{{AUTHOR'S NOTE: We lost actress Noel Neill July 3, 2016 at the age of 95. While not the only actress to have ever portrayed the character, she was one of, if not the best known Lois Lane within the Superman mythos. The reporter character and this episode are dedicated to her, but I honestly could not decide what would be the most appropriate were for the character to be.—tmw.}}
After Tachibana no Akane left his office, Lance Knight tried to get back to the business of being editor-in-chief of the Moon Lake Gazette, as well as running the other components of Knight Media, the business their father left to him instead of his older brother Benton when Anton Knight decided to retire.
However the Skulk leader's delivery of the were-council's edict, let alone the now open scroll on his desk, still weighed heavily on his mind.
When there was a knock on the open door of his office, Lance welcomed the distraction.
"You sent for me Chief?" asked Ella Alyn, one of the Gazette's reporters.
"Yes. Good work on the Town Council meeting today," he said, looking at the article on his computer screen, while indicating the lady should have a seat.
"Yeah. Moon Lake is now in the black for the first time in years and all the other matters before them passed, but it didn't turn out the way I thought it would," said Ella, while sitting down.
"Oh?" asked Lance, wondering what she knew that he didn't.
"Besides the fact that the topic of Julie Stovall never came up during the meeting, there was a rumor that Benton Knight was going to make an appearance. All the other members of the Elders' council were there, sitting in the gallery, but he never showed."
"There's a reason for that," revealed Lance, before handing Ella the scroll to read for herself.
When she finished, Ella sat the scroll back down on his desk and asked, "Is this for real?"
"Yeah," was all Lance could say, before adding what Akane told him personally while delivering the scroll. "Off the record, my brother let his temper get the best of him and Benton put his paw in his muzzle again."
"I think that's an understatement. To be removed from the were council..."
"Yeah. Off the record, it couldn't of happened to a more deserving guy."
"I know things between the two of you have never been friendly, even before he tried to take over the paper, but still.... How come you were never chosen to represent the werepanthers to begin with?"
"The Knights may be the most prestigious family amongst our species in the area, but he's the oldest, taking over from our father after he decided to step down and pursue other matters," revealed Lance.
"If you don't mind me asking, whatever did happen to Anton and Esmeralda Knight?" asked Ella.
"They're living a quiet life on some remote tropical island that caters to rich weres who want to live out their remaining centuries in pampered luxury. Don't know about Benton, but I still get a post card from them once in a blue moon."
"That's nice. So what happens now?"
"Been thinking about that myself ever since Akane left," admitted Lance, eyeing the scroll on his desk again. "Obviously I can't refuse the Elders, but between me and my niece when Frieda comes of age, the werepanthers and all of Moon Lake are in good paws. Benton was always pro-panther, but anything else always came down to profit and loss in his book."
"Like fighting Martin Stovall over Moon Lake Elementary," pointed out Ella. "They're still trying to clean up the damage there from last night's storm."
"Which reminds me. A friend at the TV station tipped me off that Benton's called some kind of press conference for tomorrow. Don't know about what, but of course he never alerted us. Since Moon Lake is a relatively small town, between having both the city and the were beat, I'd like you to cover it," said Lance, while handing her a note about it from his desk.
"You've got it Chief," said Ella, while reading the details he wrote down.
"As for me being on the Council, we'll have to play that by ear. A lot of stuff that happens the Gazette might not be able to officially cover, but at least we'll now be more accurate on the things we can. Speaking of which, it's almost 7 now, and I have to be at my council briefing by 8. Unless there's something else we need to discuss..."
"How much of Julie Stovall's situation are we going to cover, and what position are we taking?" asked Ella.
"Unless the DA gets his way and has Stovall tried as an adult, and I'm still unclear why he's pushing for that to begin with, our access to the juvenile court proceedings will be limited. We'll cover the facts as we learn and can verify them but right now the trial concerns his daughter and her alleged actions, not the Mayor or his politics, so we'll stay away from that angle; no matter how much his political rivals might hope otherwise."
"Understood. See you tomorrow Chief," said Ella, as she got up and left Lance's office.