Daniel woke up in the holding cell, haggard and unwell. He did not sleep well. Unsure of his situation as he could not completely fall asleep; the man knew it wouldn't be long before the prints this hick police force took of his will come back to show that he is wanted. Jumping bail in a bid to dodge charges running a gambling racket for his father; Daniel Parker was hoping that whoever his father sent could intimidate whatever doddering old judge would be handing his arraignment. But this being Moon Lake; a town populated by an assortment of were-beasts; Daniel had no idea that the judge he was about to see would be Judge Brian Flagg.
Judge Brain Flagg was a large imposing man sporting a full beard and wild hair; a man who could be mistaken for a homeless man on the streets of Seattle. Judge Flagg was a were-grizzly and had a gaze that could even make the toughest man cringe in fear. Still Daniel Parker had no ideal this man would be overseeing his bail hearing.
“So you’re awake,” a large man walking into the holding area; staring at the sullen prisoner behind bars.
“Who the fuck are you,” Daniel sneering; “and why does this place smell like a zoo?”
“I’m Sheriff Cooper,” the large man speaking; “and it doesn’t smell like a zoo in here, you must be imagining things.” The sheriff eyeing the prisoner suspiciously; “and you Daniel Parker are in a lot of trouble.”
“My lawyer will see to it I’m out before noon,” Daniel looking smug.
“I doubt it,” the sheriff answering; “even your mob boss father Freddy the shark can’t bully and bluster his way to getting you released.” The sheriff noticing Daniel’s eyes go wide in surprise; “this may be a small town, but we do have high speed internet and your fingerprints came back with a warrant for bail jumping.”
“A misunderstanding,” Daniel trying to bluff with the sheriff; “my lawyer will have that straighten out.”
“The FBI and U.S Marshalls say otherwise,” Sheriff Cooper answers; “they are on their way here to take you back into custody. Running an illegal gambling operation out of your gym and even fixing the boxing matches you competed in,” Sheriff Cooper shaking his head; “even the five crime families in New York don’t have the pull to keep you out of jail. And don’t forget you have the half dozen or so charges to answer for here,” the Sheriff glaring; “attempted aggravated murder being the biggie.”
“You don’t know my father,” Daniel making no attempt to be evasive this time; “I will be walking out of your courthouse and leaving this hick town before noon today.”
“Keep dreaming,” Sheriff Cooper laughing; “us hicks, as you like to call us; we aren’t some bunch of slack jawed yokels. We happen to be a small town east of Seattle,” the sheriff half growling; “and I was once a police officer for Seattle gang taskforce. If the triads and tongs couldn’t scare me,” the sheriff speaking; “what makes you think a fat mob boss from San-Fransisco will succeed?”
Daniel Parker glares at the Sheriff as he walks away leaving the man alone. Unable to even scare the man and even surprised that sheriff was not intimidated with his “connections”; Daniel hopes that his father will be able to come through and get him out.
“Sheriff or not,” Daniel sulking and mulling; “you and this town will regret messing with the Parker’s.”
*******
Walking back to his office the sheriff sits back down in his chair; staring at the FBI agent that sat before him.
“Agent Reed,” the sheriff sighing; “I wish we were meeting again under better circumstances.”
“I do as well,” Brooke Reed answering; “Last time we talked…”
“Was when Agent Walker went rogue and started poking around the town all those months ago,” The sheriff finishing; ”speaking of that, what happened to agent Walker?”
“He got fired,” Brooke answering; “despite his father’s best efforts; Sean’s days in the agency were numbered even before he started harassing the Lawson’s. Plus it didn’t help that the current director was taking over and the he is like the rest of you,” Agent Reed using her fingers to form the trademark “W” that weres use to identify themselves with each other covertly.
“Well that’s one less worry,” the Sheriff chuckling; “but last we met you were still a normal. Now I can smell…”
“My boyfriend,” agent Brooke grinning; “he’s a werewolf and now so am I. Best decision I ever made.”
“Congratulations then,” the sheriff nodding; “I take it you also transferred to a different field office to head off former colleagues from wondering why you look younger and different?”
“Of course,” Agent Reed answering.
“Which office then,” the sheriff asking.
“This one,” Agent Reed taking out some papers from her briefcase; “the FBI director wants me to act as a personal liaison with the Elder council. Plus I’m to assist the U.S Marshalls in bringing Daniel Parker back to Atlantic City.”
“So you are now working at the Seattle field office,” the Sheriff looking at the transfer papers and handing them back to Brooke Reed; “You should know, that the Seattle chapter of the Luna Brotherhood is in complete disarray. The head alpha of the organization,” Sheriff sighing; “is here, all the way from Romania personally overseeing its restructuring.”
“I read the report from the FBI director,” Brooke taking her transfer papers back; “sorry to hear about Alyssa. No one deserved what happened to her. But enough of that,” Agent Reed changing the subject; “does Daniel Parker suspect that Moon Lake is populated by weres?”
“I don’t believe so,” the Sheriff answering; “but he did complain that the police station smelled like a zoo. And as for taking him back to San-Fransisco,” the sheriff grabbing Aspirin; “Leon Talbot might have an issue with that. Daniel Parker shot his son Peter and nearly killed him last night.”