Ready to go to the council building, Benton Knight was standing at the base of the main staircase of his mansion, yelling "Are you ready yet Amanda?"
"Just a minute," called his wife.
"Okay," he replied, but you've said that for the last 15 minutes, Benton realized, while glancing at his watch. I love her dearly, but sometimes...
He had taken his morning dosage of medications to help control his bi-polar disorder, and was doing everything he was supposed to, but hoped the Stovall trial wouldn't take too long. Besides being worried about his daughter Frieda having to testify, there was also various business matters concerning Knight Industries even without having to worry about Jack Crawford's takeover attempt, and his parents due in for the holidays anytime now.
As if on cue, his cellphone rang.
"Hello?" said Benton, not recognizing the number on the phone display.
"Hi son. How's it going?" asked his father.
"Hi dad. Getting ready to go to court," replied Benton.
"You all right?" wondered Anton Knight.
"Yes. I'm just a spectator in this case, but Frieda needs to testify against an ex-friend of hers accused of attempting to violate the town's second biggest law.*"
"This line is secured, as far as I know, but I caught a Crawford spy in my house before we left, so best not to say any more until we see each other in person, just in case."
"Understood, but I definitely want to hear more about that spy," said Benton.
"You will, but stopping to turn him over the local authorities delayed our departure. We didn't reach Seattle until after 3 this morning, and your mother's still napping at the moment," explained Anton.
"When do you think you'll get here then?"
"4 maybe? 5 at the latest. Is The Local Diner still in business?"
"Yes. We even have a Wendy's along what passes for the main highway bordering town now, and there's this one place that recently opened that you and mom might like," replied Benton, thinking of GRRRRRRR.
"Sounds interesting. I'll call you again when we're fixing to leave the hotel son."
MEANWHILE...
Brian Walker sat on the bus, listening to all the other students discuss the merits of Julie Stovall beating the rap of her initial charges versus finally getting justice from the Elders since there was no way she'd beat the Statute 1-A accusations against her.
GOOD! I hope they throw her in the strongest dungeon they have, never to be seen again!
ELSEWHERE...
"Okay people, listen up," began Lucy, Lance Knight's personal secretary at The Moon Lake Gazette as the paper's morning staff meeting started. "The boss called me while he was having breakfast. Ella Alyn is covering the Stovall trial, but of course we'll have to be careful about what we say in print and avoid using the W word," she said, referring of course to weres. "Fred, Lance wants you to keep as much as an eye on Jack Crawford's business activities as you can safely do so without violating any laws or journalistic ethics."
"Did he say why?" asked the Business reporter, although he suspected it might have something to do with Crawford's recent mad buying spree of outstanding Knight Industries stock.
"No. He just wants status reports as any situation warrants. Your discretion as to what's naturally news worthy for the paper itself," replied Lucy.
Hmm, the boss might suspect Crawford being up to more shenanigans than we first thought. "Okay, will do," promised Fred.
"Next. Ella already knows this, but no one can talk to the boss about the Stovall trial unless it's in an official reporting capacity, and even then he'll be limited to what he can say. Lance did say he would have his cell with him in case of business or paper emergencies, but it will be on vibrate, so texts only."
Lucy looked around and saw everyone nod their heads in acknowledgement.
"Last, between the trial and his parents' arrival sometime tonight for the Christmas holidays," began Lucy, which raised a few eyebrows because no one had seen Anton and Esmeralda Knight in years, "Lance isn't sure how many in office appearances he'll be able to make between now and Monday, but he trusts us and we won't let him or the Gazette down, will we?"
"NO WAY!" was the answer echoing through the room as Lucy smiled.
CONCURRENTLY...
Nate Anderson was concerned. Spencer had hardly said two words the entire time he drove them to school.
"You're worried about Eric," said Nate, as he pulled into the student parking section.
"That obvious?" asked Spencer, finally speaking. "It was the farthest thought on my mind when we first met, but I do love him, and I know how Eric feels about me. We've even talked about someday, after high school graduation..."
"I get the picture," said Nate, parking his car while wondering how Frieda Knight would fit into that image. "But don't worry. My parents, Frieda and her uncle are with him, so—"
It was at that moment that Spencer started making a menacing growling noise as Nate noticed her eyes becoming a brighter shade of green.
"What's wrong?" asked Nate, afraid he might have to shift to his werewolf fursona in the car if he was to have any hope of defending himself.
"I sense Frieda's tensing up because Eric's getting nervous about something," explained Spencer, fighting to keep herself from releasing her hybrid form and running off to go protect her mates.
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*Statute 1-A, a were accused of turning a normal human into a were against their will. The only worse charge in Moon Lake law is Statute 1: murder.—tmw.