No Power: A Bronxland Novel by Todd Kirby

Author:Todd Kirby [Kirby, Todd]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bronxland Press
Published: 2023-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

“Julie, you know everybody’s last name in here, right?” Mo asked.

They all turned to Julie, who was staring into space, looking at no one in particular as she considered her options. Gradually, her head began to nod, as if she’d come to a complicated, but definitive decision.

“I’m not allowed to breach confidentiality unless a client is a danger to themselves, or a danger to others,” Julie said, much to Tom’s relief. “But given our current circumstances, that client’s decision to keep his identity a secret might be robbing the rest of us of our only chance at getting out of here alive.”

Julie looked up and locked eyes with Tom. Tom’s stomach dropped to the floor, and when the rest of the crew turned to look at him, he felt like vomiting.

“Tom? Your last name is Walton?” Mo asked.

Tom felt betrayed, furious at Julie for outing him.

“Why do I know that name?” Vaughn asked rhetorically, as he rolled through his mental rolodex.

“I don’t get it,” Omar said. “So you know Doctor Ellison? How come you didn’t say nothing when he asked about you?”

Tom shrugged and shook his head, playing dumb.

“SoBro Luxury Housing,” Vaughn said. He looked up at Tom, and he could tell by Tom’s terrified look that he was right.

The others looked lost.

Vaughn started laughing to himself, amazed at how they’d all been deceived. His laugh took a menacing tone, as he began walking towards Tom, “Our boy Tom here's been holding out on us. His pops is the one that pushed to get this hospital shut down so he could turn it into luxury apartments. His pops is also the one who’s been pushing racist-ass policies for years that benefit the wealthy. His pops talks about all the improvements he’s made to the public school system in New York City, but sends his kid to private school on the Upper East Side…”

Vaughn was face to face with Tom, “Manhattan Prep, was it?”

Tom couldn’t bare to look Vaughn in the eyes, full of shame and fear.

“Nobody ever asked where I went to school,” Tom said, his voice cracking like a seventh graders’.

“You mean… you’re not a Bronx white?” Omar asked, appalled.

In that moment, Tom truly wished he was.

Vaughn shook his head in anger and disgust, “Nope. He’s one of those upper east side, old money, son of a politician, lie to your face whites.”

Vaughn shoved Tom back into Julie’s desk. Tom almost flipped over it, but he regained his footing as Julie and the others stepped in front of Vaughn.

“Hey!” Julie yelled. “That’s not going to help anything. I only revealed Tom’s identity because it could save us. Regardless of how backwards it is, the truth is that help will arrive much sooner if they know that the Senator’s son is stuck in here with us.”

Omar was physically holding Vaughn back. Vaughn jerked one of his arms free and pointed at Tom, “You’re lucky I don’t throw you out that window.”

Tom’s heart was pounding. The rage on Vaughn’s face was frightening.

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