A Cloud Before the Moon

Chapter 22

One sticky, stifling August morning, Letha was awakened by the soft hoot of an owl on her bedpost. She sat up and untied a small package from the owl's leg, then patted him on the head. Inside the envelope were a letter, a picture, and another sealed envelope.

Dear Letha,

I hope you are well. I am enjoying my time at home with the baby - she is just like a doll.

The twins treat her like one too, poor thing. Have you ever seen a sweeter baby?

I'm also enclosing a letter that came to my parents' house by Muggle mail.

You must tell me - why are you "N.J. Baker"? Is that like the Baker Street Irregulars, or something?

COME AND VISIT!!!

Love, Anji

First, Letha looked at the picture of a chubby-faced baby with an angel face and a thick head of dark hair, with a little curl in a blue bow sticking up on top. The baby in the picture yawned and gurgled, making her smile. Then she picked up the envelope. The Baker Street Irregulars? She hadn't thought of that, but it seemed oddly apropos. She ripped it open.

Dear N.J. -

I might have a lead for you. Call round.

D.A.

It was certainly succinct. Perhaps Davy was just being discreet. Just as likely, that was simply his style. She composed a letter to Anjana, and made a note to herself that she really should get a present for the baby, and for that matter, for the twins as well. She sent off the letter with Anji's owl, and got packing. It had been a while since she'd done anything about Black's case, and she really had no other pressing matters pending. There was no reason to waste any time

It was too late in the morning to Apparate in the park, but on her last visit she had found a more discreet spot she could use for that purpose. This time, her arrival was a bit uncomfortable. She found herself squeezed into a cramped, dark space. Something wet and slimy dangled in her face. When she reached out her hand, she realized it was a mop.

Letha slowly opened the door of the caretaker's closet, and found herself face to face with a very startled young man. She smiled at him pleasantly and walked right past him, made her way to the stairwell and clambered up to the fifth floor. She knocked, but there was no answer. Taking out her wand, she said "Alohomora!" The door unlocked and she walked in. The flat seemed to be empty. She sat down in the kitchen, but after a few minutes, stood up and began pacing. Now what? She began wandering aimlessly through the flat, when she heard a sawing noise coming from the bedroom. She opened the door, and there on the bed found a large blanket cocoon. Letha grabbed the edge of the blanket and pulled.

"Okay, Adams, rise and shine!" she shouted.

He quickly snatched the blanket back and covered himself. "I was on the night shift!" he protested. "Can't a bloke catch a few winks?"

She plopped down on the bed next to him. "If you don't get up, I will have to resort to physical force."

"Is that a promise? I think I'll take the chance."

"Are you sure? I have a weapon and I'm not afraid to use it." She pulled a heavy cast-iron frying pan from behind her back and smirked at him.

"Oh no, now I'm terrified."

"You should be, but I'll let you go - this time." She amiably bounced off the bed.

"Make some coffee, would you?" he groaned. "I'll be out in a moment."

She left the room, shut the door, and went back to the kitchen. A few moments later he joined her, wearing his uniform. As they drank their coffee, he explained that he had someone he wanted her to talk to. No, he was not on duty, but, he said, the uniform would be "useful".

As they sat talking, there was a knock at the door, and Adams answered it. She heard him let someone in. "Morning, Officer Adams," said a young man's voice, respectfully.

Adams responded, "Morning Ronald, how are you?" They came into the kitchen, and Letha recognized his companion as the boy she'd passed in the hallway. He looked at her oddly, but was apparently too intimidated to say anything about their prior encounter. Adams led him over to the sink and pointed out some sort of plumbing problem, which needed repair.

"I'll take care of it, sir", said Ronald.

"Thank you, Ronald. I'm sure I can count on you." Then Adams turned to her. "Ready?"

She nodded and followed the police officer out the door. When they were outside, Adams sighed. "It'll probably take him most of the day to try and fix it; then I'll have to do it over myself."

"So why did you bother calling him?"

He shrugged. "He likes feeling useful".

Letha smiled. "Don't we all?"

The two of them had walked a while, and came to a playground, full of young children, most of them running under the fountain. Adams waved at the kids, and one little boy came hurrying over excitedly. He looked to be 6 or 7, with curly brown hair and cherubic round cheeks. He and Adams exchanged salutes and Adams popped his cap on the boy's head. "Trevor, I'd like you to meet my friend, Miss Baker." She and the boy shook hands.

"Officer Adams is very nice."

"Yes he is," she agreed.

"You should marry him," the boy told her with great gravity. "Mum says Officer Adams needs a good woman to fatten him up an' put a smile on his face. Mum says Officer Adams needs a reason to stay home nights 'stead of gettin' pissed and mouthing off at his mates. Mum says..."

"That's quite enough, Trevor," said Adams a bit sharply, "you're embarrassing Miss Baker." His cheeks were slightly red.

"Oh Officer Adams, I do so want to hear what Trevor's mum has to say," Letha said sweetly, "but Officer Adams has something else he wants to ask you about, I think."

"That's exactly right," Adams added hastily. He knelt down next to the little boy. "Trevor, do you remember what you told me about the day of the big explosion? Could you tell my friend what you told me?"

Trevor looked hesitant. "Mummy says I made it up."

"Well, I understand that. But I believe you, and so will Miss Baker."

After further coaxing and a chocolate ice cream cone, Trevor told them his version of what had happened on that fateful day. He described how a short fat tatty-looking man appeared in the middle of the street, and soon after, a tall thin wild-eyed man appeared, on the other side of the street. Then he whispered, "They was wizards."

Letha stared at him. "Why do you say that?"

"I know what wizards look like!"

"You do?"

"Sure. I seen 'em before."

Letha was bewildered. "You have? Where?"

Trevor looked at her as if she were a complete idiot. "In my picture books, o'course."

"Oh, of course. Sorry I interrupted you. You were saying - about the two men - "

"They was wizards!" insisted Trevor. "They was wearing wizard dresses. Reg'lar people don't wear dresses." Trevor paused and considered, adding, "Least boys' don't. And they had magic wands. I saw it!" He paused again, looking miserable. "They made very bad magic."

"What do you mean, Trevor?"

Trevor explained. The tall man had looked "very, very angry". He pointed his wand at the short man and shouted at him. The little man was shaking like a leaf. Then the tall man said some funny words and waved his wand. Next thing, there was a loud "BOOM!" The whole street exploded

"The tall man made the street explode?"

"No, not him! The little one made the 'splosion. I saw him!"

Letha blinked in confusion and looked at Davy. "But that's impossible!" she whispered, "Black is alive. He's the tall thin one. It's the other man who's dead."

Davy shrugged. "You heard the lad."

"Are you sure about that?" asked Letha. "Are you sure it wasn't the tall man?"

Trevor shook his head vigorously. "No! NO! It was the small fat wizard. And then, he disappeared."

"He did?"

"Well, people were screaming an' running and there was smoke and Mum picked me up and pulled me away, but I was watching him that done it. And he did some stuff I fink - I couldn't see on account of the smoke and all the people, but I heard a loud snap and then he just - disappeared!"

With that, Trevor stopped talking. Silently, his eyes filled with tears and he began to shake.

Letha hugged him and stroked his hair. "I'm sorry Trevor, it's okay, it's all over", she told him soothingly.

"W-why did that bad man hurt all those people?" he sobbed.

"I don't know, Trevor, I really don't know."

When Trevor stopped crying and had wiped his nose and eyes, Letha thanked him and he went back to join his friends. Letha wondered - could the child really have seen what he had just told them? Everyone knew what awful things Sirius Black had done that day. All those witnesses described it exactly the same! It struck her now - the reports taken by the Ministry from the Muggle witnesses were identical. Perhaps there was something odd in that?

They began heading back, walking in silence. After a while, Adams said, "Strange how children see things adults don't. Wizards, huh!"

"Where did he get such an odd notion, I wonder?" asked Letha.

"The lad just told you what he saw. And he saw wizards, didn't he?"

Letha snorted. "Surely you don't believe that."

"Oh, but I do. And so do you, I reckon. Something else you haven't told me about, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?" she asked in alarm.

He steered her to a bench and they sat down. "Let me tell you something, Miss Norma Jean. When I was a lad, there was a boy on our street who could do strange things. Impossible things. Not a big fellow, or strong, or fast was Ernie, but he could do - things. There was this big bully who would go after us younger lads, but Ernie was his favorite target. So one day, this big ox is chasing him, and next thing, Ernie's up in a tree and the hooligan is lying face down in dog poop. It was truly a beautiful sight, but I never knew how he'd done it. Then one year, Ernie's parents sent him off to boarding school. Ernie came home on holiday - he told us he was in a school for wizards. Everyone else laughed at him; said he was making it up."

"Of course he was making it up."

"I don't know. Ernie wasn't the lying sort."

"You believed him?"

"Believed him? I was so jealous I couldn't stand it!" He paused and looked at her thoughtfully. "You know what I think?"

"What's that?"

"Remember last time, in my car, you got all put out when you thought I'd insulted witches? It seemed like a queer thing at the time. But you'd brought up the subject, hadn't you? Miss Baker," he whispered, "I think you're a witch. And I assure you, that is not intended as an insult."

"I think you're daft," she retorted. "And that is."

"Really? How did you get into my flat today?"

"I jimmied the lock. Hope you don't mind."

He looked doubtful. "Is that so? When we get back you can show me how you did it."

"Will not! Trade secret."

"I bet."

They walked the rest of the way in silence. When they reached Adams' building, there was a stocky blond man standing in front of the doorway, with his face buried in a newspaper. As Letha and Davy passed, he said "'Morning". Letha froze at the sound of the familiar voice, and Davy looked at her curiously. He bid the man a good morning in return, and the man turned around. Letha was filled with trepidation as she recognized him.

In a formal manner, Letha said, "Thank you for the directions, constable."

Adams took the cue. "You're quite welcome, miss. Good luck." Instead of heading into the building, he continued down the street.