LONDON CALLING

Jess followed and listened to Khaat " okay so the further back on the shelf the further back in time , right?" she asked conferming she had it right in her own mind. Jack walked with the men and just followed then listening.

"Agreed, those two are off our list" he said his hands pushed into his jean pocket as they moved.

Jess looked at the tables and nodded her hand brushing along the smoothly varnished wood " yeah, somethings from the past are worth saving " she said " yes sooner we start the sooner we can get back into the sunshine." she said not liking the slight gloom that sat in the room around them with all the books and scrolls.

"That's right," Khaat nodded to Jess. I've actually gone clear back to the back, just to see how far back it goes, and some of the earliest ones are written in runes that very few people even read anymore. My guess is that it would take some sort of alchemic scholar like Gabe to be able to read some of the really old records. Alright, I'll start with Paris's kitchen ladies and the child care workers. Perhaps you can start with the women that are operatives? There are several of those. If you get tired of looking at the women fighters, I'll swap you checking on the nanny staff for the fighters. They've all got to be done, so it doesn't really matter which ones I do."

'"Oh, I'll do them just so I can reassure Robert I have left no stone unturned," Brian said. "But I'm equally as sure that those two will have nothing to hide. I have to tell you, I really do hope it isn't Owens or any of the boys that we've gotten to depend on. I would really hate to have to pummel the daylights out of someone that I thought was a friend. But, I'm not sure that this plan of Gelding's helps him much. Even if he did manage to get Robert out of the way, which of course, he won't do, it would change nothing. Our mission would still continue regardless until Gelding is out of business for good. So, I'm hoping he keeps spending like he has the keys to the mint. Maybe he'll run himself bankrupt. I can only hope."

Jess smiled and began reading threw the long list of names and people she had to check she hoped none on her list were bad as she like Brian would hate it to be some one she knew well " I agree Brian" she said turning over another page of names and dates. Jack sat down at his desk and pulled a pile of old books and began to work threw them as well hoping it would not take too long.

" well you can scratch Jessie off the list his family's clear." he said placing down a book next to a stack of others. " Now for Kaden, might as well be thorough." he added opening a large book with silver detail on it. " hum fancy." he chuckled.

"Owens is clear," Brian said. "But I didn't believe otherwise. I don't know whether I want to find some sort of a crook or not."

"I wouldn't mind finding out if there is anyone else we shouldn't trust," Khaat said. "The last thing I want is for something to happen to one of us."

Kate and Robert went to Paris to work on cleaning the headquarters, casting a clean spell on it, and then they started to clear away some of the debris and rubble. Robert was already wishing he had worn jeans and a work shirt rather than the dressier clothes that he had intended to wear to St. Mungos when he had dressed.

Meanwhile, Marcus ported in to the farm and found no one there. He left his bags in the kitchen and then ported to Khaat's place, hoping to find someone there. Edward told him that he wasn't entirely sure where Robert was but that the others were at the archives. That was a place Marcus knew well, so he thanked Edward for the information and went to the archives.

Brian was not finding the records on Darryl Nightshade, and he wasn't certain why. Marcus arrived to see Brian piling a bunch of log books up on a table.

"You can't check all those out, you know," Marcus said. "They're reference books, not to be taken out."

"I know, but they're useless."

"What are you looking for?" Marcus asked.

"Nightshade. Darryl."

"Well, those books won't help you," Marcus said. "You're looking in the wrong place. He was in my year in Hogwarts. He was a Slytherin through and through back then, or at least that was what that stupid hat believed. Turns out he was adopted. Biological parents were Winthrops--Hufflepuffs. His adoptive parents were prats. Biological parents evidently were decent folks. Once he figured out who he was, he apparently separated from his Slytherin adoptive roots. Look for him under Darryl Winthrop. You'll have better luck, I think."

"Anyway, its good to see you," Brian said.

"Where's Robert?"

"I was hoping he was going to stay at home," Brian said. "But I'm betting he's in Paris." Marcus saw Jack with an equally large stack of books.

"Are you a clerk today, Jack?" Marcus asked, slightly amused.

Jack looked up and saw Marcus and chuckled " evidently I am today." he said turning another page then closing the book to place it on the pile beside him. Standing he stretched his back and legs by walking around the room. " everyone has to be double checked." he looked at Brian " we've been infultrated, hense the revetting of every one , including you and myself and Jess." Jess looked over and nodded.

"yep, and that means everyone."she sighed placing her large book down " poor Angus though." she sighed and pulled another book out of the pile and blew the dust from it. She rubbed her eyes as she scanned more names , dates and information than she could possibly know in a year.

"Infiltrated?" Marcus frowned seriously. "Who do you think is behind it?"

"Gelding," Brian said.

"Oh, now that really is cheeky of him," Marcus scowled.

"That, and he hired a shapeshifter to use Angus and to get into our inner circle," Brian replied.

"Ah, so that's why I'm here, then."

"You're here because Gelding has hired at least one dark arts practitioner to try to eliminate Robert."

"Now, that is one of the most serious things I've heard in a long time," Marcus said. "You're here to keep him safe--if you can find him."

"He can run, but he can't hide. I'll find him," Marcus said. "Besides, I do have a medallion. You gave me one when I was guarding Khaat. I brought it along."

"Then you might want to check the headquarters in Paris. I'm betting you'll find him and Kate there," Brian said.

"I'll go in a moment," Marcus said. "I'm going to go kiss your wife." Brian looked up at him, more surprised by the wording than any ill intent on Marcus's part.

"Fine, but you only get one," Brian said.

"Of course," Marcus replied. He went over and greeted Khaat with a friendly kiss. "Hello, my dear."

"Marcus," Khaat smiled. "Good to see you, even though you and I aren't partnering up this time. Thanks for coming."

"My pleasure. Hello, Jess. You look lovely as ever," Marcus said.

Jess looked up and chuckled " you too Marcus, where have you been hiding?" she asked knowing he probably wouldn't say where. A low growl came from across the room from Jacks direction.

"kiss up to Khaat, but remeber Jess is mine" Jack teased " forgot to mention, its good to see you again." he said and smiled placing the book he'd read down among the second pile by his feet. " and Brians right , we found burrito boy at the paris headquaters and that sturred up questions, a lot of questions." he added leaning abck in his chair he dropped another book on the table making a cloud of dust rise and he himself sneeze loudly.

"Khaat found me on holiday in the Bahamas," Marcus said. "I was due to come back tomorrow anyway, so one less day doesn't upset me. If Gelding thinks he's just going to eliminate Robert, he has another thing coming. That's not going to happen, not on my watch, anyway, and I'm sure it won't happen on anyone else's either. Besides that, I've seen him fight. Robert isn't going to go quietly or easily either one."

"No, you're right," Brian said. "He and Gelding have gone toe to toe before, and, flat out, Robert is quicker and a lot deadlier. Gelding is slow on the draw, and, frankly, his aim stinks when he gets rattled. He isn't a good dueler."

"Well, that makes the job a little easier."

"Not necessarily. The body Jack was speaking of belonged to a hit man who had infiltrated our organization."

"And was a shapeshifter?"

"Yes. Augustus Ironwood," Brian said. At the sound of the name, Marcus frowned.

"He went right for one of the very best, then. He's serious. Alright. That gives me a list of possibles that he might go to next."

"There's more of them?" Khaat asked.

"Yes. I can think of about five others with that skill level or better."

"I want names and dossiers," Brian said.

"And you'll have them," Marcus replied. "I'll get them for you."

"What about a dark arts woman that specializes in some sophisticated dark arts spells? Uses a staff."

"Oh. Her," Marcus said. "Yeah, we know each other. She's just a mean woman, flat out. It's that staff you have to watch out for."

"Not anymore. We have that bad boy."

"Do you now?" Marcus was intrigued. "Good for you! You have no idea how much I've wanted to get rid of that thing. It amplifies her spells significantly."

"Not anymore."

"Oh, well done," he said, getting out his medallion from his pocket and putting it on. "Anything else I need to know?"

"Headquarters has been evacuated. They're all at my place," Brian said. "And Robert booby trapped it, Ironwood triggered the trap, and the place blew. I imagine that Robert and Kate are doing clean up there right now."

"Got it. Alright, I imagine I'll see you all later, then."

"Where are your things?" Kate asked.

"Your dad's place."

"Okay. Well, your normal room at my place is available if you need it."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, my dear. Alright, I'm off to Paris," he said, drawing his wand and apparating out.

"Well, good. I feel a little better knowing Robert isn't going to be on his own from now on," Brian said. "That's one problem handled."

Jack and Jess sat and listened to the conversation still moving books from th table infront of them to a pile next to them once read. Jack chuckled at the mention of the staff " all its doing now is adorning my shelf in two peices" he said then listened nore as Belby continued then left. " thats one worry off the list" he said Jess nodded and looked at Khaat.

"you went to the bahamas?" she asked " is it as beautiful as I've been told?" Jess asked hoping one day Jack would take her for a break there. she smiled at the thought but quickly went back to reading and vetting.

"If you like a lot of tropical beaches, swimming, diving, sailing, some casino fun, and some very excellent cigars," Marcus told Jess. "And there are a lot of wonderful tropical gardens to visit, and some of the bests seafood you'll find anywhere on the planet.

"Sounds like a perfect holiday," Khaat said.

"It was," Marcus grinned. "Maybe you should talk your father into opening a branch office of the organization there, or, at the very least, a training weekend there."

"Now, there's a thought," she laughed.

Brian was still stuck, mentally, on wondering where on earth these other assassins were. He trusted Marcus would get him the dossiers, but that wasn't good enough. He wanted to know where they were. He had a couple connections in the ministry, and so did Michael. He fully intended to get the names and find out where these dark arts wizards were.

Khaat didn't know exactly what Brian had on his mind, but she was sure it had to do with his anger at what all had been going sideways with the organization. She took a moment and laid her hand on his in reassurance.

"It's not your fault," she told him. "It's Geldings."

"True," Brian said. "He might have started it, but I'll finish it."

"Careful," she told him. "Let's follow the plan for now. Gelding is counting on us doing something rash and stupid. Let's not give him that satisfaction. Right now, I think we'd all like a piece of Gelding, and we'll get it, but when we do it, we need to get him permanently--once and for all. First things first---defense measures first. Then we can look at an offensive."

"I know," he sighed. "Just frustrated. that's all."

"Yes, and I'm sure we all agree with you," she said.