Chapter 9

Previous Chapter: "So where are we going?" asked Harry as the car started up again.

"Beverly Hills. Got an address on Susan Bones' meal ticket. But remember, this guy isn't a suspect yet. We're going to question him, not damage him."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I promise I'll be on my best behavior."


Harry and Severus approached the gate of a huge mansion. They had to duck behind a bush as it opened and a red Honda pulled out. Exchanging looks, they slipped inside before the gate fully shut.

"Take a look," Harry whispered, motioning to a window.

Severus cautiosly peered in to see enough Sacarna for all of London.

"I'm thinking probable cause," said Harry.

"Merlin. Maybe I should call for back up .... "

"What am I - chopped liver?"

"No killing."

"No killing." He grinned cheesily.

Severus slowly pulled open the door of a frosted glass pool house as he drew his gun.

"Nice and easy."

"Nice and easy," Harry repeated.

"Hold it right there!"

The man inside didn't hold it right there. He snatched up a shot gun and blew the glass out of the door frame, barely missing Harry's head. Severus dived down and brought his gun back up, shooting the guy in the shoulder.

"See how easy that was," said Severus as they approached the man. "Boom. Still alive. Now we take the gun away." He did. "And we question him. Know why we can question him? Because I hit him in the shoulder. I didn't blow him up or jump off a building with him."

"No fair," Harry whinned. "The building guy lived."

"Whatever. The point is - no killing."

"No killing."

"Right. Piece of cake. I'm very happy. Read the man his rights. I'll be over here being happy."

Unfortunately, he did not see the man on the ground take a hidden wand out of his waistband and aim it dead center at him back. Harry, however, noticed and sprung into action. Before the guy could fire, Harry's foot flashed out and threw the guy backwards ...... into the pool and on top of the plastic cover. It sucked him in and he sunk to the bottom. Severus dived in after him and pulled on the plastic tomb. But it was no use. The plastic smothered him.

Severus surfaced and glared daggers at an embarrased Harry kneeling by the side of the pool.

"Oops."

"Have you ever met someone you didn't kill?" Severus growled.

"Haven't killed you yet."

"Want a little gold star?"

Severus finnished giving a statment and left the crimescene. Harry was waiting by the car.

"Look, I'm sorry I said that back there. You saved my life. Thank you," he choked out.

"I bet that hurt to say."

"You have no idea." They climbed into the car. "Have you got anywhere to go tonight?"

"Home to my empty apartment. Why?"

"Come to dinner tonight. It's the least I can do. Plus, if Trish finds out I didn't invite you, she'll kill me."

"Trish?"

"My wife."

"That's right, I forgot you were married."

"Married and three kids. Brianna is the oldest - she's seventeen."

"Wait, that would mean she would have been born in 1993. Why - "

"I couldn't really tell anyone I had a family," Severus interrupted quietly. "Being a spy and all."

The two rode in silence all the way to the Snape home.