For Mortal Stakes Chapter Six

A/N: I am gonna try and finish this before I have to take a break from writing for a while. To those at the TL who have supported me while I a going though some stuff, thank you.

A large ham-sized fist slammed into the table in front of me. "Cut the shit, Gillette, if that's really your name!" the detective sitting across from me almost spat. "I have you dead to rights with two illegal guns and a whole bunch of dead people. So why don't you just make it easier on yourself and tell me what happened."

I looked at the detective and let my eyes go wide with fear. "From the beginning?" I squeaked, letting my voice crack.

"Yeah, from the top," The detective took out his pad.

"Well, it's kind of a long story." I knew I had him and noticed a ring on his hand. "You see, I was on my way back from your mum's house when your wife called me for a quickie." The man's face grew red, and he shot out of his chair. "Well, imagine my embarrassment, your mum wore me out pretty good."

The man slammed his fist into my mouth, causing me to bleed. "You son of a bitch!" The detective was about to hit me again when the door opened.

"I'll be taking it from here," DS Thomas said from the doorway.

"Who the hell are you?" the man snapped.

"I am Detective Sergeant Thomas with Section Seven. Like I said, we are taking this case."

"Like hell you are! This is a big case, and I am not gonna just let some trumped up bint take it from me."

Thomas strode forward, and in a flash the other man was on his back with her foot on his throat. "I didn't think I would need to remind you that Section Seven has the authority to take over any case we feel fits our department without question," she growled, stepping down harder. "Have I made myself clear? You can just grunt if you understand." She sighed, making a show of checking her nails.

The detective grunted.

"Good," she said sweetly. "I so much enjoy this interdepartmental cooperation." She looked over at me and jerked her head towards the door. "Come with me."

I got up and stepped over the gasping detective.

By the time we got to Dursley's office he was on the phone with someone who was not very happy.

"Yes, sir. I understand, sir. I will definitely talk to her and put a note in her file. Yes, sir, good day." He looked at Thomas and sighed. "Could you possibly go one week without getting my ass chewed?"

"The guy was being a douche," she said with a matter of fact tone while showing me to a chair

"And you," Dursley growled. "You have been working with me for less than two days and I have already had to clean up multiple deaths. You're just lucky you were caught on CCTV and it shows self defense. We had to call in the Obliviators to clean it up. Does everyone want to kill you or is it just Greater London?"

"It's a gift." I smirked. "I've always been able to piss people off."

"I'm sure." Dursley sighed. "DS Thomas, consider yourself reprimanded. Could you fill out the proper forms and put them in your file for me?" He smiled, dismissing her. "So, what have you found out?"

"Not much," I admitted. "Nievsky has some heavy people working for him that know about magic. They have a device that stops apparation."

Dursley nodded. "We have those to. Makes it easier to arrest people."

"From what I've seen Nievsky isn't doing this himself. Nievsky is about as subtle as a head wound; this just isn't his style. I think someone saw what he had and bought it from him. I really need to talk to him, but with his connections I really don't wanna be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life."

"What do you need?" Dursley asked.

"I need to talk to the old man. I need to see if I can get his help to make his kid see reason."

"Making Yuri Nievsky see reason is like trying to make a goat do calculus," Dursley scoffed.

"I know a guy who could make a goat ... never mind, it's not important. What is important is that I try to talk to Anton."

"Alright, I'll set it up."

-OOO-

Three days later I was sitting with Dursley in an interrogation room at HM Prison Belmarsh. Anton Nievsky had the look of a man who was resigned to his fate. His eyes were cold and dark, and he had a somber and sullen look on his face.

"Detective Dursley, what a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe the honor?"

"Anton, this is Draco Malfoy." I saw something that might have been recognition cross his face. "He wants to talk to you about your son."

Nievsky made a rasping noise as he drew in his breath. "I have no son. What that monster does I refuse to condone."

I nodded. "I understand. I am working for a woman whose life is going to be ruined by Yuri. The circumstances seem to be to," I paused, searching for the word, "complex to be of his design. It has a certain subtlety and finesse that I don't believe him capable of."

"You know, I've heard of you," Nievsky said, his beetle black eyes sizing me up and down.

"Oh really?"

"Yes, yes. The great Draco Malfoy: the champion of the downtrodden, the defender of the defenseless both Magical and Muggle. A man on a path of redemption whether he knows it or not. Why should I help you?" he asked.

"Because deep down you're like me," I said. "You have a code which you live by. It might not be legal or even moral, but it's still a code. And I think that what your son is doing bothers you and makes you feel just as violated as that code of yours." Nievsky looked at me and ever so slightly nodded his head. "Then help me," I said, lowering my voice. "Tell me who he might be working with who would want the Ministry of Magic under their control."

"That's a rather lengthy list."

"This person is not above blackmailing a man's family. He would also be familiar with the world of underage prostitution."

"That does narrow it down considerably. I could give you a name, but you need to promise me something."

"What's that?"

"When you go against my son and these people, destroy them. Raze them to the ground and salt the earth. I also want my son to know it was me who helped you. I want him to know that what he is doing has consequences. Fatal consequences."

I thought for a moment then nodded.

"The only person who fits the circumstances is Alan Parker. He is a low level member of the ministry who was always talking big. I think it made him feel important to be involved with us. I never liked the guy or his tastes, but he was useful. He's the guy you want."

I nodded and stood up with Dursley.

"Remember," Nievsky said as we were leaving. "Destroy him."

-OOO-

I got back to my office and checked with some of my ministry contacts. Alan Parker was an undersecretary in the Muggle Relations Department. The opinion of him was pretty much unanimous; he was a nice guy, maybe a little creepy, but nice. He didn't seem like an up and comer; however, his boss was. He was also considered a prime candidate for the office, and with Parker being that man's right hand, he would then have power.

I knew who was blackmailing Audrey Weasley, and I also knew who had the photos. I just needed to figure out a way to bring down Parker and Nievsky at the same time.

I sat at my desk with my feet up, staring out the window. There had to be a way. I wondered if I got to Parker, if I could then flip him on Nievsky. The blackmail would stop, and Dursley would get the evidence against Nievsky he needed to put him away. A kernel of a plan started to form in my head.