The town meeting drew a crowd larger than anyone anticipated.
The community center was packed, standing room only as people jostled for space.
Faces familiar and unfamiliar alike, all wearing the same expression of tense anticipation.
The mayor took the stage, attempting to calm the restless energy with a wave of his hand.
“We’re here to address the concerns that have arisen,” he began, his voice steady but strained.
Whispers rippled through the room, a current of unease that refused to be quelled.
The family was seated near the front, flanked by the bikers who had become their unexpected guardians.
They remained silent, their presence a statement in itself.
The mayor outlined the facts as he saw them, though his words did little to clarify the situation.
“We are investigating,” he assured, though the lack of detail was telling.
