Judgement call

Although Eric prefers solutions to waiting, his luck has never been that good. He looks over the message again. It’s vague, but persuasive. Furthermore, it’s from Callisto. Eric thinks back to their meeting the other day. At first Eric couldn’t believe the things Callisto shared with him. It was all so sudden, so out of the blue. He looks around the room. He and Emma are happy here.

“We need the Locket.” The request from Callisto. Eric tries to remember if they ever found a Locket in all the items from the storage containers. Of course that was in the days before they built the house. The lot was full of storage containers. Furthermore, all of the most valuable things went into safety deposit boxes. He and Emma discussed it, and both agreed, that safety deposit boxes were the best option.

He needs Emma’s help with this one. If there is a locket in all the things they unpacked, she will know. He is about to go find Emma when two things happen simultaneously. First the doorbell rings. This surprises him because they are not expecting company. Which makes the light knocking at their back door even more confusing. Instinctively, Eric goes for the door closest to him. It must be a neighbor or utility worker. However, it isn’t. In fact, just before the lights go out, he can’t believe who it is.

Chief Fred Jones sits brooding. It isn’t every day he gets his ass handed to him by the Mayor. It’s not the first time. However, he tries to avoid it when possible. That isn’t the worst of it either. He thinks of Laraby, and actually feels his blood pressure rise. This time Laraby stepped on toes bigger than the Chief’s. Ambassadors from two separate countries just handed him what was left of his ass. This, right after the Mayor finished doing the same.

They were likely going to bust him down to crossing guard. Even then he will be lucky. He feels his pulse rate rising. Laraby. Then he calms himself. Of course he was over reacting. In fact, none of this would matter in six months. He was closer than ever to getting the drop on old Benjamin Thomas. No one was going to stand in the way of the Chief’s plans. He didn’t get to where he is now by playing nice. And on the heels of that thought, an idea reveals itself.

Although still brooding, he pulls a few files from his desk. It takes ten minutes but he finds the information. He scowls, but decides it boils down to a judgement call. However, once he moves down this path there’s no way out. He flicks the switch, and makes the call. In fact, he calls Laraby. They were going to get the upper hand in this. And the faster they moved the better.

Jupiter Davis

She is sitting at her patio table watching the waves come back to the shore. It’s late afternoon. At least, it is here, where she is. Where her children are, it’s late evening. She scrolls through more details. The report on James Abner is astonishing. Callisto. She smiles at his creativity. And she is relieved that he has reached out to Mary Elizabeth at last. Together they will make a formidable team. Jupiter Davis lets her gaze find the horizon while she thinks.

Emma and Eric are in more danger than they know. Furthermore, Jupiter is certain neither James Abner, nor Mary Elizabeth, know the full extent of what is happening. If not for Jupiter, no one would. Benjamin made some powerful enemies through the years. He was thorough too. However, catching every detail is best when done as a team. Through the years Jupiter watched, and learned. Now as a new generation of her family tries to root themselves in love, they are in danger.

Jupiter knows how that feels. She reads through the details in Chief Fred Jone’s file again. He’s a nasty piece of work. However, he’s nothing compared to the Mayor. She reads through that file again and shudders. Then she makes a judgement call of her own. She begins a message. And then, makes one phone call.

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