Chapter 12
Newt drummed his fingers on the table back in the same investigation room at the Ministry of Magic all those months ago. It didn't seem quite as cramped with only him and Jacob sitting in it.
"What the hell are we doin' back here, Newt? Why couldn't Theseus just tell us whatever it is at home."
Newt sighed. "I don't know." He didn't say it, but he knew something must have gone wrong with the mission.
Jacob stood up, paced around the table then slumped back in the chair. "They coulda at least put us in a nicer room," he grumbled.
Theseus walked in the door, his face an unemotional mask.
Jacob and Newt stood up.
"What going on, Theseus?" Jacob demanded.
Bile rose in Newt's throat. "Where's Tina?"
Theseus put a folder full of papers on the table, his eyes firmly planted on it. "We lost her."
Newt felt the chair before his brain even registered that he'd sat down. His eyes wide, he stared at his brother. "Is she dead?"
Jacob laid a gentle hand on Newt's shoulder.
Theseus looked up. "No. I'm sorry, Newt. I shouldn't have said it like that. She was abducted by Grindelwald." His eyes shifted to Jacob. "Queenie was there. She helped Grindelwald take her."
Jacob's fist hit the table. "That bastard's got my girl wrapped around his little finger." He turned to Newt. "Don't worry, buddy. Queenie would never let him hurt her big sister."
A partial weight lifted off Newt's shoulders. He blinked back his emotions. "She's still alive."
Despite it being a statement rather than a question, Theseus answered. "As far as we know."
Torquil Travers strolled in the door. "Theseus get you all up to date on the current situation?" He must have come to the conclusion that Theseus had based on the looks on everyone's faces. "Good."
Newt bolted upright. "I can track her."
Travers shook his head.
Jacob put his finger almost into Travers' face. "Listen, Mister. If anyone can track Tina, it's this man. I was with him in Paris when that Kama guy took her. I mean, he literally gets down in the dirt. Licked the sidewalk and everything. Found her quick. Give him a chance."
"I've seen him find the tiniest creatures in the densest jungle," Theseus added.
Travers rubbed his chin. "I don't know, Little Brother Scamander. I took a lot of flak for your last near-death experience."
"I'm not going to just sit and wait." Newt's eyes wandered to the door.
"Fine!" Travers whirled to Theseus. "He does not enter one building without it being completely secure, and you will be monitoring him at every second out in the field. Got it?"
"Yes, sir." Theseus nodded.
"I want everyone we can spare on this. I've got 48 hours tops before I've got to notify the MACUSA about this disaster. I can't stand the thought of those Yanks breathing down my neck. Go find her!"