wouldhavesuhastorytotell.parkinsonendedupadmittingthattherewasadepartmentofmysteriesangletothease,sosheouldn’tdivulgeallofthedetails.therewerestillinonsistenieswiththeransomdemands,butparkinsonassuredigorathataslongastheyprotetedbertrie,and—oddly—aredkneazlenamedguinevere,everythingwouldbefine.

everythingparkinsondislosedmathedwhatigoraandfelixhadseenandheard,soigorahadnohoiebuttoofferherserviesandagreetohelpinanywaythatsheould.she’dneverimaginedthatwouldmeandonningachristmasjumperandwaitingontheroofofanindoormuggleswimmingpoolforasignalthatthewintersolstiefaewerelooseandterrorizingthekidnappers.

“isthisthestraaseyou’veeverworked?”felixasked,rousingigorafromherthoughts.

sheturnedtohim,smirking.she’dworkedmissingpersonsalong,longtime.“thismightbethestrainreentmemory,”sheoffered.

afshinthedistaneaughthereye.sheandfelixdroppedtotheirkneesandpeeredovertheedgeofthebuilding.thefieldbelowwasslightlylitbytheeletrilightsofamuggleparkingareanearby.theyouldmakeouttwogroupsofhoodedfiguresstandingoneitherendoftheopenfieldbelow.thenawoman’svoieuttered,“lumos!”

twofiguresstoodlosesttothebuildingwhiletheotherfourfiguresmadetheirwaytothemiddleofthefield.igora’smouthfellopenwhensherealizedoneofthefourwasbertriezivantus.felixtappedherontheshoulderandpointedtohiswath.whenigoralookedbaktothefield,thefigureswerelearlyperftheexpetedseurityspellsandheksonthearea.

fromwhatsheouldtell,bertrieseemedalright.shelungtothesideofoneofthefiguresinthefieldandlookedaroundwithwideeyes.thepoorthingwasprobablyterrified.

pop!