Two Against Two

Chapter 21

Later That Afternoon…

December 24, 1990-2:02 P.M. CST

(Christine's PoV:)

Kevin is playing Double Dragon II on the Nintendo, while I lay back in Dad's recliner, talking on the phone with Tia.

"So, how's your vacation in Indianapolis been, so far?" I ask, while keeping an eye on Kevin.

"It's been good. Mom and I went sightseeing around the old block, seeing the houses where we all used to live. Interestingly, Mom didn't say anything about how much the house you lived in changed. She just passed it by, as if it were invisible."

"That's strange,"

"You know what's stranger, Christine? Mom snapped at me, when I asked why she didn't comment about the changes made to Uncle Peter's old house. It really hurt my feelings, when I thought the relationship between us had improved,"

"I'm sorry to hear that, Tia. I hope the relationship between you and Aunt Cindy doesn't end up like it was before Uncle Buck visited,"

"I hope not, either. So, what are you doing for the holidays, Christine?"

"I'm babysitting my little brother, Kevin," Kevin turns his head at his name being mentioned. I motion my hand for him to go back to playing his game.

I hear Tia snort. "That's a good one, Christine. You had me there for a second,"

"No, I'm being serious, Tia, about watching Kevin. I'll prove it to you,"

"I'll play along, if you insist," Tia snickers, still thinking this a joke. I motion Kevin to come my way.

"Kevin, I want you to say 'hello' to your Cousin, Tia," I whisper, as I hand him the phone.

"Hi, cousin Tia. I'm your cousin, Kevin. I heard many good things about you from Christine. I hope to meet you, sometime. Uh, hello," I hear Kevin tell her, while I just snicker. "Uh, Christine? Cousin Tia just dropped the phone, not before making a sputtering noise."

"Give me the phone, Kevin," My brother hands over the phone, and I speak into it, "Tia, you still there? I hope my brother didn't break you!" I laugh.

"I thought it was Miles there for a second, playing a prank, before I remembered he's with our material Grandma, shopping. So, what made you go home all of a sudden to babysit your brother?"

"Mom and Dad left him home alone by accident, when they departed for their trip overseas. I felt like it was my duty, as his big sister, to make sure he was taken care of,"

"So, how are you going to react about coming face-to-face with Uncle Peter and Aunt Kate, when they return home?"

"Happy, because I'm planning on mending fences with Mom and Dad. I want the both of them back in my life, but I'm nervous they're going to reject me,"

"So, what inspired your sudden need to mend fences with Uncle Peter and Aunt Kate? You've told me for years how much you hated them and never wanted to see them again," I tell Tia the same story I told Kevin two nights back after the encounter with Chuck. "I'm hurt you didn't confide in me about you attending therapy or what was bothering you. I'm your best friend, after all."

"I know you're my best friend, and I'm sorry about not telling you,"

"It's okay, Christine,"

"Oh, speaking of friends, I thought about Sarah today,"

Tia briefly pauses, before speaking, "So did I. I can't believe she's been gone for five years. She came down with a parasitic infection all of sudden and died… I miss her so much,"

"She died exactly two years from the day, when we attended the Dire Straits concert together," I add, as Tia and I try to withhold from crying.

"I have to go, Christine. I think Mom just came home from shopping, and I don't want her to know I was talking to you. Thanks for calling me. Hearing from you on the holidays makes me happy. I hope things work out with your parents,"

"Aunt Cindy never liked me, so I can't blame you for having to get off the phone. Long-distance is just so expensive. I hope things work out with Mom and Dad, too. Merry Christmas, Tia. Love you, cousin,"

"Love you, too, Christine. Merry Christmas. Bye,"

I hear Tia hang up the phone. I just hope Mom and Dad don't get mad about the long-distance phone call I made. Speaking of Mom, Dad, and Christmas, I think it would be a nice surprise for them and the rest of the family to see the inside of the house all decorated for the holidays, when they return home.

"Hey, Kevin, you want to help me cut down a real Christmas Tree from out back?" I just laugh at Kevin's reaction of quickly shutting off his game and running to get his coat, like a child, hyper on sugar…

(Harry's PoV:)

Marv is next to me, asleep and snoring, while I have been spending the last hour, watching the McCallister house from a secluded area. I'm trying to figure out why the house is now so quiet, when last night, it seemed like the family returned from Paris. Also, why is the car still missing? It just feels all fishy to me, as if someone is playing a game with us.

I just want to finish this job, so I can go to New York and kill Hector. The so-called "friend" of ours now wants the entire cut of all the goods we fenced from every house we hit in Winnetka, including 671. I then suddenly see two figures come out of the McCallister house, which, of course, quickly grabs my attention.

"What the hell is going on here?" I mumble, as I watch the two figures cut down a pine tree in the backyard of 671. I grab the binoculars Marv stole from the house across the street and place them against my eyes to get a clearer view of the figures. My eyes widen, at the same time as I scream, "Son of a bitch!"

Since my yelling wakes up Marv, he asks, yawning, "What's all the yelling about, Harry?"

"Here, look for yourself, Marv," I tell him, as I hand him the binoculars.

Marv places the binoculars to his eyes. "Hey, it's the cute girl and the kid we almost hit at the intersection yesterday. I don't know why you're upset, Harry; they're just cutting down a pine tree. I don't see any harm in that,"

I just sigh in frustration at Marv's stupidity. "It's not the freaking trees, you moron. It's the house next to the trees,"

Marv takes a look again through the binoculars. "Oh, it's the house we tried to break into, but we had to leave, because the bird pooped on the car, setting off the alarm. Uh, I still don't get it…"

I try to withhold my urge to pistol whip Marv again, but I'm going to need his help, if my suspicions are correct. "Do I have to spell it out for you?!" I yell. "The girl and kid we encountered at the intersection came out of the house we've been trying to break into!"

Marv looks like he's thinking. How much thinking he's doing, God only knows. "Are you trying to say the girl and the kid live here?" Marv finally catches on.

"Yes, that's what I'm trying to say, Marv. I knew there was a reason for the both of them to act all strange, when we encountered them at the intersection,"

"If the kid and girl live here, then where's the car at, Harry?"

"Good question, Marv. I think the girl hid it somewhere around here after the intersection encounter. She must've somehow overheard our plans to hit 671, and hid the car, out of fear we'd figure out she was the one, who scared us away with the alarm. It also explains the party we saw last night. It was the girl trying to scare us into believing her family was back, because she knew we were coming,"

"So, in other words, Harry: We've been played like fools the whole time,"

I just nod in agreement. "Yes, and that's not going to stop me from cleaning out 671, even if the kid and girl are there,"

"You're not actually planning on still breaking into the house with the kid and girl there inside… Isn't that risky?"

"Not as risky if we hit the house, while the kid and girl are gone. We have the advantage, if we hit the house, while they're home, since we don't have to worry about them catching us by surprise. It would also give me the chance to find out how the girl overheard our plans, and if she knows anything else,"

"You think we should at least double-check to make sure that was the house they came out of, just to be safe? Especially since the old man is gone,"

"Good idea, Marv. It doesn't hurt to be cautious, considering our past," Marv and I get out of the van and creep over towards 671, not before checking if anyone is around. The kid and girl have already chopped down the tree and left.

"Hey, Harry, you think the girl might've hid the car behind the garage?" Marv asks, pointing at the detached garage—which Marv and I have no plans of robbing. It's the main house we're after.

"Maybe. Let's check,"

Marv and I head towards the back of the garage. Upon reaching it, Marv and I find the missing car we've been looking for. It's parked under an awning, attached to the rear of the garage.

"Hey, Harry, let's slash their tires for all the shit they've put us through," Marv sadistically shoots out the idea, pulling out his knife.

"No, Marv. We have principles to maintain, and committing petty vandalism is below our standards of being criminals. Well, now that that mystery is solved, let's check out the house. If we peek through the windows, and spot the kid and girl, then all of our questions will be answered," I tell Marv, rubbing my hands in glee, that we can finally hit 671.

"Hey, Harry, what's the plan for the kid and girl, after we rob the house and pump them for information?"

"Kill the both of them and dump the bodies into Lake Michigan. We can't have any witnesses that can connect us to any of the burglaries," I say, not caring that one of the victims is a kid.

"Maybe we need to bring Old Anne, if we're going to be clipping people?" Marv suggests.

"Good idea, Marv. Your sawed-off shotgun will make the job a lot easier," I tell him very quietly, as the both of us are now looking though the different windows of 671, for any sign of the kid or girl, while making sure no one else is around, watching.

"Hey, Harry, come here. I think I've found them," Marv whispers, motioning me to come over to the window he's peeking through. I quietly join Marv at the same window. What I see through the window validates every suspicion I've had about this whole mess.

Those two are going to pay dearly for all the trouble they have caused. I continue watching the two decorate the Christmas tree. "You two better enjoy your moment of decorating for Christmas, while you can, because this is the last Christmas you both are going to be alive for," I motion Marv to follow me, as we leave, having seen enough.

"So, what's the plan, Harry?"

"We come back tonight, when it's dark, say, around 9:00 P.M., and take care of business. The cover of darkness will make it harder for anyone to spot us or sneak up on us. Plus, it will give us extra time to clean out the van, grab a bite to eat, and pick up Old Anne."

"It's going to be a long night, when you figure in dumping two bodies into Lake Michigan, fencing a large amount of goods, and planning an ambush to kill Hector and his goons, when he comes to pick us up and collect the money we owe him," I explain, as Marv and I leave, before anyone sees us.

"Hey, Harry, how about going to Reno, instead of New York, after we kill Hector?" Marv asks, while we head back to the van…

(Christine's PoV:)

"Be careful with that tree, Kevin," I tell him, as we both carry the tree into the living room, leaving a mess of pine needles behind that I'll have to clean up later. "So, where do you want to put the tree?"

"How about in front of the window, where it can be seen shining brightly at night?" Kevin suggests.

"Good idea, Kev," I smile, as the both of us place the tree in the corner of the living room, close to the window. Luckily, I remembered that Mom keeps all the Christmas stuff in the basement, and already have it on-hand. I open the box with the Christmas balls. It's a tradition in the McCallister household that every family member has their name on a clear glass ball. "Want to start with hanging the named Christmas balls first, Kev?"

"Sure, Christine," Kevin replies, as he takes the first of the named balls out of the box and hands it to me.

Peter, the ball reads, and I hang it on the tree. I've always enjoyed playing catch with Dad. I hope I get to see him soon.

"Kevin, can you hand me the next one?" The next one I hang says Kate. I remember the time, when I was a little girl, Mom tried to teach me how to sew. I always failed, but she kept telling me to never give up and to keep trying.

The next ball I hang says James. Buzz may be a pain of a brother, who's a jerk to everyone, a little pest that followed me everywhere, I was angry that he took my father away from me when he was born, but I love him, anyway.

"Keep 'em coming, Kev," He hands me another ball.

The next ball I hang says Jeffrey. I enjoyed teaching him how to read, playing video games with him, and giving him rides on my Moped when Mom wasn't looking.

The next two balls I hang say Megan and Melinda. I resented the both of them, when they were first born, but I eventually grew to love and care for them. The playtimes we used to spend together were so much fun.

"Hey, here's my ball," Kevin finds his in the box and quickly hands it to me.

"Thank you, Kevin," I tell him, smiling, as I hang it on the tree.

I adored Kevin so much for the brief time I knew him as a baby. We've since become close in the two days we've had together, and the love I had for him back then is even stronger now.

Kevin soon hands me a ball that says Fred, which I hang on the tree. Kevin has told me so much about how much of an awesome dog Fred is. I'm really looking forward to meeting him.

"Hey, Christine!" Kevin yells, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"What is it, Kevin?" I ask.

"I found the ball with your name on it in the box,"

My heart stops. Mom and Dad kept my personal Christmas ball together, with the rest of the family's, even after I ran away from home. I grasp it close to my heart, crying.

"Kevin, did you ever see Mom and Dad hang my ball on the tree?" I ask him, knowing what the answer is going to be. Kevin just shakes his head "no".

"I always noticed Mom and Dad became subdued after they hung Fred's ball. I never knew why, until now,"

"It must've been painful for them to be reminded about their oldest running away, and not knowing if she was okay or not, especially on Christmas," I cry.

"Christine, since you're back home, I think you should hang your ball on the tree," Kevin more so tells than suggests.

"That's a wonderful idea, Kev," I hang my personalized ball on the tree. "The McCallister Family is whole once more." I cry.

After finishing up with the personalized balls, Kevin and I unstring the colored lights and hang them on the tree, after making sure they work. Then, we hang the miscellaneous ornaments and tinsel.

To finish it off, I give Kevin a lift, as he places the gold angel, which has been in the McCallister Family for generations, on top of the tree. After looking to see how good of a job we did, Kevin and I both notice we forgot to add the colored Christmas balls.

As Kevin and I are hanging the Christmas balls onto the tree, I suddenly see a reflection of two people peeking in the window, through one of the ornaments, watching us.

My heart sickens, when I realize that it's the burglars from the intersection. I subtly motion Kevin to stay cool, when he, too, realizes the burglars are watching outside. He's about to flee the room, but we just keeping focusing on hanging the ornaments.

The burglars finally leave, while I discreetly follow their movements by peeking through each of the windows they pass by. I notice they stop in the middle of the backyard and start talking.

I crack open the kitchen window a tiny bit, so I can hear what they're saying. My stomach sickens after I hear the short one mention they're planning to hit the house at nine tonight, but I continue to listen. Those bastards just confirmed my hunch about them hitting other houses around the block. I wonder who Old Anne is.

I have to restrain myself from crying after hearing about how they're going to dump Kevin and I's dead bodies in Lake Michigan, confirming my worst fears. I watch the two heartless bastards leave, while I shut the window. I turn around to find Kevin, standing in front of me, crying. I just hug the little guy, as we both start sobbing.

"I don't want to die, Christine. I'm only eight years old. Why are these burglars being so mean, by wanting to steal from us and hurt us? Especially so close to Christmas…" my brother chokes out. It makes me cry harder, as I think about the possibility of Kevin and I joining my friend, Sarah, in Heaven soon.

"Because, they're evil heathens that have no sense of respect for others or the law. People like those burglars are a perfect example why the death penalty needs to exist,"

"What are we going to do, Christine? We have no means to stop them,"

"I don't know, Kevin. I would take you to my place, but what's stopping them from killing us later in the week?"

"How about Mr. Marley's place? Didn't he mention we could go over there, if we're in danger?"

"He did, but it doesn't change the fact about how those burglars could still kill us later on,"

"Only thing I guess can save us, is a miracle from God," Kevin sobs, reminding me that Mr. Marley's granddaughter is rehearsing at St. Gerhard's Church tonight, and there's always a Mass service every night.

"Hey, Kevin, do you want to attend Mass at St. Gerhard's Church at seven tonight? Mr. Marley's granddaughter is rehearsing tonight," I ask, and Kevin just nods…

Later That Night…

December 24, 1990-6:45 P.M. CST

I lay back in Dad's recliner. Kevin lays, snuggled up against me, while I mindlessly stroke his hair, as we both watched The Archie Show on television. My mind is still thinking about overhearing how the burglars plan to kill Kevin and I after they rob our parents' house. I look at my watch, and notice it's quarter to seven.

"Hey, Kev, it's quarter to seven. So, we'd better get going, if we want to find a good seat for Mass," Kevin hops off me and quickly gets his coat, while I go to get my keys and coat…

St. Gerhard's Church always looked so beautiful at night, especially the large stained glass window in the front. Kevin and I walk up the path to the front door and enter the Church.

"It looks like Mass is going to have a low turnout tonight," I tell Kevin, upon entering the nave and choosing to sit in an empty pew, close to the front. The Church choir is currently singing a nice sound rendition of Star of Bethlehem.

"Christine, did you go to Church after you left home?" Kevin asks me.

"I did. I went to St. Thomas Cathedral in Oak Park. It's a decent Church, but it doesn't compare to St. Gerhard's,"

"Mom would be happy to know that, when you see her again,"

"I know she will," That's if the burglars don't kill us and dump our bodies into Lake Michigan first. I think about the conversation from earlier, shivering.

"We should light a prayer candle, before we leave. Maybe it will protect us,"

"That's a good idea, Kevin," I reply.

I look around the Church and see Mr. Marley, sitting in a pew by himself, listening to the choir. I can't help but feel sad, seeing the person I looked up to like a Grandfather, sitting alone. I get his attention by waving and motioning for him to join us. Mr. Marley gets up from his pew and sits with Kevin and I.

"Thank you for inviting me to sit with you and Kevin, Christine,"

"It's no problem, Mr. Marley," I smile.

Mr. Marley then turns his attention to my brother. "How are you doing, Kevin?" Kevin just acts cool and replies, "I'm doing okay, Mr. Marley," I smile proudly at my brother.

"So, have you been a good boy this year?"

"Kind of. I've been mostly a pain in the butt to Mom and Dad," Kevin tells him.

"I'm sure your Mother and Father don't think that. All parents love their sons and daughters, no matter what," Mr. Marley tells my brother, while glancing at me, as if that statement is more directed at me. "See the red-headed girl, singing O'Holy Night? That's my granddaughter, Susan. She's about your age, Kevin. You know her?"

"Not personally, but I have seen her in school. She's a grade below me. I didn't know she was your granddaughter. She's a nice singer, too," Kevin replies.

"So, you're in the second grade, then? And, thank you for that compliment about her,"

"Uh-huh, and you're welcome," Kevin nods.

"That's nice,"

"Mr. Marley, I've been meaning to ask: Why have you never told me you had children in the years I've known you? I didn't even know you had a granddaughter, until I read that letter you posted on my windshield," I interject.

Mr. Marley becomes solemn, as if I touched a nerve. "There is a reason for that, Christine. Back in the Fall of '72, about three years before you and your family moved on the block, I had an argument with my son. We both lost our tempers, nasty words were exchanged, and we haven't spoken to or seen each other since. Sounds kinda familiar, doesn't it?"

I gasp. "You mean, what happened between my parents and I?"

Mr. Marley just nods. "Yes. That's why I tried to stop you from leaving on the night you left home. I didn't want you, or your parents to have to bear the same pain I went through. The only difference, being that my son was around the same age as your parents,"

"I guess you never get to see your granddaughter, then?" I feel heartbroken for Mr. Marley.

Mr. Marley sighs. "To be truthful, my granddaughter has never met me in person, and she's never going to meet her grandmother, since she passed a year after my son left. She died of a broken heart. Susan does know about me, since we exchange letters on occasion, and I send her presents and money on the holidays. I think my son's wife forced him to allow that,"

"Since I'm going to try and mend fences with my parents, maybe you should try and do the same with your son. Since your granddaughter is in the choir, you think your son might be here at the Church for Mass?"

"I would, but I'm afraid he won't talk to me. No, my son was never the Church-going type. Most-likely, Susan's Mother or one of her Aunts brought her. I wouldn't be here, if he was here,"

"You should at least try, for your granddaughter's sake. You have nothing to lose. I bet it hurts her that she can't see her Grandfather," Kevin interjects. "I know it hurt me, when my Grandpa McCallister died two years ago. I still miss him to this day, especially his fondness for Rube Goldberg-type inventions," Kevin tells Mr. Marley, while I'm caught off-guard and wanting to cry about Grandpa McCallister dying. Why didn't Uncle Buck tell me about him passing?

Mr. Marley glances at the pulpit, where the Priest is now standing. The choir silences. "Well, it seems like Mass is about to start," Kevin and I then turn our attention to the front…

The sermon was very beautiful. Kevin and I head to the front, so we can light a prayer candle. "I will light the candle after we both say our prayers," Kevin just nods, as we bow our heads and silently pray.

"Lord, please help and protect us from being hurt by the burglars, who are planning to break into our home tonight. I do not want to see my baby brother injured or have to die so young. I want to live, so I can see my parents again, and be able to apologize to them. I beg you. In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen," I make the sign of the cross, using my right hand to touch my forehead, chest, left shoulder, and finally, my right shoulder. I notice Kevin does the same.

"I hope he answers the prayer, Christine," Kevin tells me, as I light the candle.

"I hope so, too, Kevin," I reply. The Church clock suddenly chimes. I look up, and it reads 8:05. The burglars will be hitting our parents' house in less than an hour. "Kevin, we'd better be getting on home." Kevin and I leave the Church, but not before wishing Mr. Marley a merry Christmas…

The drive home is a tense one, because Kevin and I are in complete fear of the impending encounter with the burglars. "Christine, I have a question,"

"What is it, Kev?"

"Uh, I noticed your reaction, when I mentioned Grandpa's death to Mr. Marley. You looked like you were about to cry,"

"I didn't know Grandpa died, until you mentioned it. I would've came home sooner, if I knew. I didn't even get to say 'goodbye'. You know, this isn't the time to talk about this, since we could die ourselves tonight," I tell him, trying not to cry.

"Sorry, I forgot," Kevin replies, holding back a sob. "You ever see a Rube Goldberg machine before?"

"No, I haven't. I don't even know who Rube Goldberg is, to be honest," Kevin explains to me who Rube Goldberg was, and talks about the machines he created. I can just vision those burglars or Chuck being tortured with one of the devices. "I wish we could build one of those machines that could potentially hurt the burglars long enough for the police to catch them."

"Maybe we can, Christine. It doesn't have to be complex, like Goldberg's devices, but more along the line of using household objects as booby traps to wear out the burglars and inflict punishment,"

"Go on, I'm listening,"

"Well, I was thinking we could place booby traps all over the house, and have the burglars set them off,"

"Despite the dual dangers of getting hurt from meeting head-on with the burglars and the risk the traps could accidentally hurt us, I think it's the only choice we have in protecting ourselves. The burglars will be arriving in forty minutes. I hope it's enough time to plan and get everything set up," I tell Kevin, as I speed on home…

After entering the front door and locking it, Kevin and I stare at each other, with a determined look, and speak, "It's our house. We have to defend it," We soon head upstairs to Kevin's room, where he pulls out a large blank sheet of drawing paper and some crayons.

"Here's the plan, Christine," Kevin tells me, as he draws a crude layout of the house and points out the best positions for the traps to be placed in each of the rooms, by marking it with the crayon. I suggest the type of traps we should use in each of the rooms.

"After the last trap is sprung, we'll quickly call the police from Mom's room and tell them the Murphys' house is being robbed. That's when we head to the attic to escape and lure the robbers to the Murphys'." Kevin explains.

"The last part of the plan sounds very complicated, and it has a lot of things that can go wrong, Kevin, but it's the best we can do," I look down at my watch. "We'd better get to setting up those traps; the burglars will arrive in twenty-five minutes."

Welcome to the Jungle by Guns 'n Roses blares loudly on the stereo, as Kevin and I begin setting up the traps. Kevin and I icing the front porch and the outside basement steps is the first thing we do.

"The slip and slide of pain," Kevin sadistically says.

The front and back doors are next, as Kevin places a BBQ starter on the front door handle, while I rig Dad's blowtorch next to the backdoor in the kitchen. "Burglars on the barbie," I sadistically say to myself. In the basement, I cover the steps with tar and glue a sharp nail on the step. "Sticky and prickly."

Kevin rigs one of Buzz's weights to a fake light switch in the laundry chute. "Excedrin Headache Number 39," Kevin rigs a fan and some feathers from one of Mom's old pillows, while I put some glue on Saran Wrap, on the door that leads from the kitchen to the dining room. "A sticky chicken,"

I set up some spare ornaments near the window in the living room, while Kevin places some marbles on the floor, in front of the stairs. "Sweeping you off your feet and stabbing them."

Kevin and I head upstairs, where we both hook two full paint cans on the railing, with some yarn. "Swinging paint," I comment. After that, Kevin and I place a springy tripwire in front of the attic door. "It comes crashing down sooner or later,"

Finally, Kevin and I work setting up an escape line from the attic down to the yard below, using an escape rope, meant for fires.

"Zipping on out!" Kevin blurts out.

"We did it, Kevin, with ten minutes to spare!" We high-five. "I just hope things go according to plan, and we don't get hurt,"

"Things will work out, Christine,"

"I hope you're right, Kev. How about you and I have a snack, before the burglars get here?" We head toward the window we crawled out of, and into the kitchen…

December 24, 1990-9:00 P.M. CST

(Harry's PoV:)

I stop the van in front of the Murphys' house. The cover of dark should make it hard for anyone to recognize it. "Well, this is it, Marv. The moment we've been waiting for is upon us. Is Old Anne loaded and ready to kill?"

Marv pulls out his sawed-off shotgun from his trench coat, kissing it like it was his sweetheart. "She sure is, Harry. Is your revolver loaded and ready?"

"Sure is, Marv," I pull out my revolver and show him. "I notice 671 is all lit up. Looks like a formal innovation to kill those two and plunder all the valuables."

"Well, let's go and have some fun, then, Harry," Marv replies, trying to do his best slasher smile. Marv and I exit the van and make our way across the street, not before making sure it's all clear. "So, how are we going to do this, Harry?" Marv asks.

"We go to the backdoor, like the first time. They might be dumb enough to open the door, without checking first. If they do, bang, bang! they're dead! And we'll have free rein of the house,"

"Sounds good to me, Harry," Marv replies, as we head to the backdoor.

"Want to do the honors of knocking, Marv?"

"Why, thank you, Harry," Marv knocks on the door.

"Who is it?" I hear from inside. It sounds like the girl is doing the speaking.

"Let's play along, Marv," I whisper, while he nods.

"It's Santa and his elf, and we have a bunch of gifts to give you, in the name of peace," More like resting in peace with the fish, when I put a bullet inside the both of them troublemakers.

"Son of a bitch!" I suddenly scream, as I drop to my knees in pain, holding my groin. Marv sticks his head through the doggy door, only to be knocked back into the snow, screaming.

"The troublemakers are armed!" Marv screams, as I notice him holding his forehead.

"That's it! I was going to put them out of their misery quickly and painlessly, but now, they are getting a slow, agonizing death! You take the basement! I'll take the front!" I shout to Marv, as I limp towards the front of the house…

END

A/N: The full story Christine tells Tia can be read in Chapter 14.

"Clipping" is slang for murder.

"Nave" is the central part of a Church, where the pews are located.

"Pulpit" is a raised platform or lectern in a Church or Chapel, from which the Preacher delivers a sermon.

Rube Goldberg machines are contraptions that use a chain reaction to accomplish a very simple task, in a very complicated manner. Named after American cartoonist and inventor of such contraptions, Rube Goldberg (1883–1970).