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Los Angeles, California
Reina sighed as she disembarked from the plane. It wasn't hard to change her reservations to fly back to Seacouver. She was already flying into LAX. It was all a matter of the flight into Seacouver. Most people didn't want to fly back home on the Friday or Saturday of the Thanksgiving weekend. After renting a car for the day, Reina drove immediately to the Moores.
"Reina," Mrs. Moore said surprised. "I didn't think you were going to be in town. You should have told us you could have come for Thanksgiving dinner."
"I told you I'd stop by," Reina said. "Besides, I spent Thanksgiving with Jonathan."
"Come in."
Mrs. Moore led Reina into the living room. "Would you like anything to eat. I have apple pie and ice cream."
"I'm too old to be bribed with sweets."
"Nonsense."
Reina smiled. "Thanks."
Mrs. Moore returned from the kitchen with two plates of pie and two cups of tea. "So how is Jonathan?"
"He's the same. He has a girlfriend. She's a psychologist."
"You don't like her," Mrs. More said.
"Why do you say that?"
"You cringed."
Reina sighed. She didn't want to argue with Mrs. Moore. Besides it wouldn't have worked. Mrs. Moore knew her too well. "No, I don't like her," she admitted.
"I'm sorry you don't like her but it's about time he considered settling down. He's not getting any younger. How old is he now?"
"He'll be 35 in a couple of months."
"So why are you in town instead of DC?" Mrs. Moore said. "I thought you were going to be out East until Saturday."
"No. I only planned to stay until today. I can only take Jonathan in small doses and this time Jonathan got on my nerves faster than usual," Reina said. "He had the nerve to suggest that I need to see a shrink. Then he said 'Sandra could recommend someone.' Like I'd ever consider anyone Sandra would recommend."
"It wouldn't hurt to have someone to talk to."
"Not you too," Reina said exasperatedly. "I'm fine," she insisted. "Really."
"So you're here until tonight?"
"Yeah. I changed my return flight to Seacouver. No big deal."
"What are you planning?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know you would have stopped by anyway, but you didn't change your return flight to Seacouver because you enjoy the sunny weather here."
"I need the extra time to talk to Carrie. I figured she would be at her parent's house for the holiday. She always made a big deal about holiday togetherness."
"Well, she always had been in the past," Mrs. Moore said carefully. "Except when she and Scott were out of town. Are you sure this is wise?"
"Carrie and I need to talk. Don't worry, I don't have a gun. I locked it away in a safe deposit box after I was here last."
Mrs. Moore looked at Reina, concern showing on her face. "I thought we discussed you moving on."
"I am," Reina said. "But, I need to make sure that Carrie and I have an understanding. Someone mentioned my last trip here in detail to Jonathan. I can't allow that to continue."
"You might not find the Andersons' to be very hospitable."
Reina smiled. "I suppose not. It doesn't matter. This is important. I'll be right back."
"I hope you know what you're doing."
"Trust me."
"You sound like Scott did when he was scheming."
Reina grinned as she left the Moore house. "Me? Scheme? Wherever would you get such an idea?"
Reina was still grinning despite the seriousness of her situation, as she walked the few blocks to the Anderson house. When she arrived at the house she walked straight up to the door and rang the bell. One of Carrie's brothers answered the door.
"What do you want?" He sneered. Kevin Anderson was about six feet tall with the same dark hair and eyes his sister had. He stood belligerently in front of the door.
"I want to talk to Carrie," Reina told him.
"You have a hell of a lot of nerve! What do you want to see her for? So you can shoot her? You're lucky we didn't call the police!"
"That's rich coming from the brother of a murderess. If you had called the police I wouldn't be the only one up shit's creek. I wouldn't think twice about telling the cops about your sister's misdeeds and even if she didn't end up in jail the scrutiny alone would have made all your lives a living hell and believe me I'd enjoy it. I don't have time to waste talking to you. I have a plane to catch. Get Carrie over here. You've got two minutes."
"You'll excuse me if I don't invite you in."
"I don't want in! You think I'd cross the threshold of the woman who killed my brother and my friend? You're as stupid as your murdering sister."
"You did before."
"Actually, I broke into her apartment. There's a difference," Reina told him. "Now get the bitch over here so I can go about my business. I'd just as soon not hang around here longer than is necessary. There's something in the air around here."
"Carrie! Come here!" Kevin shouted.
Carrie came to the door a couple of minutes later. "What's going on?"
"You have a visitor," he said as he walked away.
Carrie stepped into the doorway. "You!" She sneered.
"Yes, it's me," Reina said snottily. "And I'm not at all happy. I was hoping that our paths would not cross again."
"Then why are you here?"
"To make sure we have an understanding. Anything that happens between us stays that way. Don't even think about snitching to my brother. And it wouldn't hurt to keep your mouth shut to your blabbermouth relatives while you're at it."
"Your brother, Jonathan? The FBI agent?"
"He's the only one left. You killed my other brother. Remember?"
"You think I told your brother about what happened that time you broke into my apartment? I wouldn't tell him anything he's a cop!"
"You didn't tell him about my last visit?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Good," Reina smiled. "Keep it that way."
"What do you take me for an idiot?"
"You don't really want me to answer that," Reina said.
"Is there anything else you wanted?"
"No," Reina said. "That's it. I just wanted to make sure we had an understanding. Now, hopefully, our paths won't cross again," Reina turned and walked away.
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