Page 46 of Hidden Truths

“The guys aren’t going to be happy he went while they’re gone,” Willa admits.

“It’ll be fine. He promised to go with our plan,” Jo says, picking at her nails. It’s the only tell she has that shows how nervous she is. It’s not that we think he’s in danger. Physically, anyway.

Mav’s hair has grown out to his chin. The plan is, he’s going to wear an AirPod in one ear and make sure his hair is covering it. He’ll call Willa’s phone once he gets to the restaurant. She’llput him on speaker and mute the call. Jo is going to record everything on her phone. Jason and I are on Cora duty. She just started crawling, so it involves a lot of chasing and making sure nothing ends up in her mouth.

“What if someone recognizes him?” Jason asks.

“He’ll be polite, but short, and they’ll lose interest. It’s what he always does,” Willa says.

“Phone’s ringing!” I yell the moment Willa’s phone lights up. “Sorry,” I say in a normal tone. “I’m anxious.”

“It’s just lunch, Harry. Jeez,” Jo says, laughing at me.

“Cal is in a prison, and we just sent his best friend into the lion’s den!” I whisper-shout at her while Willa answers and gets her phone set up.

“Cal isn’t in prison. You need to relax, or I’m sending you to your room,” Willa whispers, shutting me up with a terrifying glare.

“He’s inaprison,” I hiss, earning myself a glare from Willa in the process.

Jo gets her phone set up to record and we wait.

“I’ve got Cora. We’ll go play in her room. Focus on one thing at a time,” Jason says, squeezing my shoulder. I thank him with a smile.

“Maverick! I’m so glad we could finally get together,” a soft voice says.

“Hi, Mom.” Mav sounds exhausted already.

They make small talk and discuss the menu. You’d think they were strangers.

Then his mother makes her first mistake.

“Governor Daley, you remember him. His daughter is your age. She agreed to a date with you on Saturday. She’s staying in our guest house, so you’ll need to pick her up there. I suggest —”

“No.”

“Excuse me?” that voice that was soft before is harsh now. It made my spine straighten, and I’m not even there.

“I’m not taking anyone on a date. Especially someone that you will then expect me to marry to form a political alliance for Dad. It’s not happening.” Mav’s voice is firm and brokers no argument.

“It is your responsibility to this family.”

“What happened to Ezra, Mom?”

The silence on both ends of the line is tense. We’re all staring at each other in shock. That wasn’t on the list of more subtle questions Maverick was supposed to be asking. He went right for her throat.

“He died. You know that,” his mom says eventually.

“He’s not dead!” We hear something slam and gasps filter through the phone. “What did Dad do to him?”

“What reason would your father have to do something to some child?” his mother scoffs.

“What reason does he have to do anything he does? Because he wants to and fuck what it costs anyone else.”

Another scoff.

“Why did he corner Cal’s nanny in a parking lot?” The press hasn’t figured out my name yet, and I’m grateful to Mav for not giving it to his mother.

She scoffs for a third time. It’s her tell. She makes that noise when she’s about to lie or avoid the truth. At least it seems to be from what I’ve heard from her so far.

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