A/N: So I got to play a bit with the Yorkshire dialect :) If there are any Yorkie readers, I apologise for any mistakes.
Chapter 14 – At least Tell Me where You Are
Once arrived in Leeds, Regulus took a taxi to the address of the escort bureau. It was the only lead he had. Lily didn't know Remus' address.
The young woman at the counter stared at him when he took off his sunglasses and beanie. "You're Regulus Black! Or you're the spittin' image of 'im!"
Regulus nodded. "I'm here about Remus Lupin. I need to find him."
"Remus?" She shook her head. "We don't 'ave anyone by that name 'ere. But I'm sure we can find you a perfect lad. Are you into brunettes or blondes?"
"Wha... I'm not a costumer!" Regulus exclaimed, feeling a blush creep up his neck. Had Lily made a mistake with the address? He doubted it very much. How many escort bureaus could there be in Leeds? He sighed and found a picture of Remus in his phone, showing it to the girl. "This is Remus. You must know him."
She studied the picture and her face lit up. "Oh – that's Liam! But 'e used to be blond and wi longer 'air."
"Thanks," sighed Regulus in relief.
"Most of our escorts don't use their real names. You know - to protect their private lives, and that."
"Oh, well, that makes sense," nodded Regulus. "So - do you know where he is?"
She shook her head. "But 'e came in yesterday to quit 'is job." She studied Regulus some more with interest. "May I ask why you're looking for 'im?"
At least that, Regulus was grateful for. That meant it was not Remus' plan to go back to escorting. "You know who I am, but you clearly haven't been following me in the gossip columns. Not that I blame you - it's beyond me how people can be so absorbed in the life of celebrities. Look, could I just talk to your boss?"
The girl disappeared and a few minutes later, a middle-aged woman came out and greeted him. "Ah, Mr. Black. I remember Miss Evans callin' to 'ave a talk about your... situation." She sent him a smile. "I 'ope you were pleased wi our service."
"Yes. Very." Regulus shook her hand. "Can we go somewhere private?"
She made him a cup of tea and took him to her office.
"I take it you haven't heard what has happened the past few days," he started. He went on to explain the situation and the scandal. "So you see - I must find him. I love him."
"Oh..." she nodded and sighed. "I'm so sorreh to 'ear that it ended on those terms. He did seem vereh sad when 'e came back, and joost told me that 'e dint want't do this anymore."
"That's all? He didn't tell you where he went? Or anything else that can help me find him? His phone number is disconnected."
"'appen 'e went to 'is old flat?" she suggested and found the address for Regulus. "You can try and see if 'e's there."
Grateful, Regulus noted the address and took a taxi to the flat. It was not Remus, however, who opened the door, but a bored-looking young man chewing on a piece of gum. "Dunno who that is, mate," he said, eying Regulus up and down. "I joost moved in a few weeks ago."
Regulus rang the doorbell to the other flats in the building, but although several residents knew Remus, none of them had kept in touch and had no idea where to find him.
Disappointed, Regulus decided to get a hotel room and continue his search the next day. He was exhausted and it was getting late.
o0o0o
To his surprise, Regulus didn't wake until 11 the next morning. He had thought he would wake up early because he was so anxious to find Remus, but he must have been really exhausted. Eating breakfast, he pondered what to do. Where could Remus be? A hotel was probably out of the question since he hadn't taken the money. Perhaps a friend's place? Yes, that was probably the most likely. But who? He didn't remember Remus mentioning any friends by name. He had told Regulus about one particular friend who had been there for him always, but either he hadn't said his name or Regulus couldn't remember. He finally decided to find a library and do some research. He wished he had his laptop, but that would have meant going home first and wasting a lot of time.
At the library he sat down at a computer in the corner. Wearing sunglasses in there would both look strange and be unpractical, but he wore his beanie, all his hair tucked into it. Unfortunately, the internet didn't give any results on the name Lupin in Leeds. Not even a Facebook page.
Regulus found a librarian and asked if they had old phone books stored and luckily they had from the past ten years. And there it was: Hope Lupin. That had to be Remus' mother, didn't it? It was the only Lupin in any of the books, and it wasn't exactly a common name. Of course, someone else must have bought the house, but perhaps some of the neighbours knew Remus. If it was his childhood home there had to be someone who knew something about him.
Regulus took a taxi to the address. Finding the Lupin house, he decided to go to the house next door.
A rather old woman supporting herself on a cane opened the door after Regulus had knocked a few times. "Nah then, luv," she smiled kindly.
"Good day, ma'am," said Regulus. "My name is Regulus Black. I was wondering if I may ask you a few questions?"
"Aye, of course," she smiled. "What would tha like t' know, young lad?"
"I'm looking for Remus Lupin. I met him in London recently and I've lost contact with him. I'm quite sure he moved back to Leeds. His old phone number is disconnected and he recently moved out of his flat. I was wondering if you know something about him that could help me find him? If you know him at all. I don't know how long you have lived here or how long the Lupins lived next door."
"Aye, I knew't Lupins!" smiled the elderly woman. "Hope moved in wi 'er 'usband and Remus when 'e were a little bairn. Such a sweet ladeh. 'Er 'usband were summat else. A reet washout, that un. But 'e fed't family, at least for a bit. But un day 'e joost packed up and left poor 'ope and young Remus on their own wi a large mortgage." She shook her head. "Oh, 'ere I am, chatterin' aweh, but tha see, I knew them well. I looked after little Remus when 'is mam were workin'. She did that a lot so they could mek ends meet and stay in't 'ouse."
"Right," nodded Regulus, although he had barely understood half of what the old lady had said "Do you know where I can find Remus now?"
"Nay, 'aven't seen 'im for a few years, I'm afraid. 'E flit shortleh after 'is mam died. But 'appen 'e's wi 'is friend Peter. Peter Pettigrew."
"Okay," said Regulus, quite excited to get a name. "Do you think he lives in Leeds?"
"I don't know, luv. But tha can try and look 'im up in't phone book or whatever ye young folk use nowadays. I doubt Pettigrew is a common name, so shunt be too difficult."
"No, I should say not. Do you know the name of any other close friends?"
The old lady frowned and then shook her head slowly. "There were friends from school, but I don't remember any names, I'm afraid. Me memory int what it used t' be. But Peter were allus t' closest un."
"Well, I'll see if I can find him," said Regulus and shook her hand. "Thank you very much. You've been most kind and helpful."
o0o0o
To his relief, Regulus found Peter Pettigrew listed with both address and phone number. He decided to go to the flat, thinking there was a good chance Remus was there or that at least Pettigrew knew where he was, and it would be easier to talk him into seeing Remus in person than over the phone.
A short stocky young man opened the door and eyed Regulus up and down.
"Hello, I'm Regu-"
"I know who you are," the man cut him off. "What do you want?"
"I need to talk to Remus. Is he here? Or do you know where he is?"
"He int 'ere and even if I knew where 'e were, I wouldn't tell you."
"But you're still in contact with him?" asked Regulus, encouraged. "He will want to see me and hear what I have to say. Things have changed."
"No, I 'ant seen 'im in a year or so. I don't even 'ave his number, so you can leave now," said Pettigrew and closed the door in Regulus' face.
Regulus knocked on the door again but got no response. He wasn't entirely sure Pettigrew was telling the truth about not being in contact with Remus any longer. He decided to go back to the hotel and think about what to do next. Perhaps he should put a private investigator on the case?
o0o0o
Peter went into the living room and sat down with his friend.
"Who was that?" asked Remus.
"Jehovah's witnesses," mumbled Peter. "I 'ate that. People can believe what they want, as long as they don't try to stuff it down me throat. Listen, 'ow about I order us a pizza or summat else you would like? You've bareleh eaten since you got 'ere. I'm worried."
Remus pulled his knees up to his chest. "I don't think I can eat anythin' right now. Maybe I should just go sleep a bit more. I'm proper tired." He tried to send his friend a reassuring smile but his face felt stiff as leather. "Thanks for lettin' me stay 'ere, Pete. I don't know what else I'd do."
"Of course," said Peter, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "You can stay as long as you like. Don't be in a hurry finding your own place. I still think you should've taken the wanker's moneh, though. You earned them."
"No..." Remus said, tearing up a bit. "That would send the message that it were just a job to me and I don't want him to think that, even though he just threw me aweh."
"It werejust a job. At least half of the time, it were. You should at least have taken the full salary."
Remus shook his head again. "I don't want it, yeah? It feels wrong."
Peter sighed. "You got to stop fallin' in love with your clients, Remus."
"Reckon I'm not really cut out for the job emotionally," Remus mumbled.
"No, you aren't, and I'm glad you quit." Peter pulled out his mobile phone. "I'm goin' to order summat to eat, and I'll stuff it down your throat if I 'ave to."
o0o0o
Back at the hotel Regulus went through his phone, deleting all the voicemails from his mother and journalists without listening to them, and did the same with the texts. Then he called Lily.
She picked up at the second ring. "Regulus! How are you? Where are you?"
"Still in Leeds. Haven't found him yet," he sighed.
"I'm sorry to hear that. They couldn't help you at the bureau?"
"No. He quit his job and didn't leave an address. I tracked down his old best friend, but he didn't know where Remus was. Said he hadn't talked to him in a year. I'm not sure he was telling the whole truth, though. He was quite hostile. I'm thinking of hiring a private investigator."
"So you're coming home?"
"Not until I've found him. There's nothing for me in London right now, anyway, other than journalists and angry parents. So far I haven't been discovered up here, so it's quite peaceful."
"At least tell me where you are."
"No. Then you'll just come up here."
"If I promise I won't, then will you tell me? It would give me peace of mind."
Regulus sighed. "Alright. I'm at the Wilford Hotel."
"Okay. Sirius called me. He'd seen the news and was quite desperate to talk to you, so please call him, yeah?"
"I know. He left about a million messages," sighed Regulus.
He proceeded to call his brother, explaining what had happened and saying that he didn't want him to come over; that he had to sort this out on his own. He didn't give him the name of the hotel, knowing that, unlike Lily, he might ignore the request of staying away.
A/N: Just one more chapter to go!