- CHAPTER NINE -

The Mysterious Murderer

of Nigellius Tyler

The trip to Tyler Manor took a little over an hour. With apperation out of the question, the group of men had use the Harpers Groves, the hidden groves containing a circle of white stones, and walk the remain distance.

Tyler Manor lay just outside the Harpers territory, on the opposite side of a long sharp hill called Warlocks Edge. The Manor house lay at the bottom of a steep cliff, with a jaggedly swerving road that zig-zagged back and forth, down to the large four storied Victorian building. Two official looking figures stood waiting patiently in front of the building, whilst third, who tipped his bowler hat politely at them, stood watch at the bottom of the zig-zagging road.

"Mr. Dobson is it?" said the short of the two men, a fussy looking, balding wizard in pinstripe robes. He reached out and shook hands pleasantly with Sam.

"My name is Wetworth, I am from the Ministry offices in London, and this," he added, gesturing to the tall sallow faced man next to him, "Is Mr. Fitzsimmonds, who you must obviously know, seeing as he is the head Aurora for the Salop Vale area." Sam and Fitzsimmonds exchanged polite nods as the balding pinstripe wizard fumbled with his clipboard.

"So, it's a full report," he added gazing at his paperwork, "You brought three trackers so as to provide three independent views?" he glanced up past Sam at Roderek and the other Harpers, "Ah, yes, excellent." He added, "Well the building has been fully locked down since last night, so as to not contaminate the crime sense. Mr. Fitzsimmonds and his Auroras were the first on the scene so he is here to help indentify any tracks belonging to Ministry officials." He paused for moment, fumbling hurriedly through the numerous forms on his clipboard, "So, Mr. Fitzsimmonds will remove the warding charms and let your men in, whilst in the mean time you can provide me with your men's details." In a business like manner he whipped out a quill and started to scrawl Roderek and Rodneys names as Sam recited them to the balding pin striped wizard. The towering sallow faced Fitzsimmonds, lumbered over to the door and almost lazy started to wave his wand. As he chanted the air around the building started to glitter as if a previously invisible wall was now barely visible, the barriers of the warding charm glittering like tiny stars. He started a second incantation and a glowing symbol appeared in front of the door and then gently faded away, taking the shimmering shield around the building with it. Fiztsimmonds slowly stowed his wand and lumbered over to the front door, opening it wide and staring cold faced at the Harpers as they entered. Roderek and Rodney slipped past the tower Fiztsimmonds into the musty smelling, old Victorian manor house. The pair paused, gazing back at the sound of Fitzsimmond muttering. They turn just in time to see Fitzsimmonds scowling heavily at the shadowy Kynaston as he past, muttering something, which appeared to be unpleasant judging by the expression on his face. Kynaston paused like a statue for the briefest of moments and then moved on, giving no indication that he had heard anything Fitzsimmonds said.

"So then," droned the pinstriped wizard stepping over the threshold with Sam. "The building is yours. You will find the, er, crime scene in the study, you can't miss it. The wall opens up a little further up on the right.

The old Victorian manor house was typical of similar such buildings in the area. It's room cavernous and cold, with high ceilings sporting delicate plaster work and intricate chandeliers. Roderek noted that the main hallway alone was almost big enough to fit Rodney's whole house into.

The two men stopped, stooping occasionally to gaze the grand mosaque floor tiles in the grand enterance hall, noting the various tell tale signs of different footprints, passing through or along the hallway.

As Roderek stooped to investigate one such foot print he heard Rodney take in a sharp intake of breath.

"I think you're going to want to have a look at this," said Rodney glancing back from the huge double doors that lead into the study.

Leaving the footprints in the hallway for the time being, Roderek paced over curiously to his old friend and gazed with him into the room beyond.

The study was like the rest of the Victorian house. The room was large and grand with high ceilings, tall imposing windows and intricately craved anteq furniture. Unlike the other rooms there was an abundance of dark, rich, wooden paneling on all the walls, which sat on top of an expensive looking patterned carpet.

A smell of musty old books and wood polish permeated the air, now heavily mingeled with the rusty pungent smell of dry blood.

A slight shiver stole over the two men as the gazed around the room, blood was almost everywhere, even tough the room was so large.

As Roderek strode carefully over towards the desk, a second cold shiver stole over him as a ghost image howved in view.

The Ministry officials had removed the body, or what little remained of it, but in it's place an illusionment charm had been cast, leaving ghostly shivering images of where the part of the body lay.

"I think I'm going to be sick," muttered Rodney mutedly, "Have you ever seen anything like this," he whispered hoarsly.

"Never," replied Roderek glibly, "and I have no desire to see anything like this again."

The ghostly shimmering remains of Nigellius Tyler where strune across the floor, like a doll that had been ripped apart and dragged across the room by some giant savage, evil dog.

By the large stately desk at the center of the room, the ghostly image of Tyler's lower body shimmered over a dark red pool of blood.

Thick red trains of blood stretched several feet across the fanciful patterned carpet, it's pools and streaks forming a gruesome pattern of it's own, as it stretched out like a bloody pathway to pale staring face and torso of Nigellius Tyler.

Blood seaped from the corners of his mouth and his dark, pale eyes stared up from his ghostly white face at Roderek. Locked in sightless vacant stare.

"This is so wrong," murmoured Rodney, "I know the man was a git, but this is wrong. Nobody wants to die but at least a killing curse is…" his voice tailed off. "It's just wrong." He added again mutely, and he shuffled off slowly inspecting the rest of the room.

Roderek wasn't sure how long they'd been in house, but it felt like hours, he tried his best to calmly analysis the room for every clue of movement as to what had happened, but both he caught himself and Rodney making fertive glances back the Tyler's ghostly remains. Who's agast gastly stare unsettled them, making it hard to work. Finally Rodney stood nodding him head and approached the balding pinstriped wizard.

"Ah, ready to make your report," piped the wizard, his spirits noticeably uplifted at the prospects of being able to leave the house and it's macabre images soon.

"Yes," said Rodney with a nod,

"So," continued the pinstriped wizard, "You are Rodney Palethorn, correct."

"I am," replied Rodney calmly,

"Good, so what's your report then? Let's start with the number of culprits say we? Then go on to the sequence of events." Rodney nodded, still looking a like muted he cleared his throat loudly, as if the boysterious sound cutting through the unpleasant silence of the room would give him back some of his characteristic confidence.

"Well," he started, "There was two of them. The first ones around 5'8", slight build, desk jockey type, like yourself," he added candidly,

"I beg your pardon?" replied the pinstriped wizard, looking a little surprised and taken about, "Desk jockey? 5'8"? What? How? You would have had to seen them to know that?"

"Oh," said Rodney, not seeming to notice the pinstriped wizard offended at being referred to as a 'desk jockey'.

"I can tell his height and build by his stride pattern and the depth of his foot prints in the carpet," he stated calmly,

"The first one has a light stride pattern, typical for you desk jockey types," The pinstriped wizards face clouded over further at this, even though Rodney appeared oblivious to the offense he was causing,

"Short narrow stride, walked rocking heel to toe. Oh that means he's not been taught how to sneak or move silently" he added,

"And the fact your sure he's a desk jockey?" fumed the pinstripe wizard,

"The shoes," replied Rodney matter-of-factly, "Solid sole, thin, no patterned grip on the underside. There's also a smudge of fresh black boot polish on the carpet over there, from when he dived on the floor during the fight. Only desk jockey wear those kinds of shoes and only desk jockeys polish them that often. Guess they have too much spare time on there hands," he added shrugging and gazing down nonchalantly at the pinstriped wizards shoes.

"And the second person?" inquired the pinstriped wizard, his face glowing red with agitated embarrassment, as he drew is highly polished shoes back further under his robes.

"Er, about 6'1" thick set, had some practice and sneaking but not pro," continued Rodney,

"And you know that how?" inquired the brooding pinstriped wizard,

"Well it's obvious isn't it," replied Rodney gazing surprisedly at the wizard,

"He was wear descent soft leather boots, but he still left tracks even a Mino like you could see,"

"A what!? A Mino?" snorted the pinstriped wizard,

"Oh, er, sorry," fumbled Rodney, "That's just our pet name for Ministry Officials down here," Rodney smiled awkwardly and the pinstriped wizard glared agrily for several long moments until the tension was broke by Sam giving a slight cough.

"Sequence of events Rodney?" offered Sam quietly,

"Oh, yes," stammered Rodney happy to change the subject, "Two of them, as I said, entered through the front door, sneaked, or rather did their best sneaking into here. Tyler must have surprised them, spells start flying every where and finally the eviscerate him." He finished.

"Very good," said the pinstriped wizard regaining his composure and finishing scribing the last of his notes on to the form. "Sign here please." Rodney took the large white quill and scralled his name at the bottom before stepping over to stand safely next to Sam.

"Right then," said the pinstriped wizard, "Mr. Roderek Dobson, is it?" asked the wizard now staring up at Roderek,

"That's right," replied Roderek taking a long last look around the room.

"And what is your report?" asked the wizard,

"Same as Rodney's," said Roderek still glancing around the room,

"Excellent," said the pinstriped wizard briskly, "Always a good sign when ever one agrees."

"The only thing is," added Roderek interrupting the pinstriped wizard, "The way the fight went doesn't make sense," Roderek felt several pairs of eyes, including Rodneys, focus sharply on him, "Oh, I'm not saying I disagree," added Roderek hastily, "I'm just saying something don't added up.

"Like what?" inquired the pinstriped wizard,

"The way the bloods spread across the room," said Roderek pointing to several location,

"From where they killed him, it just looks a little odd. Plus I think you Ministry officials took more than just the body out of here,"

"What on earth is that supposed to mean," retorted the pinstriped wizard flaring up again,

"There are papers missing from this desk," replied Roderek pointing to the table, "and vault doors been closed," he added pointing to the far wall, where a wide nondescript book case stood,

"So," retorted the pinstriped wizard, "The murders obviously took the papers and closed the vault door behind them."'

"The newspaper article said you found the vault door open," replied Roderek gazing a Fitzsimmonds, who nodded, "That's true, it was."

"And," added Roderek the pooling of the blood on the remain papers on this desk. The blood had congealed before the papers were moved, that means they had to be taken several hours after Tyler was killed."

"Yes, alright, alright," shouted the pinstriped wizard, "I wasn't supposed to mention it, but there were potentially dangerous spells on the desk and dark artifacts in the vault. The Ministry removed the dangerous items and closed the vault to the ensure the safety of the remain items."

"But if you brought the papers back and put them on the desk, I could tell you more about how he was killed," protested Roderek, "I mean he was stood virtually right next to the desk, the pattern of blood across the papers would probably clear up the things I can't be sure about."

"Well you can't have them," snapped the pinstriped wizard,

"Look you both virtually agree on the major items of importance. Can you please just sign the report and let this be and end to it." Roderek shot a mutinus glance at the wizard and then gazed across at his father Sam. The wise old name was observing the pinstriped wizard quite calmly, but his usual shrewd gaze. He glanced across and Roderek and gave a slight nod, which Roderek knew to mean that he should not push the issue further.

Still fuming slightly, Roderek strode over and signed the Ministry officials form with an agitated flourish.

"Good," sighed the pinstriped official in relief, "Right then, third and final report, to be from your most senior tracker Mr. Kynaston. Kynaston," repeated the wizard with bemused look, "Where have I heard that name before? Oh well, never mind." He added, "Your report? You agree with your comrades I presume," he added, starting to copy the same notes down on a third form. He glanced up expectantly, but his expression dropped as the shadowy hood of Kynaston's cloak, shook slowly from side to side.

He somberly raised a scared hand and extending three fingers.

"What?"

Gasped Rodney stringing up from the wall he'd been leaning against. He and Roderek glanced desperately around the room, confused and worried that there was some obvious sign they had missed. Even Sam's expression changed subtly as he strode across the hall to where Kynaston stood.

Kynaston lent towards the old Harper and there was the sound of faint muttering words as Rodney now glanced up confusedly Roderek,

"I, I don't see it," he stammered, "I don't see any sign of a third person. Do you?" Roderek shock is head but the pair had little time to consider the matter further and Kynaston beconed the men up the corridor.

Glancing around, still searching for any tell-tale sign they may have missed, they followed Kynaston and Sam to the rear of the house and into a large open kitchen. Kynaston paused slowly raising a scared hand to point at marble counter beneath a tall window.

The two friends crotched squinting closely, and sure enough there was the very faintest imprint of a boot.

"I don't get it," murmoured Rodney glancing up, "These tall windows are fixed pane, only those small panels at the top open." Kynaston had already climbed up on to the marble worktop. He lent forward so the grey, stubbled, scarred chin was only inches from the glass and breathed out heavily.

For a moment, in the steam of Kynaston's breath, a single finger print appeared and then slowly disappeared from view once more.

"I agree with Rodney," said Roderek inspecting the glass pane and gazing at the window outside. It's so high up, and there's no scuffs or scrap marks showing where they climbed up. You'd have to have the agility of cat to stand a chance of pulling that off."

"Maybe there was another person outside who levitated the other up," mused Rodney, "If he'd been levitated they'd be no foot on the counter" muttered Roderek glancing around the room.

"Perhaps," whimpered the pin striped wizard, "It was he who must not be named? there are rumours he can fly," he glanced around the room in horror but as all eyes feel on to Sam he shook his head softly,

"No. The Dark Lord isn't the kind of person who'd lower himself to sneaking through a window at the back whilst his henchmen go in front the front, especially for a person of no exceptional magically skills like Tyler." He mused, "No, I think were looking for someone else."

"Well, who?" asked the pin striped wizard still, looking noticeable pale.

"It's funny," answered a low gruff voice, "That only he spotted it," said Fitzsimmonds. Every stopped and stared. In rush of events, everyone had somehow forgotten the giant umbering, grey like shadow that was Fitzsimmonds. The sallow sunken eyes were fixed on Kynaston, the sneered that had adorned his face when Roderek had heard him muttering something to Kynaston as they entered had returned, coupled, now that he noticed it, with a deep loathing, welling in Fitzsimmond dark eyes.

Sam turned to calm they tower man, but Fitzsimmonds was intent on speaking his mind. "He's the best tracker there's been in centuries, and he can move without leaving a trace, none of your own Harpers could track him if he didn't want them to. Looks like just the kind of thing you were aquised of before Kynaston," boomed Fitzsimmonds, his low tone growing increasing fierce. "I knew you'd slip up and go back to your old ways one day. What's the matter, did your mysterious supply of money out? Did you decide the Dark Lord could protect you better than the Harpers, or are you just slowly showing your true colours?" He sneered heavily Kynaston, a bitter almost vicious glint in his dark sunken eyes.

The pin striped wizards eyes suddenly widened in comprehension "Your that Kynaston," he murmoured, "I knew I recongised the name,"

"Now hold there," said Sam calmly yet assertively, "Lets not get carried away. Johanthan," said Sam addressing Fitzsimmonds, we've know each other for years and we went all through this to the statisfaction of the Wizengermot,

"Not to my satisifaction," boomed Fitzsimmonds, his eyes burning red with anger. He glanced down at Sam, "I've always respected you Samuel, and your judgement, on everything expect for this," he snapped gesturing at Kynaston, "He's one of them, he's rotten to the core," he sneered, "and this time I'm going to make sure he doesn't get away with it." And with final burning glare at Kynaston, he turned and stormed off.

"So, what am I to put in the report?" asked the pin striped wizard and muted confused tone.

"Kynaston's version," replied Sam, taking the form and signing it himself at the bottom, "I believe my signature there means that becomes the offical account of records." The pin striped wizard nodded, still looking a little lost and confused, "Very well," said Sam, "Then please excuse us, but we have some other urgent business to attend to." And with a flash of his cloak he too disappeared back down the corridor towards the front of the house, followed a few moments later by the shadowy figure of Kynaston, whom the Ministry official watched with round shocked looking eyes.

Roderek and Rodney exchanged glances, a little stunned themselves by the abruptness of Sam's leaving.

"Good day to you sir," nodded Roderek, gently leaping down off the marble counter and dragging Rodney out of the room behind him.

The two friends sped up the zig-zigging, jogging to catch up Sam, who walking at very brisk pace.

"I get it now," puffed Rodney as they came level with Sam, the blood looked out of place because the third person delivered the killing blow, from behind. He grined expectantly at Sam, but no smile or comment came back in reply. A feeling of confusing slipping over him again, Rodney glanced at Roderek and noticed he was watching Sam's face carefully,

"You didn't mention anything about the third person killing Tyler to the Ministry official," said Roderek under his breath,

"No, I didn't," replied Sam evenly,

"I also didn't mention those strange burn marks you both missed on the far wall,"

The group of men halted as the reached the main road.

"Dad, what's going on?" asked Roderek, his thick brow now twisted into a frown.

"I don't have time to explain right now boys," replied Sam, his swred contemplative look, now slowly being replaced by the familiar warm smile,

"I know that's doesn't sound fair but, to be honest I don't have all the answer myself right now. First I've got to get to the Ministry buildings in Salop town before Fitzsimmonds creates a problem where there should be one. Then I'll be heading down to London to get to the bottom of this." He paused gazing directly at Roderek, "I expect this is going to be a long day for me, so if you get a chance drop in and tell you mother not to wait up. I expect I'll be lucky to be back be before highwatch." He flashed a smile and winked at the two boys and with that turned on his heels and started striding purposefully up the road. There was a long pause broken only by the slightest of swishing noises and Kynaston, brandishing his cloak about him, set off down the road in the opposite direction, back toward the Harpers Groove, his large wolf like dog close at his heels as they stalked silently through the shadows.

"Well," said Rodney after another long pause, "I can safely say that I'm more confused now than I was this morning, if that's even possible."

"I know," mused Roderek, "But don't worry. You know dad, there's a lot of people who know and respect him down there. By tomorrow morning he'll find out what the Ministry is hiding."

"Oh and by the way," added Roderek, with a broad grin, "Since when did we start calling Ministry officials Minos?"