Chapter 46 - Family and Friends

"Genie, I... I know I said I'd give you time but you've been out here for a while and I..." Mariah said.

"You need to know," Genie said. "You need to know where I stand."

"No," Mariah said. "I need to know if you're OK. I... I can go back in, if you need to be alone."

"No," Genie smile sadly. "Please, stay."

They were both silent for a moment.

"You know, my mom is a puttana... a bitch," Mariah said. "After I lost my dad, she made me feel like I wasn't worth anything. Like I was a monster."

"You're not a monster," Genie said.

"Miranda told me that too," Mariah smiled. "She once told me she knew monsters and I wasn't one. But then, when I found out my dad - who loved me and valued me - had been part of the Alto Family, a gangster...  I thought, that was it. I really am a monster from a family of monsters.

"Maybe that's true," Mariah continued, "but it doesn't mean I can't do good. My dad was a gangster and an honorable man. I can be what I am, and still be honorable too. Still do good. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I know it's hard. It's hard looking at your family and realizing they're not who you thought they were. Questioning who you are because of it... but Genie, you're a good person. They don't define you. You do."

"You're such a good friend," Genie smiled. "I... I... oh, fuck it."

As Genie's lips pressed against hers, Mariah froze, shocked. What the hell, she thought. Genie is kissing me. Genie's lips are kissing mine. Merda. What do I do?

"Sorry," Genie said, talking very fast. "I know you're with Miranda... and you two love each other... true love, like Aadi says... and I totally respect that... and you guys have been such good friends to me... and I never want to ruin that... but what you just said was so... Right... and you've always been so wonderful... and I've totally had a crush on you for, like, ages... and I just didn't want to never have done that."

"Genie... um, breathe... just breathe," Mariah stammered, struggling not to revert back to her native tongue. "I... um... yeah... it's OK. I... it's... I mean, yes, I'm with Miranda and I can't... but that was nice. I mean... we totally can't do that... but it was OK... I mean it was nice... I mean..."

"I'm going to help," Genie said.

"It's all good... and we're friends... and what?" Mariah continued to stammer.

"I'm going to help you find grand-père's files," Genie said. "Because, you're right... my mom doesn't get to define me. She can be a gangster if she wants to be, but I know what the right thing is..."

"... and Mariah," Genie added. "I think I know where grand-père's files are hidden."

"You what?" Mariah gasped. "Genie, I could kiss you! I mean, I can't actually... we can't... again."

"It's OK," Genie laughed. "I got to do it once."

----------------------

"Umm, Miranda, I... uh... I need to tell you something," Mariah said sheepishly.

"What's wrong?" Miranda replied.

"Umm... Genie kissed me," Mariah winced. "I totally didn't do anything to do... I mean she just... out of the blue... well, maybe not completely but..."

"OK, deep breath in," Miranda said gently. "Now blow it out. In, out. In, out. It's OK."

"But... I mean," Mariah stammered.

"Mariah, sweetie, Genie has had a crush on you for ages," Miranda said. "If she ever needed to get that out of her system, now is the time. It's OK. We're OK. Now, if you're about to tell me you're running off with her to open a SCUBA shop in Sulani..."

"No... no, I don't think so," Mariah said.

"I love you," Miranda smiled. 

----------------------

"So," Genie said with forced casualness, "I kissed her."

"About damn time, girl," Aadi said. "You know..."

"I know, I know," Genie said, "but I didn't want to never have done it."

"I hear that," Aadi smiled.

"So, are we spies now?" Genie smiled.

"Yeah, I guess so," Aadi said. "I should rent a tux. I would look great in a tux."

Chapter 45 - The Tartosan Attack

"Ok, so what's the deal with these Whosits Files?" Mariah asked. 

It was a pleasant, warm spring day with the promise of summer just around the corner. After the cold and rain that Mariah, a child of warm coastal Tartosa, was convinced were Britechester's constant weather, it was nice to be warm again. At the same time, it seemed odd to be spending a warm spring morning discussing espionage over a game of chess with a woman called Snow.

"The Villareal Files," Snow said with a smile. "Jacques Villareal was a major player in the underworld for years." 

"Was? What happened to him?" Mariah asked.

"Time," Snow said. "The Old Man was, like, almost a hundred when he died... of old age, which isn't usual in his line of work. Villareal was the brains behind some major heists, dirty deals and crooked schemes over the years. The Families respected him. The authorities, even the Agency, couldn't touch him. This guy shook hands with captains of industry, movie stars, national leaders and crime bosses for a couple of generations. The story has always been that he had dirt on everyone, files of dirty secrets spanning decades. He knew where all the bodies were buried, probably literally."

"Why hasn't anyone gone after these files before?" Mariah looked puzzled.

"They have," Snow said. "Hell, I have! After he died everyone was after those files. Villareal was old school... nothing electronic, nothing online.... and no one has been able to find whatever paper files he had. Lots of people don't even really seriously believe in them anymore. Current thinking is they were a bluff, a threat Villareal could hold over anyone who wanted to take a poke at him."

"But Genie's mom... Madonna, I still can't believe Genie's mom works for the Alto Family... claims to have them, and you think they're real," Mariah said.

"A man like Nick Alto might have let himself be bluffed by the Old Man," Snow said carefully, "but he's too arrogant and sexist to believe a woman, even if she is the Old Man's daughter. Luna Elderberry, nee Villareal, would have to have had to show him enough to proof to spook him."

"So, she's got the files," Mariah said, "and if we can get our hands on them."

"Checkmate," Snow smiled.

"Damn right," Mariah grinned.

"No, really, checkmate," Snow continued to grin,

"What?" Mariah looked down at the chess game they'd been negligently playing while talking. "How did you do that?"

"It's called the Tartosan Attack," Snow said. "You've got to pay attention... especially if you're going to go after Jacques Villareal's files which, like I said, no one has been able to find."

"Yeah," Mariah, a little sadly, "but I've got an inside woman."

"Do you trust her?" Snow asked.

"Absolutely," Mariah answered, "but bringing her into this... I don't know."

"Kid, her mom is the Alto's banker, her dad's deep in Nick's pocket, and her uncle is a major player, even if he is a fuck-up," Snow said. "She's deep in this already. She just doesn't know it... unless she does."

"Merda," Mariah sighed.

--------------------------

"Let me get this straight," Genie gasped out. "You're telling me my mom is involved in organized crime, Nick Alto is a crime boss and my grand-père was some kind of criminal mastermind?"

"Yes," Mariah winced.

"And you're a spy?" Aadi put in.

"Kinda," Mariah groaned, "yeah... intelligence asset is the term but yeah, spy."

"You want to say anything here?" Aadi looked at Miranda.

"I knew most of this already," Miranda admitted.

"This is crazy," Genie burst out. "I mean first, Mr. Alto... Nick... your Uncle Nick is a crime boss?"

"Honey, her Uncle Nick is a crime boss," Aadi said. "It's kinda been in the news."

"Oh my God," Genie gasped. "I mean... Oh my God, I slept with him."

"You what?!" Mariah gasped.

"OK, that's maybe not the important thing right now," Aadi said.

"You knew about that!" Mariah accused.

"Not the important thing right now," Aadi repeated.

"You didn't know, about your mom?" Miranda asked Genie gently.

"Sure," Genie's voice dripped sarcasm. "Miranda, my mother and I barely talk... and 'Mom are you involved in organized crime?' is right up there with 'Mom, I lost my virginity to your fitness instructor' on the list of topics we don't talk about!"

"Wait, isn't your mom sleeping with her fitness instructor?" Aadi asked.

"Can we stop talking about my sex life!?" Genie cried.

"Well, you keep bringing it up," Miranda pointed out.

"I need..." Genie sighed. "I need a minute."

"Genie, I'm sorry," Mariah started. "I..."

"Just... I need a minute," Genie repeated. 

"Take all the minutes you need," Mariah said softly.

Interlude - Genie's Wish

Meanwhile...

"Aadi, I'm so sorry about my mom," Genie said. "She's just..."

"Hey, it's OK girlfriend," Aadi said soothingly. "She doesn't understand but she listened. That's big."

"You don't know her," Genie grumbled. "She sounds all reasonable and stuff, but it's her way or no way... and that stuff my dad's doing. Aadi, how can you even look at me?"

"You're not your parents, Genie," Miranda said. "You're our friend."

"Still, I am having a hard time looking at you right now," Aasi teased. "Girl, what is this you're wearing?"

"God," Genie moaned. "You're right. I'm going to get this crap out of my hair and get changed. Then, I'm going to the frat party. I'm going to get seriously drunk and boink some rando."

"Umm Genie, I'm not sure about the last part of this plan," Miranda said, "or the middle part of the plan either."

"Yeah, don't do anything stupid, Girl," Aadi said.

"No, after an afternoon with Luna, stupid is exactly what I need to do," Genie said. "And don't either of you dare follow me."

"Oh boy," Miranda sighed.

---------------

"This is the best!" Genie cheered.

The music pounded to shake the walls. A press of college students crowded around the bar, drinking heavily and all but shouting to be heard over the music. From the next room, squeals of laughter and drunken cries of "Take it off" accompanied a young woman flashing the crowd. 

Genie had considered doing that herself, but the charming company of Johnny Pretty held her attention at the moment.

"This is just what I needed after Luna," Genie added, drawling out her mother's name bitterly.

"Hey, no serious stuff," Johnny said. "We're having fun."

"Fun!" Genie agreed. 

"Too bad your roommates couldn't come," Johnny said. "I'd love to meet Aadi and Miranda."

"No roommates. No parents. Nobody telling me to be good, sit still, stay out of trouble," Genie said. "I want some trouble!"

"Alright!" Johnny laughed.

"Hey babe," a rando in a green sweater said. "Why don't you ditch this loser and let me get you a drink."

"See, that's what I'm talking about," Genie laughed. "Johnny, this guy is trying to pick me up. What do you think of that?"

"Pretty ballsy," Johnny said with a cold grin. Neither Genie not Green Sweater Guy recognized the danger behind that grin.

"Pretty ballsy," Genie agreed, adding to Green Sweater Guy, "but I think I'm good for now."

"Your loss." Green Sweater Guy wandered off. 

"Come 'ere" Genie said, pulling Johnny up with her. "So, I'm looking for a guy to take me upstairs and help me finish forgetting my crummy day. So, you gonna bang me or should I go hit up Green Sweater Guy?"

"Babe, I'll make you forget your troubles. I'll make you forget you own name," Johnny grinned.

---------------

"Mmmmm," Genie purred later. "I needed that."

"Happy to help," Johnny smiled. "Call me anytime."

"I'll do that," Genie grinned. "God, I've got to get home. Thanks for a wild night."

"Meeting over?" Johnny asked.

"Mr. Alto wouldn't be pleased if he knew about your little... side project, you know," Ms. H said.

"What Nick doesn't know doesn't hurt me," Johnny Pretty smiled. "Anyway, it'd be worth it. She's a firecracker."

"After today, your 'firecracker' may be more valuable than I first thought," Ms. H said. 

"Good thing I got close to her then," Johnny smirked.

"Good thing you decided what she knew about Mariah and the other roommates might be of value," Ms. H grinned. "You're a very enterprising young man, Mr. Pretty."

Johnny continued to smirk, as unaware of the danger he now stood in as the Green Sweater Guy had been.

"Now," Ms. H purred, "tell me everything she told you."

Chapter 45 - Dark Side of the Moon

This is just too useful to pass up, Mariah smiled to herself as she set the listening device under the table. Marco used the pub as his headquarters and he'd need a bigger table for this big meeting. A big table which Genie's mom had kindly provided in getting lunch for the roommates. Mariah had already had words with the pub staff - who were still intimidated - and told them to leave everything just like it was.

"Sound check," she whispered as she headed toward the stairs to the second level.

"Audio's good," Snow replied into Mariah's earpiece. "I've got you and the bug, loud and clear. I'm still not sure it's a good idea for you to hang around."

"I need eyes on this," Mariah replied.

"Still don't trust me, kid?" Snow chuckled.

"No," Mariah grinned.

Marco at the head of the table, Mariah grinned to herself. She'd known he would be. Torn between his desire to put himself in a position where he could see the whole room and his desire to be seen as in charge, he'd chosen to be in charge. Classic insecure male.

"OK, who's Indiana Jones?" Mariah muttered excitedly. "He's sitting down with Marco... must be the leader of the other crew."

"Good to see you, Marco," the newcomer's voice came clearly through the bug. "I'm surprised Holly lets you hang out with all these college girls."

"I know that voice," Snow said apprehensively. "Ok, kid, I'm going to need you to stay cool."

"Max V," Marco said. "I'm surprised they let a crook like you back in the country."

"Max V?" Mariah snarled. "Max V... the gangster who kidnapped Miranda!"

"Stay cool," Snow repeated. "If Max V is here, this is big."

Mariah took a moment to focus on her breathing, tuning out the typical male posturing going on between Marco and Max V. Snow was right. She needed to stay cool, stay calm and focused. This was the opportunity she hoped for. A chance to get some real information on the larger scale of Alto's operations. Stay calm. Focus. Breath.

"Merda," Mariah whispered. 

"What?" Snow asked. 

"Mrs. Elderberry just walked in," Mariah sighed. "Why did she have to come back? I may need to... Wait. What?! She's sitting down with them!"

"Luna," Marco said courteously.

"Hey, the money's here," Max V laughed. "How's life, sis?"

"Sis?" Mariah gasped.

"Max," Luna groaned. "What's he doing here, Marco?"

"I told you we were meeting with the head of another crew," Marco said.

"You didn't tell me it was my reprobate little brother," Luna said back.

"So, no hug?" Max V teased. "Look sis, I've got this deal..."

"You've always got some deal or scam or angle, Max," Luna put in. "After your last fuck-up with the Goth girl, I'm surprised Nick let you back in."

Breathe, Mariah told herself. Stay cool.

"Mr. Alto is interested in Max's proposal," Marco said smoothly, "and so is Ms. H."

"And you need me for what?" Luna snarled.

"You're Alto's money-gal," Max V grinned. "We you need to handle the money end."

"Genie's mom is Alto's money-guy?!" Mariah hissed.

"OK, let's hear your 'deal'," Luna sighed.

"Here are our other principles now," Marco said agreeably.

"H just came in, doing that 'moving too fast see' thing," Mariah reported. "I thought vampires didn't like daylight."

"They don't," Snow replied. "It doesn't hurt them, like in the movies, but they're stronger at night. This must be important for her to be out before sundown."

"She's brought some suit," Mariah added. "Doesn't look like a vamp."

"Luna Elderberry, I don't believe you've met the Professor," Marco was saying.

"Professor John Faust," the man in the suit replied.

"Faust!" Mariah burst out. "He's..."

"Stay cool," Snow repeated.

"Well, now that we're all here, we can get started," Marco continued. "Max, why don't you explain your proposal."

"Glad to," Max V said. "During my recent trip to the spice lands..."

"You mean that time you were hiding out after fucking up with the Goth girl," Luna put in.

"Yeah," Max V said bitterly, before continuing. "Anyway, I made some interesting contacts down in Selvadorada. They hooked me up with some merchandize of interest to folks back here, and I started doing a little import/export."

"You're running drugs now?" Luna asked bitterly.

"Among other things," Max V smiled. "I've also got a healthy line in antiquities. The hard part is bringing goods onto the continent. Fortunately, I found a partner."

"In exchange for a share of his business, I agreed to forgive Max his prior... failings," Ms. H purred. "I still have a controlling interest in Basso Shipping..."

"Puttana!" Mariah swore.

"Big Tony did set up a good smuggling operation," Marco mused.

"Indeed," Faust put in, "and we have kept it running." 

"So you need to launder the money," Luna nodded. "We can do that."

"Naturally, Mr. Alto gets his share," Marco put in, "for facilitating the transactions on this end."

"Naturally," Max V smiled.

"I was thinking of investing in real estate," Ms. H purred.

"That should be easy enough," Luna agreed. "Plenty of properties in the City we can flip."

"No, Windenburg," Ms. H said. "I have specific properties in mind. Faust."

"This is a list of what we would like to acquire." Professor Faust handed Luna the papers. "You will note several are marked for transfer to Ms. H's private holding companies rather than re-sale. We will naturally compensate Mr. Alto for any loss incurred."

Luna glanced quickly over the list, then paused and looked more closely.

"These are Count Straud's properties," she said.

"Yes, they are," Ms. H smiled viciously, "and soon they will be mine."

"I can't do this," Luna said. "Most of these where seized when the government froze Straud's assets after the Landgraab syndicate fell. The rest are tied up in shell companies he controlled. They'd never sell."

"I don't care what you have to do to get them," Ms. H snarled. "They will be mine! Everything that old monster had will be mine!"

"You listen to me," Luna snarled back. "I'm not some lackey you can push around."

"Nick wants this," Max V put in.

"You listen to me, little brother," Luna barked, then rounded on Ms. H, "and you listen too. I still have Father's files. Details on everything he knew. Enough to bring the world crashing down on Nick Alto, on all the Families. You don't threaten me!"

"The Villareal Files," Snow gasped. "They're real!"

"What?" Mariah asked, stunned.

"She just said it," Snow said breathlessly. "Enough information to bring down the Families. Forget Max V's little smuggling ring. This... this is huge. I need to talk to Control. Meet me tomorrow." 

"We've got them," Mariah breathed.

Chapter 44 - On Plans and Identity

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Miranda asked.

"Seriously?" Mariah replied. "For the past few months, I've been trying to take my classes, commit crimes with Marco's crew while passing information about them to the Agency and convince the vampire puttana who murdered my father that I'm only using you for money and sex... and now you ask me if this is a good idea?"

"Yeah, well, I have a warped sense of normal," Miranda admitted.

"I think this might be a chance to get us back to a less warped normal," Mariah sighed.

"OK, explain that to me," Miranda insisted.

"Like I told you, Marco and H have a meeting with the leader of another crew and with someone high in Alto's organization and, with a little help from Snow, I'm going to bug the meeting and we're going to listen in," Mariah said.

"Again, is this a good idea and how does this help?" Miranda pressed the point.

"Marco and Nick have been keeping me isolated from the Family," Mariah said. "Technically, I'm just an 'associate,' not an actual member... 

"Because you haven't actually killed anyone for them," Miranda said, "which is a Good Thing."

"... but, also, I think they don't really trust me," Mariah continued.

"Which, given that you are actually spying on them, is kinda smart," Miranda pointed out.

"Will you let me finish?" Mariah grumbled.

"Sorry."

"Right now, I've given Liberty enough to take down the Britechester crew, but that's small potatoes," Mariah continued. "Stolen goods, hijacking, gambling and she could maybe break up the prostitution ring... but the Britechester crew's just me, Carla, Pretty and Marco. Marco is the only major player I've got anything on and it's not enough. Even if they can convict him, he'll do the time laughing and be back running a new crew in a few years. 

"I've got nothing on H," she sighed.

"Nothing?" Miranda blinked, surprised.

"She's canny," Mariah sighed again. "She isn't actually involved in anything the Britechester crew is doing. Not directly or in any way I can prove, anyway. I know she's involved with Alto, like I know she was involved in your kidnapping, but I can't prove anything... and just being a vampire puttana isn't fucking illegal.

"This meeting is my chance," Mariah continued. "My chance to get Marco on something more than the Britechester crew. Hopefully, my chance to get something... anything...  on H. It has to be. It has to."

"What is it?" Miranda recognized Mariah's desperate need and worry.

"I don't know how much longer we've got," Mariah admitted. "The term is almost over... Ms. H isn't going to wait forever. She's after you and plans to use me to get you. I think she's going to make her move... soon. I need to make mine first."

"Our little M&M's have their heads together and they're not even making out," Aadi teased, wandering in from the backyard and dropping into a seat at the dining table. "What are you two up to?"

"Plotting world domination," Mariah snarked. 

"Better you than my dad," Genie said, wandering in after Aadi. "Sorry, did you guys want to be alone?"

"No, we're good," Miranda said with a false smile. 

Mariah was sure Miranda had more to say, but was willing to let it go. She knew neither of them was going to change the other's mind anyway.

"So what are you guys... hey, was that the door?" Mariah said, surprised by a knock.

"I'm up. I'll get it," Genie said.

"Mom?!" Genie gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello honey," Luna smiled. "I found myself in the area and I thought I'd drop by."

"Great," Genie couldn't hide her shock. "Um, come in."

"Guys, this is my mom, Luna Elderberry," Genie said. "Mom, you've met Miranda before... and this is Mariah and..."

"Of course," Luna smiled. "Miranda, I was so pleased when Genevieve told me you two had become friends... and Mariah, of course I know your foster mothers from the charity scene. They're such kind and generous ladies."

"Yeah, they are," Mariah said, feeling herself bristling. 

"... and this is Aadi, mom," Genie said.

"A pleasure," Luna said offhandedly, "Genevieve has told me so much about you."

"Charmed," Aadi replied with a smirk.

"Well, since I'm here, I thought I'd take you all to lunch," Luna continued. "I remember appreciating a good free lunch during my college days, especially near the end of term when the budget got tight, even if it did mean dealing with someone's parent."

"That would be lovely," Aadi said with their usual bright, if now somewhat false, cheer.

"Oh Genevieve, you should put something on," Luna added, wrinkling her nose at Genie's sweatshirt and jeans, "and maybe try to fix your hair dear."

------------------

"So, Aadi, tell me a little bit about yourself," Luna said cheerfully. 

Free lunch aside, the tension among the roommates was almost visible in the air. Mariah was doing her best to keep hold of her temper. The impending dangers of spying on tonight's meeting and the associated worry radiating off Miranda already had her on edge. Adding Luna Elderberry's almost cheerful dismissal of everything that was "Genie" about Genie, and Mariah was ready to punch someone.

"... anyway, my dad teaches yoga now and mom's a full-time bartender, part-time painter," Aadi was saying. "I think I get my love of art from her and spending time the big gallery in the City."

"That's lovely," Luna smiled. "Genevieve said you're studying Art History. I sometimes wish I'd given more time to art. You're a very fortunate young man."

Miranda winced. Mariah snarled. Aadi smiled politely, opening their mouth to correct her. 

It was Genie who snapped.

"Mom, I told you, Aadi identifies as non-binary," Genie said forcefully.

"Well, yes you did but..." Luna started.

"I know it can be confusing to some people," Aadi said gently but firmly. "I don't see myself as a young man, or a young woman for that matter. Neither gender alone really describes Who I Am. I'm a little of both and lot of something else... something that's just me. I use "they" and "them" as pronouns."

"I'm sorry, but it just seems... unnecessary," Luna said.

"It's necessary," Aadi replied, still polite but a little more firm, "because it's who I am. I have the right to define myself, in my terms, and be my truest and most authentic self. 

They smiled, "Mrs. Elderberry, you work in Finance. That's a very male-dominated field. I'm sure some of the men you've worked with tried to impose their idea of What a Woman Should Be on you... and I'm just as sure you didn't allow it. You stood by Who You Are and you expect people to respect that. This isn't so different."

"That's... a very interesting way of looking at it, Aadi," Luna said thoughtfully.

"Respecting someone's chosen gender and pronouns is like," Aadi paused and looking directly at Genie with a slight smile, "using the name they prefer. It's just being respectful of them, as a person."

"Thank you, Aadi... and I'm sorry," Luna said glancing between Aadi and her daughter, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Forgive me, ma'am, but I hope you can explain it to your husband," Aadi continued seriously. "Some of the laws he's been supporting in the Lower House haven't be very respectful of the LGBTQ+ community."

"Well, Rohan is a member of the Conservative coalition, Aadi," Luna said. "He doesn't personally always agree with some of their legislation but he has to consider the interests of his supporters. It's just politics." 

"Ma'am, it's just politics for him," Miranda put in. "For Aadi, for Mariah and for me, it's our lives."

"Well," Luna said thoughtfully, "this has been a more... interesting... lunch than I expected. But, thank you for that. I will think about what you've said."