Chapter 14
1 Week Post-Abduction
Theseus held his head in his hands, almost falling asleep at his desk. He'd read the reports sitting there countless times and knew there was no further information he'd glean from them. Newt had combed over every inch of the house in Manchester, which had led them to capture several followers, but Tina hadn't been found.
He'd never seen his brother both so determined as well as despondent. Every moment was dedicated to finding Tina. He barely talked, ate or slept. Theseus worried for him.
"Hey." A hand clapped him on the back. Richard.
"What?"
"Something's come in from our liaison at the Muggle police department. You've got to see this."
They quickly headed into Travers' office.
"Got to admit, that girl is a smart one. This was found on a run-away horse in a small town about 30 miles outside of Edenborough, Scotland. Neighbor recognized the horse, but got suspicious when he tried to return it and several people he didn't know answered the door at his friends' house. By the time the police got there, the place had been cleared and the bodies of the family located in the basement. But they found this under the horse's saddle." Travers laid the piece of wood on his desk.
The brownish-red ink used to write the words had already started to flake away, but most of the message remained intact.
TINA TAKEN FIND SCAMANDER
Theseus spun around to Richard. "Get Newt over here right now."
Richard ran out of the room.
Barely any time passed before Newt barreled into room. "You've found something?" The slightest smile lingered on his lips.
Travers handed him the piece of wood.
Newt examined it closely. He frowned, chipped off a tiny piece of the ink and stuck it on his tongue.
"Scamander! That's evidence!" Travers yelled.
Newt ignored him. "It's blood."
Travers shut his mouth.
Waving his wand and muttering a few Latin words, the wood piece floated in the air. A ghostly image of Tina appeared to be holding it. Newt's breath caught. Dirt smudged her cheek and pieces of straw stuck in her mussed hair. She used blood dripping from a wound on her hand to write the message.
"I want that farm locked down now!" Travers screamed out the door.