"Sheriff Cooper. What's your 20*?" asked a voice over the police radio in his cruiser.
He carefully reached for the mike while driving and replied, "Responding to the Code W**. What's up?"
"We have a call on Line 1 from Tachibana no Akane herself, saying it's most urgent that she speaks to you immediately," revealed the dispatcher.
"Can't it wait till I'm actually at the Council building?" asked the Sheriff in return.
"No," was the answer a moment later.
"Okay. Patch her through," requested Cooper, as he pulled over to take the call.
"Sheriff Cooper, I apologize for any inconvenience you and your officers might have experienced so far, but new information has come to light that requires Spencer Lawson's presence here during the trial after all," said Tachibana no Akane, leader of the Skulk and a senior member of the Elders' Council. "If Miss Lawson does not arrive on her own in the next few minutes, please help her get here as soon as possible. There will be a scroll waiting at the front entrance for one of your men to take to Principal Andrews at the high school, excusing her absence for the rest of this week because of the matter at hand."
As cryptic as ever, and not just because we're talking on an unsecured line, thought the Sheriff, before asking, "Anything me or my deputies can help with?"
"Not at this time, but as always, the Council appreciates the offer," replied Tachibana.
"Okay," he said, before saying goodbye. "Dispatch, this is Cooper. Send out the following. ALL UNITS! ATTENTION ALL UNITS!" began the Sheriff, confident that his message was now being broadcast to every squad car in Moon Lake. "Cancel Code W. Repeat: Cancel Code W. Spencer Lawson is to be located and taken to the Council building immediately by their request. Repeat: Lawson's presence is now required at the Council building."
One of these days I would love to know more details of what exactly goes on in my town. Then again, that might not be a good thing after all, he thought, while continuing the search for the wayward hybrid were.
MEANWHILE...
She was running through every private trail, short cut, goat path, and obscure route she could through the forest that was a major part of the Moon Lake landscape; trying not to be seen in public during the day.
Her clothes were discarded the moment she entered the woods. The more important stuff like cellphone, wallet, and house keys she left in Nate Anderson's car before abruptly leaving the high school unauthorized.
The change into her hybrid werewolf/panther/cat were form once she was among the trees came as naturally as breathing, but there was only one real thought on Spencer Lawson's mind at that moment.
I'm coming my loves! Hold on and we'll be together again soon! as the emphatic connection between herself, Eric Anderson, and Frieda Knight was drawing Spencer ever closer to the Elders' Council building, despite the fact she had never been there before in her life and knew not where it was.
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*20: Status request.
**Code W: The closest any Moon Lake officer in any story line will come to saying the W word (were) on an open radio channel.—tmw.