Tachibana quietly closes the door to the reading room; turning around to stare at the many weres, milling about the common area, the were vixen lets out a shrill whistle to get everyone’s attention.
“I want ALL non-essential personnel to assist Sheriff Cooper and his deputies in tracking and recapturing Julie Stovall. We are under a WERE-Alert. Council members remain; we still have the latter half of Julie’s statue 1A trial to complete.”
“You can’t do that,” Brett Smithson screaming; “Trial by absentia is illegal!”
“Not exactly,” Leon Talbot and his daughter Jean interjecting into the conversation; “I had my daughter spend time in the archives to review past Statue 1A trials, for when Jean eventually takes over as were-lion rep.”
“Then what did you find,” Tachibana looking at the were-lioness.
“Not much,” Jean sighing; “What I found was misfiled scrolls, and scrolls so old that touching them would cause them to crumble. You really need to have someone who knows how to restore old parchment or have your records digitized in a computer database.”
“That doesn’t help the current situation,” Tachibana responding; “But it is something I will look into later. So what did you find?”
“This,” Jean handing over a scroll to Tachibana; “It’s a synopsis of a trial that happened fifty years ago. The accused were in question bite a normal in a fit of rage; standing trail the were-dog started snarling and managed to break free of his bonds and escape the building in question.”
“While tracking the were-dog,” Tachibana reading the scroll; “the trial continued with the victim giving their testimony before expiring from their transformation being incomplete.” Tachibana put the scroll down and shook her head.
“It’s not much,” Jean looking confused; “is there something I should know?”
“The were in question,” Tachibana sighing; “was feral, and is still locked up in the feral ward located in the sub-basement in Moon Lake’s Hospital.” Looking at Brett Smithson, “Trial by Absentia has happened in the past. Contrary to what you may think; Trial by Absentia is legal here in the United States. It just happens to be a sore issue for most other countries when the justice department is trying to extradite a convicted fugitive.”
“But-“ Brett tries speaking before being interrupted.
“What your client did,” Tachibana keeping her anger in check; “is deny the council a chance to hear her side of the situation. I was about to summon Julie to speak before Yamoto burst in giving us the tragic news. As soon as I deal with the Luna Brotherhood who has just arrived; Julie Stovall’s trial continues!”
******
Five werewolves wearing grey suits and black ties enter the common area of the council building. Still in their human guises, they approach Tachibana as the were-vixen with greying red fur stares at them intently.
“You requested us,” the first man asked.
“We had an issue,” Tachibana leading the five to the crime scene; “Julie Stovall facing two counts of Statue 1A, committed murder shortly before escaping the custody of my grandsons.”
“Has a Were-Alert been issued?”
“A few minutes ago,” Lance answering as he joins Tachibana and the five werewolves as they examine the body.
“You suspect she is still in town,” the first man speaking.
“If she is,” Daisuke reappearing; it won’t be for long. Yamoto and I tracked her foot prints in the snow to a road that leads to the main highway out of town. Julie may have bummed a ride and could be heading anywhere.
“Seattle,” the lead werewolf answers; “Your rogue were is running to Seattle. She is a wer-mer correct?”
“Yes,” Tachibana answering; “oh shit, Julie is running to the ocean!”
“We’ll need access to what she was wearing before entering the building,” the lead werewolf speaking; “as well as access to her home.”
“Martin Stovall,” Tachibana nodding; “Julie’s father with give you his full co-operation.” Tachibana holding the lead werewolf from leaving the washroom and pointing a clawed finger at him, “We want Julie back alive; unharmed and undamaged, understand?”
“Not all member of the Luna brotherhood act like savage animals,” the lead werewolf speaks; “just a bit to passionate in protecting the secret of all were’s existence. I will do my best to rein them in, but despite being the Alpha for the state of Washington; even I have trouble keeping some of our more energetic pack members in line.”
“I don’t want a repeat,” Tachibana growling; “of what your group did during your spring break gathering earlier this year.”
“A few bad apples,” the Alpha calmly answers; “who have since been expelled for their actions.”
“Killing six does and their fawns,” Tachibana snarls; “is not the action of a few bad apples. Sounds more like you had a few werewolves that may have been on the verge of going feral!”
“I understand your concern,” The Alpha answering; “but the matter has been dealt with. The fines have been paid and the guilty dealt with; to the satisfaction of all parties involved. Now if this unfortunate issue is now done being dredged up, please let us do the job you called us on.”
Tachibana stares at the Alpha werewolf and sighs, “follow me; I lead you to Martin Stovall, who I’m sure you want to ask a few questions.”