They sat without a single word for some time, only the sounds of Kit’s sniffling filling the air.

”I um,” Bette began, her voice hoarse and weak after yelling. She cleared her throat and continued, ”I don’t want Tina to be alone while I’m away. Can I ask you to stay with her at my place?”

Kit took a soft breath and nodded. ”Sure.”

”Thank you,” Bette said quietly. ”Shane and Helena will be there too, as well as some of Tina’s friends. I want it to seem like a casual get-together, so Tina could be distracted.”

”Does she know where you’re going?”

”No. And she’d better not to.”

Kit stood up, walked up to the window and stared out thoughtfully. ”How long will you be away?”

”I plan to get back the same day.”

As Kit kept watching out the window, Bette stood up from the table, preparing to leave.

”Thank you again, Kit. I appreciate it,” she said. ”So, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Turning around, Kit walked up to her sister and took her into her arms. Squeezing tight, she whispered tearfully, ”Promise to be careful…”

Bette smiled, hugging Kit in return. ”I promise. I’ll be home before you know it.”

Kit watched her disappear out of the kitchen, nervously wiping a lone tear that was sliding down her cheek. When she heard the front door being opened and then closed, she looked at Bette’s untouched piece of apple pie and shook her head.

***

Leaning on the railing of the balcony with her elbows, Bette gazed at the scenery of late evening Los Angeles that she had seen too many times: passing cars, chattering crowds, commercial buildings and dazzling sea of floating light – the things that would have given her a headache, whether that be any other day. But tonight her mind wasn’t there.

She just got off the phone with Marcus, who was going to pick her up in the morning. First, they would stop off at Bette’s office for a brief gathering with the gang. After that, along with Tim, Mark and Tasha, they were supposed to meet Doctor Arnodelo at the desert for further instrustions, before landing a helicopter and travelling south to Tijuana.

Even though Bette had told Kit that she was planning to be back in the States by tomorrow’s evening, she didn’t know for sure. A visit to a Mexican drug cartel was something that was full of unpredictability and similar to throwing yourself in front of a bullet. Bette was well aware of that, but for some reason didn’t feel any fear. She had exhausted her fear by having been feeling it for the entire week. Now, there were just unpleasant anticipation and desire to get this over with.