Atropos had some unfinished business in Lakeview Gardens and being in Detroit for business, it was time to visit them and see if he could get a closure.

He entered the park but this time he was dressed in an appropriate way for a man og his status. Walking down the pathways, he noticed lot of people around. Seems like his job would have to wait for another day so he decided to visit the Cafe and enjoy some morning coffee.

Approaching the Lakeview Cafe, He noticed Mynnes sitting on a table waving her hand around and it seemed like she was holding something that she wanted to show him. He approached and sat in the table. Before he even got the chance to say a good morning Mynnes spoke.

"Look what I found just the other day at the shore. It was right next to a sand castle it seemed." she said with a grin in her face.

Atropos looked and saw his watch. He was looking everywhere for it for the past few days. Thankfully it was found and finally he could have his precious item back.

"Oh, I have been looking everywhere for that thing. Thank you so much." he said as he took the watch from Mynnes and wore it on his wrist.

"So, how did it end up there?" Mynnes replied.

Atropos looked towards the lake for a few seconds and then turned back to Mynnes.

"You know.... It is a story for another time. Lets just enjoy some coffee for now." He looked at the lake again where the ducks seemed to make some noise again. 

"It looks like you have a problem over there" He said noting towards the lake with his head. "If you want to get rid of the noise, I will be glad to help, you know." 

Mynnes looked back towards the lake and laughed. "They can be pretty noisy at times but I think they add to the whole garden experience. Now let me see why that waitress hasn't come to take your order yet so you can enjoy some coffee." She said and got up and walked inside the place.

Atropos stood there looking at the lake, watching his nemesis playing around with the other ducks. He would soon take his revenge for sure.

Mynnes was busy at the park on this sunny day and had noticed a previous residence of the lake waddling behind Chelsea and FiroenzoUccello. She couldn't help but sigh with relief that the duck never became their lunch and what she could see, he has become their pet. "Least they bring him out into the air and to the lake" Mynnes mumbled to herself as she ensured their waitress gave some extra bread for the duck. 

She went to go out back of the cafe to sit down in her own little space to have a break for a few minutes. She had been rushed off her feet and all she wanted was a coffee. "Nobody is to disturb me," she told her staff sternly as she closed the door behind her and locked it. She took a seat and rolled up a cigarette to smoke "Bliss" she muttered as she took her first drag and then a sig of the coffee. 

Meanwhile, she was unaware a commotion was happening out in the front of the cafe where people unable to leave due to the ducks blocking the entrance getting aggressive. She didn't know that _Dino_ had arrived outside the cafe and was trying to be the hero of the day in his own little rescue mission as he got hold of a broom to try usher the ducks away from the door. It wasn't until she could hear people shout "DINO DINO DINO" followed by cheers and applauds that she finished up her coffee quickly and stubbed out her smoke to go and investigate. 

She got herself tidied up and made her way out front to find nothing much was going on until she spotted _Dino_ sat at one of her tables. She asked one of her waitresses to fill her in, to which she did about the ducks and how _Dino_ saved everyone. "Why didn't anyone come get me?" Mynnes replied to be reminded she told no one was to disturb her. She blushed she realised then she needed a new work policy "Okay in future, if it comes to people safety, please come and get me" she insisted as she told the ladies to go take a well-earned break. She made _Dino_ up a lunch for heroes with a good solid drink to have and took it over to him and placed down the tray of goodies. "Thanks hun" she said as she continued to say "I suppose you're going to need a cape and not a dress for once?" she jested as she tried to visualise him in one to just land up grinning like a Cheshire cat.

The next morning while Mynnes was still in Detroit and was at her Cafe in Lakeview Gardens, she spotted Atropos coming her way as he was whistling a merry tune. They greeted one another and got talking as Mynnes handed his watch back to him that she found beside a demolished sandcastle after his previous visit. She could tell from the way his eyes lit up and the way he got the watch back on to his wrist in double quick time that he was relieved that it was found. Mynnes couldn't help but smile as they chatted for a little bit. She went into the cafe to chase up his coffee for him and to get one for her ordered up too before returning to sit with him as a waitress followed with the coffees.

She told him about the previous day where _Dino_ had to ward off the ducks that had people trapped and unable to leave the cafe, out of fear of being attacked by the ducks. It was then she could spot Duckhead on the lake and pointed to the troublemaker "That's the one" she said as Atropos followed her glare towards Duckhead and shouted "YES HIM!!" as his eyes scolded towards it. "Come again?" she said to him as he admitted defeat and told her what has happened and quickly asked to keep it between them. "Of course," Mynnes said with a smile as she then realised for the sake of her business, this rogue duck needed to be taken care of. "I ain't one to hurt animals but in this case, I got to find a way. I want people to enjoy their time here, not fear" Mynnes said as she felt her heart ache a little bit. "Don't worry, we will figure this out" Atropos said in his usual calm nature as he continued to glare towards the lake as a malicious grinned began to form across his face.

Walking in the park Somny swiftly got tired of all the beautifull nature and the nice couples strolling by. This wasnt his thing, he liked the dark alleys and pawed road better. So he walked towards the cafe part and asked for a expresso and a croissant.

Greybeard was still enjoying some of the Pretzels when he found himself in front of a place that looked like a park. He looked a bit above his head and saw a sign that read Lakeview Gardens & Cafe. "Interesting place" he thought and walked inside. He had some time to kill before he had to be at the airport to catch his flight and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so.

The park had people of all kinds in it and differetn pathways that obviously led to different areas of the park. Being in the sea for almost all his life, he felt the presence of water nearby and his instict guided him through a certain path. Not too long afte, he stanbled upon a well which according to the sign, it was a special one. He searched in his pockets to find a coin and thought hard about his wish. He knew deep inside that if his heart was pure and genuine, his wish would come true, so he tossed the coin inside with the best of hopes.

He continue walking down the path he was following and soon enough, he saw a small lake. A cafe was opperating its business right by it and it seemed that the lake had some wildlife in it since lots of ducks seemed to have it as their home. He went inside the cafe area and picked a nice table to sit. He would finally enjoy a cup of coffee looking at water and even if it was't the ocean, he found something very calming in the thought.

Elias on a fresh morning entered one of the most peaceful places in the whole of Detroit...Lakeview Gardens & Cafe..

He purchased a coffee from the shop, although this time he opted not to have a shot of rum..still haunted by that drunken state he got himself into with Isabella_Luciano..

After a short walk around the complex he bumped into his good friend Greybeard - he shouted, ran over and embraced him with a big brotherly hug...'it's been too long brother, I've not seen you in Detroit for a long time..welcome to our lovely city!' 

They sat and spoke for a while about all things that mafioso's speak about, drug fuelled evenings and the criminal activities that each other were getting up too...

'So what else has been going on with you Mr Beard?'  said Elias, while continuing to drink his coffee..

 Isabella found herself  wanting to enjoy a quiet afternoon after her birthday events.  Take in a picnic lunch and maybe row across the lake and so it seemed to her that Lakeview gardens and café was the best place to do it.

 She hopped in her car which she had purchased from Somnyoneshoe and as  she drove her mind wandered to the various members of her group most particularly Elias.   She had a lot to think about where he was concerned.   It wasn’t an easy thing dealing with all these new emotions and the difficulty of being a left hand man to her own father who she barely knew.

 Once at the business establishment she purchased a picnic basket full of goodies and rented a boat and made her way out to the doc to rule out to the lake for a quiet afternoon.

Whilst Elias was speaking to Greybeard he noticed that Isabella_Luciano had just arrived..a little startled he looked down at his coffee, making sure that he'd not been spiked and was hallucinating anything.. but no...it was Isabella and there she was, getting out of her car, struggling to close her car door whilst holding a picnic basket in her other hand...he rushed over before taking the basket off her, allowing her to close & lock her vehicle door...'my my what a beautiful car, I must say I cannot remember this from the other evening...but my mind was obviously clouded and drowned in liquor..' he grinned before Isabella slapped his shoulder...'sorry my dear, I couldn't resist..!'

'My dear, I need to speak to you about something if I may' said Elias before holding out his arm...'it's about the other night, I've had an epiphany moment, it's a very sensitive subject, we need to have this conversation away from prying ears..if there's enough in your basket to feed the pair of us, maybe we could have the conversation over a bite of lunch?' Elias kissed her hand as was always tradition when he saw Isabella...'I must say, as always you're looking beautiful today my dear. I'm sorry you had to witness that brutal & violent conversation between Salvatore_Luciano & me - but it's the life we are in and sometimes you have to take an asskickin' - deserved or not; it ended quite violently I know.. but I'm glad it's in the past now, and I must thank you for saving my life, all I've ever wanted to do is protect you from assholes in this world, but if you're ever in danger, rest assured i'll be here to take that bullet for you. Although I'll never stand in your way if you wish to attach another wondering hand to a table through a fork!' 

'Now, where can we go and have this chat? I might be completely wrong, but I think I've attached the links between us getting arrested and that no good son of a bitch Nails.'

As always Elias was rattling on like a 10 year old girl at 2am hyped on sugar.  The man was a ball of energy - perhaps that was why he wanted to walk everywhere all the time with everyone?  

When he invited himself on her picnic she figured he must have smelled the roast beef sandwiches.  They were heavily and she had brought extras for her bodyguards, but she supposed they could be shorted to make room for her present companion.  Especially when Elias decided to harshly insult Nails.  She put a hand on his arm, pointedly looking to the car that was pulling up with her father's guys in it and Nails.

"Shhh!  We can talk out on the water.  I'll leave them on the shore with a bit to eat.  I'll reassure them that you won't put the moves on me by reminding them they can easily pick you off with a rifle should you get too liberal with your hands and lips again."  She winked at them and made her way to the bodyguards, URGING Elias to stay put while she spoke with them.

She gave them two sandwiches to share between three of them, leaving it to them to sort out who got what, and then told them to find a nice spot on the shore to watch her and Elias.  With that she headed for the boat, taking Elias' arm as she went.  She lowered her voice as they walked to the shore, "You know, I think the reason my father likes you is the same reason he wants to gut you like a fish and it has little to do with my body." 

She chuckled.  "You say too much.  I know you want to be clear and understood, but sometimes... less is more?  Does that make sense?  I worry that the more you try to reassure people, the more you sound like you're up to something.  And when it comes to your courting of me, the more you try to reassure my father you're not trying to get under my skirt... the more he's bound to think that you're ravaging me in the HQ broom closets."

She takes his hand and allows him to help her into the boat.  "I hope you know how to use oars?"

After Elias helps Isabella_Luciano into the boat, he follows suit..'well lets hope I do, otherwise it looks like we might be heading into the lake doesn't it, but dear of course I do. This is child's play. You get comfortable' and with that Elias had to stretch out his legs, ensuring not to kick Isabella so she dropped her sandwich, Elias often had trouble going un-noticed in this world. He carried a tall presence that measured just short of two meters, and when he had to squeeze into these small positions, it could sometimes be rather uncomfortable, and at least the last time he was in this situation; it was under the cover of night, albeit in the back of a police car under arrest..

Elias began to take them out into the middle of the lake before Isabella asked questions about what exactly Elias thought had happened..and why Nails was potentially being linked to their arrest a few evenings ago..

'When I was beaten almost to death by the Don, under my subconscious mind I played back what had happened in my mind, that night there was nobody who knew where we were, apart from BlackPanther- and we've been friends for years and one of the closest allies I have. I can categorically rule him out, which only left you and your bodyguards. All of who you vouch for, but you told me in the cell that something about Nails isn't right...and that you find him a little simple minded. I'm sorry but I'm not buying it, I think it's an act. There's no way you can be a dumbass and be in charge of protecting the most important daughter in Detroit. That just doesn't happen. We got arrested out of the blue, there's no way Gerard tailed me, or you to the casino, it's too secret, and that must mean he'd been tipped off whilst you came and got me alone, whilst they were outside.'

'it just doesn't add up, I know we were stitched up, someone out there is working with Gerard, and they're trying to flip you and get you in Witness Protection, and i'll be damned if I never see that beautiful smile again...' 

"I'll be damned if I ever flip on my father or his future wife."  She said with a sigh.  "I've thought about Neil, that's his real name, but I came into him by helping out his sweet old mother.  The damn bank was going to take her home and I saved it.  Neil, her son, was working on the docks.  The whole damn neighborhood has known him since he was born.  He's not stupid or anything, you mustn't think that, but... he's stronger than he should be and some things that might occur to you and I socially just don't to him.  So... he knows to keep his mouth shut and hit shit I tell him to hit... and to never let anyone hurt me."

She shakes her head, "How in the hell could the FBN plant a guy with a full life backstory like that - all those people having stories about him growing up and how he was picked on by other children and too kind-hearted to fight back... at least until one of the boys tried to torture a kitten to death.  Apparently he doesn't do well with violence against innocent creatures."

She chuckles, "I like him a whole lot... I can't imagine him being associated with the FBN in any way shape for form."  She sighed and pulled out two bottles of Coca-Cola, offering one to Elias.  "BUT... that being said, I worry that maybe he's been tricked by someone into talking or maybe that sweet old lady was.  Cause, while I appreciate your faith in me being able to avoid being tailed by the FBN, better mobsters than me have been... I can't say I'm perfect by any stretch, Elias."

'My dear I think we need to take this back to Don Salvatore..he's far more experienced than both of us in these situations' said Elias, drinking the Coca-Cola..'ice cold and delicious''s!'

I understand you may of know Neil for a long time, and helped out his poor mother, but what's to say he's not on the take, or he's flipped on you for financial reasons.. I think with the Dons help we could get him tailed, see where he goes, who he calls...who he see's... I might of been profusely drunk that night, but I'm an experienced enough mobster to know when I smell the scent of rat..and if so it needs to be exterminated..capisce?'

"No, Elias."  She said firmly.  "I'm the left hand man of his operation.  If I have to run to Daddy every time something gets hairy then what the fuck am I doing here?"  She shakes her head.  "Besides I've already told him about my worries... no doubt he IS digging into this or maybe he's waiting to see what I'll do on my own and if that's the case my answer can't be 'run to Daddy and ask him to fix it'  he wants me to learn the business.  I have to do this on my own... the question is, do you wanna help me or not?"

'Help you..' Elias said quite sternly to Isabella - 'what the hell do you think I'm doing here speaking with you now? I'm here with you, alone once again, in a god damn fucking public place, and once again I could get the finger pointed at me for something I haven't done..you've said I speak too much, yet without me telling you what i've told you about Nails, if and when this turns out to be true... you'll thank me!'

Elias still quite disgruntled at the reaction; 'god damn it Isabella if you didn't have such a pull on my god damn heart I'd be out of here like a shot you know. If you ever give me an ultimatum again, don't think you'll be giving it to a person listening!' He took in a deep breath and semi composed himself...'Look, I'm always going to help you, like you're always going to help me. So let's just get outta here and put this plan in motion, we've got a rat to fry...'

Her eyes went wide as Elias took a rough tone with her but she heard him out.  She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him hard until he was done.

"MY ultimatums?!?  I didn't give an ultimatum Mister!  If I did you would damn well know it!"  She huffed.  "All I did was ask if you were in or out not because I'm being a bitch, but because you've already gotten your ass kicked due to your time spent with me WHICH I might add is ALL YOUR FAULT!"  She yelled back, growing red in the face.

"If you just courted me quietly like every other damn man in my life - you wouldn't have got told no, you wouldn't have gotten SLOPPY DRUNK, and you wouldn't have needed me to come save your ass in the middle of the night which lead to this whole affair - NOT ME!"  She stood up in the boat, the boat rocked side to side as she raged every bit as well as her father.

"SO THE NEXT TIME YOU GROW A PAIR AND DECIDE TO GIVE SOMEONE WHAT FOR -"  It was at this point that Isabella lost all balance and the boat, not made for a rage Sicilian woman in it plus an over-sized Italian man, capsized sending both gangsters into the drink.

Elias & Isabella both tumbled into the lake, and Isabella was still screaming even in mid-air, Elias had absolutely lit a fuse inside her head that detonated like a bomb. Both mafioso's were strong minded, and damn right stubborn, and neither was going to give into the other. Still absolutely fuming that Isabella's temper had ruined his BRAND NEW suit, he looked at her..she looked back at him, bobbing away in the lake light floating pieces of bread..

Both Isabella & Elias were definitely at their worst here, Isabella has seen Elias in a pretty bad way already, one that was still obviously in her mind as it was always the last thing she said to him before attempting to sleep with the fishes. 'So Miss, what the hell do you suppose we do now? There's no way we can get back in that boat without it toppling over again....we're going to have to swim to the muddy bank! Jesus Isabella - I guess we're almost even now, we just need to end up locked in a cell for trespassing and causing criminal damage!' Once again Elias's anger softened as he grinned, even though Isabella was still extremely pissed off..

'Now stop being silly, we're in this situation now so let's get ourselves out of it! He pulled Isabella towards him and turned her around so they were both facing the same way, he put his arm directly across her shoulders to support as he started to kick backwards and they started to move slowly, but surely towards the muddy bank.

As Elias was swimming back with Isabella across him, he noticed people started to noticed what had happened, word was going to get out that two mafioso's were suddenly in the lake, filthy dirty and stinking of pond weed. It would sure be a long time time before either of them could live down this experience..that one for certain.

'Neither of us have a change of clothes' Elias said to Isabella, 'I have no idea how we're possibly going to get home - look at the state of us! We'll have to find a way somehow though! Oh my god we stink, like rats! What irony my dear! Let me get you home safe and we'll meet again in the morning..'

As Intrigue left Criseria's Newstand and Missives and started off in the direction of Lakeview Gardens, she started to have a sense of familiarity. Even though her mother took her to the park as a child, she would have been barely 2 years of age at the time. Yet she could sense she has been there, and it was just as her mother described in her journals. "I suspect Waddles is long gone by now" Intrigue said with a little sigh as she had read how the duck had a quirky personality and would greet her mother whenever she went into the park. She had also read of an evil'ish duck that was aptly called Duckhead "Least he is long gone" she muttered as she got to the gates of the park to enter.

She took a look around as she entered the park and could not help but smile to see it was still very much used. It was being cared for well and she could recognise many parts of it from photos her mother had left her. The cafe may have been sold on and ran by god knows who but the rest of the park was the same. She remembers reading about a wishing well and with her mother name being Mynnes which meant wish, it seems a nice idea to go up the little hill to it and sit down beside it as she ate the pretzels she bought earlier and drank her cola. She also had the stuff to read with her too. 

She made her way across the park passing the gardens and the maze, walked along the side of the lake until she got to the foot of the little hill that the wishing well was on top of. Intrigue walked up to the top and despite the fact, the climb was not a high climb she could see all around the park "So that's why you got this here" Intrigue said out loud as if she was speaking to her mother. She sat down onto the ground with her back leaning into the well and pulled out the pretzels she had bought and begun to ate, "Yum" she said after the first bite as she then opened the can of cola to have with them. It did not take her long to demolish the pretzels. Once she had she pulled out the newspaper and began to read in the tranquillity of her surroundings. 

"This is the place, Dad."  She said to Salvatore_Luciano  "What do you think?  Isn't it beautiful?  I think it's the perfect place to throw Godmother Marie_Lucania a baby shower.  I think she certainly deserve one and I KNOW what you're thinking... all the bad shit that has happened lately makes you want us all to stay inside; but the sun and air is good for her and the baby.  Also... we can't let our enemies think they've bested us by hiding."

She sighed and took her father's hand, "Tell me you understand and agree?  I adore Marie and after she's been here for me through so much I feel like I owe her this... besides, this baby will be my little brother... or sister.  Which are you hoping for, by the way, boy or girl?"

Lushie was out enjoying an evening stroll as she thought about things in the past. Earlier that day she had read of a place her grandmother use to run in Detroit and felt it was time to go have a visit. As she strolled through the streets of Detroit in the direction of Lakeview Gardens she stopped by a shop to grab a magazine, some snacks and a drink to have whilst at the park. She knew it used to have a cafe but since her grandmothers day, she was unsure if that was still open. 

As she approached the park and entered the gates, it was as if she had entered another world. She felt instantly at peace from the busyness of the day and could hear some birds in their evening song amongst the trees. She walked through the park looking around at all its features as she went. She passed the maze that looked fun "Maybe not today" she muttered to herself with a grin as she thought she would hate to get lost in it as the evening was drawing in and soon would be getting darker. 

She got down to the lake to find she was right, the cafe was closed, "Shame" she grumbled but at the same time relieved to think she did have things on her. "To nice of an evening to sit indoors anyway" she muttered a bit as she walked along the side of the lake watching the waterfowl enjoy their territory.

After a while she spotted a hill with a wishing well at the top and headed up towards it, passing the wildflowers on the way. When Lushie got to the top it was as if she could see quite far and the view was great. She took a penny out of her pocket and threw it into the well "I wish..." she said as she made her wish and even though she wasn't much of a believer in those things she couldn't help but wish further, "Dammit now I need to throw in a second coin" she chuckled saying as she did just so.

After a while, she made her way down the hill to go sit in the area with the beautiful gardens to enjoy her snacks, drink and have a read of the paper before it got too dark. 

Three black cars pull up to the Lakeview Gardens & Cafe on the afternoon of Godfather Salvatore_Luciano's youngest child's baptism.  A veritable army of FBN officers had swarmed the church expecting to find the entire Luciano Crime Empire in attendance... but one individual would be distinctly missing, using the event as a distraction so that she could come to a location she'd been lured to by irresistible bait.  

The letter, written in a familiar hand ... that of her late Right Hand Man, her late Fiance, the man she meant to marry: Elias.  He'd been dead for six months now.  Six months of hell for Isabella.  Six months of restless nights and nightmares, or reckless behavior trying to feel something (anything) other than loneliness and hopelessness.  She had literally JUST begun to think maybe she could find air again and breathe... that maybe life had flavor again and that all that was good in her world wasn't dead & buried with Elias.  She'd found this realization in three places... in the kindness of a stranger who she hoped to grow closer with, in shared intimacy of two damaged people making their way in the world, and in the love of her family - The Ivory Tower.

Then, in a single moment the fragile peace she'd built up was shattered.  The image of a future she was beginning to see take shape in her mind was beaten down in the same way that Tyler Durden had beaten Will in New York... and how Gavin had beaten the moose in Canada.  It was a one sided fight.  Whoever used this weapon against her was a particularly sadist son of a bitch and killing him was going to bring her no small amount of pleasure.  No one should use poor, dead Elias in this way.  No one.

She drew a deep breath.  She would have to find a way to steady her nerves after all this.  Perhaps she'd fly out to Philly.  Talk with William_Bowden about the fight club and if he found someone to take the wedding dress - and about all this nonsense with Elias' father being in her crew and bringing her this terrible note.  William had a stout heart and mind.  He'd know just how to help her look at all this and find herself again.  And, later... maybe spend the night meeting with GavinandTaraByrne ... maybe a little more than that with Gavin after they'd concluded business.  Isabella smiled at the thought of Gavin and their time together in Canada.  Yes.  A visit with Gavin was definitely called for ... but first.  She had business with a walking dead man.

The cars stopped and her men got out, watching every direction.  She sat waiting in her car.  On her ring finger, still since her meeting with Enzo, was Elias' grandmother's ring.  She didn't know why she bothered wearing it, perhaps it was all the emotions that Enzo had brought up in her.  Maybe it was the nagging points made by Marie_Lucania  ... but no.  It was impossible.  Elias Landucci was dead.  She'd buried him.  Whoever she was meeting with today was here to hurt her or her father.  And she was ready  for them.  She checked her gun, making sure a bullet was in the chamber, before allowing her guards to help her out of her car.

She was as prepared as she possibly could be.  Now... now she had to wait.  To see if this was a trick, or a trap.