A/N: Hey, I apologise profusely for the late upload. This is going to be one of those chapters that you might get bored with. You know those ones where you're like '' really want skip this and get to the more interesting parts, but I'm afraid I'll miss something important, so let's just skim read'. It's like that, but you should seriously read it.


"I'm going in with you," Artemis said.

Diana sighed. They had decided the night before to wait until morning to go visit the Dursleys. It would be easy enough to ask questions under the guise of investigating the family's strange disappearance the year before. After all, Diana was a detective, and the Dursleys would be unaware that she had been put on leave. Artemis had agreed with the plan but didn't like that he would be left behind in the vehicle.

"We've discussed this Artemis. You have no reason to be there."

"I'm going in no matter what you say. Tell them you're having to watch me while my parents are out of town. Tell them that I'm a student that shows interest in the criminal justice field. Tell them anything you want that explains my presence, but I am going in."

"No, you're not, and if I have to hog tie you and throw you in the trunk I will."

"Butler may be your boyfriend, but he's my bodyguard, and he won't allow that to happen."

Diana glanced at Butler in the rearview mirror and he nodded his head in acquiescence.

"Fine, whatever. You can be a kid I'm responsible for and Butler can be my partner. Are you happy now?"

He reached for the door handle. "Not really, but pretty close."


Diana was sure that three of them looked like quite the trio, standing on the doorstep of number four. Diana raised her hand to knock again, but the door opened revealing a rather portly man.

"Yes?" he asked roughly, taking them all in, his eyes widening at the sight of Butler.

"Mr. Dursley?" Diana tried to draw his attention back to her.

He nodded, unable to stop staring at the large man servant.

"I'm Detective Fowl and this is my partner Butler." She leaned to the side to block his line of sight.

Mr. Dursley blinked and looked at her, seeming to regain his bullish demeanor. "What's going on?"

"We're here following up on a missing persons report that was filed by your sister, Marjorie Dursley."

"Well, does it look like I'm bloody missing to you?" He smiled at her in a way usually reserved for annoying children. "No? Then case closed detective. Good day."

He went to shut the door and Diana stuck her foot out to stop the movement. "Not exactly, sir. Before I close the case I need to ask you some questions. Could we go inside?"

He ground his teeth but opened the door and backed away, gesturing them inside.

"Is Mrs. Dursley home?" Diana asked as he led them through to the living room.

"No, she's out with a neighbor getting groceries. We just got home last night and there was absolutely nothing in the house to eat."

He pointed to the sofa, as he took the armchair closest to the fireplace. Diana and Butler sat on either end, leaving Artemis to sit squeezed between the two.

Mr. Dursley watched Artemis as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Who's the boy?"

"He's my nephew."

Mr. Dursley sneered. "Why's he dressed in a suit?"

"I—" Artemis started to say.

Diana turned and placed her hand on Artemis's head and stroked his hair. "Artie, the adults are talking, sweetie. Please, we've discussed this." She turned back to Mr. Dursley and leaned in as if sharing a secret. "He's an only child in a house full of adults. He wears a suit so he feels like he belongs. It's harmless really. You know, except when he starts thinking he is an adult and becomes disrespectful." She leaned back and inwardly smiled. She could practically feel the anger coming off Artemis in waves. "I'm sure you don't have that problem with your son." She looked at the pictures on the mantelpiece, noting the multiple images of the same blubbery boy throughout the years. She also noted that there were no pictures of anybody else. "He looks absolutely… charming."

Mr. Dursley followed her gaze, smiling, chest puffed out with pride at the thought of his son. "Yes, Dudley was always very respectful." He looked back over at Artemis; his smile faltered and his eye began to twitch. "But we can understand where you're coming from with this one. Had the same problem with our nephew."

And there was the opening Diana had been waiting for. "Your nephew? Now, that would be the one mentioned in the report? We never got a name due to the, uh, strangeness of the claims being made, but I wanted to follow up on it when it came across my desk. I tried to speak with her personally, but…"

"Yes, she's quite mad. All to do with that boy and his kind."

"His kind? What do you mean?"

Mr. Dursley pursed his lips, realizing that he may have said too much. He raised a shoulder, then let it drop. "He hangs out with a funny crowd. Causes nothing but mischief. It's the reason we left, actually, without saying anything to anyone. Didn't feel safe in our own home."

Butler spoke for the first time. "Yes, gang activity has been rising and spreading. Even cozy, safe little communities like yours have been touched by the violence associated with them. Young children with no parents are often enthralled with belonging to a large "family". I've seen it too many times," he said shaking his head.

"Yes, yes, tried to bring him up in a loving home," Mr. Dursley said pointing his finger at Butler. "Quite right." He seemed to be trying to convince himself more than the people present.

"It's not fault of your own of course, I'm sure," Diana added. "There's only so much you can do, especially when the child doesn't want to be helped."

"Exactly, exactly." Mr. Dursley nodded.

"Have any of the members been apprehended or even reported?" Butler asked.

"No."

"Then, why did you return?" Diana was getting into the groove of going back and forth with Butler. It seemed to be making Mr. Dursley uncomfortable; his eyes cutting back and forth between the two of them. Artemis had been forgotten.

"Oh, I, uh," Mr. Dursley stammered. "I thought this was about a missing persons report. We left of our own volition and returned. I can't see how any of these questions will help you close the case.

Diana smiled at him. "Mr. Dursley, your nephew is a person of interest in numerous cases that have popped up all over the country."

"Person of interest? What exactly has he done?" He shifted in his seat, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Not that I'm saying he hasn't done it. Wouldn't put anything past that boy."

"Just some strange goings on. Your sister mentioning him in her report along with the nature of the claims she was making drew our interest. We're just trying to see if there's a connection. He may not have done anything at all."

"Well, I don't know what to tell you. We don't have any contact with the boy."

She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. "Surely, there must be some way. A number or even an address."

Mr. Dursley stroked his moustache. "Well, there may be one way."