ODDS OF LOVE SEASON TWELVE

Episode 39

" Are you sure you are alright, Alfred? ," Gerald asked on the other end of the phone that Alfred held as he tried to recline in a more comfortable position on the sofa. He had woken up feeling very tired and achy this morning. He was used to those particular symptoms but that day it seemed even worse. He could barely move a step without his body trembling and wanting to fall to the ground. He hadn't wanted to call into work but he knew he needed to rest himself. " Are you feeling any.... aftereffects from..... what David did? "

Alfred pursed his lips. No. It had nothing to do with his partner's nephew's foolhardy behavior and everything to do with his failing body that he desperately hated. Although it could be worse, he told himself. Spencer was totally paralyzed after all. At least he could still get around. In his own way and manner. And Nigel..... Nigel might be dying. Andrew was very emotional upon hearing about the stabbing and that was worrisome to both Alfred and Glory. Andrew was not a young man anymore and he was already under an enormous stress from Glory's cancer so the last thing he needed was something else horrible to happen. Like the vicious attack on and possible death of his beloved son in law.

" No. I'm just feeling very tired today. Having pain as well. I'm under orders from my Momma to just rest while she and Drew are at her radiation treatment appointment. I ......"

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Gerald was finishing up his breakfast of grapefruit with a light sprinkling of brown sugar atop it , plain oatmeal and herbal tea in his dining room , his phone up to his ear while he had his regular morning call with Alfred.

Alfred had been talking about having to call off work today when all of a sudden his voice trailed off. Which caused a sense of alarm to sweep over the headmaster. Alfred was alone and vulnerable in the house. His parents were not there. And there was a madman running around who had already attacked two men they both knew.

" Alfred ......."

Suddenly he heard his partner call out in a terrified voice," Gerald, there's someone here."

Then he heard Alfred scream before the line went dead.

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" Please," Alfred whispered as he still lay on the sofa, his hand touching his blood stained chest. " Please don't..... don't kill me...... "

He looked up at the masked man who held the bloody knife he had plunged into his chest before he could even make a move to protect himself or fight back. He was just standing there. Dear God. What else was he going to do to him ? Was he planning to kill this time?

In his head he saw Gerald smiling at him. And he wanted to cry. He couldn't die.

" Please......"

As blood seeped between his fingers he watched the man drop a note to the floor and then walk out of the room.

The note said " Number Three ".