Max thought about the real reason Ava had come to Hightown. If she was interested in the meeting too, well, she was heading in the opposite direction. It could be the case that she really lived in this district, but if that were true it''d just make Max more curious as to her motivations. Max considered Raguel, he had to have done his research before allowing Ava anywhere near him, but then again someone like Draco existed. He mulled over his conversation for a moment before reality kicked in, a reminder to check the time.


    On the north side of Hightown were all the cities civic, and political buildings including city hall. Looking at his phone Max saw that he only had about 15 minutes before the meeting would start, and so without hesitation he started to book it in that direction.


    As he approached the large building he found himself moving with a group heading in the same direction. Many of them were protesters with signs rallying against the Archangels, and crime in general; other signs demonstrated resistance to the homeless epidemic plaguing South Eden as well as the drug problem.


    Max followed the crowd to the entrance of the building, and as they arrived a series of flashy, and expensive cars started to pull up at the entrance, and a number of valets came out of the building to greet them. Max slipped behind some of the protesters as they started to chant, and yell at the elites, but what they said Max paid no mind to. Instead, he circled around to the back of the building careful not to be seen. Then in a crowd of bushes he removed his hoodie, hiding it, and allowing his construction uniform to be fully visible, afterwards he reached into the cold wet ground, and scooped up some dirt rubbing it between his fingers, and on his forehead, and cheeks to help sell the look.


    He had a good view of the construction site from this spot. They were still rebuilding the west wing of city hall; there were men on scaffolds working on the upper floors, and others were lounging around waiting for the day to end.


    As he peered at the site he found the makeshift entrance to the rest of the west wing. It was perched inside city hall itself, and a large fence that extended to the roof had been erected to keep trespassers out, and in addition to a badge reader to open the door there was a man behind a desk in a chair watching the way in. There was a bathroom on the outside of the fence that was still part of city hall, and so that''s where Max went. He strolled into the construction site as if he''d always been there, and no one paid him any mind as he opened the bathroom door and made his way in – luckily no one was inside.


    He immediately looked up, and saw exactly what he was looking for. He entered one of the stalls, and using the toilet as leverage he reached for the ceiling, lifting up one of the tiles, and sliding it over. Then, after pulling himself up he placed the tile right back where it belonged, and began to crawl through the ceiling. It was dark, and the smell of must and wet cardboard filled his nostrils.


    Max took out his phone, and turned on the flash which helped him navigate through the plenum. The time was 6:56, he had just four minutes to find the correct room. He kept his movements slow, methodical, and quiet until he felt like he had distanced himself just enough to get away from the west wings entrance.


    Finally, he uncovered one of the tiles slowly, and as he did he could hear voices right underneath him. Just barely able to peak through the opening he made he saw Kacey, and her father Reginald Sinclair walking directly underneath him, the man was adjusting his tie, and Kacey her hair. They rounded a corner, and after making sure the coast was clear Max dropped from the ceiling, leaving the construction attire as well as the bag behind. He was now fitted in a nice suit with shiny black dress shoes.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Looking the part, he followed the two into a large auditorium. Luckily there was no one outside of the room checking for ID, likely because that was already checked for at the entrance. The room was packed with about thirty to forty people all dressed in suits, dresses, and other formal attire. Not wanting to stick out he found a seat next to a couple he''d never seen before in the back of the room.


    Kacey, and her father had sat in the front row together, and were greeted by several other affluent businessmen. Max watched Kacey wax poetic with them in a jovial manner, long boastful laughs, slight touches of the arm, and eye contact. Max had always known Kacey to be charismatic, but how she presented herself to these businessmen was far more professional, and exuberant than anyone she ever spoke to in class.


    Max looked around the room, and saw a few other familiar faces. The first of which was David Pines, the director of the Zion Pines juvenile detention center. Max had met him once before when he was younger. David had given a lecture to all the children in the orphanage letting them know that if they didn''t do what they were told they would be sent to juvenile hall.


    Thankfully the children at St. Hope were well behaved so that never happened, but it wouldn''t surprise Max if Ms. Finch was looking for opportunities to send him there. Max knew little of Zion Pines, but there were archangels there from what Raguel told him. It was an utterly hopeless place in the middle of district six – Eden Forest.


    Max looked toward the door, and winced in disgust. Someone he''d hoped to never see again had made his way inside. He was an unusually tall man that wore a top hat and a long black cloak. It was the man in charge of every orphanage in Eden Springs, Headmaster Ezekiel. For Max he was every reason St. Hope was as bad as it was. He was a wealthy man that refused to prioritize childcare, and as far as Max was concerned he reviled in the suffering of children. Despite his line of work Max has never had to kill anyone, and he would prefer not to, but if there was one man on the planet that Max would take pleasure in killing, it was Headmaster Ezekiel.


    Staring at him, a sickening thought began to permeate Max''s mind. This wasn''t the meeting between the safety commission and the police department as advertised. No, it was a clandestine gathering of those who controlled the city, a meeting for the people who mattered. His grip tightened on the arm of his chair, anger and frustration boiling within him. His thoughts turned to the orphans he lived with, picturing their bleak future as Eden''s homeless. He thought of Caleb, and his desperate attempt to escape their dire circumstances. He thought about all the kids forced to walk to school because the bus wouldn''t take them, their small feet trudging wearily across the railroad tracks.


    Max closed his eyes, trying to block out the torrent of troubling thoughts. He took several deep breaths, attempting to calm his nerves. As he did, Headmaster Ezekiel strode in with an air of authority and took his seat toward the front row, his presence underscoring the gravity of the assembly.


    After several minutes the room was almost full, and the meeting had begun.


    Police commissioner Alexander Rose emerged from behind the stage, took to the stand behind the podium, and lightly adjusted the microphone. "Good evening everyone, I wanted to thank you all for being here – especially Mayor Delaney, and the Sinclair family, I know that you''re all very busy people, so we are especially grateful to have you."


    The man was easily in his 50s, and looked like the embodiment of experience, and command. His face was box-like and square, just as his gray facial hair was. Decades of fighting against the Archangels will do that to you Max figured.


    "We have a few things to discuss, but I''d like to start by thanking my daughter who is here with us tonight. Go ahead, and stand up please Rose." Everyone turned, focusing their attention toward the back.