As Karen Charlston sat and listened to the grown ups talk, her mind wandered to all the potential were-felines that Moon Lake might have, and which she would like to be. She was still prepared to argue that since they moved to Moon Lake because of her, she should be the one to honor the town's rules.
Yet, even if her father Moe decided to become the family were, which would seriously strain the relationship between her parents unless her mother Nicole became a were too, she was both happy and excited that there was no rule preventing her from becoming a were as well if she wished.
Which specific variety of were-feline remained to be seen, but Karen planned to go over the information Samantha Twist would give her very carefully.*
MEANWHILE...
Albert Gamboni spent the day cruising through the town surrounding the military base as discretely as he could, searching for the elusive Karen Charlston in hopes of appeasing his younger brother Marcus' obsession with the girl.
Why their father would allow this farce to go on for so long was beyond him. In most other situations, Giovani Gamboni would have cut his losses and moved on long ago.
Then again, their father always had a soft spot for Marcus. Part of it might be because the old man was grooming Marcus to take over the family business once he eventually retired, but Albert always suspected it had more to do with the fact that their sainted mother died giving birth to Marcus.
Regardless of who was in charge, Albert kept hoping that they'd listen to him more about there being smarter ways to undertake their endeavors, but Marcus definitely favored Giovani when it came to using the more traditional business methods.
Albert had checked into a room at the rundown motel on the outskirts of town. The plan was to compose an e-mail to Marcus reporting the Charlstons weren't in the area unless one of them had suddenly up and enlisted, because there was no way Albert could access the military base itself; get some sleep, then rise at first light and meet up with the others wherever Marcus said to.
However, the knock on his room door delayed that agenda.
With no peephole or other method to see who was outside in the hallway, Albert kept one hand behind his back, near the hilt of the gun tucked into his specially made rear holster, and cautiously opened the door to see two Military Police officers standing before him.
"Excuse me sir, but we'd like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind," said the one closest to him. The other MP was a few steps behind and aside the first man. The fact that he kept one hand near his visibly holstered side arm wasn't lost on Albert.
"Certainly officer. What seems to be the problem?" Albert asked in the most polite voice he could muster.
"Word has reached us that you've been going around town asking if anyone has seen a young lady. Can we inquire as to why?" asked the MP.
So much for my discrete search. "My niece ran away from home and I'm helping the family search for her," said Albert, lying through his teeth.
"I see. Has a missing person's report been filed on her yet?"
"Unfortunately, it hasn't been long enough to do so in the eyes of the law, but my brother and sister-in-law are worried because there's a young man involved that they don't approve of," claimed Albert.
"I understand. Thankfully, my daughter isn't old enough to start dating yet," said the MP.
"You have my sympathy. All I have are boys myself," lied Albert.
"If you have a photo of her, maybe we can help," offered the MP.
"Certainly," said Albert, thinking that after a couple of more moments of politeness, he'd be rid of them.
But as Albert reached into his jacket for the photo of Karen Charlston that Marcus gave him, the MPs suddenly rushed into the room and tackled him to the ground.
In less time than it takes to tell, Albert found his hands cuffed behind his back and his weapon confiscated.
"What the hell is going on?" Albert demanded to know.
"Albert Giovani Gamboni, you're under arrest on outstanding Federal warrants of cyber crimes allegedly committed by you. You have the right to remain silent," began the first MP, reading Albert his Miranda rights off a little card while the second MP helped him to his feet.
DAMN! Who'd of thought I'd be recognized on the West Coast when the East is my home turf? Albert silently asked himself as he was being hauled out of the hotel room.
{{*It is Monday night in Moon Lake. Based on her activities in other Moon Lake story lines, Samantha Twist will not be able to visit the Charlstons and secretly give Karen the information she asked for until late Tuesday morning.—tmw2015.}}