Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters, places et al. are owned by J.K. Rowling. Also Twilight and all characters places et al. are owned by Stephenie Meyer
A/N: Here we go again... Thought I had added the chapter properly? But it seems no, so here it goes again ;) Sorry for the long delay, but some things came up in real life (as they usually do...) and didn't have time nor proper mindset for writing. :( Now, i got better :) The next one is already in the pipe, so there ;)
Chapter 22: And so it goes
Kevin Ulan looked at his assistant Alfred, then back at Auror Burke.
"You very much have my attention," he said finally after quickly clearing his throat. "I mean it could all be circumstantial, but lately I find myself believing less and less in coincidences."
Auror Burke turned his chair with a graceful movement that belied his pudgy outer form to face the window. Normally, he would have taken it as terribly impolite but he suspected it was just a habit of his. "I agree," his deep basso resonated through the office. "Sarah was a personal friend, you know," his voice suddenly got a sharp edge to it, "and I tend to take the wanton murder of friends very personally. So, you see, I want results. You are offering a crucial piece of the puzzle. I need that." He turned around in his chair and faced him directly, a hard, steely glare coming out of his round face. "Auror DeLaine will lead the investigation, but I want you, as well." He ruffled through his papers on the desk, picked an official looking parchment and handed it over to Kevin. "You will find that you have all the authority you'll ever need."
Ulan looked quickly at the paper and his pupils dilated ever so slightly. It was basically a "shoot first, blow up the house, ask questions later" permission.
"Thanks," Kevin managed to say. "This is unexpected, to say the least. You must have –"
"-enough capable investigators?" Burke finished the sentence for him. "Frankly, no. DeLaine is good, but we mostly deal with Muggle incidents, the stray wildlife gone berserk here and there and the odd nutcase with delusions of grandeur. But you people… Having fought a war and actually seen the ugly truth of it gives you an edge I want. I need. And I will get," he said with the finality of death.
Kevin hid his surprise at this outburst of emotion well. It was just another proof that you should never judge a book by its cover, even if it's a pudgy, overly-friendly looking one.
"Of course we support you in any way we can," he affirmed Burke.
"Good, good," Burke said almost absentmindedly. Almost as if on cue, someone knocked on the door.
"Come!" Burke said aloud. Opening the door was a timid looking woman in her mid-twenties with frizzy hair so red it almost glowed. Intelligent eyes in a freckled face scanned the room and lingered for a fraction of a second longer on him and his assistant than on Burke.
"Jennifer," Burke said amicably, this is our support from the UK, Aurors Ulan and Keller" he gestured at them. "And this is Jennifer DeLaine, the lead Auror for this case."
"Ms DeLaine," Kevin got up and shook her hand firmly. "A pleasure."
She grinned at him. She actually grinned… "We'll see about that," she drawled in a heavy accent, New Orleans probably. "But let's not waste time with chatting," she continued, nodding to Burke.
He nodded back, "yes, yes, you're right. Off you go. We're done here, anyway. Right, Mr Ulan?"
"Er, yes, I guess so," he answered hastily followed DeLaine, who was already on her way.
"Ms DeLaine, I –" he tried talking to her as he managed to close up to her.
"Jennifer," she cut him short, unperturbed by her speed. "Cut the formal crap, I get headache from all that stiff talking."
"As you wish…Jennifer," Ulan answered, almost smirking at her. "When are we going to the crime scene?"
"Guess where we rushing now?" she smirked and put increased her already tremendous pace.
"Would you stop fidgeting?" Alice snapped at Seth, as he was twitching around again in his seat next to her in the car.
"I am not fidgeting," he snapped back huffily. "It is just," he looked around, grasping for words, "I feel not like myself anymore. I used to be thinner, and now my clothes-"
"-are fitting you much, much nicer," Alice leered, "especially in those special places."
Seth got suddenly very red, still not one hundred percent used to this sexual innuendo. But he had to admit, he filled out his clothes a lot more than he used to. He was no Jacob, but a lot closer now than he was before. In truth, though, his changed appearance wasn't the only reason he was fidgety. After ditching his new identity he was back to being Seth. Normally, he should have been going back to his old school, though for obvious reasons this would not have been a stellar idea. Instead, the Cullens somehow managed to get him to Forks High as his Sethly self. He wasn't sure if this was such a great idea, either, but now he was committed. No turning back, as they say. His welcoming would be a lot different now, unfortunately. The 'distant cousin' had the distinct advantage of being a non-entity as far as local sensibilities were concerned. Now, a former La Push resident… That was a totally different kettle of fish. He sighed when he looked at Alice as she manically grinned while driving suicidally towards the school. All for her, I do it all for her… And without noting it, his lips broke into a sublime smile.