Chapter 5
It was awkward. Beyond the fact that this person had a wealth of knowledge in his head that made him the most important person to the government, it was just odd. He was quiet, a reculuse, he did not sit with them, choosing to sit behind them, facing all of them and the door. James knew a tactical position when he saw one. Sirius knew it too, if the slightly raised brows were any indication. Remus approached him but did nothing more than just slide the file onto his table. They did not even look at it, simply flicking their hands away to dismiss him. Sirius had gotten irritated at that, but a quick shot from Remus had stayed his anger. He did not even look at the file, did not open it, did not join in their conversation. Even when it turned to case related things there was just nothing. It was even more unnerving wtih the director there. Looming almost over all of them. His presence was anxiety inducing because this meant that they were truly out of their depth, and that Regulsu was, for whatever reason, truly the most important person in the plane.
When Peter finally managed to send over the list of names, it was Sirius this time, who got up and walked to the wayward charge. He dropped the computer on the table, staring at the newcomer.
"If you do not wish to lose a limb, I suggest you back a few paces." The man said, his accent barely noticeable, but Sirius could hear it, and he frowned unable to quite place it. Crouch made quick work of yanking Sirius back exactly a few paces. The man then sighed, pulling his body up sharply, grey eyes darting through the files and within a few minutes he shoved the computer away and leaned back again, dark curls falling gently over his eyes.
"Dear?"
"None of them, they are either too old, too young, or simply just not...enough."
"And you can tell that from reading their files for a second?" Sirius quipped, but his voice failed him at the blood inducing glare the Director gave him.
"Yes, he can." The words were cut through Crouch, as if he was forcing himself to say it, and disappointed that he had to at the same time. Grey eyes opened once more to take in Sirius' blue.
"This person is a perfectionist. Just looking at some of the pictures was enough for me to know. Whoever did this, was not just anyone. This person was meticulous, calculated, cold, every strand of hair perfectly in line. These victims, these people, they were nothing to them. That is how they see humans. Nothing. Nothing but toys, nothing but precious little pets." Their eyes seemed to grow distant slightly. "A perfect pretty doll, destined to line the shelves." His voice started dropping off, to a whisper, as if he was reciting things that had been told to him previously. "A trophy to be shown..." Regulus likely would have continued but Crouch rushed forwards, knocking Remus slightly to press a bruising grip against Regulus' neck. The good one of them (remus) rushed forwards to try and stop him, but Sirius held him back and they watched with an almost morbid curiosity as Regulus' back arched, breath unable to come before it rushed through him the moment the director let go. Regulus did not even have his hands go to his throat, just watching Crouch with a dazed smile.
"Always coming to the rescue, hmm, Barty." It was not a question, and an almost drunk like smile lit the stranger's face. James felt himself practically shaking as they moved slowly away, wanting to let Regulus and the Director talk it out or...something, but also keeping a close eyes on them.
"The hell did you stop me for?" Remus hissed, shoving Sirius off.
"Because, pain can help bring people to the present." The words were so simple it almost threw them off track. "Remember with me? When we first met and I was out of it more often than not? One of the things that helped was nails. I would dig my nails into my wrist whenever I could, it would jerk me back to the present." Sirius gave a slightly self depreciating laugh. "Even I could see he was not in the mindset to do that, so Crouch did what he had to to bring him back. Whatever got him...it was strong enough to haunt him three years later. I understand now, what they said about him needing to be stable. If this is his stable..." They shuddered, not wanting to even think about what unstable could mean.
Remus was salty, but comforted himself in knowing that the Director must have been approved to do this. He had, reluctant though he was to admit it, known people to submit contracts with certain individuals allowing them certain...liberties...and it was likely that Regulus had one with Crouch. It would certainly explain all the touching. The Director had never been known to touch anyone, let along so much.
Touchdown came hours later, and they braced themselves against the cold, but it still caused James to shiver slightly. Regulus, despite his light garb (a mere shirt and pants with no sweater or cloak to protect him), did not. James wondered if he was used to the cold. Perhaps he lived in a cold area, which would explain it. He could not help but be curious.
They formed a circle around Regulus, keeping his face away from the plethora of reporters as they walked to the police station. Even Lily had to supress a relieved sigh once they finally were out of the reporter's clutches, but Regulus just seemed bored. His gaze travelled through the room, and a slight shove from Crouch was enough to have him wandering it aimlessly. James kept a slight eye on him as Lily got the rundown of what they had so far.
"The newest scene is much the same except for one thing. We got a cup." At that, he saw Regulus still slightly, the cop putting the evidence on the table. James now knew what it was that Regulus had scene, because that cup had been in the photo. "We are hoping to get prints off it, maybe catch...something."
"You will not, no need to even bother," Regulus said gently, picking up a pen stolen from someone's desk and leaning against one of the cubicles. Everyone turned to him once again, and Crouch looked as if he was a second away from rushing forwards, but not to protect Regulus, but the Cop.
"What you think we aren't capable? You feds..."
"No, you will not get any prints, because they are not simpleminded as that. The cup was a message. Nothing more. You will not get anything that will help you, why waste time on it?"
"Message?" The cop growled, narrowing his eyes. "To who?" Regulus' lips gave a slight quirk upwards, before he gestured to himself.
"Standing here, duh, otherwise why in the world would I be bothered?" He tilted his head, assessing the cop as the man's anger got ahead of him. Before Crouch could even think to move, or any of them could rush to Regulus' defence, the Cop lunged, but Regulus simply side stepped, and a knife was at the police officer's throat in seconds.
"You are threatening an officer eh? I could have you arrested."
"No you could not." The words were simple. Factual. Punctuated with a careless tone that James had heard so many times but never managed to perfect.
"He is a civilian consultant, and I would ask you not to threaten him," The Director stated coldly. "Considering his life is worth way more than yours is." The Cop seemed to whiten as he realized just the trouble he got himself into. "Not to mention, you attempted to assault what you thought to be a federal officer, which as I am sure you know is a felony offense."
"You can't seriously be..."
"He could slit your throat right now and I wouldn't give a damn or do a damn thing about it, and he would still be walking around and stepping over your corpse as a free man." The cop swallowed, hands lifting in surrender. regulus' knife was pulled off, the pen clicking once, twice, three times. Crouch stared at the cop. "Consider yourself suspended, go to your boss." Crouch turned to gaze at everyone else, a threat in his eyes, but it was unnecessary. A few steps had him moving towards the room they'd been provided to set things up. A pause. "Regulus, heel," Not a second later Regulus was bouncing towards Crouch as if he had not just threatened a man with a knife that he should not have and who the hell knows where he got it from. As if the director had not stone cold told them that he would let Regulus get away with murder and there would be nothing anyone could do about it.
Regulus' information had to be incredible. The thought should scare them all, but honestly it just made the team giddy, because now they finally had a chance at cracking this damn thing