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L utsen, Minnesota

Imperial, the head of the Chrysalis Organization, received word on Milwaukee. Although it had not been very lucrative and poorly managed, the plan, had they made it to the end of the month, was to install a new team, move the Fields, and scrap the current customer base. The clientele in Milwaukee were animals. The last thing she wanted was a playground full of ruffians.

“This is bad,” Imperial said, picking up her phone. She dialed a number and waited for the voice on the other end. “This is Imperial. You’re aware of what occurred in Milwaukee?”

“Unfortunate, but you’re to blame,” the voice said. “Shitty management of a product that is too delicate for the customer base you have is a recipe for disaster. All of it is distasteful.”

“You never mention taste when I’m wiring your percentage of the profits,” Imperial said. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“A Technician,” the voice said.

“What? That makes no sense; no one was killed,” Imperial said. “The three warehouses were shutdown with only one bullet fired. I’m not comprehending.”

“She’s new,” the voice said. “She shut down The Collector as well. I think this Technician may be a problem. She’s a hound.”

“A woman,” Imperial stated. “Interesting. What do we know about her, her specialty, what is her thing?”

“We know nothing, which is what makes her a problem,” he said. “Before she took down The Collector, she put a bullet in Karlton the last thing you need is for her to get you in the crosshairs. If she finds you, she finds us all,” the voice said, “so be smart and lay low.”

The call ended with Imperial in her feelings. Three warehouses in one night meant she was out of millions. Millions in tax free dollars taken from her by some woman she didn’t even know. She no longer lived in Wisconsin, but it was her territory.

“We’ve built something special here, and that woman Technician is not going to destroy it,” Imperial said, staring out the window. Too many sacrifices had been made. Too many challenges had been overcome. Too much money to be made to give it all up now. The female Technician was a slight problem. Besides, they’d gotten rid of one before; this one would be no different.