"The matter is settled, then," Donovan Bell declared, his voice cutting through the remaining tension like a gavel on stone. He stood up, the authority of the Lord Mayor radiating from his posture as he scanned the room one last time. "The names are finalized. Time is our scarcest resource right now, and the eyes of the public are on us. Director Sinclair, I suggest the members of this Joint Investigation Task Force begin their transition immediately. Hand over your current mandated assignments, pack what you need, and be ready to move on Lakeport before sundown. We enter the Lion's Den tonight."
Victor Sinclair, the newly minted Group Leader, stood and offered a sharp, deferential nod. "Understood, sir. We will be mobilized and on-site before the evening shift change."
With a decisive w
