Read Online Regina by Mary Ann Moody - Free Book Online Page A

day catching up with Chef and
his band of bad cooks. The knocking was getting loud and starting
to annoy Camille.
    “Mr. and Mrs. Roth?” Came a voice muffled by
the door.
    Camille’s ears perked up. Someone was
knocking at the Roth’s home across the way. Her eye peaked out the
peep hole in the heavy oak door. Her hand rested on the glossy
stained wood while she steadied herself.
    It was a woman, dressed in a grey tweed skirt
suit. Camille squinted to get a better look at the woman, but it
was no use, the lady was too far away. She thought for a second.
Should she go out there?
    “Regina? Are you ok?” The lady called out
after knocking again.
    Logic told Camille to unlock her door, which
she did. The Palamark was one of the safest and prestigious
apartment homes in the upper West side! The building was composed
of seven floors, two apartments on each floor. It was a new
building, less than 10 years old. Security wasn’t an issue because
the doormen were very precise and you were only allowed up if you
had preauthorization from the apartment occupant. If company comes
unannounced, your must be verbally approved by the tenant in order
to be allowed into the elevator or stairs. Nothing would work
without authorization, the elevator wouldn’t come down and the
steel door to the stairwell wouldn’t unlock. Camille wasn’t too
concerned when she opened the door.
    “Mr. and Mrs. Roth? Regina?” She said again,
this time much louder.
    “Hello?” Her frail, older voice rippled
across the marble vestibule.
    The woman stopped and spun slowly on her
heals to face the old, snoopy neighbor. She was short, much shorter
than expected by the old woman. Her hair was long, brown and pinned
to one side with a blue ribbon. The ribbon gave color to the plain
tweed suit. It seemed crude, but it worked for this woman. She gave
a perfect white smile at Camille as she spun around and started
walking towards her. Her grey skirt didn’t rustle when she walked
but her dark blue shoes clicked on the marble. Her young, slim
figure approached Camille.
    “Hi, I’m looking for Mr. and Mrs. Roth. I
have an appointment with them and Regina.” Her blue eyes were full
of sincerity and concern.
    Camille didn’t feel a threat from this woman
but living in New York gave her the experience to never
underestimate anyone.
    “Well, they’re not here. Which young man let
up?” Camille asked suspiciously.
    “Evan, I was in their log. The Roth’s are
expecting me. I’m Carrie Lisban.” She lied, her voice softer. Her
real name was Lady Sarah Lordview. “I’m an interviewer with Crosby
College. I have an appointment with Regina and her parents today
regarding her admission to our college after graduation.”
    “You’re an interviewer?” Camille asked with
skepticism. “You look like a student yourself.”
    The young woman laughed at Camille’s
statement. “Thank you! I get that all the time! I’ve worked for
Crosby for two years, right out of college!”
    “Oh, well, how nice! That Regina is such a
good girl. Of course I don’t know her that well, she’s always away
at school but I see her over the summer. I’m Mrs. Camille Clemmens
by the way. I’ve lived next to the Roth’s since the building was
built. Pretty much everyone here has lived here since the building
was opened. My children are out of college with lives of their own.
It’s so nice to have a young couple next door. Regina is such a
good girl. Her parents sure do adore her……” Camille was saying.
    “Yes, well, that is very nice to hear. Do you
know when they will be back? They must have forgotten or will
return shortly?” Carrie asked. Cutting her off seemed to be the
only way to stop Camille. She had to get to the point and report
back, but the old woman didn’t notice and kept babbling.
    “No, no, I don’t think so. Poor woman’s
mother died. I never heard Lynda mention her mother but no one
would. Would they? I remember when my poor mother died.