Lance Knight, still in his werepanther fursona but wearing his ceremonial robe, was walking back to his car with his normal clothes in a tote bag he had in his trunk. He knew there wouldn't of been any opportunity to fully talk to Eric Anderson and Spencer Lawson tonight, let alone make arrangements to sit down with his niece Frieda to discuss her future in light of the conversation he had earlier that day with Tachibana no Akane and the White Were-tiger, but he at least wanted to say hello to Frieda's friends/lovers and set up a convenient time for all of them to have a more in-depth conversation together.
I'll text Frieda later and take it from there. Besides, Lila still needs to meet her. Maybe I can set up something at the paper after school tomorrow before my parents return to Moon Lake.
Thoughts of the were-tigress that was his new girlfriend (and perhaps a lot more in time) made Lance happy to the point that he was actually purring as he approached his vehicle.
But his mood rapidly changed as a shadow moved in front of his car and smiled at him.
"Hello Lance. Still as handsome as ever," said Liz Baker, as she leaned seductively against his car, displaying all the furry charms of her werepanthress form.
"I heard about the consequences of your ill advised actions back there. Should I alert security? Or just deck you now like my brother suggested?" asked Lance, while curling one paw into a fist.
"I would prefer a good fucking, but when have you ever been Benton Knight's lackey? Besides, from what I've heard, the estate has no security at the moment. I wonder how the gathering would react if they knew that?" asked Liz in return.
"What do you want?" Lance demanded to know, wanting to be rid of her and back in Lila's arms as soon as possible.
"I'll admit that I, unfortunately, got seriously... distracted after seeing the new inductees," said Liz, thinking of the new white furred werepanther (Eric Anderson) and his hybrid female (Spencer Lawson), "but I did come bearing news."
"About what?"
"Jack Crawford," said Liz, her feline eyes staring directly at Lance.
"What is it?" Lance asked.
"You know he's been trying to buy up whatever he could get of Knight Industries stock, right?" asked Liz, to which Lance simply nodded his head affirmatively. "But are you aware that he's hellbent and determined to get back everything that was once his, including Crawford Computers?"
"Old news," was all Lance said to her, but remembered that Crawford Computers was one of the companies within the portfolio of stocks that was part of Frieda's trust fund currently locked in his office safe.
"And there's also a lot of scuttlebutt starting to be kicked around about your brother's current... health issues," added Liz, as she sauntered a bit closer to him.
"Benton's as healthy as a werehorse. It's Amanda who was hospitalized after drinking tainted coffee," replied Lance, not mentioning his brother dealing with being diagnosed bi-polar.
"Perhaps," said Liz. "However Crawford's heard otherwise, and now that he has enough shares of Knight Industries to be even a minor voice in the company, he plans to start asking some serious questions about whether or not your brother's even still capable of running Knight Industries."
"Oh?" asked Lance, trying to sound uninterested, but growing concerned. "And how do you know all of this?"
"I have a lover... or two, in the same brokerage firm that Crawford uses," admitted Liz. "I'm not sure of the when, but Crawford is planning to ask for a vote of confidence on Benton."
Damn! Lance silently swore. The only time that can be done is at a major stockholder's meeting, and the next one's after the first of the year in New York! With the Elders' Council's edicts against him, Benton isn't allowed to leave Moon Lake until he proves at least 30 days of consistent mental stability. There'd be no time for him to do so by then even if there are no setbacks in his treatment!
"Something on your mind Lance?" asked Liz, now standing directly in front of him, observing the worried look on his face.
"Just wondering. Even if what everything you've told me is true, what do you hope to get out of this?"
"Well, Jack Crawford is a less desirable leader of Knight Industries than your brother, so better the devil you know..." said Liz, smiling as she shrugged her furry shoulders. "I thought that by helping you I'd help myself. A girl's got to protect her financial assets you know. Besides, if you'd like to show a lady some gratitude..." she added, moving against him in hopes of a kiss, if not more.
"Thank you," said Lance, before side-stepping to move out of her way and take the last couple of steps to his car.
"Is that all?" Liz asked in disbelief, as she turned to face him.
"I didn't deck you, did I?" asked Lance in return, as he got in his car and hastily drove off before she could reply.