Lance sips the milk as he watches Tachibana’s guests enjoy the sushi and sashimi that the chef’s prepared. Partaking in a bit of halibut; Lance nods in approval as the fish while still raw was flavorful and had just the right amount of rice with it.
“If I may,” Lance placing his chop sticks down; “I have a few things I need to say. While all of it does involve your guests Far and Kai in regards to Benton; some of it does have elder council matters attached to it.”
“It must be serious then,” Tachibana dipping her sushi in some wasabi and eating it; “I take it, this has to do with Jack Crawford?”
“It does,” Lance pausing; “I don’t know how or who told him, But jack Crawford knows of Benton’s medical condition. I know the council wouldn’t let such knowledge slip for fear of it revealing the existence of weres.”
“You suspect the Andersons,” Tachibana asking?
“No,” Lance answering; “while I know Eric knows thanks to Frieda, I’m not sure the kid’s family knows or would even care for matter.” Lance sipping his milk, “I know Benton called his family in regards to his issues; Anton and Esmerelda are coming to Moon Lake.”
“Oh,” Tachibana responding; “it would be nice to see those two again. Are they staying for the holidays?”
“I don’t know,” Lance answering; “but let me get back on track here.”
Lance looking at the two white were-tigers he begins to say what he needs to say.
“I know you want to remove Benton from Knight Industries; and that you have a plan to put my niece up in his place. While if current events haven’t recently transpired, my brother dealing with being bi-polar and Frieda finally being herself thanks to Spencer and Eric. This plan to have her emancipated would of succeeded.”
“But your saying it won’t,” Far answering.
“No,” Lance sighing; “I’m afraid it will cause a permanent rift between father and daughter. While Benton and Frieda’s relationship is strained; I have noticed, my brother making great efforts to bridge the metaphorical divide with his daughter.”
“So to emancipate Frieda would undo what Benton has so far done,” Far Houjin thinking; “to reconnect with his cub Frieda.
“As well as push him to the point,” Lance sighing; “that the council would have no choice to lock Benton away in fear of him exposing our existence.”
“You do raise a valid concern there Lance,” Tachibana thinking; “but what does this have to do with Jack Crawford.”
“What a were-panthress told me last night,” Lance answering; “better the devil you know then the one you don’t. Jack Crawford intends to force a vote of no confidence at the next shareholders meeting in New York. While Jack may only have a small amount of the voting stock; I suspect he intends to use Benton’s medical issues as a means to have him kicked out.”
“Now I understand the devil you speak of,” Far thinks; “to have this interloper impede on our desires does concern me and my grandson.” Far Houjin putting down his chop sticks, “but surely Benton can attend the meeting and veto the motion, can he not?”
“No,” Tachibana grimacing; “the elder council has barred Benton from leaving town for at least thirty days, to show that he is mentally stable.”
“Hence why this problem affects both your Far, Kai and the council,” Lance answering; “if Benton cannot attend, then he needs a proxy to act on his behalf.”
The weres at the table ponder the implications this presented. If Jack Crawford succeeded, then Far and Kia could be forced to deal with an unknown that could in theory be more ruthless then Benton; a man they despise.
“Grandfather,” Kia speaking up; “I may have and ideal.”
“Then share it with us Kia,“ Far answering; “what do you have in mind?”
“The USB device that we gave Tachibana,” Kia responds; “we could use it to undermine Jack Crawford.”
“Is that possible;” Lance asking?
“Well, Kia thinking; “now that Jack is a minority owner of Knight Industries, he most likely has access to the same network Benton uses for his company. The same one we helped created.”
“But will he use that network,” Lance thinking; “while I have never met Jack Crawford professionally or socially, I don’t think he is going to be fooled by an offer to use a system that Benton will monitor.”
“He doesn’t need to know he is using it,” Kia grinning; “most of the malware on that USB drive, is custom made by me. I can retool it to target Jack Crawford instead of Benton.”
“Well you just need an email address,” Lance answering.
“Far Houjin grins; “I still have the email he sent offering to buy our shares of Knight Industries.”
“Well now that has been dealt with,” Tachibana speaking up; “perhaps I can borrow lance’s ear for some council business.” Tachibana getting up and looking at Far and Kia, “please stay and continue eating. I will return shortly. Lance, please follow me to my study.”
Reaching the study, Tachibana turns around and begins speaking; “I’m calling an emergency council session tonight.”
Lance swore; “I won’t be able to make it. I have my bi-polar testing to do tonight. It’s a precautionary measure. Frieda had hers Monday, her test came back negative.”
“Oh,” Tachibana thinks; “perhaps I can call the meeting for Thursday morning instead. A lot of council members will be peeved over it. But we need all members present. “
“Let me guess,” Lance answering; “this has to do with Julie Stovall and her statue 1A charges.”
“Yes,” Tachibana answers; “I arrived at the courthouse with a few summons after her proceedings ended. One for Jack Johnson to hand over all documents pertaining to Julie’s assault charges; and surveillance footage. My other summons was to her father, Martin Stovall; FYI, Martin is replacing Andrew as the wer-mer rep.”
“Will that be a conflict interest,” Lance asking?
“Andrew is leaving as soon as this mess with Benton is dealt with,” Tachibana responds; “which is why I want the Julie issue dealt with swiftly.”