Vixen

The Meeting

Chapter: Nine
Location: Classified

The room was well secured. A table stretched across the center where well dressed individuals were seated. They regarded each other with firm nods or muttered remarks, but the overall tension in the room stifled most conversation.

König and Clarke had arranged a meeting, calling for a council of both ranking officials under their command and any allies in the nearby vicinity. I recognized a few faces. I had met only a few of these people a time or two before and even then there were many I did not recognize.

A meeting of this caliber hadn't happened since the death of Clarke's mother, brother, and Uncle. It was clear the visitors knew something dire must have called for such a gathering.

Armed guards watched the entrance to the stairway. Even more guards stood behind their leaders' chair keeping a watchful eye on the others in the room. The meeting was taking place in a bunker of sorts, a well crafted hiding place for emergencies owned by König.

Clarke stood off to the side conversing eagerly with König as both men sorted out the final details of what they were to say to such a prestigious group of individuals.

"Miss Lacroix it's been quite some time since I've last seen you." The voice was a smooth sort of drawl that fluttered forth a memory I could hazily see.

A handsome dark skinned man with kind eyes and brilliant teeth. He had been to a party at the Lyndon estate and had sung a very beautiful-and original- piece of jazz.

Sure enough as I turned to greet the man my memory matched his face. "Mr. Price. A pleasure. Will you be singing today?"

He laughed lightly and straightened the golden tie that stood apart from his navy colored suit. "Afraid not. Clarke told me today was for serious business only. My brother has accompanied me, this will be his first time being included in such dire matters."

"Well, you are a man of class and I am sure your brother is no different." I followed Mr. Price's gaze to find a young face amongst the older individuals. The boy looked to be about seventeen with close cropped hair and a regal look to his face. "He's young."

"Yes, but he is old enough to understand the sort of business we are in. He's getting along nicely. I think he finally comprehends the difference between our crime and others'." Mr. Price's words held a darker connotation. He was not merely referring to other city dwelling syndicates but urbanized gangs as well.

Though petty the gangs often ran amuck and unchecked. Not in his territory. Mr. Price didn't allow such actions to go without consequence. He protected his neighborhoods where local police refused to. It was a valiant effort.

Two of his best friends had been killed when they were only fourteen for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. From there Mr. Price fell under the tutoring of a local 'Organizer'; a man who'd attempted setting up programs for troubled youth, but had failed.

Mr. Price decided to further the idea and had climbed his way into a wealthier standing, and with it, decided that philanthropy was the best balance for his crimes.

"Take your places everyone it's time we start." All talk died as König's voice filled the room. Mr. Price gave me a polite nod before retreating to his seat. I did the same.

The gathering started with Clarke and König retelling all that had been discovered. They even included the recent incident of Lena's bar being burned to ashes.

"What we must do now is decide a form of action. So far, the forces at hand believe I haven't noticed Dwyer's death. That plays to our advantage. We appear to be in a state of submission, and if not submission, cluelessness." Clarke stood at the head of the table with König.