chapter 10

Lin had no idea she would be returning to Knockturn Alley so soon. This time she went there without a disguise. She might have drawn a few curious looks, but she ignored them. Those who did not live in the narrow gap called the Alley would stand out as strangers anyway and drew attention no matter what. Dark buildings loomed above, pushing each other to get a small breath of air from the barely visible sky above, shrinking an individual who passed below them into a grey mass like the road slush. Such places ceased to intimidate Lin a long time ago who in her hard leather boots and a dark jacket felt quite confident.

Her destination was a rectangular, four storey building. Its sightless windows were drawn shut. A sign, Rachelete's Retreat, hung above wooden doors. This was where Arpina Belsmock made her living. This place was selling intimate services which Mrs Selwyn despised so much and wished to be gone. Perhaps it might have shut down, except that in the last couple of years the place had gained popularity due to its new performance program every evening. The first floor of the building, past the lobby, was converted into an auditorium with a long stage in the upper part and small tables in the lower half, where during the performances drinks were sold cheaply and liberally. For the majority of the visitors, the performances ended when they chose a partner to please them in the rooms upstairs. Not all of the call girls were offered for services, however. The most talented performers who took part in the program had the possibility of choosing which customers they preferred more than others, and they did not lack offers. Arpina Belsmock was the most talented dancer of the Rachelete's Retreat.

The shabby façade turned out to be a disguise to blend in with the rest of the street. On the inside, the building was, although not rich, at least well maintained. The lights were half-dimmed. Clean carpet absorbed the sounds footsteps might have made. A front desk dominated the foyer. Behind it stood a wizard with short blue hair set fashionably with slanted bangs. Up close he turned out to be older than Lin initially thought.

"Good afternoon, Madam," he greeted politely. "How may I help you?"

"I am here to speak with Arpina Belsmock."

"Do you have an appointment?" The blue haired attendant tapped the desk and a leather bound journal appeared.

"No."

"In that case, you must book an appointment."

"I prefer to see her today," said Lin, showing her Auror identification. "I must speak to her as soon as she is free."

The attendant looked at the identification dismally. Staying out of trouble with the law was very important for establishments like this. Any trouble would shut them down.

"Arpina Belsmock should be available right now. She has two free hours for herself before each performance," he explained. "Please give me a minute to tell her about your visit."

Lin wondered whether he went to Arpina or perhaps to his supervisor, but she let him go. Either way, she owed no explanations to anyone yet, although she regretted any possible delays.

The attendant came back very quickly. "Arpina Belsmock is waiting for you, Auror. Please follow these stairs to the second floor. The suite number is 42. It is the last door down the corridor."

"Thank you." Lin followed the instructions, going past many similar doors. Her certainty had increased that she was dealing with the former lover of Nox, or rather Declan Nogent, the former owner of the Rachelete's Retreat. She had paid a brief visit to her office to find out what had happened at the Warehouses. The Ministry had been put on alert by the local security that evening. One of the buildings had been set on fire. Upon entering, the Aurors had found a dead body and a lab filled with explosives. The body had been identified as Declan Nogent. He had a previous record for violence a few years ago. The area had been surrounded by a ring, meanwhile the Warehouses had been searched. When Lin came, the Ministry was in the process of checking the identities of everyone they had arrested, but it did not look promising. The arrested witches and wizards had to be released with apologies. The department responsible for the find wrote a promising report about how they had foiled a dangerous plot, whereas they had in actuality been fooled as the conspirators had fled after all. Lin was going to fix that.

She knocked, stopping by the last door, and it flew open immediately.

A petite witch let her in. "Please come in and take a seat. You must be from the Ministry. Ambrose warned me that you wanted to see me." She motioned Lin to follow her to a small room with a coffee table and soft furniture mostly for sitting.

"You do not appear to be surprised to have a visit from law enforcement," Lin commented, taking a seat across the woman.

"I am not," Arpina confessed simply. She folded her hands and looked down in shame. Her neck craned elegantly. Many men would be attracted to this display of femininity, Lin considered. She would not have guessed that this woman was selling her body for a living if she didn't know better. Arpina in her clinging dress was like a well carved statuette. Her body moved fluidly. Her small size and fluidity of movements took away a sense of vulgarity. Lin could see why these movements would be considered desirable for a dancer.

"So, you have anticipated this visit concerning your murdered lover?" Lin thought that it made sense. It was normal procedure to question the relatives whenever someone did not die a natural death, but there seemed to be more.

"Yes. I hoped that no one would find out because he wanted to keep our relationship a secret. I understood how important it was. I think he was trying to protect me." Arpina straightened her shoulders. It seemed that she gathered her courage to speak and willed her voice not to shake. "I'm afraid there are no secrets in the wizarding world. Someone always knows them."

If only these secrets fell into the right hands, and if only there was a key to unlock this source of knowledge, Lin continued the thought, but then pushed it aside. She did not have an ultimate key, but she had a set of lock picks, such as her training. "You said you understood the importance of keeping your relationship a secret. Does that mean your lover had informed you of his plans?"

"There was only one plan. He said he was involved in the most dangerous project of his entire life and that many lives were at stake. He promised me once it was over to put everything aside and propose to me. I can't say I had no doubts about us. It is bad luck to build happiness on another's suffering, but perhaps you understand as a woman how devastating an empty heart can be and how degrading it would be to exist cut off from an opportunity to leave the place you loathe." Arpina spoke beseechingly, but her amber eyes glowed with determination. They were beautiful and more than able to capture the hearts of men. Lin noticed that the witch's aura was also amber. The fragile femininity was an act underneath which lay an unbreakable will.

"I would not link my destiny to another only to solve my problems," said Lin bluntly, but also willing to provoke her. It worked.

"It's not what you think." Arpina was stung. "I loved him. Otherwise, I would not have agreed to make my future reliant on the mercy of another. That would not have given me respect or my freedom. I did not agree to his proposal just to make my escape from here, as tempting as it is. It is not a good life that led me here. Those born in debt will spend their life repaying it, even when they have a talent like I do. To advance, the talent needs to be noticed by those who can afford to nurture it, and then hard work is required to better it. Right now, my talent is being used, but with my job I cannot better it nor is my employer interested in anything other than exploitation. I have negotiated a few privileges in exchange, but in time they will be gone as I grow older. Then I will end up used and unwelcome anywhere. Initially, I had a plan. I was going to save up some souvenirs and money the clients choose to give me in private. The House gets the rest. All customers pay at the front desk a full sum. The employees only get a room to live, food and some clothes, but we cannot choose our clothes or even food for that matter. With my popularity, some gifts were rather expensive. I kept saving up, hopeful that one day I would gather enough to buy a place for myself, an apartment or a small house, as long as I had a roof above my head. Then I could abandon this place. I was a tenth way there when he showed up. At first, he was just like any client, but he kept coming back and asking for me every time, and something between us was changing. It was not about sex anymore. We both realized that he saw me as more than an entertainment instrument. Eventually, he had an idea to take me away. I did not push him towards it. He came to it by himself, but he was not free, and now he is gone."

Even the strong feel the pain, Lin thought, observing as a tear like a silver snake slid down Arpina's smooth cheek. It was difficult to tell how old she was, thirty or fifty. It took someone to cry genuinely to be believed that their emotions were real.

"This mission, which took him away from you, why was it so important? What was he trying to accomplish?" Lin asked softly.

"I don't know," said Arpina, "although I have done my best to find out. I even refused to see him once, but he kept repeating that it would be safer for me to know nothing." She grabbed Lin's arm suddenly. "Perhaps it is not my right to ask, but I would give anything to find out. If you learn something please, tell me, please."

"I cannot make any promises, although it would be easier for me to find out if I had more information," said Lin, rising. Arpina had to let go of her. "I'm sorry I made you re-live unpleasant moments." She paused, waiting to see if Arpina had anything else to add, but the witch was looking down sadly, perhaps contemplating how to revive her hopes. "Good day," said Lin.

She had let herself out, thinking. She had trouble believing that a woman like Arpina would not have eventually wrapped her lover around her finger and got him to tell at least something about his project if she was concerned so strongly. On the other hand, love was the strongest seal to guarantee a woman's silence. Nothing would work if she was convinced of his innocence, because even Veritaserum only gave away what the person believed to be true, not necessarily the truth. Cruel, Lin thought, to be in love with such a bastard. It could play a bad trick on anyone to fall for some unworthy goat.

A tall witch in chunky high-heels with her red hair gathered in a towering style, waited for Lin at the front desk. Apparently, Absonim had notified his superiors about Lin's presence. The witch came directly to Lin. "Auror, I am Gilda Strant, the current caretaker of the Rachelete's Retreat," she introduced herself. "Has Arpina done anything which might effect this House that I must know?"

It must have been a ploy to get some answers. Lin wondered why the caretaker, the second most important figure in the House after the owner, would suspect nothing about her worker's relationship. In any case, Lin was not about to report to her the progress of her investigation. "There is no action of your worker up to this date which could influence your business negatively," Lin replied, aware that curiosity aside, this was Mrs Strant's main concern.

"Still, I hope to be notified should anything of significance occur," the witch persisted. "Arpina is our lead performer."

Did she really think that Lin was to explain to her why she came? She could have been at least more diplomatic. Seeing that Lin was not going to answer, Mrs Strant tried a different approach. "To be honest, we were expecting that someone from the Ministry would show up to make inquiries about Mr Nogent," she said significantly.

"Is that so?" Lin asked as amusement lit in her eyes. Since the witch had insisted on playing a detective game, Lin didn't mind. "Actually, there is a matter of greatest significance," Lin began forebodingly. She took hold of the witches' elbow and pulled her aside. Mrs Strant did not expect such a strong grip. "I trust for the good of everyone you will give me your unconditional cooperation. I must know what sort of people used to visit Mr Nogent prior to his death. You are good at reading people, so was there any who struck you as dangerous? Perhaps they were wearing strange markings on their clothes or spoke oddly? Did they carry any heavily nailed boxes with them? Those are very bad people, if not stopped, and they can get a place they visit to shut down. Were there also any cryptic markings on the wall of his office, or documents talking about eternal treasures that would lay forgotten on his table?"

Mrs Strant stared at Lin wide-eyed. It would have been a great find had she actually remembered something like that, but Lin did not wager much on that and primarily wanted to poke fun at the arrogance and mix of ignorance the witch had demonstrated. None of that humour, however, was reflected in Lin's gravely set face. It made Mrs Strant feel very scared.

"No! I haven't seen anyone like that!" she exclaimed. "Mr Nogent didn't even have an office. He hardly ever socialised with anyone except me around here. Why would anyone come to visit him here when he has his own home? He only came to collect profits and to gather the records so he could check their accuracy. He has never left any belongings here either."

"Do you know where he lived?"

Mrs Strant shook her head bitterly. "It is none of my business to ask him that."

"And you are absolutely certain that you cannot remember anything of the sort?"

"Yes. I'm sure."

"The Ministry workers have assumed that this was the case," Lin said ironically, although Mrs Strant missed it. At this point she no longer wanted Lin to follow her around with her questions. She was most relieved when Lin released her and headed for the exit.

Lin might have looked serious, but she was satisfied with having put the witch back in her place. Mrs Strant had the commanding role in the House and was not used to being denied answers.

Lin was only marginally disappointed that she did not learn much about Nogent's plans. Not yet, at least. Sometimes working with the lovers and family of the suspects required patience. They might remember something eventually. Also, Lin wanted to know whether Mrs Strant would go to Arpina to find out what Lin wanted. If so, their conversation was worth hearing.

Lin went through a narrow gap to the back of the Retreat where she studied the windows. The half-closed one on the second floor belonged to Arpina. A rusted fire ladder ran up the wall, passing close to the window. Its iron bars were cold and sticky. Regretting that she had forgotten her gloves, Lin stretched out her sleeves and went up. Luckily it was not a long climb as the windows were set low from the ground.

When she was at the window, Lin got a small box from her pocket. In it lay two Squishies. They were semi-transparent jellies, resembling more than anything round stickers that attached soap-holders to the wall. A pair of Squishies shared a telepathic link. Due to their surface, they picked up even the slightest sounds, allowing an owner of a pair to overhear a conversation from a short distance. The sound was slightly distorted, and the Squishies were unreliable, disintegrating in a couple of hours once they were out in the air, but Lin always tried to have a pair. She placed one Squishie in the corner of the window and attached another to her upper ear shell. There was static as her mind adjusted to sharing the link, and then she heard voices.

"You should be careful with that meddling adventuress. She will not hesitate to make this public," someone was saying.

Although there was a distortion, the voice definitely could not have belonged to Mrs Strant. It was distinctly male. Lin wondered if she had gone to the wrong window when she recognized Arpina's voice.

"I just want it all forgotten and sealed in a grave as it should be," she was saying tiredly. However, Arpina did not sound resigned.

"I don't think it will be possible until his work is complete," the male said mildly. "Until then I can only offer my condolences."

Lin wondered who it was and tried to peek into the room, but she couldn't see either of the speakers. She was told by the attendant that Arpina did not accept visitors. This must have been someone important if he was allowed to see her. His arrival had a precise timing, getting to Arpina while Lin was walking around the building. It was possible that he had been waiting inside the Retreat until Lin had left. She must be an adept liar, Lin thought, annoyed that Mrs Strant must have concealed his presence.

"I wish I knew what he was risking his life for," Arpina said bitterly. "When he died, I didn't expect to find support from anyone. I know you came because you are interested in his work too, but thank you for keeping me sane."

"He was a good friend of mine, and he saved my life. I owe it to him to find out who had destroyed his plans. Perhaps both of us could end this faster if we could put together what we know. I realize he never told you any details, but perhaps he has given or told you something of significance? Have you ever received any unusual gifts from him? You might not have paid attention to something like this, but it might be of vital significance.

Lin heard a splash and a clang of glass. "No," Arpina said finally. "He gave me things like this dress. There is nothing that can help us."

"Then I will have to solve this on my own for our sake," said the man, resigned. "Can I help you with anything right now? Money, perhaps?"

"You do not have enough to repair what I've lost," Arpina said sadly.

"You are too upset right now to think like the pragmatic woman I assume you are, however I will impose on you no longer and bow my retreat. Good bye, Arpina."

Lin was already on the ground, in a position where she could see the front door without becoming visible herself. She planned to follow the man who claimed to be a friend of Nogent. Lin had a hunch that both Arpina and this man had concealed part of the information from one another, and even Arpina had figured out that the man had appeared to get another piece of the puzzle more so than for attempting to help her.

The mysterious stranger, however, was not in a hurry to appear. No one was coming in or out of the Retreat. Even with a minor delay he should have come outside already. Lin approached the entrance and pushed the door open. She peeked inside. The corridor was empty and even the attendant was missing. Silently, Lin ran up the stairs, meeting no one on the way. Although she knew there were many people inside the building, not a soul was in sight. The silencing charms on the doors must have contributed to the eerie quiet. The tracking charm revealed only Lin's footprints coming to and from Arpina's door. Lin continued the search, but she knew that the owner of the low, distorted by the link, voice was gone.