by Robin Roseau
"You have offered two reasons why you originally chose to banish me," I said. "Was it the weight of the two answers that led to your decision, or would either of them have been sufficient weight?"
"Either were of sufficient weight," Lara replied.
I rose slowly from my chair and began my own pacing. I turned to her. "You changed your mind. You chose not to protect me from these proceedings. Why?" I paused. "Why?" I yelled. "You're charging me with capital crimes. If I had been banished, you would not be bringing these charges against me. How can you hate me this much?"
She didn't answer me, but her expression was one of deep concern.
I turned away from her, walking to the door again and staring at it. When I turned around, Scarlett's hand was resting casually on her tattoo. As I stepped closer, so was Angel's.
I moved to my place at the foot of the table and looked at Lara. "Thank you for explaining."
She nodded and sat down.
I looked at Daniel.
"As it appears I was never banished, I move the trespassing charges be dropped. If I were a pack member, they do not apply."
"Madison Alpha?" Daniel asked immediately.
Lara turned to her right. Christopher West and Albert Stein were seated in chairs behind Daniel, acting as observers, not participants in the proceedings. "Mr. West?" she asked. "Are you opposed to dropping the trespassing charges? I believe you argued strenuously for them in the first place."
"That was when she was to be banished!" he said hotly. "I haven't said anything about it since."
"The Madison pack has no objection to dismissing the trespassing charges," Lara stated calmly.
"Excellent," said Daniel, turning back towards me.
"I was given ample reason to believe I had been banished. Does anyone wish to dispute that fact?"
Daniel looked around the room.
"No," said Lara. "While you were not given proper notice of banishment, you were given to believe you had been banished."
"Lara, are your babies in attendance? I have not seen you take breaks to feed them, and I have neither seen nor heard them."
"No," she said. "They are well cared for back home. I miss them."
"As do I," I said. "Are we agreed then, that you believe the babies have ample care during brief periods of separation from their mother?"
"Yes," she said.
"Are we agreed they currently need you far more than they need me? I am not the one who has been feeding them."
"Yes," she said.
"Are we agreed that when I left, the babies were well cared for?"
"You are addressing the issue of abandonment?" Lara asked.
"Yes."
"The issue of abandonment isn't that you left. It's that you didn't return."
"When I left, I left behind in my office a note to you. Do you have it?"
"Yes," she said. She dug through her papers and pulled out the note I had written.
"Will you read it, please?" I asked her.
She nodded and read the note. Christopher West didn't look happy. Good.
"I believe I clearly stated my intention was always to return. I expected there to be punishment, and I expected to pay it. But the only reason I didn't return was because I believe I was banished." I looked at Daniel. "I move the charges of abandonment be dismissed."
Daniel took the note from Lara and read it again. Then he looked up at me. "Motion denied," he said. Then his expression softened. "Abandonment is a minor issue, and you have made your point."
I took the hint and dropped it.
I looked around the room. I had clues, ample clues, but I needed time to put everything together.
"Boulder Alpha," I asked. "Is it your intention to continue these proceedings tomorrow. I believe it will be Sunday."
"I would prefer to spend the day with my family," he replied.
"So would I," I stated.
The corner of his lips curved up for a brief moment.
"I believe I need time to consider everything." I paused. "I have a few other things I would like to address, but may I suggest we otherwise adjourn and not meet again until Monday? I believe I will be ready to proceed by then."
"Madison Alpha?" he asked immediately.
"Agreed," Lara replied.
"After we have addressed your other concerns, Alpha," Daniel said to me, "we will adjourn until Monday."
"Boulder Alpha," I said. "You have stated repeatedly you intend for these hearings to be fair and unbiased, and that I will be given ample opportunity to defend myself from these charges. Is that still your intention?"
"Yes," he said sternly. "I also said we would not address this again."
"That was only a prelude. If I am to defend myself fairly, then there need to be certain concessions so that I may do so. Is that also agreed?"
"Yes," he replied. "Depending upon the concessions."
"It may be that while I consider everything, I may have additional questions. Is there some way they could be answered? Otherwise I will need to ask them on Monday and then immediately ask for another adjournment while I consider them. As I have access to no other counsel, I don't know how else to build my defense if I am left ignorant of things everyone else probably knows."
"Write out your questions. Greg will forward them to me, and I will make decisions. You will need to wait until Monday to make inquiries of the witnesses."
"Thank you. Finally, I wish to object to my treatment so far."
"Excuse me?"
"I have been locked in a cage since Tuesday," I stated. "My brain requires physical exercise to rid my body of the poisons that cloud an inert body. In other words, I demand ample opportunity to run. I am unable to think as clearly as required for a capital case when I spend most of my time locked in a tiny cell."
"Absolutely not!" Daniel said immediately.
"I have not been convicted of a single crime," I stated. "And if you are truly unbiased, then you have not yet judged me. Furthermore, I would run as a fox, and my top speed is significantly slower than a wolf's. If Lima Consulting can't prevent my escape while I run through these scrublands, they don't deserve their reputation."
"You are demonstrably extremely dangerous, Michaela. You could kill your guards and run."
"I am a pussy cat as a fox," I said. "My claws and teeth are no match for a wolf hide. Because I am so much smaller as a fox than I am as a human, it is trivial once I shift to lock me into my fox form. Lara and Elisabeth are able to vouch for that. Furthermore, no one in this room can accuse me of breaking my promises, and I promise to make no attempt to abuse my freedom. I only want the exercise."
"You are exceedingly good at hiding," Daniel said. "You are exceedingly good at eluding your protective detail, wolves that have had over two years to become accustomed to your tricks."
"Oh for crying out loud," I said. "Send someone to the store. Buy an electronic dog tracker. Attach it to a harness in a fashion I can't remove it without far more time than I could possibly have. Lara and Elisabeth can also explain how to do that. They've done it before."
"She's right," Lara said. "I trust her promise, but she has offered sufficient methods to enforce her promise."
Daniel looked first at Lara then turned to Greg. "Will you accept this responsibility?"
Greg turned to me. "You will shift to fox in your cell. We will prepare you in your cell. You will run only where we allow. You will remain on our property; it is somewhat smaller than you are accustomed, so your variety will be limited. At the end of your runs you will be returned to your cell."
"Or the shower?"
"Or the shower," he agreed. "Yes, Boulder Alpha. Lima Consulting will ensure the prisoner remains a prisoner."
"All right," Daniel said. "Anything else?"
"When I want a run how do I request one?"
"Knock on your cell door. Someone is posted outside," Greg said. "There may be a delay from your knocking and someone answering."
"Thank you. That is all I h
ave for now."
"Then we are adjourned," Daniel said.
I stood up, turned around so I was facing away from everyone, then lifted my leg to tie my shoe. While I did so, I pulled the hem of my slacks up moderately and caressed my tattoo briefly.
I made sure Scarlett could see.
Puzzling It Out
When I was returned to my cell, I told Cameron, "I require a table at which I may write. I require ample paper and writing implements, preferably in mixed colors. I require these as soon as possible."
"You didn't want to run?"
"Later," I said. "Perhaps before dinner, if I could have warning, and then again later in the evening."
He nodded and disappeared but returned only a few minutes later with several pads of paper and a supply of pens and pencils. Before he gave them to me, he said, "You made threats against the lives of Wendy and Greg. I believe these pencils would be sufficient weapons for you. Before you will be returned to the hearing room, you will shift to fox, and I will search your room to verify you have returned everything to me."
"Very prudent," I said. "Thank you for the warning."
"Do you need anything else at this time?"
"Water and I'll ask for a bathroom break eventually."
"I will bring water once I find a desk for you."
* * * *
I sat on the cot with my back against the wall and a pad of paper in my lap. I began writing down questions.
Why did Lara bring these charges against me?
Why is Scarlett here?
Why wasn't I banished, if banishing me would protect me?
Does Lara hate me?
Does Elisabeth?
What is going on with the tattoos?
Why is Christopher West here?
Why did Greg agree to his role in this?
I paused, considering my list. There were more questions. I knew there were. Nothing made sense, but I was sure I had all the pieces of the puzzle, and I only needed to put them together.
It was time to ask other people more questions. Cameron returned with one of the unnamed male wolves. They opened the door and asked me to remain seated on the cot. I nodded, and they carried a small desk into the room, and then a chair. "This is the best we have," he said.
"It will be adequate," I said. "Cameron, if I temporarily retract my threat on Greg and Wendy's lives, would they come see me?"
"There will be no collusion," he said immediately.
"That's not what I asked."
"I will relay your request," he stated. "It is not my decision."
"Thank you."
He stepped out and my door closed.
I ignored the desk for now. I was going to use it later, I imagined, but I was fine on the cot for now. I moved it around, though, so I could leave a glass of water in easy reach. I drank a bit, thinking, then looked at my list.
I took a second pad and wrote down one question in big bold letters, leaving it sitting on the end of the cot closest to the door, facing so anyone who came in could read it. Then I collected it and wrote a number of names on the bottom half of the list, adding questions marks after a few of them. I returned the pad to the end of the cot.
Then I used a third pad and wrote another question, and I added two names to that sheet, a question mark after one of them. I left the second pad next to the first one.
After that, I studied my set of questions, running them over and over in my head.
Why was Scarlett here? Was she here because Lara expected to need her testimony? Or was she here as a message to me?
Perhaps it was both.
I stared at my list, wondering what else I should be asking.
I zoned out for a while, and then there was a knock on the door before it opened. Cameron stepped in.
"Alpha," he said. "I need you to state your intentions towards Greg and Wendy. I need you to speak clearly."
"You mean you need me to state I have no intention of killing them during this visit."
"Yes." He smiled.
"I have no intention of killing them. I will hold myself to that promise from now until Monday morning or until I have given ample warning I am rescinding it again."
"What does that last part mean?"
I sighed. "Ample warning is just that. Take it or leave it."
He stepped out and closed the door for several moments, then it opened again. Greg and Wendy stepped in, and the door closed behind them.
I tossed my pad of paper, with all my questions on it, onto the cot next to me, spinning it so they could see it. Doing so caused both of them to glance down at the cot, and there was no missing the questions I had waiting for them.
I stood up, still holding a sharpened pencil, and approached Greg slowly. He stood, watching me, and I looked up into his face. Then I stepped sideways a half step and studied Wendy.
Neither of them flinched, and Wendy didn't try to impose herself between me and Greg.
I looked back and forth one more time and said, "I haven't figured everything out." But I picked up the first pad, making sure once more they both saw the question on it.
"Who are my friends?" was the question. The list was Lara, Elisabeth, Serena, Angel, and Scarlett. Daniel and Brooke were listed but with small question marks after them. Greg and Wendy were on the list but with several questions marks after their names.
I threw the pad back on the cot. I made it look casual, but I made sure it spun facing them. Their eyes couldn't help but follow the motion, in case they hadn't already gotten the message.
"Mr. Freund," I said. "I do not know if you can answer this. If so, then I retract the question. Am I currently being recorded?"
"Yes. The recording goes on before we open the door and goes off when we are done."
"You have stated the recordings will be made available to the interested parties. May I ask when they will have access to them?"
"When the proceedings are over."
"So I am able to work out my thoughts on paper in privacy, at least until after the hearings?"
"Yes."
"Are you able to offer me assurances any papers I produce will not make their way to anyone else at least until after these hearings are over?"
He paused. "I can assure you that the only way anyone may have access to your papers is if Daniel orders it."
"Greg, I need to know whether I have privacy or not. Please speak plainly."
"Daniel has not ordered any invasion of your privacy beyond those required to ensure there is no collusion. I do not believe he will do so between now and Monday morning, but I cannot offer any promises. No one from Lima Consulting will disturb your papers without Daniel's order or your permission. Unless Daniel orders it, I can offer a shredder early on Monday, if you feel there are papers you would like to destroy."
"It is possible to reassemble shredded material."
"I can offer promises to burn the results once shredded." He paused. "I understand you may not trust my promises."
I studied him. "I accept your offer to shred and burn my papers Monday morning."
"If I have your assurances you will attempt no foul play, you may do the shredding yourself. If I do not trust your assurances, you may watch while one of my wolves does it for you. I am sorry, but you won't be able to witness the burning."
"Thank you," I said. I paced for a moment then turned around again. "I would like to go for a run. It will be what is for me a long run. I would like to shower afterwards and then have a small dinner. I will work after dinner but would like another run before bedtime. That may be late. I may ask for another shower before bed. Will you grant these requests?"
"Yes, subject to the terms discussed earlier," he said immediately.
"Lara and Elisabeth explained how to lock you into your fox form," Wendy said. "You will have four wolves surrounding you from the moment you leave the basement until the moment you return. Will you accept me as one of them?"
"Yes," I said. "Thank you. When will you be ready?"
"Now, if you like. Do you require privacy for your shift?"
"Not necessary," I said.
"You will shift in here and then step out into the hallway and stand passively while we prepare you," Wendy said. "I will thoroughly search you both before the run and afterwards."
"I understand. Now?"
She nodded.
I stepped clear, loosened my clothing, then bent down and shifted into a fox. I slithered from the clothing, shook myself once, and then pranced out into the hallway.
When I arrived, I saw Cameron waiting for me, a shopping bag at his side. I walked over to it and poked my nose into the bag, examining the contents. No one tried to stop me.
Wendy said, "Michaela, come here." I turned around and pranced over to her. It felt good to be in fur. I was excited at the opportunity to run. I shook once more, fluffing out my fur and, presumably, shedding quite a bit of loose hair at the same time.
Wendy knelt down. "I am going to examine you. You will not resist."
I chuffed at her.
She reached out for me, and I stood quietly, looking up into her face. She ran her fingers through the fur around my neck then leaned further forward, running her hands down my fur all the way to my tail. Then she clasped my cheeks gently and said, "Open your mouth as widely as you are able."
I offered a large yawn and allowed her to turn my head this way and that while she looked inside my mouth.
"You aren't going to like this part," she said. "Stick your tongue out."
I lolled my tongue. Cameron stepped forward, handing her a small pad of gauze, and before I could react, Wendy clasped my tongue through the gauze, then lifted my tongue so she could look underneath it.
When she was done, I spat for a while, trying to get rid of the taste of the gauze. I was sure there were filaments of it stuck to my tongue. Wendy waited until I was done and then said, "Roll onto your back."
I did, tucking my tail between my legs for modesty.
She searched through my fur very thoroughly. Her fingers paused when she discovered the piercings at my nipples. She thumbed both of them, and I huffed at her.
"What are these?" she asked. But of course, I couldn't answer. I huffed some more when she dug through my fur to get a better look, but I didn't resist.