Michael walked into the convenience store and grabbed bottle of water. He walked to the counter and set it down. "I'm buying gas," he told the clerk. "Pump two."

The woman typed into the computer cash machine. As Michael was walking out to his car, he saw a black Firebird parked at the next gas pump. He recognized the man who got out.

"Ned Larkin," Michael called as he approached.

Ned looked almost the same as when Michael last saw him. His already long hair seemed an inch longer, but he was the same man Michael had seen before.

"Ned, is that you?," Michael asked.

Ned smiled. "Michael Westen," he smiled. "It is great to see you again. Lantana and I got back to Miami almost three weeks ago."

"Why didn't she call me or Sam and tell us?," Michael asked.

"She planned on it," Ned replied. "She's afraid of trying to call because she's afraid one of you may be working and she may blow your cover or cause you to be hurt. She knows what you do."

"She could have called my mom," Michael said.

"She lost that number," Ned replied. "How is your mother doing? I know it was difficult for her after your brother died."

"She's better," Michael said. "She misses him, but she's doing better."

"That's good," Ned said. "Tell her that we're all still praying for her. We care about her."

"All?," Michael asked.

"Lantana lives with her boyfriend near the beach," Justin said. "His name is Justin McKenna. They are crazy about each other."

"Well, it's good that she's happy," Michael said. "Tell her she can call us anytime. If we can't talk to her right then, we will call her back."

"I'll tell her," Ned replied. "It's great to see you again, Michael."

"It's great to see you, too," Michael said. He went on to his Charger and started to put gas in it. Ned went into the store.

At her home, Lantana and Justin were playing a racing video game when they heard a door open and slam. Ned walked into the living room and sat down nearby. The couple's dog, a Pug named Ziggy, was on Lantana's lap and panting.

"Who's winning?," Ned asked.

"Me," Justin replied.

Justin was a handsome man with long dark-brown hair that he usually left down loose and had brown eyes. He looked to have some Scottish in his ancestry. He was sitting in a dark blue sporty wheelchair that had a back bag hanging on the back of it.

"Lantana, I saw an old friend at the gas station just now," Ned told his sister. "Michael happened to be there when I got there. He was just leaving, but we did talk for a moment."

"How was Michael doing?," Lantana asked as she paused the video game and moved Ziggy off her lap.

"He's fine, it seems," Ned replied. "He was happy to see me and pleased to know that we're all back in Miami. He said he's looking forward to meeting Justin also."

"He will," Lantana said. She looked at her man. "Won't he?"

"Hell, yeah," Justin smiled. "I really wanna meet him. And that Sam guy and Fiona girl you talk about."

"They're really great," Lantana said.

Later that evening, Lantana ordered pizza. Ned went to buy some sodas. Lantana did not allow any alcohol or tobacco in her home. She hated how they smelled and would not stand it in her own home. Neither she nor Justin smoked or drank at all. The wildest thing to go through her kidneys was Coca-Cola. Ned did drink some, but respected his sister's wishes to keep that out of her home. He loved his sister more than his beer.

While the three ate pizza and watched television, they heard a loud thud from outside. Everyone jumped. Lantana froze. Justin looked at her as Ned went to the front window. Ned returned a moment later.

"It's happened again," Ned reported. "There's another rock with a note on the porch."

Ned stepped out and picked it up. He unwrapped the paper from the baseball-sized rock and read it aloud, "Slut. Whore. I hope you burn in hell very soon." He looked at Lantana. "Lantana, you really need to call the police," he said. "This is getting out of hand."

"It was out of hand when the first letter came," Lantana said. "And the police can't do anything without proof."

"Well, what do you plan to do?," Ned asked.

Lantana sighed. "I know who to call," she said. She walked to the living room and picked up her cell-phone. She dialed and waited. "Hey, Sam," Lantana said. "I'm back in Miami and I need your help."

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