With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter Twenty-Nine

It was the locket.

It was silver and it was shining as if it had been polished just a while ago. Her name was still there, and the links were still perfect. Already, Reini could imagine how it would feel once it was back to its rightful place near Reini’s heart, how perfect the weight would be, how she would welcome it after the nothingness she felt when she threw it.

Vivienne looked at Reini, a smile still on her lips. “Two years ago, an agent named Eena Acker called me and told me that a certain someone would probably do something very stupid because of grief. Of course, I responded and had the place searched. I never imagined that I would find that.”

Reini looked up, her eyes still wide. Eena. Of course it was Eena. It always was. She had always known Reini, had always been the sister she never had.

She couldn’t find the words.

“I—uh,” said Reini, not quite sure what to say. She cleared her throat. “Thank you.”

“Catherine had gone through this road you’re on,” said Vivienne, looking pointedly at the locket, “and Amrie was the second one to go. For all that we talk about how sentiment wouldn’t mix well with the job, it’s amazing how the job wouldn’t mix well without sentiment.”

Reini closed the velvet box and put it inside her pocket. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that sentiment and the job is like yin and yang. One cannot exist without the other. Reini,” said Vivienne, and at this, Reini put her concentration on Vivienne and what she was saying, “it isn’t a matter of choosing one or another. It’s simply a matter of balancing both. You don’t have to choose between Samuel and your job. You’ll suffer if you choose either.”

Reini felt her heart fell. Everything Vivienne was saying was steadily making their way to Reini’s mind, driving her crazy with the fact that after all that time, she had done all the wrong things and made all the wrong decisions because she believed the wrong belief.

It wasn’t a matter of choosing one or another. It was simply a matter of balancing both.

It never occurred to Reini to look at everything that way. Never did she stop to consider that what she was doing, the path she was on, might be wrong.

“All three of you,” continued Vivienne, “headed down this path. The only difference is that instead of choosing the job, the job chose Catherine. Aldrin chose the job instead of Amrie, and so they’re both miserable. And as for you, it is neither the job nor Samuel that chose for you. You made all the decisions yourself.”

Reini let the panic show in her eyes.

Vivienne, upon seeing the panic in Reini’s eyes, said, “because of that though, you can solve your problems in a way Amrie or Catherine can’t. Seeing as you caused this yourself, you will be the only one who can make this right.”

“How do I do that?” asked Reini as Vivienne stepped away from her.

Vivienne stopped before resuming her pace. “Communication is key. Of all people, you should know that.”

And she walked away, leaving Reini standing in her midst.

“Is something wrong, Josh?”

One by one, sounds made themselves known to Joshua. The noises filled where the empty silence had been, and the light had invaded where the darkness had been. Joshua opened his eyes and he absently realized that his hands were clutching the armrests so tight that the metal looked close to bending to his will.

Joshua took a few calming breaths before forcibly removing his hands from the armrests and looking at Tiffany who was looking at him with concern in her eyes. “Nothing, Tiff.”