Jonathan Molestador tapped this foot impatiently as he stood outside Reina's house. He knew Reina was home. He had called several times and all he got was the answering machine. He had decided to wait for her outside. He knew eventually that she would leave the house. Even if it was to run an errand. Reina wasn't the type to stay in the house for any extended period of time. She wouldn't get away. He had parked his car in her driveway to make sure she couldn't get away from him.
Why must she be so damn stubborn? He thought.
Reina came out of the house a couple of minutes later. "I thought I told you to call first before you came out here." She said.
"I called at least five times. All I got was your answering machine."
"Really?" Reina said ingratiatingly, raising an eyebrow at her brother. "You don't say."
"I do say," Jonathan said. "Of course you already knew that because you were screening your calls."
"I don't want to talk to you right now. Is that so hard to believe?"
"I just want your help."
"Damn it Jonathan!" Reina hissed. "You don't get it. I don't want your help. I don't need your help. You're only here because you think I'm too feeble-minded to deal with this myself. If you can't respect me as an adult then maybe we shouldn't be talking at all."
"Is that what you think?"
"Yeah. That's what I think."
"Chiquita."
"Jonathan, I told you a million times do not call me Chiquita! I'm 24 years old not 14. Why don't you start by calling me by a name I don't hate."
"You let Ben call you by that name."
"That was different."
"Okay, Reina," Jonathan said. "I'm sorry. You're absolutely right. You are a grown woman. I should treat you like one. And I don't think you're feeble-minded."
Reina regarded her brother suspiciously. "If you really want to help, I have a few boxes that I'm in the process of taking to the Salvation Army. I'll be able to finish that much quicker," she turned around as she felt another immortal approach. Richie came out the door carrying two more boxes.
"Richie, look who's come to help out. Jonathan why don't you take these boxes off his hands?"
Jonathan took the boxes and moved them to his car.
"What's the deal?" Richie asked.
"Jonathan says that he's sorry and that he's going to treat me like an adult. I figured Id get him to help before he forgets his promise," Reina shook her head. "And he will forget. He always does."
"Well, if it'll get the job done faster I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth." Richie said.
"Let's get some more boxes," Reina said.
Just as the two immortals turned toward the door, a dark blue Taurus pulled up blocking the second driveway. Agents Mulder and Scully stepped out of the car.
"Well I wonder what they want," Richie said.
"I knew those two were trouble," Reina said.
"Ms. Molestador," Mulder started. "We'd like to ask you a couple more questions."
"I'm really busy Agent Mulder," Reina told him.
"It'll only take a few minutes."
Reina sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine."
"Ill go get the rest of the boxes," Richie said, quickly making his exit.
"What can I do for you?" Reina asked.
"You can tell me why you lied about knowing your godfather's age."
"I didn't lie," Reina said. "I don't know."
"Your brother doesn't think so."
"What does he know?"
"He knows how old your godfather is," Mulder said. "He says that your godfather was at least 60 years old."
"Then I guess that would be about right."
"That brings us to an interesting inconsistency," Mulder pointed out. "You see, my partner here is a forensic specialist. She says that there's no way that your godfather was that old. She says that he was 40-45 years old tops."
"That is interesting. I guess clean living can do that for you after all. I'll have to change my eating habits right away," Reina said.
"This is serious. You're withholding evidence."
"I am not withholding anything," Reina said.
"I think you're covering up the fact that your godfather wasn't aging."
Oh shit. Reina's eyes narrowed and her mouth dropped slightly in surprise. Then she started laughing. After a couple of minutes she looked at the two agents. "You're serious."
"It's one thing to say that clean living kept your godfather from showing his age. It's a completely different matter to say that clean living kept your godfather from aging for over ten years," Mulder told her.
"What you're saying is completely ridiculous," Reina said. "Everyone ages."
"Remember that picture I was looking at yesterday?"
"Of course."
"I think you knew who the little girl in the picture was," Mulder said. "I think the girl in the picture was you."
"If that was true that would make the picture over 15 years old," Reina said. "And if that were true then there's no way that the man in the picture could be Reynaldo. But I already told you I didn't know who was in the picture. Besides, you'd have a hell of a time proving such a ridiculous allegation."
"If we had the picture, that would be easy enough."
"Not without a warrant Agent Mulder," Reina said. "Besides, I already packed up that picture."
"Already?"
"To tell the truth, I really haven't been able to sleep so I've been up most of the night packing," Reina told him. "I'm very adept at packing up quickly. I've had experience with moving."
"What's going on here?" Jonathan said.
"Agents Mulder and Scully had a few questions they wanted answered." Reina told Jonathan.
"Are you finished questioning my sister?" Jonathan went into "Agent Molestador" mode.
"We're done. For now," Mulder said as he turned toward the car. Scully followed him.
"Another time," Reina said smiling smugly.
"What was that all about?" Jonathan asked.
"Nothing."
"I'm sure that wasn't 'nothing.'"
"Perhaps," Reina said thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll even tell you about it some time. For now it's nothing."
"Well, that was productive," Scully said sarcastically as she got in the car. "You didn't get so much as a concession out of her."
"Did you see the look on her face when I told her that she was covering up the fact that her godfather wasn't aging."
"I distinctly remember hearing laughter if that's what you mean."
"But did you see the look in her eyes? That was fear. We're getting close."
"We've been pulled off this case Mulder."
"I know. But something tells me that our paths will cross again."
One week later.
"Reina are you sure about this?" Jonathan asked. "Maybe you should come to DC."
"No," Reina shook her head. "DC is the last place I want to live."
"Don't take this the wrong way Squirt but you don't look so good. When's the last time you slept?"
Reina rolled her eyes. "Jesus, Jonathan, you sound like Duncan. Now I'll tell you what I told him. I'm fine."
"Well at least you won't be alone in Seacouver," he said.
"I'm starting to think that maybe telling you where I was going was not a good idea."
"Don't worry. I tried to get Mr. MacLeod to tell me how you were doing and he told me to ask you."
"You mean he refused to spy on me for you. I thought we had a discussion about you treating me like an adult."
"I know. I'm sorry," Jonathan said. "Promise me you'll come for Thanksgiving and I'll consider the matter dropped."
"I'm too old for this foolishness."
"Promise me."
"Can I bring a guest?"
"Sure."
"And if things don't go well I can blow out of there no questions asked?"
"Absolutely."
"Okay, Ill go over to your place for Thanksgiving. Happy now?"
"Immensely."
"Go catch your plane Jon before I start to regret making this agreement."
"Take care of yourself Squirt."
Reina sighed. Did you expect him to stop using all of his pet names for you? She thought. "I will. Make sure you do the same."
The siblings parted, each one going to a separate gate to board a flight that would take them to opposite ends of the country. Several feet away unnoticed by either Molestador two men stood by a pay phone discussing their futures.
"I don't understand why you want my help," the younger man said.
"You don't have to understand Peter, my boy," the older man said as he pulled a cigarette out of the pack. Goddamn smoking restrictions. He lit the cigarette despite the fairly obvious "no smoking" signs posted in several languages in the area. "All you need to know is that when you make reports to that organization of yours that you make one to me as well."
"I could get in big trouble for this,"
"And what would happen if Ms. Molestador found out that you were stalking her?"
"It's not like that," Peter said.
"I don't really care why you were following her,"the older man said. "You have access to information that I may find useful. I intend to get it. Of course I'll make it worth your while. I understand you have debts you need to pay."
"How do you know that?"
"I know a great many things."
"Then you know about the group I work for."
"Surprisingly, I do not. Not from lack of trying. But I do know about you. And right now you interest me more than your organization does. I could make all your debts disappear," he put a slip of paper into Peter's hand. "This is the e-mail address you will send the report to."
"I haven't agreed to anything."
"You will. You are a pragmatist. You have enough sense to know to look out for your own best interest. Besides, if you don't you will find that life can be very unpleasant. I'll be expecting a report soon."
Peter watched the older man walk away in the same direction the elder Molestador sibling had gone. When he was out of sight, Peter turned and walked in the opposite direction after the younger Molestador sibling. He didn't want to miss his flight to Seacouver. After all, he had a job to do.
Finis
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