Caught by Menace by Lolita Lopez Page A

wild stories to keep me
    occupied.”
    “You loved your father.”
    “Very much,” she said and poked at her mound of
    fluffy scrambled eggs. “He always did his very best to
    protect us, but it wasn’t enough that day.”
    “What happened?”
    “Nattie got into an argument with our father. He took
    off out of the sewers and Daddy went after him and,
    wel, you know.” She touched her neck. “I found him
    later that night, just after sunset.”
    later that night, just after sunset.”
    Menace’s eyes widened. “You went out alone? After
    dark?”
    “Nattie and Daddy didn’t come back. I had to do
    something. I couldn’t just sit there alone and wait
    forever.” Her eyelids drifted together as the tormenting
    memory of her father’s gashed throat and bloodless body
    flashed before her.
    “What happened after you found him?” Menace
    asked, his voice soft and gentle.
    “I started digging.”
    “What? By yourself?”
    She stared at him. “Wel, who the hel else was going
    to bury him?”
    “But your brother—”
    “Is the fucking laziest, most irresponsible dickhead
    you’l ever meet.”
    Menace frowned. “Language, Naya.”
    She roled her eyes. “He’s a jerk, okay? Even back
    then he was a huge jerk.”
    “But you didn’t see it?”
    “No, I saw it al right. I was just dumb enough and
    “No, I saw it al right. I was just dumb enough and
    naive enough to think that people change. They don’t.”
    “No,” he agreed.
    Not wanting to talk about her brother or her father any
    longer, Naya changed the subject. “Your home is very
    nice.”
    “Thank you.” Menace splashed the blue liquid into her
    glass. “I think you’l like this. It’s juice from a fruit that
    grows on Harcos Prime. It’s a little sweet and just the
    slightest bit tart.”
    She warily eyed the glass. “Is it mixed with water?”
    “Yes.”
    “From your planet or mine?”
    “Mine. Why?”
    “Because I haven’t been able to drink water in
    Connor’s Run without boiling it since I was ten,” she said
    and picked up the glass. After a curious sniff, she sipped
    the brightly colored juice. To her surprise, it was quite
    delicious. “Oh! This is nice.”
    “I’m glad you like it.” He bit a piece of crispy bacon.
    “Why are water supplies compromised in your town?”
    “The Merkorians destroyed most of the town’s
    infrastructure. What they didn’t screw up, you guys blew
    up during your aerial attacks on their ships. There hasn’t
    been any money to fix it, so we boil water or we don’t
    drink.”
    “You don’t have to worry about that here. Water
    supplies are adequate and clean. The plumbing systems
    alocate a rationed amount per apartment per day but it’s
    more than enough for the two of us to drink, bathe and
    do household chores.”
    She glanced around the space. “Your home is very
    clean. Do you clean it yourself?”
    He nodded. “I’m eligible for a cleaning service, but I
    don’t enjoy having other people in my space.” He
    hesitated. “If you’d prefer, I can request those services.”
    Naya understood what he was asking. “I’m not going
    to lie. I’m not the world’s worst housekeeper but I’m not
    the kind of girl who embroiders tablecloths and cooks
    five-course meals.”
    “Neither am I,” he said with a smile. “Between the two
    of us, I’m sure we can make it work.” He motioned to
    her plate. “Eat. It’s getting cold.”
    “Yes, sir.” She gave a mock salute and tucked into her
    meal. It was actualy quite good. She looked around his
    home as she ate. “At least you don’t have a lot to dust.”
    home as she ate. “At least you don’t have a lot to dust.”
    “I haven’t been here long enough to clutter up the
    place.”
    “No?”
    He shook his head. “I lived in a section set aside for
    bachelor officers until a month ago. When I put forth my
    name for this quarter’s Grab, the housing department
    offered me a choice of married housing units. I picked
    this one