Flawed (Flawed, #1)(75)

“You know about that?”

“I recognize her signature style. Not too skilled a writer, if I’m honest, but she somehow has a knack for getting the stories, getting people to speak. She writes better as Lisa Life. The name makes me smile,” she says, not smiling. “You obviously struck a chord with her. Tell me, has she been behaving differently, or is she still a pent-up shark in a box? A puppet shark, mind you, for all the freedom Crevan gives her writing. Freedom of speech, my eye,” she snorts. “And as of this morning, that is set to change. Only minutes ago he announced—”

“That writing favorably about the Flawed will be seen as aiding a Flawed.” I stand up and start pacing, the adrenaline surging. It’s happening. Crevan is unraveling just as Pia said. Who knows what he’ll do to me now. I’ll have to think of a way to act, fast.

“Correct,” she says. “So you do read the papers. Usually kids your age need a bomb up their backsides, but it’s good to see you’ve got your wits about you. Frankly, I would have liked to have started this last Monday, but you were insistent on staying in school. Perhaps I should have taken you aside and talked to you in school, but I didn’t think you were ready. In a way, Logan Trilby did me a favor. Though don’t get me wrong, I hope all four of them rot in hell for what they did to you, and thanks to Lisa Life, her article today tells the world just what they did. She doesn’t name names, of course, but she hints just enough for people to be able to guess. People are complaining about your treatment already. The police have a lot of questions to answer for not bringing them to justice. Crevan’s going to want Lisa Life’s blood.”

And mine.

I’m not happy that people know what I experienced Friday night. I don’t want it to give others any ideas, but I’m glad that Logan and the gang have been implicated.

“Before we begin, do you have any questions? Any questions at all.”

The way she’s looking at me I know I have to sit up and listen. I know it has begun. It’s time to take control of myself now.

“Tell me about Enya Sleepwell.”

She smiles for the first time. “Excellent question, kiddo. You’re going to be an A student, I can tell. Tell me what you know about her.”

“She’s a politician. She has a pixie cut. She came to my trial every day. I remember seeing her. She always stood in the back, near the Flawed. She’s a member of the Vital Party. She’s on my side.”

“Two corrections.” She holds her fingers up. “She’s now leader of the Vital Party. She managed to stage a coup against the party leader. He was sweet but stupid. Enya played him, his own fault, really. He should have watched his back as soon as that girl was voted in. She was voted in as leader just last week, and she has you to thank for that.

“Second correction, she’s not necessarily on your side. She’s a politician, a fast riser at that. I believe she cares, and she cares hard, but she leans whichever way the wind is blowing, and she’s noticing that the Flawed problem is a rising concern with people, some people anyway. But there’s enough growth in that area to get behind it, so she can surf the wave to victory.”

As she tells me about her, she flicks through dozens of photos of Enya, many of her caught by cameras standing among the crowds at my trial.

“If you make one mistake, she’ll drop you like a hot potato, but so far she sees you as her poster girl, her shortcut, freeway to leadership. Power. It’s all about that, don’t you forget. People want money or power. Which do you want?”

I frown. “Neither.”

Alpha frowns as she studies me.

“Wait.” I try to think clearly. “But Enya is already leader. What more does she want?”

“She’s leader of her party, sweetheart. She’s gunning for leadership of the country.”

“She thinks that I can help with that?”

Alpha smiles again, liking my na?veté, but I’m learning fast. “No, she’ll use you to get that; and if you fail, she’ll find something else to get behind, like package holidays to Mars.”

“So I shouldn’t trust her.”

“That’s not what I said. You can trust her as long as you’re aware of where she stands. She’s using you, you use her right back. I’m surprised she hasn’t made contact yet.” It’s a statement, but I know she’s questioning me.

I shake my head.

“Soon, I imagine.”

The idea of this scares me.

“Don’t worry, I’ll coach you. Anything you need to know, you ask me, okay?”

I nod, but I’m unsure. At this point, I don’t feel like I can trust anybody. Alpha is no different, and she senses this.

“Yes, I’m using you, too,” she admits. “I’ve an agenda, too. I’ve opinions and beliefs that I want to see come through. You’re the girl of the moment. With a bit of guidance, you’re the one who can make it happen.”

“Why do you believe in this so strongly?”

“My husband is Flawed. His temple and tongue.”

Bad judgment and a liar.

“He made an ethical mistake at work. Got caught. He was a rising man in the ranks, with great prospects and a bright future, so they put a stop to that and made an example of him.”