The regional council meeting had been called on short notice, an infrequent gathering of several clubs' leadership meant to address matters too significant for any single organization to handle alone. Wren found herself, for the first time, invited to witness exactly how much respect Gideon commanded beyond the walls of his own clubhouse.
"You don't have to come," he'd told her that morning, careful concern evident despite his obvious desire for her presence. "These meetings can run tense. I don't want you exposed to that kind of stress, given everything."
"I want to come," Wren had insisted. "I'm carrying evidence that's relevant to half of what's likely being discussed. I'd rather be present than wait anxiously at the clubhouse for secondhand reports."
The meeting was held at a neutra
