeds. You remember theStella Maris, don’t you? Where your buddy Harold Dawes died?”
“You darn kids,” returned Rachel, shaking a finger mockingly. “We almost got away with it, except for your meddling. It’s a shame you weren’t killed in the first air strike, but what can you do?”
“You know, Miss Gentry, even knowing all that I know about you, you somehow still manage to shock and repel me,” observed Marc. “Remarquablement.” He shook his head. “You are anaraignée venimeuse,” he continued. “A venomous spider. You’re right, you know. You never will see the inside of a prison cell. These others may have moral hesitations over killing you, but I do not.”
Rachel nodded. “Thank goodness one of you has some balls,” she said. “The sooner the better, please. I expect that you will have the courtesy to do it quickly, which is more than I can expect from Johnathan Marx. He likes to make examples out of people.” She shuddered.
“Okay, everybody just hold on!” shouted Madeline, standing up. She paused to collect herself, but things were close to spinning out of control. “Marc, you arenotto kill Rachel Gentry, even if she asks nicely. Rachel, in exchange for your cooperation, we will take you off-planet and guarantee your safety until you have the opportunity to perform a complete identity shift. Aurelian, I’m sure you’re unhappy with that, but we need to look at the larger picture here.”
“What larger picture?” demanded Aurelian.
“What kind of cooperation?” demanded Rachel.
“The destruction of Marx Amalgamated Concern,” replied Madeline grimly.
***
“Jeez, Mads,” commiserated Jack. “That’s absolutely terrible. Absolutely standard operating procedure for our shitshow of a father, but still terrible.”
Looming large on the viewscreen, he shook his head sympathetically.
“Take a step back from the screen; you look like something out of a horror movie. Since when are you saying ‘Mads?’” she asked, with a combination of vexation and curiosity.
“Thought I’d try it out. What do you think?”
“Better than ‘Maddie.’ Why can’t you just say Madeline?”
“Too long. Anyway. I can’t say I’m surprised—you know our father—but sticking his big nasty fingers into the Pleasure House is low. I know he has no scruples when it comes to me, but you’re supposed to be the one he likes,” said Jack.
“I could have been killed, Jack. That rat bastard didn’t care who got hurt when he set all this in motion,” Madeline uttered in disbelief.
“Well, sis, the big question is, what are you going to do about it?” Jack leaned back from the viewscreen and sipped at his coffee.
“I’m going to kill him, Jack.”
The viewscreen was covered in a spray of coffee. Cursing, Jack wiped his camera clean with a cloth. “Say that again?” he asked incredulously.
“I’m going to kill him, Jack,” repeated Madeline. “And you’re going to help me.”
“Okay,” said Jack, holding up a hand, “let’s slow this the hell down. For one, this is murder you’re talking about. For two, he’s an evil, scheming sonofabitch who has no scruples and is incapable of love, but he is ourfather. Have you thought this through?”
Madeline sighed. “I’m surprised at how little there is to think about, brother mine. Let’s talk through this, okay? You’ve been telling me for years just how bad he is. I think I’ve always known but just didn’t want to admit it. I guess I thought that as long as I had my little corner of the galaxy and he left me alone, I could deal with it. But, Jack,” Madeline continued, her distress plain on her monitor, “he couldn’t even leave me alone. When he saw a potential for profit by twisting the work I was doing, he grabbed at it. He didn’t even care if I was put at risk in the process. I’m his own daughter, damn it!”
“Who are you telling?” observed Jack glumly. “Look at how he’s treated his only son.”
“Which is why I’m surprised I’m having to justify this to you, frankly,” observed Madeline.
“Good grief, Mads, I’m not worried about what happens tohim. Johnathan Marx could choke and die tomorrow, and I’d throw a party. I’m worried about what this might to doyou, sis. I’m not sure you want his death on your conscience,” replied Jack.
