"So you've been a wizard for how long?" Liam asked, rocking his short glass with scotch and ice.
They sat at a traditional Irish pub that Liam selected to have drinks. It was his third drink so far and he started to get tipsy already.
"Since I was born. My foster parents were wizards as well." Jade said.
"But how do you know you're not human like me?" Liam asked.
"We're all human, Liam." Jade said.
'Well no…not really.' Jade thought.
"Are you sure you don't want a drink?" Liam asked with a hiccup.
Jade slid off her stool and took Liam's glass from his hand. "Time for you to go home." Jade said, taking his arm.
"It's too early to get drunk." The bartender said.
"I think he's heard that one before." Jade said, pulling Liam out of his stool.
"I can drive!" Liam said as Jade shoved him into her passenger's seat.
After dropping Liam home, on his bed, Jade drove to Hermione and Ron's house.
"Jade!" Ron said when he opened the door.
"I bought wine." Jade said, handing him the wine after he kissed her cheek.
"JAAAAAAADE!" Rose, James, Albus and Hugo yelled.
"Arrgh! Big Bad Jade's come to eat you all alive!" Jade growled, scooping the four screaming and squirming kids in her arms.
Oddly enough, kids were the only people Jade could let her guard down on and never hurt. They never faked their emotions and were always straightforward, never beating around the bush. Surprisingly enough, a sociopath like Jade was great with kids but terrible with adults but she didn't care. Children never judged her.
"James pooped in Mummy's plant again." Albus told Jade who looked at James.
"Don't say that out loud!" James said but it was too late.
"James! What did I tell you about defecating in my plants again?!" Ginny shrieked.
"Isn't fertilizing good for plants?" Ron asked as everyone gave him an odd look.
"Hide me Jade! I don't want Mummy to yell at me again!" James yelled. Jade jogged away from Ginny with the kids in her hands and set them down in the living room.
"Jade!" Luna's soft voice carried.
"Luna!" Jade said, as Luna hugged her.
"I heard there was a big case in Platform 9 ¾. I have a theory on it though, I was just telling Harry and Ron."
"I don't think Blibbering Humdingers are making a secret society to take over the world." Hermione said. Luna blinked at Hermione with her large grey eyes. Jade noticed that she was wearing hot pink and dried up sea urchin earrings. Jade was never the one to point things out about Luna's fashion sense. At least Luna had a sense, Jade only believed in underwear, a comfortable, clean and ironed shirt and pants. An apron as well for her part time hobby.
"You don't believe me now but wait until they come hovering over you to take you as a prisoner." Luna said.
"I think the lamb chops are done!" Ginny said, walking away with a hand on her pregnant stomach.
Everyone sat down for dinner, wine and beer. They spoke about the case with both departments collaborating with each other.
"Originally when we were told that we had to take the London police department's help, you can tell how much we were going to hate it." Harry said, eating a piece of his lamb. Jade sat back with her beer bottle with Albus on her lap.
"Albus you're getting sauce and bits all over your Aunt's pants!" Ginny said, going to move Albus but Jade shook her head.
"They're just pants." Jade said.
"I think your boss appreciates your work a little too much." Hermione said to Jade.
"Oh…Lieutenant Marshall? He's harmless…I guess. I just tend to act aloof when around him." Jade said.
"Did you find an Aurseize yet, Ronald?" Luna asked. Ron looked grim and handed his son his beer bottle.
"I'm going to lose my job with the cases stacking up like this." Ron said, burying his head.
After dinner, Jade and Luna left, saying goodbye to Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Harry and the kids.
"How is work for you at St. Mungos?" Jade asked, driving away from Ron and Hermione's house. Luna sighed happily and relaxed into her seat.
"I really like it Jade. Things are going wonderfully there." Luna said.
"Oh…good." Jade said.
There was a small pause as Jade kept driving.
"I'm seeing someone!" Luna burst out.
Jade tried to think of something to say.
"Nice to know!" Jade said.
"Aren't you going to ask who it is?" Luna asked.
"I figured you were going to tell me anyways." Jade said.
"His name is Rolf." Luna said.
"Rolf?" Jade asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Like the sound a dog makes, Rolf?" Jade asked.
"That's not nice." Luna frowned.
"I'm sorry. Does he work with you?" Jade asked.
"He works in the spell damage wing. Very handsome and so sweet. We sometimes chat about The Quibbler we inherited from our father." Luna said.
Jade hummed to let Luna know that she was listening.
"We should meet. Have dinner one day. I told him so much about you and he is very interested to meet you." Luna said.
It was like Jade was opening up a circus. People left and right were coming in and there was no way she could stop them.
"Oh, okay." Jade said, rolling into Luna's driveway.
"So shall I arrange a dinner between the three of us? Unless you plan to bring a date?" Luna asked.
It was highly unlikely for Jade to bring a date but when she would usually meet Luna's boyfriends, things would get uncomfortable. Not only could Jade not hold up a conversation, she would bore them to death, metaphorically speaking.
"I'll let you know if I bring in someone." Jade said.
"Then it's a date! Goodnight sister, I love you." Luna said.
"Good night!" Jade said.
Luna left the car and Jade made sure Luna got in safely before leaving. Jade's cell phone started to ring and Jade fished it out of her pocket, keeping one firm hand on the wheel.
"Hello." Jade said into the phone.
"It's like a fucking nuclear atom bomb just fucked my mind!" Liam said hurriedly.
"Maybe you should go back to sleep?" Jade asked.
"I'm not drunk. I was just a little tipsy but I'm fine now. By the way, thank you for bringing me back home." Liam said.
"Not a problem." Jade said, stopping at a red light.
"I just woke up a few minutes ago and went to the refrigerator to get ice to soothe my headache and I just got the theory of a motherfucker that could get me the biggest arse banging into homicide!" Liam said.
Jade looked into the phone, shaking her head.
"I must be very poor when reading in between the lines. What exactly are you saying that you want me to understand?" Jade asked.
"Ice baby, ice! The body was preserved in the cold! How else would the fucker drain the blood out and keep the flesh from rotting?" Liam asked.
Jade froze. Suddenly it all made things perfectly clear.
"Why hadn't I thought of that?" Jade asked.
"Ha, ha. I told you, you would need my help." Liam said.
"It's a good theory but you need to back it up a little bit more." Jade said, arriving in her building's parking lot.
"Yeah I know. I need a solid piece of evidence or Thatcher would just torch me alive and spit on me. But you're a witch right? Use your spidey senses and find some evidence for me." Liam said.
"Spider-man references are not appreciated. I have to go Liam, good luck and see you tomorrow." Jade said, shutting off the phone.
She unlocked her door and stepped inside; feeling the calm and cool atmosphere of her apartment soothe her. Everything was spotless and extremely clean the way Jade had left it and should always be. After changing into her home clothes, Jade made a cup of tea and opened up her computer. One by one, she looked at the photos and sat in awe of the masterpiece. Seeing a body of work like that brought back the plunging darkness inside of her. She closed her fist up tightly, starting to get irritated that it was back. It had just been yesterday since she dumped John Hammish's body into the North Sea.
Leaving the pictures behind, Jade pulled up a new face she was soon going to set up a play date with. Marleen Birgitta was an extremely rich widow. Her fourth husband, who was a well-known steel tycoon, had mysteriously died of an asthma attack a few weeks ago, just like her previous husbands. Coincidence? All four of them had a history of asthma and an extremely wealthy background in savings and assets. Marleen was only in her thirties, compared to the sixty plus in age that her deceased husbands were. For now, Jade had to put her away since today had been too much to take in.
"I will see you tomorrow night Miss Birgitta." Jade said, closing her laptop.
Jade walked into the department the next morning. She greeted the police officers as she walked by.
"Lovegood, we need you in the conference board, we have a meeting." Marshall said as a surge of officers, people with business suits and Chief Inspector Vincent made their way into the room.
"Right behind you Lieutenant." Jade said, seeing Marshall nod.
Jade went to walk forward but collided against someone and the sensation of scalding hot coffee falling on her shirt and quickly running to her pants caught her off guard. Jade jumped back and tugged on her shirt so it wouldn't stick to her skin.
"What the fuck? Are you blind?" a familiar voice said.
Jade looked up, seeing Pansy Parkinson snarling at her. She still had her bob with black dress pants and a black jacket over a light blue button up shirt. Jade indulged in the fact that Pansy Parkinson had gone from her life for the last eight years but she only came back to bite her in the arse, or worse, ruin her good shirt.
"I'm very sorry about that, I apologize behalf of Lovegood." Thatcher said immediately who was right by Parkinson's side.
"The creep ruined my coffee." Parkinson snarled, wiping the small drops on her shoes.
"I didn't mean to-"
"Shut the fuck up. Does it look like I want to talk to you?" Parkinson asked.
"I keep telling the Lieutenant to open his eyes and smell the shit that's lying around in the department…but what's a man to do when he's got eyes for garbage." Thatcher said.
"They seem to rot more than they can improve don't they?" Parkinson asked, walking away with her eyes still on Jade.
It would have been nice to see both Thatcher and Parkinson on a table with their arms and legs locked but it never fit under Jade's principles. One could only dream.
"If you had no cream or sugar, you'd be my kind of coffee." Draco said, handing her a wad of tissues.
Jade didn't know what to say. She took the tissue from him and wiped her shirt but it was sopping wet.
"Nice day to wear white. If I knew better I would have worn something else." Jade said, making Draco smile.
"Or just have steered clear." He said.
"Whoa, what happened to you?" Liam asked as Jade dried herself up.
"I had a run in with caffeine." Jade said.
"I just finished talking to Corey; we have a positive I.D. on our Jane Doe." Liam said, waving the file at Jade. Jade went to take it from Liam but he took it away, wagging his finger.
"Don't spoil the surprise for yourself just yet sister! We have a meeting to go to!" Liam said, walking off. Corey and Blaise appeared, guffawing.
"We're going to a dance club, want to come with?" Corey asked.
"For what?" Jade asked.
"Just because!" Blaise said.
They walked off towards the room and Draco walked forward, holding the door.
"Ladies first." He said. Jade thanked Draco and walked in with him close behind.
"Settle down and keep quiet everyone." Thatcher said. Jade found a seat next to Corey and sat down as Draco took a seat next to her.
"Officer Wallace has retrieved video footage and we've made a major break in this case." Marshall said, turning towards the projector. Someone shut the lights and they saw a slightly overweight man hurrying to set the body down. He kept looking behind and placed the body parts down.
"What the fuck, it can't be." Draco murmured next to Jade who was equally surprised.
Marshall paused the button and zoomed in on the man's face.
"Everyone, our suspect is Neville Longbottom." Jade looked around, seeing everyone look convinced.
There was no possible way that a person like Neville would be a killer. Not only did Jade personally know him but the only thing Neville was concerned about had been sweaty palms and Severus Snape. Even a room full of officers and criminal officials should have known better than to suspect Neville as a killer.
Liam stood up, ready to propose his new theory. Jade mentally slapped her forehead, hoping that Liam had a solid backup in case the Marshall was going to squash him like an insect.
"Do you have something to say Officer Wallace?" Marshall asked, seeing Liam nervously fidget about.
"I er…I have a…t-theory." Liam said.
"A theory?" Marshall asked, his voice hinting sarcasm.
"Yes sir." Liam said.
"Well let's hear this theory." Marshall said. Liam's cheeks slowly started turning pink.
"Well…the er…ice. The ice is what we're looking at." Liam said.
Marshall and the rest of the room squinted their eyes but Jade was the only one who had her hands in her pockets, staring off into the floor.
"Like a fucking cold truck. With ice. Like…to put the bodies in." Liam said.
"A cold truck with ice. That's cute, are you suggesting our killer might be the ice cream man?" Marshall asked. Liam's smile dropped as the room broke into chuckles.
"Sit down Mr. Wallace; we don't have time to talk about ice and nonsense like that. Anyways, we're looking for Neville Longbottom. He was last seen leaving King's Cross station around 10 p.m. I want a team to investigate his house, his workplace and question anyone for answers." The Lieutenant said.
Everyone started filing out and Liam sat there, red faced.
"Are you okay?" Jade asked, seeing him sigh.
"I just need to be alone for a few minutes." He said. Jade got up and left to her lab.
"I feel bad for Liam." Corey said as Jade opened up the lab.
"Maybe if we gave him a lap dance, it would cheer him up. Not me, just someone else because that would be…weird." Blaise said.
"So beautiful, do you want me to give you a tour of our department again?" Corey asked, seeing Blaise's eyes light up.
They left and Draco shook his head, pulling up a seat.
"They've had two tours this morning. I'm getting sick of them." Draco said as Jade pulled on a pair of latex gloves.
"We should be thankful that some are having a better morning than others." Jade said.
Draco stood quiet as Jade set up the microscope.
"Do you think Longbottom is behind all of this?" Draco asked.
'No.' Jade thought.
"That's what they're saying." Jade said.
Draco didn't respond and she looked at him, noting his surprise.
"Really?" Draco asked.
"You don't think so?" Jade asked.
"Actually I don't and I'm pretty shocked that you don't either." He said.
Jade was impressed yet again. Not only did they share the same thoughts, he knew the way she thought better than anyone else had.
"Who do you think is responsible for this if it isn't Neville?" Jade asked darkly.
Draco held her eyes, taking another shot into her mind but failed miserably.
"I don't know, but I know that there's something you're not telling me." Draco said.
"It's too bad that I don't know what you're talking about Auror Malfoy." Jade said.
Draco got up, standing directly in front of Jade.
"Why is it that every time I talk to you, your mind and emotions becomes impenetrable?" Draco asked.
"Protection mostly but mainly because it's none of your business." Jade said.
The door swung open and Draco turned around but Jade had her eyes on him.
"Another fucking body's just been found!" Liam said.