Abandoned Treasure

Council Chair Colletta Grimes’ POV

Arrowhead Pack, Alpha Home, Minnesota

Tuesday, July 28th, 2020

Today would be a long day, I feared.

It started with Cassandra waking at four in the morning with a fever. She wouldn’t go back to sleep, and I had to wake up Doc Olson to look at her. The nanny would watch her now that she was asleep again, but the damage was done. It was near six now, and there was no chance of going back to bed. “Let’s get an early breakfast and we can start meetings early,” Frank urged.

“Fine.” I got dressed while informing my security detail of the change in plans. Two Enforcers waited at the front door of the Alpha House with a golf cart. A minute later, and we walked into the dining room up the hill. The morning buffet was just starting out, as those on early work shifts and older people who can’t sleep in past five-thirty filled a few of the tables. We filled up our plates and joined the mixed group at one of the tables. “Good morning, everyone,” I said as I sat down.

“Madam Chair,” the group responded.

“Colletta, please,” I replied. “I’m trying to keep this as much of a vacation as I can, at least while Council business isn’t interfering.”

“It’s going to be a scorcher,” one of the enforcers said. That was something about Minnesota; the weather was always on their minds. In the middle of summer, the days were long and hot as long as the wind wasn’t coming off Lake Superior. “That’s why we went fishing at two in the morning. We hit some of the submerged rock piles about a half-mile out.”

“How’d you do?”

“Not bad on leeches and Lindy Rigs. We kept two walleyes that were eating sized, and released some nice smallmouth bass. As soon as the sun comes up, they head back to deep water.”

“We should do some fishing before we leave,” I sent to Frank. “I’m sure Allison and Abigail would love to go out on a boat.” When Frank knew we’d be staying here for a few weeks, he asked Rori if his son and his family could come here instead of him visiting them at Minot Air Force Base.

“Jason and Andrea should be here this afternoon. If the hearing doesn’t cause headaches, we could go out after dinner?”

“I’m game.”

I linked us with Rori, who said she’d get back to me as they were heading for breakfast with Coral and her family. “I’ll reserve a pontoon boat for us,” Frank said.

We talked about fishing, the weather, the beach, and about anything except the upcoming hearing. We thanked the staff, then split up. Frank headed for the Pack rental office, while I walked across to the room I used in the Alpha’s office area. I spent an hour going through my emails and making phone calls. Many concerned the upcoming hearing, with Alphas wanting to know the trial schedule so they could make travel arrangements. I promised them we’d have it set before the end of today’s hearing.

I looked up when there was a soft knock on my door. “Come in.”

Anita Mann poked her head in, looking panicked. “Madam Chair! I’m so sorry, I didn’t think we were starting the workday until eight!”

Anita was my lastest administrative assistant, starting two months ago after she graduated from college. “Don’t worry about it. Cassandra woke with a fever, so we got an early start. What is on my schedule?”

“The Council morning call is at nine, and I blocked off starting at nine-thirty so you have time to prepare for the hearing. Commander Lindstrom wants to meet you and Alpha Rori at her office in Duluth at one, but I haven’t confirmed.”

“It’s a power play. Tell her that due to other commitments, the meeting will have to be here or over teleconference.” We’d established limited autonomy under the treaty with the Federal Government, but that didn’t stop them from pretending we reported to them. We didn’t, and little stuff like this was a reminder we didn’t have to dance to their tune. “Keep my schedule clear, and mark me busy after dinner. I’ve got a fishing date with my grandchildren.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

She went back out to her ‘gatekeeper’ office as Frank walked in. “The only pontoon boat is already reserved. Isra Roberts has it from six to ten, but she agreed to share it if it was to bring more kids along. Maria, Maritza, and Maya are going too.”

“Perfect. That will give us time to spend with their kids as well.”

He looked surprised. “You don’t think it will send the wrong message? Won’t it raise questions about a conflict of interest?”

“Then you go. With that many kids to supervise, none of the adults will have time to fish.”

He laughed and nodded. “I’ll let them know. They’re at the pool.”

I feigned shock. “Go,” I said.

He’d barely walked out when the phone rang. “Madam Chair,” Anita said, “Chairman Stanley Biggs is on the phone. He says it’s urgent.”

“I’ll take it.” I switched lines. “Good morning, Chairman Biggs.”

“Stanley, please. I’m not used to all this formality,” he said in his deep voice. “I heard you’ve arrested Nathan Storm for murder.”

“Yes,” I confirmed. “He confessed to killing Luna Joanna in the original attack on Arrowhead.”

“When is his trial?”

“We have to set that at today’s preliminary hearing.”

There was a pause. “Our Board would like to monitor the trial. Nathan and his family are outside the Pack system, and they have a lot of friends among our peoples. We need to see that your justice is fair before we expand our current agreements.”

“Nathan was Pack when the crime occurred, and he is Pack again.”

“I heard Alpha Rori took him in. Interesting, considering who the victim was.”

“It was a shock,” I said evenly.

“Still, we would like to attend the trial as observers.”

That could create more problems, but it should be doable. “I will contact you with the details after this morning’s hearing.”

“We would like to observe that as well.”

Fine. “I’ll have my secretary forward you the secure link,” I said.

“I look forward to seeing you.”

I didn’t get much else done before the morning video call with the Council. I gave a quick report on the call with the werebear Chairman. “This trial is fraught with danger, and Alpha Rori is making things worse,” Anders Ulffson said. “The wrong outcome could divide the Alphas AND keep us from making peace with the Shifter Board.”

“All we can do is follow our laws and treat him like any other accused wolf,” Dr. Nehemiah Pensky countered.

Jurgen Nemmers agreed. “How can we appear impartial when our Chair is related by marriage to both the victim and the accuser? I’m sorry, Madam Chair, but it would be best if you recused yourself from overseeing this trial.”

Normally, the Council would be the judges while the Alphas formed the jury. “You are right,” I replied. “Councilman Nemmers, you are the senior Council member. You will be the judge for this matter,” I told them. “I will watch from the audience.” They all nodded in agreement, and Anita recorded the decision in the minutes. “At least I can go fishing,” I thought to myself.

Our newest member, Henri Loup from France, changed the subject. “What have we heard about the Cartel attack on Arrowhead?”

“Not much new, but I have a meeting this afternoon with the FBI,” I responded.

“They still believe Spider Monkey was the ultimate target?”

“Yes. If their play was to get leverage, they could attack again here or elsewhere. Spider Monkey is in hiding, and no wolf knows where.”

Jurgen nodded at that. “Make sure the FBI understands that, too. Don’t trust them, Colletta. The Cartels penetrated them before, and could have done it again. They aren’t proving to be the staunch allies we hoped for, either.”

True. “Yeah, they are still pissed that more werewolves haven’t volunteered for government service. The CIA wants recruits badly.”

“We refused that for good reason,” Anders said. “We aren’t their cannon fodder. Their move to werewolf-only units are the main reason so many are leaving the service at the end of their enlistments. They know their leadership sees them as expendable super-soldiers.”

“Not to mention the changes to the pensions,” Dr. Pensky chuckled. How do you give a full government pension to someone in their forties who could live three more centuries?

“We digress, and we’re out of time,” I told them. “I’ll see you all at the hearing.”

I got up and went next door, knocking on Rori’s office. “Come in,” she said.

I explained my recusal to her and Chase. “It’s going to be hard enough to repair the split between you and Alphas Martin and Rebecca without me being the judge,” I said. “They are family, after all.”

“So is Mykayla, and I can’t let her lose her father so quickly after finding him.”

I nodded. “I’ll see you in the hearing room.”

Arrowhead had closed off one of the wings of the dining hall for the hearing room, and set up chairs for the audience. I sat with Frank near the center in the front row, between Rori and Luna Rebecca. The other Alphas and senior Betas filled the front row. Alpha Sawyer sat at the defense table with Nathan, while Alpha Martin sat at the prosecution table with his lawyer. At exactly ten, the cameras were rolling as Councilman Nemmers appeared on the monitor. The other Council members also joined by videoconference due to the short notice. “This preliminary hearing is called to order,” he said.

“Pat McGroin for the prosecution.”

“Sawyer Nygaard for the defense, Your Honor.”

“Very well. Read the charges.”

Pat stood with a paper, but Sawyer talked first. “In the interests of time, Your Honor, the defense waives the reading and is ready to enter a plea of guilty.”

There was a gasp in the courtroom, and Nemmers pounded his gavel to restore order. “Mr. Storm, is it your intent to plead guilty to a charge of capital murder?”

Nathan stood and looked directly at camera. “I’ve already admitted to the crime, Your Honor. It would be disrespectful to the victims to challenge it. I plead guilty to all charges.”

“Prosecution?”

“No objection, Your Honor.”

“Very well. The guilty plea is entered. The hearing for the penalty phase of the trial will begin on Monday, August 3rd. That will give the Alphas time to arrange travel. Any objections?”

Pat shook his head no, but Alpha Sawyer stood up. “I have no objection to the hearing date, but the presence of the Alphas will not be required.”

Alpha Martin couldn’t keep quiet. “Why is that, Sawyer? Is your client volunteering to be executed? I'd be happy to oblige him right now!”

Councilman Nemmers banged his gavel. “Alpha Smith, you will speak only when directly addressed by the Court. Understood?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“Now, Mr. Nygaard, why would the Alphas not be required to vote on the sentence for your client?”

Sawyer looked back at Alpha Rori. “Your Honor, Alpha Rori Nygaard alone will determine the punishment. It’s Arrowhead Pack business.”