Marriage is Murder

"Good morning," Robert said to Jim. "Sit down." He refocused a stern disciplinary glare at both Brian and Khaat but his words were directed to Jim. Khaat was still glaring strongly back at her father, not accustomed to his lying to her--ever. "Their minds are not on business this morning, Jim. Watch them. If they don't do this right, it could get you all killed. Now--your mission is very very specific. You are going back to St. Mungos this morning. We surely must have traitor in our midst at the hospital. It would have taken someone with hospital clearance charms to get into my potions lab to access the weapon they had last night. You must go back. You must get, from Hannah, the records of every emplyee we've had for at least the last 2 years. And then, you will talk to them."

"You mean interrogate," Brian said.

"If you must," Robert said. "The annual mandatory hospital staff meeting begins at 7 am. You will have everyone at the hospital who intends to stay employed. Start there. Get a list of anyone who is currently employed who misses the meeting. I'll set the organization about finding them and doing background checks on those who are no longer employed to see if they have changed alliances." He produced a very large bottle and set it on the coffee table.

"Veritaserum," Brian guessed.

"Well, perhaps it is only my lovely daughter who is preoccupied, then," Robert seemed a bit more at ease. "Correct again. Use it on every employee if you must. We must uncover the moll and very quickly. Be watchful of anyone who seems to have blocks of missing time in their thinking. That could be an obliviate spell at work and could signal that either they were the moll and were voluntarily obliviated or that they were used by our enemies. Angus has breakfast ready early, so go eat before you go. It could be a momentary assignment or it could take all day. Do not leave Khaat alone, you two. It will most likely be relatively safe for one of you to leave momentarily, but not both of you and not for a long period of time. Are we clear? And are there any questions?"

Jim sat and listened to Robert he knew just what to look for and how to use the Veritaserum. " don't worry Ozzie she will be fine " he said and looked at Brian " you ready half pint?" he said standing he moved to Robert and slipped the small bottle into his inner pocket knowing he would offer each a drink of water mixed with the Veritaserum so not to spook them and make them run.

Jim looked at Robert as he asked his question " you want us to find out who he or she is working for, or do you have an Idea Gelding perhaps?" he said moving to the table for his breakfast which only consisted of toast and a refill of coffee.

"Nah," Robert said. "That's not where my money is. Gelding isn't that smart. He's not a strategist. Gelding does what he does for the money. Pure and simple. He's never been known as a braintrust. He takes a very direct approach. He doesn't strategize much. He goes directly for the mark, not out and around the target. This isn't his style.

"It could be Blood's but I doubt it. So far as I know, he's still in prison in Italy. Neither Lee or Daniella have told me otherwise. And if he or his followers had been released, Lee would have been here at the speed of light. And Daniella would have surely sent me word.

"Honestly, I don't think its Grindlewald either. Grindlewald is desperate but there have been far too many easier places to target me. I've been eating lunch in Sparks almost daily since we returned. Its a planned event. If he wanted me, I've been deliberately putting myself out there as bait. No bodyguards, no escorts. Totally alone. Its far too much work to do what happened last night.

"I've been thinking, but it seems very clear to me that this is some guy who believes in Grindlewald's cause. I don't know whether he or she actually is a paid by Grindlewald but I do think that they believe if they can eliminate Khaat and me that there will be no threat to Grindlewald's cause. But even Grindlewald knows that even if he kils us now, there will be hundreds still that will fight him. I am wondering if this person is a rogue operator. I doubt if you'll have a team. One, maybe two people at best. And perhaps a wizard who has a bit of twisted thinking. Now that doesnt make him or her less dangerous, but I don't think you have a whole organization against you. Not yet."

Jim listened as he finished his food and nodded agreeing with Robert " So could be some snot nose puppy, trying his luck at making a name for himself buy trying to kill you and Khaat there" he said and drank his refill of french roast. As he stood an owl flew in and dropped a note in his hand then flew back out he opened it and sighed slipping it into his pocket. He looked at the others " just a report I asked them to send them via Paris" he said " so I would not be out of the loop " he looked at Robert.

He stood in front of the fire place and looked at them all one question going threw his mind apart from the known enemies who else would want Robert dead and he looked at him "hum, that dent guy, is he in askaban or is he out ?" he asked thinking out side the box as to who it could be. " sorry thinking aloud, bad habit" he said

Robert didn't mind that he had the report. The organization sent a report monthly and the most recent report had come two days ago. Every member got it. Cummings was entitled to it. "The report is generated in Colorado now, Jim," Robert said. "Headquarters is there. You'll have to check it out sometime. It makes the Paris place look like an efficiency apartment.

"But in answer to your question, yes. I do think its some idiot. That being said, let's scratch one idiot off your list, shall we? You're right to think of Dent, but..."

"He'd never do that," Khaat said quickly.

"You're right. He wouldn't," Robert said. "Dent and his sister were convicted at one point to sentences in Azkaban, and they served for a bit. However I pardoned them both. Rob is an idiot only because he has the worst case of Peter Pan syndrome I've ever seen. He's ten in a 30 year old body, taking youth potions to look 17. He is self centered and immature, with a massive fear of commitment. Dent's last known legitimate job was working for me as the warden of Azkaban. And then he disappeared and no one has seen him that I know of. There is a standing warrant for him in India, but if he went there, he'd find himself at the wrong end of a noose. Anyway. he loves Khaat. He just can't live with her. He doesnt have a clue that there is more to marriage than sex. He does love his child, as much as he is capable of love.

"As for his sister, Jen, she is devoted to me. She works for me as the head of law enforcement. Right now she gets paid by Grindlewald, but Jen and I arranged that before he took power. She and Thaor and Bostwick have been some of my key people on the inside of the ministry. Dent has had to look entirely devoted to Grindlewald, but she's not. I'd swear my life on that. If either of the Dents came upon any of us in trouble, they'd stand and fight with us. I'm sure.

"This is just a thought, but perhaps,.." Brian said, "Perhaps we need to look at some little nerdy weasel that needs to make a name for himself. Someone perhaps who isn't very tightly wound who is desperate to be respected."

"Its a good thought," Robert said. "Keep it in mind, but don't outrule anyone until you're sure. Now--I want you all to go eat. Time is passing, and you need to meet Hannah soon. If you have questions, I'll be here. Go eat." Brian needed no further coaching. He stood up and Khaat got up with him and they headed to the dining room.

Jim nodded " I'll remember that my intelligence is off by a few months " he said and chuckled walking with them to the dinning room sitting with them he looked at Robert deep in thought over who out side of the organization who was never in it before could want him dead. It annoyed him greatly he could not come up with an answer every one he thought of he knew where they were ether dead or askaban prison. he looked at his empty mug lost in his thoughts.

" I hope your plan to catch the mole works Robert " he said looking at him over the table ," because if who ever it is gets wind they could try for you right here" he spoke " then again they would have to be really stupid or thick to try anything with this much security " he looked at the breakfast laid out in front of him.

"I can overcalculate, though," Robert reminded him. "Remember Vienna? That nearly got us both killed." Robert had been grateful that at the last possible second, Jim had caught sight of a dark wizard and, despite a wound that had been painful for Robert for weeks, Jim had kept Robert from being killed. "I'd like not to make that critical error when it comes to my family," Robert said.

When breakfast was over, Robert reminded them they needed to go--soon. He didn't want them to miss out talking to Hannah before the meeting. The three of them--Brian, Khaat and Jim apparated back to St. Mungos. The staff seemed genuinely surprised and thrilled to see their director back. Khaat could not imagine anyone on her staff wanting to hurt her. As the three of them rounded a corner, Khaat's green necklace began to glow beneath her sweaterdress. She felt a chill like ice roll over her. She froze in her steps.

"Stop," she told them softly. She looked and did not see another person in the hallway. It was empty except the trhee of them. Then she heard Remus's voice in her ear. It was the same voice he used to use when he whispered to her in the dark in the campouts. "Be careful!" his tone warned. She turned her head sharply to Brian, and he was turning his head to her.

"Did you just hear what I heard?" Brian asked. She nodded.

"Remus," she said.

"Then you have a dark werewolf in the house," he said very, very softly.

"Well, the good thing in that is that it makes it decidedly easier to find him," she said. She knew that the necklace would rat him out quickly.

"We might not need that veritaserum after all," Brian told Jim in a near whisper.

Jim moved with Brian and Khaat he kept her slightly in front of him he stopped when they did. To his surprise he heard Remus's voice and he looked around puzzled. " Did you just hear...couldn't have been, the old guys gone. " he said and looked at Khaat. " let me guess, hes coming through you, right" he said and looked around to make sure nobody was around, though the ominous green glow from her necklace said they probably were. " ok that...says we're in for one hell of a fight if that werewolf is here. " He said and looked at Brian as he made his wand fly to his hand. "Stand ready half pint" He spoke with sincerity in his voice, as he continued to look around. " if there's one thing I can't tolerate, its a wear, no offense to Jack, I know hes a good one , has to be, to be with Ozzie. " his eyes flicked back and forth to look for any movement or attempt to sneak up on them.

Khaat's mind raced. This was her hospital and no evil wizard was taking it from her. She thought a moment and then she looked at them both boldly and spoke in a normal tone, no longer whispering.

"Let's change the game," she said.

"Oh jeese," Brian said. He had seen a flicker of the Lupin family tendency towards strategy and courage in her eyes. "You are your father's daughter, aren't you? Alright. What's the plan?"

"Not here. In my office," she motioned to them. She mentally geared up for a fight, but did not draw her wand. The wand pocket in her coat began to get warm. She kept walking, but as she did, she put her hand in her pocket, reaching towards the warmth and grabbed Remus's wand. She didn't remember putting it there, but there it was. Brian noticed a new strength and increased confidence in her step as he walked with her. When she got near her office, she merely fired a spell at her door with the palm of her hand, and the door opened.

"I take it you don't want coffee," Hannah said, not accustomed to that sort of determination from Khaat.

"No," Khaat said firmly. "I have business."

"Um..okay. I"ll be at the meeting, then, Director."

"I know," Khaat said, motioning the door to shut. "Reveal!" she commanded the office to reveal any traces of any other presence or deception. There was nothing. It was, by all she could find, clean. She turned to face the men with her. "I fully intend to go to that meeting. Whoever it is, is sure to be there. All we need to do is go. If there is a dark werewolf in there, we'll surely know it."

"Oh boy," Brian sighed. "So you suggest we just go toe to toe with him?"

"I certainly do," she said. "We'll point him out in front of the whole staff. Well, actually, we won't. My necklace will find him in a fraction of a second. Why work harder than we have to?"

Jim looked at Brian and Khaat he walked side by side with her and nodded to Brian as he said she was Roberts daughter " by leaps and bounds half pint" he said following her into the office he still stood ready for action he did not let down his guard. his hand still holding his wand. " she has a point use the necklace like a detector then take him or her down" he said " just have to be on our guard" he walked around spotting a plan of the ballroom he looked at it for a moment and then turned to her. " ok the ballroom has several ways in we'd need to make sure there blocked so no escape, lock them only leave the main door that we will come into open that way he or she will have to come past us to get out " he said pointing it out on the floor plan on the wall.