Warming The Cold One - 16. Sad Ascension

Gloria Adkitson exited the elevator on the 17th floor to find a whirlwind of movement and construction. There was one partially completed office with a light on. She walked over to it and saw the light was coming from a large office to the side. She knocked on the door jam. “Excuse me. I was given a message to meet someone up here.”

Hawk looked up and waved her in. “Yes, I believe that you are meeting me. I’m Hawk and you are?”

“Nice to meet you Hawk, I’m Gloria,” She answered. “I work for the Southern Arizona Pack as an Executive Assistant to the Pack Representative. Are you one of the construction managers?”

Hawk laughed. “No, I am the Pack Representative to The Boise Pack. However, I am managing the build-out of the Operations Center.”

Gloria looked a gasp. “Why are you up here then? Why don’t you have an office downstairs with the rest of us?”

Hawk chuckled. “Well, that is a long story. I will just say my request for an office went poorly enough that our clan now is getting a whole two floors.”

Gloria looked confused for a moment. Then a look of knowing showed. “You’re pack switched clans already.”

Hawk nodded. “Just like yours is now. I asked to meet with you because I wanted to get your input on space planning. I need to know what size of suite you need, if you want access to windows, how many people per office, built-in amenities, and other things like that. I have to submit plans fairly quickly.”

Gloria took a breath. “I thought that all of them would just be the same as all the other offices.”

Hawk shook his head. “I have some new friends in high places and the offices you have seen are not what are actually in the other Ops Centers. They are massive suites that don’t look like Cold War era cubicles. This office setup here is going to be replaced soon with a security vestibule and reception desk.”

Gloria took a few minutes to let that sink in. “So, our packs all get a suite? What happens as we grow? Most Clans have building in other parts of the world to handle logistical issues.”

Hawk pulled out some plans as he explained. “Bjorn Chase has been working with the Celtic and Amazonian leaders to figure some of this out. It is up to each pack if they want to switch to their true clan of not. As packs move, and we expect a large number from just the Celtic clan alone, floors will be renovated to upgrade their space. Right now, we have assigned to us the 17th floor here and the 21st floor. We have been promised the 18th floor as well if we need it.”

Gloria whistled. “That is a lot of space. How is it being paid for? I know most of the packs I mingle with don’t have a ton of money.”

Hawk nodded. “I know, but I have heard a rumor that things are going to be taken care of for us.” He pointed to an array of pages. “Here are the sizes of space you can choose from. They will all accommodate 10-15 people, but you lose the window if you want the bigger space off the main aisle.”

Gloria stopped him. “My office is three people and we can barely afford to do that.”

Hawk looked up from the plans. “Did I forget to tell you the best part? Office staff will be paid by the council, like they are supposed to be. There are packs of 50 lycans that have an office staff of eight people. Your pack has hundreds, so I’m hoping fifteen is enough to handle the service calls.”

Gloria looked confused. “I don’t understand.”

Hawk pulled a chair over for her. “Sit down. I’ll explain some of what is going on as we draw out some plans for your pack. How does Gloria having a window office sound?”

Björn knocked on Raul’s office door. “Can I come in?”

Raul jumped up from his desk. “Björn , yes, please sit down. Crazy day today, isn’t it?”

Björn sat down and make an exasperated sound. “Amen! Between the stuff Toby send me last night and the issues down in Arizona, I need a vacation.”

Raul nodded. “You should take one then. You need a good work and life balance. How is your wife?”

Björn looked dejected when he realized he hasn’t called her in a while. “She must think I'm a monster. I’ll call her and see if she’ll have me back.”

Raul laughed hardily. “I think she will.” He turned serious. “Are the reports as bad as they sound?”

Björn sighed. “Which ones? If you mean the audit, then they are. If you mean with the pack politics, they are worse then you could ever imagine.”

Raul looked glum. “Are they related? I mean is the money tied to the problems in Arizona?”

Björn gave Raul a look. “I’ll bet they are. I’ll also bet that Tala already figured it out. I’ll call him later and make sure. I just hope there is a council left when both Tala and Toby are done.”

Raul shook his head. “We’ll see my friend.” He looked up at Björn. “Call your wife and go home. Take a few days to rest. Make it a long weekend and come back next month.”

Björn and Raul both got up and hugged quickly. “I’m not sure I can handle that much time off, but I’ll try my best.”

“Hank, what is going on?” Karla asked as he got off the phone. “Why the sudden urgency?”

Hank tried to keep the worry off his face. “All I know is we need to get to Alpha Peter’s house as soon as possible.” He grabbed his suitcase and hers and went out the back door. “I have an escape route behind the shed that will lead us to his back yard.”

They quickly slid through the loose section of fence and within a few minutes were in the backyard of Alpha Peter. The guards there let them through and in to the house. They found Peter and Rose in their office. Rose jumped up from her chair when they came in. She wrapped her arms around Karla.

Peter turned to Hank. “Thank goodness you made it. You two don’t know the danger you were in. The boss of the six men that Tala dealt with form the FBI confessed to be working against his own pack. I no doubt believe the people he was working for are angry.”

Hank nodded in agreement. “They are not ones to be messed with.”

Peter turned to Rose. “I spoke with Master Tobias and he wants you to fly up to your son’s compound. I will handle closing up your house and sending anything else you need. My guess is Tala would want you to be heading to deal with the lands in the Midwest soon enough so why not get used to travel.”

Karla turned to Peter. “Is he alright? I worry about him so much. He has so much on his shoulders.”

Rose squeezed her tighter. “He is fine, dear. Your son is an amazing man. He’ll keep himself safe. Peter sent some guards up to him as well.” She made sure Karla was looking at her before saying, “I would worry about anybody that stands in his way.”

The procession slowly drove down the dusty road to the Sacred Flat. They reached the end and security details surrounded Jose, George, Tala and Jay separately. Then the Honor Guard encircled the casket for the late alpha. Four men carried it when the other six made sure no one could get close. They set the casket down on a wooden shelf build into the frame holding the rest of the wood for the pyre. They stood at attention and awaited the ceremony.

Tala felt a strange foreboding in the air as they reached the impromptu dais. George introduced Jay and Tala to some people and Tala got a feeling and stopped when they got to the secretary and her husband. He turned to the secretary. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Had you worked for the alpha long?”

She tried not to cry as she answered. “I have worked for the pack for thirty-five years. I worked the alpha’s father too. He would be so proud of Jose for honoring his brother like this. They hated each other ever since their father died.”

Tala took her hand. “Death is hard on everyone.” He turned to her husband. “Had you been working for the alpha long?”

The secretary looked at Tala oddly. “My husband is the head of the local bank.”

Tala turned to her. “I just had a feeling he did. I’m sorry.” He turned back to him and shook his hand. He froze as their hands touched. He got his wits back and continued down the line and to Jay.

Jay saw the look on his face. “Something wrong?”

Tala grabbed him and they went over to the security guards. “I need someone to climb under the dais and find what is going to explode when the fire is lit. I need someone else to quietly grab the secretary’s husband. He is in on the plot and is going to try to kill George and Jose.”

Jay looked panicked. “We need to get them out of here.”

Tala looked at Jay. “We can’t without people noticing. We know what we need to do to stop it and we will deal with it after this is over.”

The guard that was checking the dais pulled out a small device with a timer on it for thirty minutes and counting. He quietly took it out in to the desert in a jeep to a place about 10 miles away and way down from the flats and came back. He blended back in to the guards and made his way over to Tala. “The device is far enough away that on one will get hurt when it goes off.”

Tala thanked the man. “Very good work. Keep your eyes peeled for anyone else that is looking out of place or not engaged.”

A few minutes before the pyre was to be lit, Jose walked up to the podium. The crowd quieted and he began to speak in to the microphone. “Today is a sad day for our pack. While my brother and I never saw eye to eye, I will still miss him. He taught me a lot about life and how to live it. Because of him, I cherish every moment I have on this Earth and on these pack lands of ours. I know my brother was not a good man at heart. He treated some of us poorly. I ask that you do not remember him that way. Remember him for all the things he did to try to build our pack.”

He stepped back and cried as George took to the podium next. “In the time-honored tradition of old, we place out fallen leader at the foot of the fire. As a way to honor and respect, we light this fire to allow the Earth to take him back in to her. Pray for him to have good fortunes in his road forward.”

George stepped back and both he and Jose took a lighted stick and placed them on either end of the casket to light the pyre. A small pop could be heard in the distance as the fire took hold. They stepped back and watched the flames rise up. The crowd sobbed as the fire raged on.

Just as the fire was lit, the secretary’s husband turned and found security guards surrounding him. “Going somewhere? They quietly let him away to be held for questioning.

As the fire settled down and the crowd had finished their prayers, Jose stepped back up to the podium. "As you no doubt heard, it was I that had to take my brother's life in a challenge. It was a hard thing to do but by doing so I can fulfill my father's dream. The plan he made would have named me alpha from the start. I intend to make my father proud. I intend to make my pack proud. I intend to make the mother spirit proud."

Jay and Tala stood and led the crowd in chanting, "All Hail Alpha Jose."

It was late when the plane landed on the small airstrip. Karla and Hank got off the plane and headed toward the small hanger. Toby was inside waiting with a mid-size SUV. He grabbed their bags and put them in the back. He got in the passenger seat while Karla and Hank sat in the back seats.

Karla leaned up to the front. “Thank you for picking us up so late. Are we going to meet Master Tobias tonight still?”

Toby gave the driver a look before answering. “I believe he is still up waiting for you. We are taking you up to his home for the night before you go down to Master Tala’s compound in the morning.”

A few minutes later they arrived at Toby’s house and he led the two visitors up to the door while the driver put the car back in the garage and went off duty. They rolled their luggage in by the door. Karla turned to Toby. “Maybe he already went to bed?”

Toby laughed. “No, I like to meet my guests in person. Especially if they are my son-in-law’s mother and step-father.”

Hank cracked a smile. “It’s good to meet you Toby. We were never introduced, but I’ve seen you a few times when you were in the area to see Alpha Peter.”

Karla turned to Hank with anger in her eyes. “You knew? Why did you let me put both of my sand covered feet in my mouth?” He slapped him in the back of the head. She turned to Toby. “Where are my manners? I am Oliver’s, I mean Tala’s, mother Karla and this is my oaf of a husband Hank.”

Toby stifled a chuckle. “It is a pleasure to meet you and to have you as my guest for the evening. Tala has told me all kinds of stories about both of you.”

Karla smiled. “Jay told us a few about you too. I won’t tell if you don’t.”

Toby motioned for them to have a seat. “Deal! Please have a seat. Can I get you anything?”

Karla shook her head. Hank nodded. “I could do with some water, tap is fine.”

Toby went into the small kitchen and brought out three bottles of water. “I grabbed you one Karla just in case your manners got in the way of me being a good host.” They all took a quick sip. “I’m sorry you had to leave in such a hurry. I fear your son has an effect on people sometimes. Sometimes things that should take a long time move at an unpredictable pace.”

Hank sighed. “It is better that Karla is safe. I did my share of things to pay for. Any chance I get to make things better is a bonus for me.”

Karla turned to Hank and frowned. “I don’t want to hear you say that anymore. You did more to protect me and Oliver that I can repay. I also need someone to blame when we get lost driving around in North Dakota.” She playfully hit Hank’s knee. “I was expecting to see your mate, Toby.”

Toby looked ready for that question. “Ahh. Well after the years we have been together, she tires of the hours I have to keep. She and I have kept separate schedules and homes for many years. I see her every day and we will always love each other but she demands her sleep.”

Karla gave Hank a look that told him just to keep his thoughts to himself. She turned back to Toby. “Speaking of sleep, I’m a bit beat.”

“I understand. Please follow me.” He led them down a short hall and to a modest size guest bedroom. “Make yourself at home. I only ask that you don’t do my dishes.” He got an air of aloofness in his voice. “I will not have a guest cleaning up my work of art.”