“That’s enough, Xavier,” Coraset was on overload. Her brain was racing, and she couldn’t think straight. “I don’t want to hear anymore. You two are nothing but liars and manipulators, and I’m not falling for it. I want to go home.”
Malie looked at Xavier with an expectation for him to stop her.
He stuttered, “Just…just-”
Malie offered, “Why don’t we take a breather? We can talk about this later. Coraset, you’re more than welcome to stay here.”
She remarked, “I’m not going to stay here.”
“If you go back home, you’ll be dead. Did you forget about the assault team that’s trying to kill you?”
Coraset realized Malie was right. But then she asked herself how did Malie know? Was she responsible for sending the team?
“They are waiting for you as we speak.”
Coraset glared at Malie and asked, “You sent them after me?”
“We wouldn’t be having this discussion if I sent them.” Malie pointed out. “I have a private loft upstairs you are more than welcome to use.”
“Fine,” Coraset agreed.
“But I require you to hear us out afterwards.” Malie added.
Coraset didn’t answer.
“I’ll take you to your room.” Malie walked to the door and opened it. “That’ll be all, gentlemen. I believe Coraset will be fine.”
The armed men echoed, “Yes, ma’am!” at the same time and marched out.
Malie led Coraset down the hallway and back into the large room with the fireplace. They entered the dusty foyer and went up the stairs to the second floor. Coraset followed her down the hallway to the left. Malie brought out a set of keys, and unlocked a door at the end of the corridor.
A totally different space opened up to Coraset. The room was larger than her spacious apartment in Barat. The first area was the living room with baby blue furniture, a coffee table with flowers as a centerpiece and decorative lamps on each small table beside the sofa. Sheer peach curtains hung in the windows to the right. A full size kitchen with granite tops was on the left side with an island separating the living room. A large bed set in the back of the room, and it was made. The place had a softer look, softer colors, and it was plainly pretty. It was a deep contrast from Coraset’s straight lined, darkly colored, impersonal apartment. She moved around the space taking in every colorful characteristic.
With nothing else to be said, Malie left her alone.
Coraset touched the soft baby blue sofa and sat down to feel its comfort. She stared up at the peach colored cathedral ceilings. The house didn’t appear to have that much room from the outside, but then again, she remembered the vegetation covered most of it.
The sofa seemed to take over Coraset, and she accepted its coziness and stretched out on it. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths.
Despite how tense she felt and how much her mind was racing, Coraset was drifting away. Sleep was grabbing hold of her, and she couldn’t shake it. All of the running up and down steps, the fighting and shooting; it all wore her down. She let it all go, and the sleep took over completely.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Coraset was awakened by a soft knock from the door. She opened her eyes and sat up not remembering where she was. The last moments she recalled was when she was being chased. She was running down the stairs in her building trying to get away, to find safety. Coraset felt around the sofa for the gun, but then she remembered she gave it up to the assault team. The sound of knocking caught her attention, and she slowly went over to the door.
Malie smiled upon seeing Coraset and said, “I figured you might be hungry.” She stepped into the room, and two other gentlemen appeared behind her carrying covered trays.
The men walked in hurried steps towards the table on the left side, and they began dressing the table. Prime Rib, caramel asparagus, and red skin potatoes were the main dish. The appetizer was a salad wedge with bacon pieces, pecans, half sliced cherry tomatoes, raspberry vinaigrette, crumples of blue cheese and blue cheese dressing. Crystalized glasses held freshly made sweet tea with tiny leaves of mint on the rim. Once they were finished, they moved out of the room quickly.
She could not remember a time when she had a real meal and asked, “Where did you get the steak?”
Malie smiled as an answer and sat down. Coraset joined her at the table.
“Since the Senator is in a videoconference, I thought we could have dinner together. Talk about a few things.” Malie cut pieces of lettuce from her salad wedge.
“Who are you anyway?” Coraset wasn’t sure about eating, and she didn’t trust Malie.
After chewing her food and wiping her mouth, Malie answered, “I work for the Senator. I handle most of his affairs.”
“Luck you.”
Coraset watched Malie as she delicately cut her steak. She was starving, and she decided to start eating herself.
Malie said with confidence, “I took care of the assault team that was after you.”
“Really,” Coraset said in disbelief. “And how did you do that?”
“I pulled the video feed from your building. I identified all of the assailants and added information into their files about their plans to assassinate the Chancellor’s oldest son.”
“Did you find out who they were working for?”
“A member of Senator Stewart Cobb’s staff,” Malie answered.
Coraset thought for a moment.
“His son,” Malie revealed.
“The warden has been after me for a while. After I was released from prison, he had me taken to the middle of the desert. There were inmates out there waiting for me.”
“The Senator wondered what happened to you after your release. He sent Brochudo out to Baker, but when he didn’t return with you, he thought the worse. How did you get out of there?”
“Luck,” Coraset answered. She didn’t want to rehash the events that occurred in the desert.
Malie didn’t pursue the answer further and said, “Well, you don’t have to worry about it anymore. The warden, his son, and that entire team are being charged for conspiring to commit murder on a Federation government official, and the Chancellor’s brother on top of that. They probably won’t see the next sunrise.”
“You’re playing on very dangerous ground, Malie. Entering false information into the Federation database can land you behind bars, maybe even dead. The Constabularies can track all entries.”
“They can’t track mine,” Malie remarked. “The computer operating systems are flawed, and I take full advantage of it.”
“If the right people find out what you’re doing, they will come after you.”
“I’ve been hacking computer systems for a long time, Coraset. I know what I’m doing.”
They continued their meals in silence. When they finished, Malie and Coraset left the confines of the loft and went downstairs to the back of the house where a garden was expertly tucked away.
One of the gentlemen that brought the food earlier also brought a tray with a pitcher of sweet tea and clean crystals with ice. He skillfully poured the drink into each glass before excusing himself.
Both women sat in wicker chairs facing the garden. The sun wasn’t quite set yet, but there were torches lit all around providing enough light to enjoy the scenery. The women sat quietly, looking at the gardens of roses, begonias, azalea bushes, and other flowering plants.
Malie remarked after she sipped her tea, “I saw your stepfather the other day. Have you spoken to him yet?”
