ULTIMATUM: Destiny's Doom

Chapter 3 - Old Love.

It was the 5th day of August. John died.

The bright sunlight struck against Peter as he woke up next to his wife, Grace at past seven. She was a sight to behold, beautiful, elegant and classy even in her sleep. She wakes up as soon as she notices him looking at her. Hungry.

'Good morning, beautiful'

'Hey, how was your night?

'Boring.... But I think we can switch up the morning', he moves over and kisses her, caressing her in a bid to penetrate.

'Babe, it's 7AM and the kids have school', she says, looking sad but passionate.

He backs off, allowing her go attend to the kids as they prep for school.

Phone rings.

'Peter!'

'Eddie?'

'Guess who's back in town', he yells.

'Woah, took you long enough'

'Yes, the Christians term it 'No peace for the wicked' haha... I'm coming over to your place'

'Okay man, see you soon'

He hangs up.

John has his hands full this morning as he makes arrangements for different dates, outfits and conditions to fit his expectations of Mary and Peter finding love.

This is his first time on a Rico case and so far, he's been successful at his job as a law enforcement agent.

'I wanna get married as soon as possible... To someone like Mary or you', He says to another member of their investigating team, Sabrina.

'Well, i've been off the market for sometime now and hopefully we finish this case, I get to see my boyfriend in Italy.... I'm not sure Mary's your type', Sabrina replies humorously.

John's been in and out of relationships since he knew his name. Now in his late 20s, he has nothing to show for the time and energy wasted on dating and women.

They approach Mary's residence and go in soon after, only to discover the spy cam in her flower vase and John again, questions the integrity of Mary to this operation. Mary comes in soon after;

'Hello... What're you doing in here? She issues an enquiry.

'Mary, Leiland and I decided it best to keep you on the case, for the overall success of the mission'. John announces.

'Um, okay... I won't let you down', she says courteously.

'You already did', he says as he hands her the tracker and the date tickets they brought her.

Sabrina's mute all through and she joins John out immediately.

'Peter.... Really?', she sighs and keeps the tracker on the center table.

Grace's over at the kids' summer school. They all attend the same high school, ray's in 12th grade, Whitney's in 7th grace and Tricia's in 1st grade. Ray has to make college choices and brace himself for life outside Detroit.

'Mrs. McJones, I'd like you to go through a few of these College recommendations', the principal, Mrs. Adams hands her a book with a lot of Colleges, their requirements and what they offer.

'Ohh, thank you Mrs Principal', Grace responds as she takes it.

'Please call me Charlotte, Charlotte Adams'

'Okay Charlotte', Grace acknowledges.

'There are some other things I'd like us to talk about and one of them is Ray's admission.... Lately I hear he's been harassing teachers asking them all sorts of questions during class, such as.... the essence of education when a person's threatened with a gun? Why the richest people in town never finished school? And other questions about why he could be free to talk and his classmates couldn't because of social status... It's becoming too much and I'd like you to talk to him'

'Ohhh, I think you should call him in.... Let's do this together', Grace said, in a bid to foster unity for dominance.

The Principal makes a phone call, having someone get Ray from class. Ray shows up 5 minutes after;

'Good morning ma'am', he greets.

'Good morning ray, it is indeed quite peaceful today', the principal responded.

'Ray, I'd like you to go through this book and highlight the Colleges you'd like to attend by the end of today'

'Who said anything about me wanting college at all? Anyway, i'm thinking CCS'

'Um, i'll excuse you two, let me know if you need anything', Mrs. Adams leaves the room and closes the door.

'You're not going to any excuse for a school within the confines of this city, you hear me?', Grace exploded.

'Ma, stop shouting', he appealed.

'Ray, you represent everything the McJones family stands for, you are our legacy and you have got to get your s**t together and man up.... I raised you better'

'I'm sorry, Ma.... I just wanna be here for you and dad', he said, quite hopeful.

'The only way you can come through for this family is by living your life, outside Detroit, outside the drugs and scandals of the McJones family, you understand me?' Grace queried.

'Yes Ma, I here you.... But this is my home and if i'll die, i'll die here', he says as he drops the book she'd just given him back on the table, after she's refused to take it from him. He did not bother to open it or make it look like he was open to critics.

It's 4pm, Eddie's arrived the McJones' gallery, following Peter's directions.

'Peter', Eddie screams as he finds Peter at the exhibit. Peter excorts him to his office where they have a nice chat.

'Eddie.... My friend! You've gotten bigger, I see!', Peter said.

Eddie is a 6 foot tall man witha nice bulk to match, He's white, blonde haired but bald, with a nice taste in fashion, women and drinks. He's also good at raising hell.

'It's been a while... I like this new Detroit'

'Yeah, things have changed, mostly for the better'

'How's Baron doing? Just kidding, you killed him.... That ruthless son of a gun', Eddie humored him.

Peter smirks.

'You know why i'm here'

'Well then', Peter hands him a file with all the details he has on Leiland in it.

Eddie opens and glances through - 'Tell me Peter, is this one woman so much of a formidable threat that you'd bring in the Mexican cartel just to stop her?' He queried.

Peter feeling the probe on his dignity replied calmly 'I only thought you'd want to be the one to take her head.... You always did have a fetish for brains', he cracked up.

'Well, she won't see the weekend.... Thank you'

'Anytime G', Peter responded, cool.

'Also, do you mind me crashing with you for a few?'

'No... I was just about heading home anyway, let's go', Peter says and they leave for the McJones house.

At the McJones house;

'Honey, we're home'

'Who's we?.... Eddie!', Grace exclaims rather fondly.

'Hey Grace, what's up?' He grabs Grace rather tightly and feels her, almost ready to eat her up.

Peter's attention is all on Tricia, who seems very happy to show her dad her homework, done by herself - 'Daddy, I did it. Mummy saw me do it'. She said with all excitement'.

Eddie is Grace's plaything. He's always been available and they'd dated twice before she went to College and met Peter. Although they'd acknowledged Peter's place as her husband, they never saw anything wrong with a little defiance of love. To Eddie it was fair and Peter never knew of the dating part of their history, Eddie was always 'a guy on her street' when he'd met Grace.

Grace returns to making dinner, while Peter shows Eddie to his room. Eddie stays there till dinner time.

At Dinner time;

'So Eddie, how long are you in town for?' Grace asks nonchalantly.

'I'd say three days max, i've got a body to drop and i'm out', Eddie mouthed away.

'We don't talk about business at the table, Eddie', Peter said rather demeaning, glaring at Eddie - 'Ray have you thought about College?' He diverges.

'Yes, I wanna study arts at CCS'

'You should be looking into places outside Detroit'

'Why? You don't want me crashing your party with the college girls?' Ray said without a thought - 'I've had my fill, i'm going to bed. He excuses himself. Peter doesn't stop him.

Whitney and Tricia are all but disturbed, it's just a standard McJones dinner routine, only with Eddie today.

They finish up. Peter goes to try fixing a date with Mary, while Eddie helps Grace to the kitchen.

'Mary wait, pls hear me out'

'I found your tracker genius, guess you're not god after all'

'Please, allow me explain.... Meet me at a bar by 9'

'No, i'll see you at 8:30 and i'll send you coordinates', she says, all confident and untrusting.

'Alright, i'm waiting'

He hangs up the phone and goes to see Eddie.

'Eddie I gotta bounce, but i'll be back'

'I'm also about to see our old friend Leiland, I want her to feel the height of despair before I rain pain on her'

'Alright, want a ride?'

'Yes, Peter ... Thank you'

'I gotchya', Peter says as they head out - 'Grace, don't wait up'. Peter shouts as they leave the living room.

Peter heads out to the bar, Mary called him to but she stands him up. After waiting till 10:15 and calling with no response from her, he decides to leave, disappointed.

Well, someone else was having fun, maybe fun for two.

Eddie watched Leiland leave her service building at past 8 and followed her to her residential apartment. However he notices John at her apartment with her, conversing over work and decides to strike slowly, savoring the moment.

John steps outside to get files from the car, for their investigations. Eddie tails him to the car and with all the files in John's face, Eddie knocks him unconscious.

Leiland waits ten minutes and then goes outside to see what's taking up John's time, only to find him dead, with 'El Mano' scribbled on his forehead.

For some twisted reason, Eddie enjoys the anguish he sees on Leiland and leaves killing her for another time. He heads home to Grace.

At the McJones home, Eddie upon opening the door, finds grace half asleep in the living room, wearing a shabby brown night gown, waiting for Peter. The kids are all asleep. She notices him come in, though. He heads over to her, fondles her boobs, caressing her until she decides to talk first.

'Hi'

'Hey beautiful, Peter's not coming home tonight... He's out on a date'

He continues going over her body with his mouth and carries her off to his room as soon as she yields more openly for him, where he puts her in all positions the nitwit's head could think of.

She leaves his room at 3AM the next morning. Peter never came home.