"What can you see?" asked Pitch, as Peter curled in on himself, concentrating.
Peter gave him a sly look, as if his leglimency skills gave him some kind of seniority over the other man, before concentrating once more.
"The women have found help," he replied, after a few moments contemplation.
"What kind of help?"
"Well, I'm not really sure…"
"Pettigrew," Pitch Black's voice became sinister for a moment. "If you don't stop hiding things from me I will find a way to do this without you. And you know what happens to things I have no further use for."
Peter shrunk back from the other man, clasping his hands together as he pleaded. "Oh, don't be like that, Mr Black, sir," he whined. "I'll tell you, it's just a bit cloudy, that's all."
"Then clear it," commanded Pitch.
Peter focussed once more as he stared into the near distance. "Two men. Police, I reckon."
As he spoke dark grains of nightmare sand gathered over his head, re-creating the scene in inky swirls and spirals.
"And do they know anything?" asked Pitch, petting the dust in a paternal manner.
"Looks like the muggles are clueless."
"Have they mentioned Sirius?" demanded Pitch.
"Not by name."
Pitch stood up, the intimidation of his full height causing Peter to shrink back even further.
"They must blame Sirius, at any cost. And they must do it before he finds us."
"Oh, they will," whined Peter. "You'll see. I can plant it in their heads."
Pitch narrowed his eyes as he loomed over the smaller man. "Then do it."
Bodie was just driving away from the crime scene when Doyle suddenly leant forward, clutching his head in his hands as if in great pain.
"Ray?" The tyres of the Capri screeched as Bodie pulled the car in to the side of the road. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, God," stammered Doyle. "It's like something is splitting my head open."
"Erm, okay, put your head between your knees or something…"
Bodie's words faded in Doyle's head, to be replaced by other words.
Inky darkness, nervous fear, being bullied, desperation, unpopular, failure, being controlled; only the deep velvety darkness can give protection… Sirius Black is the murderer… Sirius Black is guilty…Find Sirius Black…
"Sirius Black," muttered Doyle, suddenly sitting up straight and staring out of the front windscreen, as if transfixed.
"Ray?" said Bodie, hesitantly.
"I know who did it, Bodie," said Doyle, turning to look at his partner for the first time since getting in the car.
"How?"
"I just do."
"Doyle," said Bodie, firmly. "You don't accept anything without evidence. You're a copper, remember?"
"Sirius Black," insisted Doyle. "Trust me, Bodie."
"I do trust you, Ray," said Bodie, looking attentively at his partner. "You know that." Bodie paused for a moment, as if deciding what to do. It didn't take him long. He would trust Ray Doyle with his life and did so, every day. "So let's find this Sirius Black bloke, then."
Bodie started the engine again and drove off down the dusty road.