Brian Walker got off the bus from school as usual; standing at the corner he debates for a few minutes what to do. Knowing that his mother has already started her second job working at The Local Diner, he heads of in the opposite direction of home. Living not far from the town’s main street; Brian makes a beeline to an electronics store. Still flushed with cash from his first gig as a gigolo last Thursday, Brian quickly buys a pay-as-you-go phone for what he needs. Loading it up with enough minutes to call and text for a month he heads outside to make his first message.
‘It’s A’s friend from Moon Lake. You know who. Do not text the number you were given last Thursday. It is hot. Communicate with this number instead. I still look forward to continuing our “business” arraignment.’
Brian feeling relieved; he hits send. Setting the phone to vibrate he heads home only to get a reply.
‘Understood. Will call Thursday. B’
Brian grinning as he puts the phone away. Confident that he is back on track to making the money to bring his mother Emily Walker out of debt; debt that his father George Walker left, when he ran out on them ten years prior. Knowing he will be late when getting home, but not caring about the consequences; Brian takes a leisurely stroll home.
******
Lance Knight still at his office of the Moon Lake Gazette hanged up the phone feeling un-eased. Not because his brother Benton made a rather unusual request regarding background information on the Shaffer’s; but it was Tachibana No Akane sitting in his office along with a person in a deep full body robe concealing their identity.
“You Brother Benton I take it;” Tachibana speaking.
“Yep,” Lance comments; “I swear, after he got hit with the Bipolar revelation he has talked to me more in the past five days then in the last five years.”
“Well he’s scared,” Tachibana answering; “for the first time in his life he is not in control and doesn’t know what to do.”
“Can’t argue that,” Lance sighing; “but why come here personally to ask me to kill a story that I’m about to put to bed?”
“It’s not me that is requesting it,” Tachibana answering; “it’s my guest here.”
The individual in the robe finally pulls back his hood to reveal a he is a white wer-tiger.
“My name is Far Houjin,” The white wer-tiger states; "president and CEO of the Wáng Technological Consortium and leader of the white tiger clan. It has come to my attention that you are about to run a story regarding mine and my grandson’s disappearance from mainland China. I would ask you not publish this story.”
“You got to be shitting me,” Lance floored at what was just said to him; “Tachibana what the hell is going on here?”
“It’s a long story,” Tachibana sighs; “it goes all the way back to when the white tigers helped the skulk out of tough spot. Long before I was born; suffice to say, the skulk owe the white tigers a life debt.”
“And with Far and what I can also surmise that Kai,” Lance asking; “is why they are here in Moon Lake. In secret.”
“it has to do with your brother Lance,” Far Houjin states; “we asked Tachibana's help in bringing Benton down and have Frieda emancipated and placed in control of Knight Industries.”
Lance just stares at the wer-tiger in front of him and then laughs.
“And just how the hell did you intent to do that,” Lance laughing all the while.
Tachibana place a USB disk on Lance’s table. The same USB that Kai gave her last Wednesday; “with this,” Tachibana answers.
“My father helped Benton set up the network of computer systems, surveillance for all of Knight industries holdings;" Far states. "Every aspect of the Knight's corporate and financial information uses the systems my father built for him. No one guards their dominion better than a tiger.”
“And I take it,” Lance examining the USB thumb drive; “this has passcodes, documents, malware, everything one needs to work in the system without being discovered.”
“You catch on quick,” Far calmly answers.
“And I take it,” Lance placing the device back down; “that my brother’s recent actions have put a damper on that plan?”
“As well as the elder council,” Tachibana adding; “us issuing those edicts after Benton’s blow up at my office with Daisuke put a hold on those plans. I was about to enact those plans on Sunday when you brother from out of the blue asked for a sit down with Eric Anderson’s father.”
“I and Kia were there,” Far adds; “we saw Eric’s Fursona and him with Frieda. My grandson thought he was destined to be with her. But when we saw Eric’s pure white wer-panther form he knew right away that the dream he had was not of his destiny.”
“So you haven’t enacted anything towards my brother yet,” Lance putting the pieces together; “so why tell me this?”
“Because that story you are about to publish” Far answering; “the one about mine and my grandson’s disappearance will send shockwaves in your wall street.”
“I know,” Lance answering; “but this is at the insistence of Benton. Why I do not know. I suspect it’s because of Jack Crawford’s maneuvers of late. Benton is trying to squeeze the man or convince those that want out to sell their shares. Shares Benton most likely already instructed his brokers to snatch up.”
“So you won’t kill the story,” Far responding; “could you not delay publishing it?”
“Not without being scooped by the major newspapers,” Lances answers; “the fact that they have yet to pick up this story is something I cannot ignore. I’m sorry I have to publish it.”
“And you force those major news publishers to pay you for the right to republish your story,” Tachibana answers.
“Exactly,” Lance responding; “And the fact that you Far and you grandson Kai are hiding out here in Moon Lake is a big story.”
“That,” Tachibana looking serious; “I ask you to keep secret for the time being.”
“Why,” Lance being the reporter he is; “the world needs to know.”
“Does the world need to know that Far Houjin and Kai Hǔ Wáng are weres? Weres that have permanently forsaken their human form and live permanently in their were forms?”
“Are you saying,” Lance looking serious; “that revealing Far and Kai’s location exposes the existence of weres the world over?”
“As a member of the Elder Council,” Tachibana getting up while Far Houjin hides his fursona within his robes; “you know that is something we need to keep safe. Our existence must not be revealed.”
“Fine,” Lance looking defeated; “I will for the sake of our kind’s secret not reveal Far and Kai’s location. But I am still publishing the story of their disappearance.”
"Oh," Tachibana turning around to look at Lance; "please don't tell Benton that Kia and Far are here. I do not want him trying to attack my estate attendants like he did with my employees at my head office."
Watching the two leave his office and leave the gazette’s bull pen; a bull pen thankfully mostly empty as various reporters are either on assignment or home for the evening. Lance looks at the time and notices he will have to head home soon. While he does have to show up for the were-panther gathering; Lance did want to get home and have a quick shower before heading back out. Getting up from his desk he grabs the thumb drive from his computer. A USB device that has all the information he could dig up on the Shaffer’s while talking to Tachibana and Far Houjin. Ensuring everything is locked up and secured, Lance leaves the gazette and heads home; unaware that Lila is already home and waiting to give him a loving surprise.