“Well I guess lunch is over then,” Lance commenting; “I couldn’t eat another bite.”
“You didn’t eat very much to begin with,” Tachibana commenting as she signals her attendants to begun cleaning up. “You plan on heading to your gazette?”
Lance looking at the time and scowls, “If I did; I wouldn’t be able to pick up my niece and her friends in time. I’d get bogged down with work I had to put off today.”
“Oh that’s right,” Tachibana remembers; “you had to deal with an issue at KPXX. I’m glad you dealt with DJ Woof. The council was getting a little concerned with him.”
“I think I’ll head to the hospital and visit my sister in-law,” Lance getting up; “with luck, Benton will be there and I can fill him in on what Frieda’s day is going to be like tomorrow.”
“An excellent idea,” Tachibana also getting up; “I’ll escort you out.”
Tachibana No Akane escorted Lance to her front entrance to his estate. Turning around as he was handed back his clothes so he could de-fur and leave; Tachibana observes the young Knight brother get into his Prius and drive off.
******
“Oooh,” Amanda swooning; “microfiber.” Looking at her husband as she puts the robe on and cinches up the belt, ”you got this at Awareness?”
“One for you and one for me,” Benton pulling the hood over Amanda; covering her were-panthress face from view. “Only mine doesn’t have the hood and is red.”
“So you’re just going to walk out of the hospital like that?”
Benton turns around and growls; seeing it’s his brother Lance wearing a nice suit for a change, causes him to calm down.
“Nice suit,” Benton looking at his brother; “what’s the occasion to wear Armani.”
“Had to deal with an issue at KPXX today,” Lance looking tired; “DJ Woof will no longer chance exposing the existence of weres to the world. I had to fire him.”
“Did it make you feel all warm and tingly when you sacked him;” Benton grinning?
“No,” Lance answer; “but firing the station director and his secretary for have sex in their fursona in the building did.”
Benton laughs, ”That must have been a sight.”
“Yes,” Amanda looking disdainful while hiding under her robe; “can you help me to Benton’s town car Lance?”
“Okay,” Lance approaching; “we’ll walk and talk."
“I assume you heard of Julie’s acquittal on a technicality,” Benton making conversation.
“Oh yeah,” Lance sighing; “that’s one of the reason’s I need to talk to you both with.”
“About what,” Amanda interest peeking?
“The elder council will be convening an emergency session tomorrow,” Lance stating; “it is to rule on Julie Stovall’s statue 1A charges.”
“Okay,” Benton looking calm; “I figured that was going to happen.”
“Both Eric Anderson and Frieda have to be their tomorrow,” Lance answers; “early enough that they will have to miss school as a result.”
“Is Julie going to be there as well,” Amanda growling?
“Yes,” Lance answers; “but security will keep her separate from Eric and Frieda.”
“Well I guess missing one day of school,” Benton thinking; “is not a big deal.”
“It could be more,” Lance states; “Tachibana implied this session could last up to and possibly Saturday.”
“Surely they won’t need Eric and Frieda for the entire session,” Amanda looking worried.
“I’ll talk to Tachibana about that tomorrow;” Lance being the closest to push the down button for the elevator. Taking a discreet sniff lance quietly growls, “are you aware we are being followed?”
“I’m being followed,” Benton answering; “ever since I left France’s Twists office for my therapy session.” Benton also sniffing the air, “Frances’s father,” Benton responds; “let’s just say those two have their own issues.”
As the elevator opens; the three were-panthers enter and Benton presses the button for the underground parkade. As the doors close, Benton spots Joseph and makes it clear that he had been spotted.
With the elevator doors closing Joseph looks forlorn. While he could not see who was under the hooded robe. Joseph recognized the younger man escorting the hooded figure as Lance Knight.
“That means I’ve been following Benton,” Joseph thinking to himself; “not interested in getting into a fight with him. But who were they escorting under the robes?”
*****
Lance helps Benton as the two let Amanda hop into the back seat of the town car. Just before Benton closes the door, Lance speaks up.
“Look, I know you want to spend time with Frieda later this evening; but perhaps its best she stay over at my place or at her friends.” Lance grinning, “I’m sure you two would like to be alone together for the night.”
“Benton,” Amanda speaking up and clearly excited; “I like the ideal Lance is leading up to, let’s just go.”
“My daughter will need change of clothes,” Benton sighing; as he heads to the town car trunk and removes Frieda’s overnight bag he cobbled together for her bi-polar testing Monday evening. ”I’d rather she stay with you, but if Frieda insists on wanting to be with her friends, tell them not to stay up too late.”
“Are her were-control pills in here,” Lance looking through the bag? “Also I have my bi-polar testing later tonight, My suggestion is Frieda stay with Eric tonight. Since both have to be at the council building tomorrow, they could travel together.”
“Fine. There should be few in there,” Benton answering; “but-“
“Frieda better be taking her were-birth control pills,” Amanda shouting but Benton shuts the door silencing Amanda’s shrill voice.
“I see a couple in this Ziploc bag,” Lance answering; “did you put them in here?”
“No,” Benton looking relieved; “I suspect Frieda might of done that sometime yesterday morning after we left the hospital.”
Lance looking at the time and seeing it would be soon time to pick Frieda, Eric and Spencer up from school, “I guess it’s time for us to part ways then. You got an angry wife to apologize for shutting the door on her and I have some horny teenage weres to deal with.”
“Want to swap places,” Benton smiling; “you deal with Amanda while I pick up the kids?”
Lance laughs; “nope, I got my bipolar testing later tonight.”
“Oh yeah I forgot,” Benton swearing; “guess Frieda is staying over at her friends then. Oh and dad called. Mom and dad will be in Seattle sometime tomorrow. They’ll get their own ride into Moon Lake. And dad will be heading off the vote of no-confidence Jack Crawford is planning at the shareholders meeting.”
Before Lance could respond, Benton opens up the driver’s door to the town car; hearing Amanda yelling at her husband for slamming the door on her, Lance watches as Benton drives off.
“Guess I better get going,” Lance heading back to the elevator for he parked outside of the hospital.