Chapter 12: The Only Way is Up

Amelia wasn't entirely certain what had made her snap. She had just been so sure that Larry was going to be the piece in the puzzle that brought everything together. But why was she kidding herself? Even if Larry had killed Bartholomew, it didn't explain why. It didn't explain why Darius had killed Francesca or why Swann had been murdered. There were so many lose ends and Amelia didn't like it. She got in the lift and rode it all the way down to the Atrium. Then she stormed over to the exit that led to the Muggle streets, coming out in a Tube Station bathroom. It was a cold day, the wind whipping at her face as she emerged from the underground. Dodging cars, she ran across the road and into an alcove created by large buildings on either side. There, she leant against the wall and angrily took out a cigarette, lighting it and shoving it in her mouth, taking several sharps puffs.

"I never knew you could smoke with such emotion," Dolores said dryly.

She had followed her friend out of the building and across the street, the pink bow in her hair fluttering in the wind like a monotone butterfly. She kept her distance, standing a few paces away. Amelia shot her a disdainful look but said nothing. They stayed in silence until Amelia threw the cigarette on the ground and stamped it out with her foot.

"Better?" Dolores asked flatly.

"No, not really," Amelia admitted begrudgingly.

"What's wrong?" Dolores said, "You've had worse cases than this, at least, ones that've progressed more slowly."

"Nothing's wrong!" Amelia snapped, "I just thought I had it, that's all."

The shorter witch sighed and walked over to her friend.

"Amelia," she said, "there's no shame in admitting that you're still hurting."

Amelia turned to her, her eyes steely, as if to protest. Her parents had nothing to do with this; she was fine! But then her body hung limp and tears began to well in her eyes.

"I miss them so much," she whispered.

Dolores came over and gave her a hug. She was so short that Amelia could almost rest her chin on her head. Dolores patted her back.

"It's okay," she said quietly, "It's alright."

Amelia pulled away, her eyes still full of tears.

"I never got to say goodbye," she cried, her voice hoarse, "Never got to thank them, for everything they did."

"I'm sure they knew," Dolores said kindly, "I'm certain they did."

"Is everything okay?"

Fabian had joined them. He smiled at Amelia, a hopeful, careful smile, as if he was trying not to startle her. Amelia managed to return a small one, to let him know it was fine. He had come, as he always did, and for that she was grateful.

"I'm fine, Fabian," she said, "Fine."

But she still let him pull her into a hug. Then he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"We're gonna get this one!" he said, "Okay?"

"Yeah," Amelia nodded, "I'm sorry."

Fabian put his hands in his pockets and shrugged.

"You've been going through a lot, we get that. Everyone has their off moments."

Amelia laughed a little and wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"But still, they don't yell at a witness, throw evidence and then storm off in a huff! It was completely unprofessional, I shouldn't have done it."

"Yeah," Fabian conceded, "but I get where you're coming from. This case is just one dead end after another."

"You just need to identify all the pieces," Dolores said, "then the picture will come together all on it's own! Come on, we should be getting back."

But Amelia had frozen. One word that Dolores had said was resonating in her head.

"Identify," she whispered and then she broke into a run, heading back to the Ministry.

Dolores and Fabian managed to catch up with her as she started across the Atrium.

"What is it?" Dolores puffed as she ran up beside the other witch.

"How did that man Rowan saw with Darius know that we had identified Francesca Dyer?" Amelia said, "We haven't released it officially, it's not common knowledge. So how did he know?"

"Because we had told him ourselves," Fabian said, in a tone of dawning understanding.

"Exactly," Amelia replied darkly.

"Matt Demming," Amelia said as she approached the group of Aurors around her desk.

"What about him?" Frank asked.

"He's the one," Fabian said, "the one Rowan saw with Darius."

"And, if I'm right," Amelia added, "he killed Swann."

"And how did all this come about?" Gideon inquired.

"Identity," Amelia said, "When Mitchie was on the case, he hadn't found out Francesca's name, so even if he did interview the other victims' relatives, they wouldn't have been told her name. The only people who know are the people we told and there are only three others apart from Rowan and Miss Jones who we did. Tom, from the Leaky Cauldron, Gornuk and Demming. I can't believe Tom is involved. This is a wizard war, not something a goblin like Gornuk would get involved in. Besides, Rowan saw Tom so she could've identified him. And she would've been able to spot a goblin. Which leaves us with-"

"- Demming," Frank said with a frown.

Amelia nodded.

"Do we have any photos of him?"

Frank shook his head.

"He's got no record."

Amelia scrunched her hands into fists and bit her lip. But after a little thought, she turned to Hestia.

"Can you draw from a description?"

"I could try," the girl shrugged.

"Good," Amelia said firmly, "Gideon, you've got the best memory, go with Miss Jones and try and get us a likeness."

Gideon nodded and they went down the corridor to his cubicle. Amelia turned back towards the board.

"It clears things up a little," she said, "Finch kills Francesca, Larry kills Bartholomew and Demming kills Swann. They each pick a person that they can get access to."

"But why?" Frank exclaimed.

Amelia frowned and folded her arms across her chest. "That's the bit I'm still working on," she said slowly, scanning the board for something, anything.

Gideon returned with a sketch and handed it to his leader with a significant look. Amelia glanced at the page; there was Demming, with his perfectly trimmed beard and clever eyes. Amelia nodded her approval and then handed the parchment to Rowan.

"Is this your man?" she said.

Rowan's green eyes stared at the face for a few seconds, taking in every contour, then she nodded.

"This is him."

"Right," Amelia said brightly, "I think it's time we paid Mr Demming another visit. To ask him why he conveniently forgot to mention that he's a Death Eater and he actually does know all our victims and their killers."