“Before I begin,” Leon sighing as he looks at his daughter Jean and her mate Nate; “you two should at least head off to do what you wanted to do.”
“No,” Regina glaring at her husband; “they are going to hear what you have to say. Plus,” the were-lioness giving off a low roar; “your daughter and Nate are the reason why I’m not trying to claw your eyes out.”
Leon looks at his wife; sighing heavily as he takes a seat at the kitchen table. Regina glaring at him with her amber leonine eyes; absently flexing her retractable claws.
“Well you better sit down,” Leon exhaling; “this is going to take a bit.”
******
While Leon was busy telling his wife along with Jean and Nate the recent siege at the jail he helped repulsed; Frederick Parker being arrested along with a few of his surviving cronies; Frederick was fuming. His one phone call and the man he got on the line was not wanting to help him.
“I don’t care if you want your fee up front,” Frederick keeping his voice down; “remember I know all of your skeletons. What would your wife say if she got a copy of the photo of you and that crack whore you slept with? How did you explain to your wife,” Frederick chuckling; “that case of the clap you got?”
“My wife already found out you idiot,” the man swearing back; “she left me. So I say again; I’m not representing you without a hefty retainer.”
“Bullshit,” Frederick swearing back; “get your ass up in this hick town, or I’ll have your hide.” Frederick having to choose his words carefully as he was afraid this was a party line and a deputy could be listening in on the other line.
“Good luck with that,” the man scoffing; “just to let you know, the Feds came to see me a few hours ago. They have photos of me coming out of that massage parlor that was raided here in Oakland yesterday,” the man grumbling; “they can’t prove I availed myself of the establishment’s services, but they are already threating to have me disbarred unless I help them go after you. So unless you have connections to make that not happen; go fuck yourself.”
Frederick raged, getting hung up on as he tried to rip the payphone off the wall; he was stopped as the deputy that allowed him to make his one phone call quickly grabbed the mobster’s arm, gripping him tightly as he placed the handcuffs back on.
“Let me go,” Frederick demanding; “you’re breaking my arm!”
“Save your belly aching for the judge,” the deputy escorting Frederick back to the cells; “you’re going to be here awhile.”
*******
Sitting in a holding cell in Seattle, Daniel Parker had no idea the trouble his father was in. That the attempt to break him out of the Moon Lake jail was a complete failure. Being his usual stubborn and pig headed self; Daniel demanded his lawyer; refusing to answer questions or be let out of the holding cell until the man arrived. Watching as Agent Brooke Reed leaves.
“Well this is fine mess I’m in,” Daniel mumbling to himself; “Take a deal to save myself and bury my dad, or face some serious charges. All from shooting that man, just for his sweet ride.”
******
“So does this mean that the were-alert is now lifted,” Jean asking after listening to her father speak.
“Just because the man is now in jail,” Leon answering; “doesn’t mean we can all run around in our fursona and celebrate. Once word gets out that Frederick Parker attacked the police station; the press are going to be all over our town.”
“Who in the town is going to squeal to the press,” Regina sighing at what she just heard.
“Frederick for one,” Leon growling at the name; “his lawyer, the gazette will undoubtedly publish what just happened. That will get picked up by the other news outlets.”
“So we get through one crisis,” Regina shakes her head; the fight in her gone.
“And run smack into another,” Nate speaking up; “is there any good news to be had?”
“Peter wants to come home from the hospital,” Regina answering; “go pick up your son, Leon.”
******
Lance Knight, editor in chief of Moon Lake Gazette and sole owner of Knight media; a company comprising of various media outlets up and down the pacific coast and the were-club. Entering the gazette and heading to his office, Lance sees Ella furiously at work on her computer; the mayoral announcement regarding Kenya Adaeze-Crawford going belly up thanks to the reporter. The edition of tomorrows paper giving an in-depth detail of Kenya’s past as well as Jack Crawford’s questionable activities.
“So how is your article for the mayoral announcement going,” Lance letting Ella know he was there.
“It’s going great,” Ella smiling; “with this and the expose on the Crawford’s, those two will quickly find themselves wanting to leave town fast.”
“The sooner the better!”
Both Ella and Lance turn around to see Takibana along with Daisuke approaching after getting off the elevator.
“Your security guard at the main entrance wasn’t around,” Daisuke commenting; “so we let ourselves in.”
“Probably doing rounds,” Lance answering; “so why are you here?”
“Frederick Parker,” Tachibana answering while looking at Ella; “perhaps it is best we should talk in your office. Part of this conversation is elder council related.”
“Oh,” Lance looking concerned; “does this have anything to do with that explosion we heard earlier?”
“It does,” Tachibana following Lance to his office; “Daisuke please make sure the door is closed.”
Lance watched as Tachibana took a seat at a nearby chair while Daisuke stood at the door; making sure it stayed closed and no one could get in.
“Frederick Parker tried to break his son out of jail,” Tachibana speaking.
“What,” Lance looking stunned; “When?”
“During the Crawford boondoggle,” Tachibana responding; “Daisuke can fill you in.”
“I only observed the tail end of the event,” Daisuke speaking up; “but what I do know is this, the men that assaulted the jail were professionals. Yet they had the misfortune of being overwhelmed with the full staff of Moon Lake’s police force.”
“Did any of the deputies,” Lance asking but unable to finish his sentence.
“Only Frederick’s men were killed in the attack,” Daisuke answering; “the few that didn’t die quickly surrendered.”
“And what about the mob boss,” Lance sitting at his desk; “did he die?”
“He would of if he ignored my family’s sword,” Daisuke looking serious; “I made sure he was arrested by the sheriff before he could press his attack any further.”
“Well this is going to make the paper rather thick tomorrow,” Lance chuckling; “the whole town will be jumping for joy now that this man is behind bars.”
“We’ll talk about that in a minute,” Tachibana speaking; “but this is the important bit. Leon Talbot was present during the attack and was assisting Sheriff Cooper. Apparently both got wind of the planned assault,” Tachibana sighing; “as such, Sheriff Cooper had Daniel Parker transferred to the custody of the FBI and he is currently in Seattle.”
“And Leon agreed to that,” Lance looking stunned; “after his son got shot by the man himself?”
“From what the sheriff said,” Daisuke cracking a small smile; “he had to slap the were-lion around to make him see reason.”
“Which brings us to the next part,” Tachibana getting up; “while I know you are the were-panther rep on the council…”
“Until Frieda turns twenty one,” Lance reminding Tachibana.
“I’m aware,” the were-vixen speaking up; “I’m also aware you are a reporter as well. What happened at the police station is huge news wise. Please keep the town’s secret in mind when reporting Frederick Parker’s arrest.”
“I will,” Lance answering; “I’m not keen on our existence being revealed to the world over.”
“Certain details should also be omitted or revised,” Daisuke speaking; “such as my involvement, limited as it may be.”
“Also,” Tachibana pausing before continuing; “once the major news networks get wind of Frederick Parker’s situation, they are going to descend on our town. The were-alert will undoubtedly continue until they and Frederick leave.”
“So much for the make-up picnic this Saturday,” Lance shaking his head.
“Let’s hope that the FBI will want Frederick before then,” Tachibana answers; “once he is gone, the press will also go away.”
“Anything else,” Lance looking despondent.
“Be at the council building for ten tomorrow,” Tachibana nodding to Daisuke; “we have the matter of Jack and Kenya to deal with. I gave them both a summons to appear.”