Chapter 18: The Plan
"Right," Amelia said, when everyone had finally settled back down back around the board, "What we need is a plan."
"Great," Fabian muttered, "That should be simple."
"What's the plan for exactly?" Dolores asked, placing a plate of stacked, buttered toast down on the desk.
Amelia groaned and grabbed a slice, biting down on it aggressively; it was still early.
"We have to find out more about the organization behind these murders," she said between mouthfuls, "If the recruiting sessions have already been, then we're probably never going to find the people that did it. We've already seen how fast Demming took off when he knew we were on to him. But if the date hasn't passed yet, then we can need to be there, on that day, ready to take these sons-of-bitches down."
"And you know how to do this?" Frank questioned.
"Despite the time, luckily for you," Amelia said, "I have thought about it and I've got an idea."
"That's why we keep you around," Fabian smiled.
"And why I'm the leader and why I get better health insurance," Amelia nodded.
And she explained her plan. The centre for the entire operation was The Hangman's Noose, so their best chance was to head back there. If Darius was still giving out invitations, then all they had to do was pick one up. They would send somebody in there, undercover, and that's how'd they discover the recruitment dates. When Amelia had finished speaking, she was left looking at the incredulous faces of her colleagues.
"That's your brilliant plan?" Fabian said, "How is your health insurance any better than mine?"
"It's still in the development stages," Amelia snapped defensively, "And I don't see you contributing anything from your pool of greatness."
"My only concern is if the time has passed," Gideon said seriously, "then going in there and asking questions could put us at risk."
"And, in your blind need for action," Fabian added, in a somewhat disparaging tone, "you've forgotten one thing. Demming knows what we all look like. If one of us walks in, he's gonna notice."
"Does 'undercover' mean nothing to you people?" Amelia said, "We're not just gonna waltz in there wearing Ministry robes."
Fabian gave a slight cough and she threw a piece of toast at him.
"Anybody else got something to contribute then?" she glared.
"I'm in," Alice said quietly.
Everybody turned to look at her.
"Nice try," Frank said, "but you're not in this unit."
"That's why it's so perfect," Alice explained, "My own unit doesn't need me right now, so I'm free. This Demming hasn't seen me before, so he won't know who I am."
"Oh no," Frank shook his head, "You are not going in there by yourself."
"Obviously you'll have some way of communicating with me," Alice said with an exasperated sigh, "But sending me alone is your best bet. I'm trained, I'm smart (not to mention modest) and you won't have to worry about dealing with appearance charms or potions."
"It does take an awfully long time to apply for Polyjuice Potion," Dolores admitted.
Frank looked around incredulously.
"Does no one else think this is a bad idea?" he said.
He got no answers. Fabian just shrugged, as if to say "sorry, mate, but you're on your own." Amelia crossed her arms. She could understand why Frank would want to keep his wife out of something so dangerous, but Alice was more than capable of taking care of herself.
"Well, I won't allow it!" Frank said, sounding ridiculously juvenile.
Alice turned on him, her green eyes flashing.
"I don't need to seek your approval, Frank Longbottom," she said, putting her hands on her hips, "I will make my owns choices in the manner that I see fit. And currently I see a need that I can meet, so I'm going to do it."
She turned back to Amelia, looking triumphant as Frank sank back moodily into his chair. Amelia cleared her throat.
"Well I guess that's sorted," she said, "Thank you, Alice. We're going to need details people, so I want everything we currently have on anything that remotely links to this case. We don't want to send a man in underprepared."
As everyone was getting up and going into action, Amelia went over to Frank. He was sitting, frowning at the floor.
"She's a talented witch," Amelia commented, making Frank jump out of his thoughts.
"I know, I know," Frank admitted, "Alice is brilliant."
His tone was so genuine that his leader couldn't help feeling for him.
"I know what I've suggested sounds a little slapdash," she whispered, "but I can promise you now that your wife is not even leaving this building until we have planned for all foreseeable eventualities. If I am not satisfied that we will be able to bring her out, she's not going in."
Frank nodded his understanding and stood up. Amelia watched him walk towards his work station, before he was intercepted by Alice who, standing on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a loving hug. Amelia smiled and then went on to her own work.
The plan that Auror Unit B eventually decided on was not dissimilar to the one Amelia had originally suggested, it merely had some of the blanks filled in. The person they needed to talk to was, from the information Rowan had given them, Darius Finch. The place to find him, without it looking strange, was The Hangman's Noose. The best time would be in the early evening, about the time that Finch's girls started their services. They would send Alice in each evening for a few days, having her make hints and try to establish contact. If she could get close enough to Finch, she could express her interest about joining the Death Eaters and that would hopefully tell them where they stood.
Amelia spent the next few days schooling Alice on every detail of the case so far, helping her to figure out the right kind of questions to ask. However, as they planned and formulated, she was painfully aware that every second they spent in the office was another second their enemy had to carry out their own plans, pack up and then ride off into the sunset. On the day they began the mission, something Fabian had labelled "Codename: No Chance in Hell", all team members arrived to work extremely early, so much so that the Atrium was all but empty when Amelia arrived. As her shoes clicked across the floor, the sound was joined by that of Dolores and Gideon, the first giving Amelia an encouraging smile, the latter wearing an expression that was solemn even by his standards. Fabian was already leaning against his desk and he raised a hand to welcome his partner, his expression also a serious one, just going to show what a risk they were taking. Frank was sitting in his seat, staring at the wall, his hands clasped tightly together.
"Alice is getting ready," Fabian whispered to Amelia as she walked up beside him, "He's been like that since they arrived."
"Have you talked to him?" Amelia asked.
"Of course," Fabian exclaimed, "I asked him if he caught the game last night."
"Of course," Amelia rolled her eyes, "Trust you to think of Quidditch in a time of peril."
"And I told him that we would do everything in our power to keep her safe," Fabian added, "but I'm not sure he was listening."
"No," Amelia sighed, "Although I can't say I blame him."
She watched her team member in his silent staring ritual and she shivered; what were they about to do?