Chapter 29- Living a Lie

Since they wouldn't be able to head to the clubs until much later, Laura took her time in familiarizing herself with Noonan's file, as well as the files on his known associates in San Francisco. Once she felt fairly comfortable with it, she brought the other eight Auror's together to sit down and make a plan.

Benjamin Andrews was a tall, lanky black man with stunning green eyes, freckles, and blonde hair that Laura had never seen on a black person before. He, Dougal explained, was from a country called Melanesia near Australia. Laura had never even heard of Melanesia before and wished she could learn more. She had never been to that side of the world, but hoped she could one day travel across the world.

Orla Brady was a witch with fire red hair, freckles, and pale skin. Although she, herself, was not from Ireland, her parents had immigrated from their native Ireland to the United States before Orla and her eight siblings were born in order to give their children a better life. Laura was fascinated to learn that five of her siblings were also Aurors across the United States. Laura didn't miss that Orla sat in the empty chair next to Dougal and then, ever so slightly, shifted her chair closer to him.

Trevor Rhodes and Jeremy Petersen looked like they could be siblings. Both just under six feet with stocky builds and square jaws, they even walked similarly. No wonder they were a good team, Laura thought. They might have been twins in another life.

The final person to join the meeting was Henry Jones. He came strolling in like he just couldn't be bothered. Maybe just an inch taller than Laura, he slouched as he walked and wore a slightly tattered and dirty trench coat. With his shaggy blonde hair, Laura got the impression that Henry liked people to think he didn't care, but did just enough to show he did care.

Laura looked around the small meeting room at the eight people in front of her and felt an odd sensation well up in her chest. She had never been in charge of so many people before. Was this how Graves felt every time in stood in front of the Aurors?

Of course not. Graves was nothing but calm and sure.

Be like Graves, she told herself.

She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and willed her face to be stone cold. She didn't miss the subtle change of atmosphere in the room when she began to address them.

"Reports have Noonan visiting a different club every night since he got to San Francisco. As such, we're going to go in groups of three to the three different clubs. We'll hit at exactly the same time to minimize the chance of word getting to Noonan. Which is where you all come in to play. Emma, Henry, and Orla will go to The Stock House. Aaron, Trevor, and Jeremy will go to The Market. Dougal and Benjamin will join me at the final club, Hestia's Way." Laura also did not miss the look between Dougal and Orla when they learned they would not be working together. She filed that away for later.

"Noonan, as I'm sure you're all away, is incredibly dangerous. Do not, under any circumstances, underestimate him. Expect him to try to kill you. Director Graves wants Noonan brought back alive so we can question him. Expect others to help him. Noonan has been seen with Jillian Murphy and Jack Portis, who are both dangerous. Please keep in mind how dangerous this is. Don't let down your guard." Laura looked from face to face as she spoke and hoped she was getting through to them. The only ones she was worried about were Aaron and Henry. They came across as too immature to Laura.

"Once you have Noonan in custody, bring him back here and make sure he is watched carefully. Again, do not let your guard down. Any questions?"

Orla tentatively raised her hand. "Are ye sure we should only go with three?"

"Noonan is dangerous, but he's not Grindelwald. His previous run-ins with Aurors have been one on one. There's nothing to suggest three is the wrong choice. Once the other two clubs are cleared, the rest will join us at the third club. Which will make it nine on one or nine on three. Is that better?" she asked, doing her best to keep her tone cool and neutral. Inside, she wanted to snap. If it was up to her, she'd take twenty. But she only had so many Aurors at her call.

The redhead frowned, but shook her head, not wishing to take Laura on.

Laura found she was glad she would not be heading out with Orla. But she also hated the woman against woman feelings that were welling up in her chest. It was just a look. It meant nothing.

Right?

Focus, Laura told herself. Be like Graves.

"Anything else?" she asked, her tone clipped. The Aurors shook their heads. "Good. Keep this to yourself as well. We'll meet here at a quarter of nine and head out."

With all of the strength she could muster, Laura turned and walked away without glancing at Dougal. She headed back to her cubicle and sat down at her chair, Noonan's file still spread out on the desk in front of her. Before she could stop herself, Laura pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote out a quick note to Graves.

Director,

I shouldn't say too much, but all is well and planned.

Interesting personalities here in San Fran. I really am missing Limus; I must be ill.

I don't mind saying that I don't actually like being in charge of a large group. Please never recommend me for Carnie or Limus' positions.

Hope to see you soon,

Laura

Before she could give herself the chance to regret that complimentary close, she folded it up and handed it off to be delivered to Graves. If she was lucky, Noonan would be caught before Graves read it and replied.

"You're turning out to be quite the leader," Dougal whispered, coming up behind her once Laura had settled down again.

She shrugged before turning to look back at him. He was leaning casually against the frame of her cubicle and she briefly wondered how it was holding his weight before a silly thought entered her mind: magic. Laura smiled softly at him.

"I miss just working with one person. It's a lot less contentious."

"Orla's fine, dear. She just doesn't like anyone," he joked, though Laura could tell there was truth to his statement.

Laura wanted to ask him if there were any nice people working here, but she thought back to New York and how much attitude there was in their office that she kept her mouth shut. Their job was necessarily about being nice.

"How about a bite to eat before we go?" Dougal asked, surprising Laura. She shook off the thought of Dougal and Orla. They were just coworkers. It was nothing.

Her smile grew. "I would love it."

Dougal took Laura to a very small and cozy deli. Although the food was delicious, Laura couldn't stop the growing dread in her stomach that came before any raid. Dougal, Laura noticed, seemed to have the same problem. It did, somehow, comfort her to know that someone who had been an Auror for almost forty years still got nervous before a raid.

They returned to the office and headed to their separate cubicles. Laura was surprised to find a letter sitting on top of her stack of papers. She glanced around quickly before picking it up and opening it.

Laura,

I look forward to finding out who was involved in this as I personally oversaw the hiring of many of them, I'm sure. But if you are missing Limus than they must not be very nice.

I promise to never promote you, but I will keep your letter as proof if I am accused of being unkind to you.

As ever, come home safe.

P.G.

Her heart swelled in her chest.

As ever, come home safe.

And that signature. The most personal way he had ever referred to himself around her.

Would he ever stop driving her crazy?

The minutes ticked by slowly as Laura once again looked over her files, Graves letter clutched in her fist carefully. It was odd, but she felt calm as she held it, ready for anything.

And then it was 8:30pm.

At 8:40, she gathered near the front entrance, meeting the other Aurors. They looked to her, waiting for her words of wisdom.

Be like Graves, she thought.

"Be careful, watch each other's backs. You know how this goes. Bring back Noonan alive. If you get Murphy or Portis, fine, but Noonan is the goal. Once you have him secure, and be sure he's secure, send words to the others and we'll meet back here."

The eight Aurors in front of her nodded. Laura took a deep breath and looked to Dougal and Benjamin.

"Let's go."

Hestia's Way was the nicest of the three underground clubs, though that didn't stand for much. From the photos she had seen, Laura thought it was better looking than The Blind Pig. Named for the notorious Witch gangster Hestia Phillips, and rumored to have been started by Hestia herself, it was decorated with gold embellishments. Hestia was infamous for her sweeping black cloak that had gold embellishments.

The trio hid around a corner, Benjamin keeping an eye on the secret door to the club.

"He's been seen here three times in the past week," Dougal whispered. "What are the odds he comes tonight?"

"I put my bet on this place because he's been here so often. He likes it. Why?" Laura whispered back.

"Aesthetics? Or maybe for Jillian? She thinks fairly highly of herself," Benjamin said.

"Time?" Laura asked.

Dougal pulled out his pocket watch. "A few more minutes still."

Laura flexed her hands, willing her wand hand to be reliable on this night. She hadn't had many issues lately, but this wouldn't be a good time for her hand to fail her.

Noonan might very well kill one of them tonight.

"It's time," Dougal finally said.

The trio looked at each other, unsaid words flowing between them. Before they disapparated, Laura looked at Dougal. What if he died tonight? Was there anything she should say? I love you.

Did she love him anymore? When had that changed?

He half-smiled and Laura returned the smile.

No negative thoughts for her. They were all going home tonight. And then Laura could figure out how she felt about Dougal.

They disapparated in unison and then appeared in the packed club amongst the many patrons. The alarm had gone off in the instant before they appeared, but there were just too many people. Laura scanned the club quickly as she disapparated and apparated throughout the large floor, but her heart was sinking.

Noonan was nowhere to be seen.

And then a flutter of shiny black hair caught Laura's eye. Jillian Murphy.

She was a statuesque beauty with dark black skin that seemed to make the silver embroidery on her clothes stand out even more. Laura had to admit, the woman was gorgeous.

A second after Laura saw Jillian, the woman saw her and turned quickly. Her wand, which was black with silver, flourished in the air with her silent spell. Laura blocked the spell and set her own at Jillian, hoping to knock the witch out, but Jillian was quick with her blocking spells as well.

Laura was vaguely aware of other spells rushing around the room. She wanted to look, but dared not take her eye off of Jillian. Was Noonan here as well? Was Dougal dueling with him?

A spell hit a table next to her as Laura dived behind another table. She disapparated and apparated on the other side of Jillian and quickly hit her with a Stupefy. The spell hit Jillian square in the chest as she turned around. Jillian's body flew back, knocking over several tables before she hit the ground.

With Jillian down, Laura could now look around. The club was now mostly deserted, though a few patrons had stuck around to hide behind the bar and watch. She gave them a stern look and they disapparated quickly, clearly not wanting to get arrested.

Laura spun around and finally caught sight of the target: Philip Noonan. More handsome than Grindelwald had ever been, Laura could see why Noonan was one of Grindelwald's top followers. Not only dangerous, but his looks and charisma carried him a long way. He moved with such a fine grace as he dueled with not only Dougal, but Benjamin as well.

She stood rooted in her spot, her mind calculating her next choice of action.

The two men, thankfully, seemed to be holding their own, though Noonan made it seem like he was hardly trying. His wand seemed to float through the air as he flourished it, sending spell after spell towards the two Aurors.

Pop! Pop! Pop! The sounds of people apparating drew Laura's attention away and she spun around to face the wizards, her wand raised to be ready to duel.

She sighed audibly when she saw it was just the other Aurors. Aaron was bleeding from his temple and his clothes were in disarray, but everyone else looked fine, albeit out of breath.

"Two of you take Jillian back to the office, now!" Laura ordered, trying to keep her voice low.

Emma and Henry nodded and headed for the still knocked out witch. As they disapparated away, Laura turned back to see Noonan turning her way. A feeling of cold dread dripped down her body as she realized she couldn't see Dougal or Benjamin anywhere. She raised her wand to block whatever spell he sent her way and was surprised when she managed to do it in time.

Laura blocked the spell to her right and then immediately had to block another spell, this one hitting the ceiling above her. She dove forward, her hand unconsciously moving her wand to an old familiar spell, Petrificus Totalus. It didn't hit her target, which Laura hadn't expected to, but it did get Noonan on the move so that when she came out of her dive, he was just feet from her.

A jet of green light came out of his wand as a jet of red light came out of hers. The streams hit in the middle and Laura had to grip her wand tightly with both hands as she laid on the ground uncomfortably.

Noonan looked shocked as they both fought for control.

"Go now!" a voice shouted behind her and Laura had to react in a split second.

She disapparated and apparated where she had last seen Dougal standing, though it was now empty. As she gained her footing Laura watched as Noonan flew back into the wall behind him. Trevor was standing a few feet in front of Laura, his wand raised.

Noonan sat on the floor, dazed, as Laura walked up beside Trevor.

"Accio wand!" she said calmly, though her heart was beating furiously in her chest. Noonan's wand shot out of his limp grasp and Laura caught it easily.

"Stupefy!" Trevor yelled, not taking any chances.

Laura smiled as Noonan's eyes rolled back in his head and his body slumped down even further. She turned to Trevor and gave him a small nudge with her elbow. "Quick thinking," she complimented him.

The Auror smiled brightly at her.

"Let's get him back."

Trevor nodded and motioned for help. Jeremy and Aaron hurried over to Noonan and the trio made sure Noonan was tied up tightly before they disapparated.

Laura finally looked around the quiet room. Benjamin was sitting in a chair, his face and shoulder bleeding, but when he noticed her gaze, he gave her a thumbs up.

And then her eyes fell on Orla. The redhead was splayed out on the ground, Dougal holding her head gently in his lap and running his hands through her hair. Emma stood over them, her hand over her mouth.

Laura's stomach churned. Orla Brady was dead.

And it might have been Laura's fault.