All Debts Must be Paid

Chapter Twelve: The Ministry - Jacks

Once he had spoken with Blowman, Jacks went back to the office, thinking it would be at least a day or two before the informer got back to him with anything. He was quite determined to get Black, especially after the previous night's fiasco, taking it personally that he hadn't anticipated that something like that might happen. He was so lost in thought as he climbed the stairs to his office that he nearly walked straight into someone else.

"Oh, hey watch where you're going," the other man said, cheerfully.

Jacks looked up and recognised that Weasley bloke from the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. What did he have to be so cheerful about? "Oh, sorry," he muttered, walking past him.

"You all right?" Weasley asked, "Haven't seen you around lately, wondered what had happened to you."

Jacks forced a smile, "Finally got a transfer back to the MLES," he told the other man.

"You don't look as if you're sure that was such a good thing," Weasley said.

"Oh it's the usual, having to work with idiots who screw things up and then try and blame you for it, especially when the higher ups get involved. I must have forgotten about that."

Weasley gave a low whistle, and then asked shrewdly. "All this rumpus with Fudge today was something you've been involved in?"

Jacks nodded and grinned. "Wish I could've seen Fudge's face when Kellow told him that Sirius Black was in the building last night."

"I don't think there are words to describe it," Weasley commented thoughtfully, clearly contemplating Fudge's expression himself. "Hang on though! What on earth was Black doing here in the first place?"

Jack's grin disappeared and he sighed. "Well there's no secret about that. We'd taken his friend Lupin in for questioning."

"Remus Lupin?" Weasley looked shocked.

"Yeah, the werewolf. Why, do you know him?" Jacks frowned at the other man.

"Oh no, it's just that he, er taught my children at Hogwarts a couple of years ago."

Jacks smirked. "Right, Defence Against the Dark Arts."

"So what happened?" Weasley prompted and Jacks explained how although they had released Lupin, Black had come after him. "But he surely never went after Fudge though?" Weasley asked then.

Jacks snorted. "'Course he didn't. "I don't think even Black believes that Fudge would be in the office at three in the morning."

Weasley laughed at this, then he commented, "Still, I wouldn't like to be the person who dreamt up this operation." He saw Jacks' expression and said, "Oh, it was you? I'm sorry."

Jacks shrugged. "Don't be, I'll get him. I'll get them both," he promised. And he carried on up the stairs to his office.

The room Jacks shared with Davis was empty when he got there, for which he was very grateful. He sat down at his desk and started going through the reports again, but even the fourth time he read them there wasn't any additional information he could glean.

He hadn't realised he had fallen asleep at his desk until Davis shook him awake an hour or so later. "Wakey, wakey, Jacks. Sleeping on the job! Can't have that," he yelled in his ear.

Blearily Jacks opened his eyes and looked at Davis with dislike. "Some of us were up most of the night," he commented acidly.

"Yes, I read your report. Very good I thought. Not terribly helpful in showing us how Black got into the building though."

Jacks stared at the other Hit Wizard. "That actually wasn't why I wrote it, you know."

Davis chortled, "Of course, bit of a wild goose chase you're on aren't you? Any ideas how you're going to catch them?"

Jacks just looked at him. Davis was now going to be incredibly funny - he had that smug expression that said so.

"I know, you could take an ad out in the Prophet Classified, 'Disgruntled Ministry official seeks new career torturing Muggles' something like that. That would get you into You-Know-Who's inner circle pretty sharpish, don't you think?"

"Fuck off, Davis." Jacks couldn't be bothered playing his stupid game. Davis just grinned and went and sat down at his own desk where he began to read a file in a desultory fashion.

Jacks watched him for a moment before he realised the man wasn't going to leave. He decided he would, and maybe go up to the canteen for something to eat. He had just stood up to do so, when a head appeared in the flames in the fireplace. It was Blowman.

"Jacks!" he hissed, as if he thought someone behind him might be able to hear him. "You've got to get over here now!"

"Why?" Jacks demanded, surprised. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Davis put down his file and look at Blowman with interest.

"It's Black, he's in me shop. I'm trying to keep him talking, but you've got to get over here."

Jacks was gobsmacked. "What's he doing? Is he by himself?"

"Choosing a new wand, well exchanging one he nicked and yes, he's by himself."

"Right, I'll be over immediately." Jacks felt a wave of triumph surge through him.

"And the reward?" The anxiety Blowman was suffering from didn't seem to be entirely related to his fear of what Black might do, more to do with his fear of losing such a gold mine.

"Yeah, yeah you get the reward, now fuck off and keep him talking, or knock him out or something."

Satisfied with this reassurance about the reward, Blowman withdrew although he looked a bit dubious at the reference to trying to knock Black out. Jacks was about to follow him, when Davis said, "I'll be over immediately, Jacks?"

"What? We agreed I was investigating Black and Lupin."

Davis screwed up his face. "Hmm, right. Investigating. Correct me if I'm wrong but does this not come under the heading of arresting?" He gave a nasty grin. "And also, correct me if I'm wrong but is this not the man that killed thirteen Muggles and a wizard with a single curse, that your friend there is giving a wand to, and you're going after him by yourself?"

"I can handle him," Jacks snarled at Davis.

Davis ignored this but continued, "Change of plan, Jacks. Remember, I'm in charge. I'm saying we both go." He grinned. "Regulations, hmm?"

And when had Davis ever cared about regulations, Jacks wondered. Unfortunately, he was right. It would be sheer stupidity to go after someone like Black alone, so he shrugged at Davis, trying to sound off hand as he said, "Suit yourself." Then he walked over to the fireplace, and took a pinch of powder from the tin on the mantelpiece, muttering the destination as he walked into the flames.

The fireplace at the other end was in some kind of back shop area - a cross between a storeroom and an office. There were piles of stock on shelves against one wall, a deep white enamel sink at the dirty window and a large rolltop desk against the other wall. It was stuffed with papers, and Jacks wished they had time to search it. He'd bet they'd get a lot of leads on missing property. Or maybe not. Blowman wasn't the type to keep records of his shady deals - except for blackmail purposes of course and those records were hardly likely to be lying around just anywhere.

A corridor led to the front of the shop. Jacks could hear voices. He thought Blowman sounded particularly wheedling.

Davis arrived. He cocked his head listening to the voices, then he motioned towards his feet with his wand, whispering, "Pedesilencium."

Jacks cast a silencing charm on his feet as well and they moved cautiously down the corridor.

A man was standing at the counter with his back to them. He was tall and skinny with cropped black hair wearing Muggle clothes. He looked very different from the last time Jacks had seen him, and Jacks wasn't immediately sure it was Black. But then the man spoke and Jacks knew it was definitely him; his voice hadn't lost that disused, croaky quality.

Jacks grinned. He made some crack about the burn on his arm, and when the man whirled round saw with satisfaction his pale eyes flaring wide in recognition.

Black said nothing; he was frozen, rooted to the spot, in shock probably, but then, at the same time as Jacks pulled back his right arm to give the flick of the wand that would send magical ropes at the fugitive, Black leapt sideways out of the way and the ropes sailed harmlessly over the man's head, narrowly missing Blowman who was standing behind him. Davis was already flinging a stunning curse at Black, but he muttered a shield charm and it bounced off him.

Black landed badly, losing his balance, and in the precious seconds that he used regaining it, Jacks yelled, "Expelliarmus!" Black's wand jerked out of his hand and clattered on the floor by Davis' feet. He picked it up.

Immediately, Black sprang forwards, taking Jacks in what any Muggle would have recognised as a rugby tackle. Jacks fell crashing backwards into the endmost of the stacks, causing it to teeter and collapse against the wall. He landed heavily on the floor, with Black on top of him. Frantically he struggled as the other man tried to get a grip on his wand, but Black was in the grip of a murderous fury that was aimed at him. "Come on, Davis, Blowman don't just stand there you berks!" he yelled at the other men.

Davis clearly didn't want to risk hitting both Black and Jacks in case he missed and was left having to deal with Black by himself. And as for Blowman, well he showed no interest in getting involved, but was clearly waiting for the struggle to resolve itself. Bastard.

Then Jacks grabbed Black with both hands by his injured arm, pushed back with all his might. To his satisfaction, Black turned pale and slumped back, so that Jacks could easily push the man off him and sit up. "Didn't like that, did you, you bastard!" he snarled at him getting a good grip on his wand and aiming it at Black again. Before he could do anything else, Jacks flicked his wand and magical ropes quickly tied Black up, despite his desperate struggles.

Jacks grinned. He'd finally done it. Earned his ticket back. Proved he hadn't lost his touch. Fudge might even give him a medal, not that he cared about that, of course. No, all he cared about was making that transfer back permanent.

Then Davis had to go and spoil it all. "Right, Jacks, you'd better see about getting him back to the cells where he belongs."

Jacks looked at Davis in surprise. "Why, aren't you going to help?" he demanded, a seed of suspicion beginning to germinate in his mind.

Davis looked at him blankly for a moment before saying, "Well, somebody's got to go and tell Kellow."

"Oh, right." Jacks responded, the seed of suspicion turning into a bloody great beanstalk. The fucking bastard was going to steal all the credit for this. "It would be more sensible to deliver the prisoner and then go and tell Kellow don't you think?"

"Don't be an idiot, Jacks. Now, am I going to have to tell you to do everything?" Davis enquired, only waiting for Jacks' sullen acquiescence before Disapparating.

"Well, that's you well and truly shafted isn't it?" remarked Black derisively.

"Shut up!" Jacks turned on his prisoner, raising his wand to hex the bastard.

Blowman put a hand on his arm. "Steady on," he said, "Beat him up when you get him back, but make sure you get him back first."

Jacks took a deep breath and pulled himself together. Blowman was right. He wasn't Crusher after all. He made eye contact with Black, but spoke to Blowman, "Well give us a hand then, and we can make sure the Dementors get him. Fudge did authorise the Kiss after all and I don't believe he's ever rescinded the order." As he said this he noted with satisfaction the flicker of fear in Black's eyes, and grinned. "Let's go," he said.