Page 78 of Collateral Claim

“Lenny told me about that town,” she says. “Kingpins bought homes there because it’s sovereign territory and the laws are made by the Macarley family. They’ve got ports only they’re allowed to use. Some countrywide laws apply, but not many.”

When I don’t hear anyone upstairs again, I say, “You guys talked about kingpins in high school?”

“Yeah. But only when we weren’t making out.”

Huh. “I studied organic chemistry and sang in a church choir.”

“Which is why you went to med school and I didn’t.”

“Thanks, but I missed out on dating.”

“But we’re talking about the time before your skin cleared of a severe case of teenage acne.”

The reason boys avoided looking at me. “That’s right.”

“Can we focus on your impending death now?” she asks.

“Sorry. Had to be said. Go on.”

“In Couldermouth, Lenny used to work at the docks. Lenny mentioned Jamie Macarley, and I bet that was Endo’s dad or a relative. Lenny said they would unload crates late at night under the supervision of men with rifles. If you didn’t ask questions, they paid well, so Lenny worked there for years.”

“Did he say what kind of merchandise was in those crates?”

“No, but we speculated that it was something illegal.”

It wouldn’t surprise me if those were weapons. I remain quiet.

“Endo is a kingpin,” my sister says. “He’s a dangerous man.”

“What we should be talking about is his connection to Dad.”

Charlotte pauses. “I’ll find out what it is.”

“Out of the question,” I hiss.

“I’m doing it, Scar.”

“Stay out of this mess.”

“I can’t. I’m afraid he’ll bury you and I won’t even have a grave to visit.” Charlotte starts to cry. “It’s so much worse than I thought it was.”

“It’s fine. It really is. He won’t hurt me. He likes having me around.”

“How do you mean?”

“I’m a doctor. There’s violence here. He needs what I can provide for him.”

“That’s bad. It is worse than worse. It’s the worstest.”

“That’s not a word.”

“I know, but it works with what I want to say. Which is, if you make yourself useful, he’ll keep you.”

“I should make myself useless?”

“Exactly. Be like my cat. Sit regally by the window all day and wait to be fed.”

“Then he’ll shoot me.”