The four of them huddled into the mayor's office and took a seat in front of his desk. Holtz recalled the last time they were in there, she kept her feet firmly on the ground.
"I apologise for how you were brought in, believe me that wasn't my intention." He looked directly at Holtzmann and nodded, Holtz bit her lip and looked at Abby, who was sitting beside her. Abby held out her hand and squeezed Holtz`s.
"What`s this about?" asked Abby coldly.
"We are aware that we fund you do carry out your unique work, we are grateful..."
"I'm sensing a but here," Patty cut in. The mayor nodded.
"Those higher than me..."
"Higher than you- you're the mayor?!" Erin scoffed.
"Those higher than me feel that you are costing us a little too much, causing too much damage when you bust."
"Oh okay, the next time we go out on a bust we will ask the ghost to remain calm so we can get them in a box with minimal damage," Patty smirked.
"Could yo do that?"
"Dude no."
The mayor turned to back to Abby, assuming he was going to get the most sense out of her.
"They've asked me to cut your funding."
"What?" shouted Abby.
"Just for a couple of weeks."
"You can't do this!"
"We will resistant the money next month, then you can return to your work, but if the damage continues then it will stop permanently."
"Don't you see how stupid this is, the damage is bad yeah but we get rid of ghosts."
"GHOSTS," Patty repeated.
"It`s not exactly a tidy job," finished Abby.
"I'm sorry, I have another meeting now." The mayor stood up and gestured to the door.
"Please go quietly, I really don't want to call those who brought you in." Erin felt Holtz flinch, she grabbed her arm and guided the group out the door. Abby was confused, why were they just leaving? Then she saw Holtz`s face, they left quietly.
Once out in the street, Abby let out a scream.
"This is ridiculous!"
"We can't bust anymore." Holtz piped up. She sounded physically wounded.
"It's just a couple of weeks..." Erin said putting her arms around her. Abby rubbed her back, they all loved busting. Patty loved the thrill of it. Erin and Abby loved it because it was something they had been working towards since their childhood. But Holtz? Holtz loved busting because it made her feel special, it made her feel worth something.
"Then it stops for good by my calculations!" The team looked to Abby in unison.
"We need time to think."
"We've got weeks of that," said Holtz bitterly.