“FRIEDA! WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?”
Benton may still be drunk from earlier; but seeing the large gathering of police cruisers and crime scene tape blocking his front entrance; the were-panther was in a panic. Not even Amanda could calm the man down as he bull rushed his way inside; ignoring the crime scene techs as the deputies that tried to stop him but failing as he walked through the front area and past his study. Benton saw three body bags already occupied; it put the were-panther in a state of dread as he raced through the house.
Busting into her room to see his daughter along with Spencer both comforting Eric; Benton sighs as he walks over and hugs his daughter.
“What happened,” Benton breathing hard; “are you alright?”
“Stop crushing me dad,” Frieda wincing; “and we’ll tell you.”
******
Amanda surprised to see her husband vertical after only berating him a few hours earlier; she tries to keep up with him as he makes a mad dash towards the house. Witnessing him plow through and bowl over the police as he busts through past the crime scene tape; Amanda felt it would be prudent to use the back entrance. With Lila and Ester following close behind, they enter the kitchen to see Frances talking to three children with a police deputy present.
“Cindy, Jasper, Yogi,” Ester rushing to her cubs; “are you all right?”
“Mommy,” all three shout in unison as they meet their mother and hug her.
“Oh I was so worried something bad might of happened to you three,” Ester crying.
“We saw Eric kill a bad man,” Yogi speaking; the only kid looking excited over the whole ordeal; “took him down in one punch!”
“WHAT,” Amanda looking shocked; “where is he?”
“Upstairs,” Frances speaking up; “Frieda and Spencer are doing what they can to calm him down. Even after I talked to the boy,” Frances sighing; “he was still un-nerved after having to take a human life.”
“Why did my cubs see this happen,” Ester starting to growl.
“From what Eric said earlier,” Frances answering; “he tried to get them to the panic room in Benton’s study but couldn’t remember were the switch was.”
******
“And then I heard a man approaching and told the kids to get behind the desk,” Eric speaking shakily; “I closed the door and hid as best I could just outside of the study entrance.”
“Then what happened,” Benton looking at the distraught white furred were-panther.
“He was armed with a crowbar and opened the study door,” Eric having to relive what he experienced a little while ago. “I shoved him in the room with the intention to knock him out,” Eric starting to hyperventilate; “but he started swinging violently trying to hit me.”
******
“Eric had no choice,” France speaking; “he had to end the conflict by first breaking the man’s arm and then punching the man square in the chest.”
“That’s it,” Amanda looking on surprised; “the goon died from a single punch?”
“Eric struck him square in the sternum,” Frances responding; “shattering it and the bone fragments puncturing the lungs and heart.”
******
“I watched the man,” Eric shuddering; “struggling to breathe. He died looking at me Benton,” Eric crying; “I killed him. I listened to his last heart beat as looked at me scared and terrified.”
Benton was stunned at what he heard; even as Spencer and Frieda did their best to calm Eric down, he could not imagine having to go through what Eric is currently dealing with.
“I guess the important thing is you are all okay,” Benton responding; “but who else killed the other two?”
“I snapped the neck of one,” Spencer answering; “George took care of the other one, the one that was armed with a gun.”
********
“Eric is clearly distraught at what he had to do,” Frances looking at Ester smother her cubs with love; “I might have to talk to him again to see what his mental state might be.”
“Well while you are here,” Amanda chiming in; “you mind talking to my husband. Knock some sense into him for getting piss drunk earlier today?”
“Mine as well,” Lila grousing; “hell you can slap my brother silly if it will get your point across.”
“Slapping Rick is my job,” Ester getting up; “give him a good bolo punch instead.”
“Excuse me,” Frances looking shocked; “the children just experienced a traumatic event and you want them to witness their father’s getting beat on? Over getting drunk?”
“That would seem excessive,” Lance stumbling inside; “what with just went on. And Rick is currently heaving his guts up out by the garage."
“You of all people know that weres and alcohol don’t mix to well,” Lila staring at her husband.
“Yet,” Lance pointing out at his wife; “sometimes it’s best to unwind. And with Benton in a rare and pleasant mood for a change, you think I was going to pass up an opportunity to take advantage of it?”
“Where is your brother,” Lila speaking; “where is king grump?”
“Ha,” Amanda laughing; “now that is funny. My Husband is probably with Frieda. Benton may be in a perpetual frozen mood to everyone,” Amanda looking serious; “but he melts when Frieda is around or is spending time with her.”
“I can attest from that,” Frances speaking; “his Friday talks with me confirm he thinks the world of Frieda.”
“I guess I’ll get some coffee going,” Amanda sighing; “we are all going to need some while the police finish what they are doing. Oh and where is George?”
******
The Knight’s were-tiger butler George was talking to William and Martha Anderson. Still in a bathrobe as he was in his fursona earlier; the Englishman from England was calmly explaining to the were-fox couple what had happened earlier. Letting them know that Eric is fine physically but emotionally and mentally distraught after having to commit justifiable homicide, protecting some cubs from harm. Both William and Martha wanted to see their son. George sensing that the parents were not going to take no for an answer, guides them to around back. Entering the kitchen and seeing Amanda as well as Ester and Lila inside; he quickly informs them that the Anderson’s are here to check on their son Eric. Amanda nodding as she was working the coffee machine; George takes the Andersons upstairs where Benton currently is.