Hi guys! As promised, here are episodes 6 thru 8 of The Coup Conspiracy. Enjoy!
Previous Episodes
The United States is in slow-motion economic collapse. The Three Strikes Act funnels the unemployed masses into a national network of work camps for the most trivial of infractions.
Lando Cruz is a scrappy rebel who risks his final strike on the streets of Philadelphia by trading illegal currencies under cover of a burrito stand. He spends his days bribing dirty cops, fending off undercover federal agents and shepherding his little sister through adolescence.
Lando is getting by until beat cops seize his savings and kidnap his sister for ransom. He has thirty days to raise the hard cash he needs to free her before she is sold into sex slavery. His only chance is a lucrative job offer from the black market rebellion's paramilitary startup, the Core. He risks both his life and his principles to get his sister back before time runs out.
Episode 6: Mariana
Lando stirred, in turn, each of the four tall, bubbling pots on the tiny but spotless propane stoves. He glanced out of the second-story kitchen window to the old, windowless walkup across the street. Inside, that squatter was pissing out the back window. The man smoked a cigarette laced with something Lando didn’t want to think about. Fuck this place. Lando felt dirty.
Lando’s tablet vibrated in his pocket. He grabbed a threadbare towel and pulled a small tray out of the toaster oven. Dad’s special brownies. Lando smiled. What he would do to me if he knew.
Lando opened the tiny kitchen window and stuck his head out. The organic farm market at the corner was open and already doing business.
He checked the clock. 4:30 AM. Time for Princess Mariana to wake from her slumber. Lando laid out two large coconut flour tortillas on a dented metal plate. He dropped some refried bean paste, a long chunk of mozzarella cheese, bacon, scrambled eggs and a crescent lump of spring green avocado on top. He rolled it all up and walked to his sister’s room. Some princess. She eats like a horse.
He banged on the door, then opened it. “Mari, time for breakfast.” He let the plate drop from a modest height onto her scratched plastic side table.
She snored.
Lando clapped his hands twice. “Mari, I’m trying to catch the breakfast rush here!”
The body on the bed did not move.
Lando grabbed her shoulder and shook.
Mariana rolled over.
“Mari, now! Your food is here. Get up. You’ve got studying to do.”
“Can I take today off?” She looked out at him from underneath the covers, her sleepy eyes arching downwards at the extremes, pleading with him.
“Get yourself up. I can’t miss the breakfast rush today. Rent is due!” Lando said.
Mariana sniffed her breakfast. “Oh my God, that smells great. Can I have some coffee, too?” She tucked in, sucking down Lando’s breakfast burritos in slurps and gulps.
“No coffee. It will stunt your growth. And you need every inch.” Lando snickered.
Mariana whimpered, then made a pleading sound through her full mouth.
“I’m out of here. Get serious with your studying, little girl. Lazy won’t get you into Harvard.”
“Wait,” Mariana said. “I need lunch money.”
“I packed you a lunch. It’s next to the stove. Like always.”
Her mouth full of breakfast burrito, she held out her hands and cocked her head sideways. She frowned.
Lando crossed his arms. “My food still embarrasses you?”
She nodded her head and swallowed. “Dara and Avery always buy the nice lunch and —”
“You always get stuck eating beans.” Lando finished her sentence.
“They make me fart, Lando! I need to network with the right people to get into Harvard. You understand? Right?” She made the cute smile.
Lando sighed. Oh she’s going to be a terror. He pulled $50 out of his wallet and left it on the table. “Don’t spend it all in one place. It’s all we’ve got right now.”
Mariana shook her head from side to side and moved her arms in a dance. She outstretched her left arm and stuck out her index and pinky fingers — sign language for “I love you.”
You are so spoiled! Lando pointed his index finger at her. “Stay away from the boys!”
Mariana ripped off another chunk, and saluted. Her face contorted. She rushed to him and held his face. “What happened to your nose, your eye?” She caressed his face.
Lando turned away. “You just focus on studying, little girl.”
“What happened! Tell me!”
Lando glared at her and turned away.
“You tell me what happened right now or I’ll wake Dad.” Mariana slammed her foot into the floor. It buckled, causing the room to shake.
Lando grimaced. You don’t want to know because if I told you everything you would be ashamed of how hard I work for you and you would give up your dreams.
Mariana sat down with her two hands cupping her cheeks.
“Take a guess,” Lando started. “Greedy cops. What did you expect? I can always handle or pay off everyone else.”
“Everyone? That’s not true. You can’t go back out there today. You just can’t.” Mariana furrowed her brow.
Lando sighed. “Have a seat. Let me teach you a couple things about life, little girl. Bills —“
“You have two strikes, Lando. You can’t just go out there without thinking of the consequences. One more and I’m here all alone, just me and Dad. What happens when, you know …?” said Mariana.
Lando looked up. Just think positive, just think positive. “Bills must be paid, food must be put on the table. Princesses must be clothed and supplied with books. Dad’s disability checks are a joke. They cover Lizzy and a couple plantains from the organic market. That’s it. And that’s why I have to keep going out there.”
Mariana stood up. “Okay, I am going to get a job or start a business, or something!”
Lando grabbed her elbow. Why did I have to open my big mouth? “Sit down. Eat your breakfast. Study your books. Your job is to get into Harvard or University of Chicago. Not sell hot dogs on a street corner.”
“But —”
“What job would you do anyway? There are no jobs for teenagers left.” Lando held up his index finger. “Nothing more about this!”
Mariana started to sob. “Don’t go back out there! They could kill you!”
Lando put his index finger to his lips and shushed her. “You’re being melodramatic! I’m completely fine!” He closed the door behind him, then reopened it and stuck his head in the room. “Just remember, if it all goes wrong, you know where my silver stash is.” He laughed at himself.
Tears ran down Mariana’s soft cheeks.
Episode 7: Illegal
“Dad, get some more sleep.” Lando said. Oh boy, here it comes again.
Dad rolled into the kitchen, the nurse pushing him. “You know I can’t sleep past five anymore.” Dad scowled. “How come you’re not out yet?”
“I’m leaving now, Dad, just finished loading the food on the cart. Mari is up and eating. I left yours and Lizzy’s breakfast next to the —“
Dad jerked his head. “Why don’t you just get a corporate job, son? Breaking your back for pennies a day, selling burritos on the street!” Dad turned up his nose and frowned. “Not even in Colombia did our family have to stoop that low. It’s not even Colombian food! And how will you ever put Mari through college on that?”
“I gotta go if I’m going to catch the breakfast rush,” Lando muttered. God, I hate this!
“You realize when I die that my disability checks won’t come anymore, right?”
“Yes, Dad, of course. Now—“
“What will you do then? We’re already losing this place.”
Why must he start now, when I’m about to head out the door? “You know I have my agorist business. Currency exchanges really rake it in, dad. We’ve talked about this.” Lando let out a long sigh and rolled his eyes upwards.
Dad reached out and grabbed Lando’s collar. “Don’t you roll your eyes at me, boy! This is serious! I’m already three months past my expiration date. But I can still kick your ass.” He let Lando go and hung his head. He strained to be still.
Lando put his hand on Dad’s shoulder.
Dad sighed. “I want—“
“About that exp—“ Lando started.
Dad threw his head up and raised his voice. “I want you to go out and get a corporate job. And keep it. It’s that simple. You need to build a future, not risk your neck for a crazy cause no one understands. You listen to that Raven too much.”
Lando was silent. You might understand it if you tried.
“You are going to give me what I want.” He contemplated Lando. “You owe it to me.”
Lando opened his mouth but looked down at the floor. His stomach fell.
“And don’t tell me about your business. Your currency exchange is illegal. Selling those ridiculous burritos without a permit is illegal.”
“That’s the point, Dad! In a world —“
“You are illegal!” yelled Dad.
Lando threw his hands out in front of him and grabbed the hair at the back of his head. “Dad,” he whispered, “keep your voice down. Look, I gotta —”
“Why are you even involved in this political stuff, Lando? What is the point of these risks you take? One more strike and it’s all over. What happens to Mari then? Have you thought about that? Imagine for a minute what these animals will do with her.” He firmed his jaw.
Lando glanced at the kitchen clock. “I’m officially late! Goodbye!” Lando walked out the front door, closing the flimsy slice of particle board gently behind him.
Lando mounted his food cart and started peddling up the hill toward Center City. Another day, another —
A man in a polo shirt and a police officer stepped out in front of Lando. “Landon J. Cruz?” asked the police officer.
Episode 8: Rent
“Yeah, that’s him,” said the man in the polo shirt.
“Mr. Johansson —“ Lando started.
“Don’t start with me, kid.” Mr. Johansson looked up the street. “Just pay me what you owe me right now.”
“Can you just —“
Mr. Johansson looked Lando in the eye. “Six months back rent now, or our friendly policeman here evicts you. Right now. That’ll be $72,000, Mr. Cruz.”
“I’m pretty sure city law says you have to give us thirty days notice and then we can appeal, and that can take a while, and then you can’t evict a senior suffering with a terminal illness —“
“Listen,” Mr. Johansson put his face an inch from Lando’s nose. “This is Officer Mc— What’s your name?” He glanced to his left.
“Hernandez,” said the cop.
“Officer Hernandez. I’ve got him all day. Once we move your stuff out, including your practically-dead dad, you’ve got nothing. You ‘voluntarily vacated,’ right, Hernandez?”
“That’s right, sir.” The cop pulled out his nightstick and bounced its heavy side on the palm of his hand.
Lando narrowed his eyes and took a step back. “Have you gentlemen had breakfast yet?”
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