Post by Admin on Aug 23, 2020 3:02:49 GMT
Old Memories…Bring New Family
(OOC: Combined threads from the previous site)
Flo accepted the cup of tea from Tarik and took a deep breath. It was not fair to Tarik to act like a love forlorn matron. “The picture?”, she started as she retrieved it from her pocket.
Tarik saw the woman called Flo take the tea and instantly wondered if she liked Egyptian Tea. To most it was weird and took a required taste to appreciate it’s soothing qualities. As she took the picture from her pocket, he again wondered how she came by it. Tarik was positive he had never worn an outfit like that.
“The picture is not of you, it is of my deceased husband Michael. He was killed ten years ago in a muggle car crash.” Flo looked at the picture and handed it to Tarik.
As she explained who it was and the man’s connection to her, Tarik remembered faintly seeing the face on another picture along with a letter. Thinking back as he sipped his tea,But where and when?
“The reason I have been so upset, is because, as you can see, your eyes are so much alike. It startled me to see you sitting at the table. Sorry if I created any unnecessary commotion.”
When she mentioned the eyes, it hit him of where he had seen it. It had been when he had helped his father with a trip to a lawyer. His father had demanded that he wait outside. So when his father had dropped an envelope as he was coming out, Tarik jumped at the chance to see what the visit was about. As he picked up the envelope a picture fell out. It was of the same man, he was wearing a three-piece suit and there was a woman wearing a wedding gown. Tarik asked who the man was and all his father said was that when Tarik had done what the council wanted then it would be safe to tell him. Tarik had also been warned not to go looking for answers and to focus on catching Khalid. Tarik had ask his sister to look into it without father’s knowledge. She had wrote him ten years ago to say that if he got to his aunt’s house in the next couple of days, he would meet the man. Tarik had shown up the following day to find his father’s sister dead.
Flo took a sip of tea, which was very good. She smiled and took another sip, because the tea had always had a very calming effect on her.
As she took a sip, he asked as he handed back the picture, “Did you ever send wedding pictures to a lawyer in Egypt?” Tarik wondered if his sister still was looking as he had received an owl from her only moments before coming into the Staff Room. He had not even had a chance to open it yet. His sister had been able to get a hold of their father’s things after his death. Arianna had said that she would write if she found anything.
It tasted like the tea Michael had always made. Flo remembered asking Michael about where he got the tea leafs from and he had explained they always came with the packet, containing his monthly allowance and a few other trinkets from time to time had been included. Flo had not tasted the tea in a long time, because when Michael died, the monthly allowances had stopped. The lawyer who had been handling all the transactions, from some unknown fund, had disappeared. She had spent one year in almost total isolation and depression. When her savings had run out she started looking for work. First there was the nursery school teaching job, which was a disaster, because of her magical tendencies to amuse the children at the completely muggle school, then the Nanny job which eventually lead her to Hogsmeade and then to the school.
Tarik smiled as she drank her tea. It showed that she had drank it before. Since his sister was the only supplier of that blend, Tarik knew that she had to have gotten it from Arianna’s shop somehow. Pulling his sister’s letter out of his pocket, Tarik debated on whether to open it.
Flo watched Tarik as emotions played across his face.
As Tarik thoughts raced, his falcon Horus came to him. It seemed Horus wanted the letter opened as he began nipping at it. Turning to Horus, he said calmly, “Yes, Horus. It’s from Arianna. It is too small to be your treat bag.”
“This tea is fantastic, Tarik, thank you. I haven’t had it since Michael passed away and the packets stopped arriving from the lawyer.”
Tarik thought about her words,Arinna, had said that the family’s lawyer Abdan Avukat had asked for larger tea and coffee orders up to ten years ago. Then the orders stopped coming in. His father even had gotten worried to the point that he had Arinna his secondary of his estate. The man had been found dead in his home, Tarik’s sources had said that he was tortured. Abdan’s death seemed to hit his father hard and Tarik noticed that his father had become even more secretive.
Leaning her head against the back of one of the wings in the chair Flo thought about Tarik’s question. “The one lawyer who seemed to be handling everything about Michael’s Trust funds gave us a phone number and a post office box to be able to send things to him. When we asked if we could see him personally he said he traveled a lot and never knew when he would be in his American office.”
Tarik still wondered who this Michael was and why his father would have his best lawyer handling the boy’s trust fund. Tarik did know that he and Arinna had never had to work to make a living. They worked because they wanted to not because they had to. Their grandparents had seen to that. Tarik’s son Ali even had money set aside for him. For some reason unknown to Tarik, his father had deemed this Michael worthy of being concerned family.
It made Tarik think back to his first love, Mina. Mina had been pregnant when she had been murder. When the Medjai had found her the baby had been forcibly removed. Tarik had known it would have been a boy and had even picked a name, Michaki. It was not his people way to name a baby, but he loved Mina and it was a custom of her people.
Tarik did know that Abdan had offices all over the world, as he was the only lawyer that all the Magi went though. Tarik still had his number in his head. Taking a paper, Tarik wrote it down 902-756-8578. Tarik handed the paper to Flo and asked, “Is this the number that you were to call?” If it was then Tarik had some very bad news.
Flo took another sip of tea, and thought back ten years into her past. It was painful but she would keep going. “He did have an accent, but we were never able to place it. When Michael and I were married, the lawyer, a Mr. Avukat, did ask for us to prove we were married. We sent a copy of our marriage certificate and a couple wedding pictures to the post office box. We did get a holiday card once from with an Egyptian post mark on it, but it wasn’t signed.”
Tarik knew that Abdan was Egyptian and Sudanian. He was Hawk of the Night’s cousin on his father’s side. Tarik now had the sad duty of informing this woman that he had been murdered October thirty-first. The family had found his body on November fifth. He would wait for her to finish due to the fact that it seemed that she was a hard time, dealing with the memories his question seemed to force her to relive.
”Mr. Avukat, totally disappeared, off the face of the Earth, after Michael’s death. I sent a notice to the post office box, but it was returned as being no longer in service. Nothing ever came again for the last ten years. The family members I have back home in the United States, keep an eye out for things.”
When she had finished, Tarik said a little sadden, “Abdan Avukat was family and also the Medjai council’s lawyer. He was murdered October 31, though we did not discover the body until the fifth of November.”
Tarik’s attention never wavered, while Flo was talking. When she had finished he reached in his pocket and pulled out an envelope. She saw in his eyes, the ones so similar she had learned to read when Michael was alive, Tarik was wondering if he should open the letter. Flo hoped it wasn’t bad news.
Now he was even wanting to see what Arinna had found.
When his falcon flew over to where he was sitting and started to nip at the letter, Flo smiled. The bird wanted to see what was in the letter. Who was Arianna, she wondered to herself. “Tarik you seem to want to read your letter. It is ok, go ahead. I’m going to see if I can find some treats for Horus.” She looked at the falcon and said, “Would you like that my fine feathered friend?” With that she put her tea cup on the small table, and headed for the kitchen area. If she remembered correctly, there were nuts and fruit in the bowl. She could cut up some fruit and make a small dish of a nice mixture, thus giving Tarik time to read his letter in private.
Horus had finally torn open the envelope and Tarik saw that it had four documents and a key. Tarik pick up the letter from Arinna, and nodded to Flo. Opening the letter and read,
“Dear brother,
I am sending you this letter with a birth record, a marriage certificate, school records and the key to the bank there in London. It would seem our father had never stopped hunting for Mina’s baby. His journal had stated that he had found Michaki when the boy was about four. Tarik don’t be upset with father about not telling you. Father believed that to protect you both, he had to act quickly. He had asked Abdan to insure the boy’s safety. The birth record shows both the name you gave him and the false name. The marriage is his marriage to a woman have yet to find. Her name is Flo Richards. Once I have found her, I will ask that you return the key as it is rightfully her’s. Tarik as you will see though the school records, your son had taken after you.
I am hoping that you are sitting down, for I am sorry to inform you that Michaki was killed ten years ago. He was the man that our aunt had found. I will see if I can find the albums of pictures that dad’s journal spoke of. If I do, be ready to receive a very big package. It seemed father had not wanted you to miss nothing.
I will keep hunting as I am sure that you want answers as do I.
Love Always,
Your Sister
Ari
Tarik smiled a little as he picked up the other documents and key. He would write Arinna and tell her about Flo.
Looking at Flo, Tarik realized that he had read the letter outloud.
[/I]
Tarik smiled as he said, “We have learned to never have numbers laying around.” Writing another number 205-633-5247 on a different paper. Handing her the new number, he said, “What about this one?” The new number was to Adban’s home. All of his clients had it. Adban’s wife Mika had been out of town when her husband was murdered, but refused to move when the Magi realized that the safe house in the United States had been discovered. She had finally agreed but on one condition, she got to keep the same phone number.
Flo’s hand started to shake, so she put the cup back on the table. She looked into Tarik’s eyes as he told her about Mr. Avukat.[/quote]
Tarik reached out to steady her hand.
Tarik hated that it was his words that had made her cry. Tarik was already thinking of who could of known of the link between Abdan and the Medjai. Only one name came up, his half-brother Khalid. Khalid wanted something or somebody, but what or who, Tarik could only think of one, himself. Khalid was hunting him, but why. Tarik then thought of the proof that Potter and Dawson had, could Khalid have thought that Abdan would know where they had hid it. Khalid had not went himself, he had sent somebody, Tarik was sure. Khalid must have been surprised when Abdan could not tell where Tarik was. Only three people knew where he was at all times, his father, his half-sister Ari and Sasha McChey. None of the three had any reason to give Khalid anything.
Tarik was surprised that this Michael had died the same day as Abdan. Tarik wondered if Abdan had given some information that had lead to the man’s death. Abdan would have never intended for the man to get hurt, so had he planned some kind of trap for Khalid and the young man had gotten caught in it as well. Thinking of the man he was to meet at his aunt’s and Ari’s secretiveness as to details. Tarik’s mind was racing as he realized that if he had arrived on time, he would have been there when the attack happen on his aunt. His aunt had been counting on Tarik to be there. They had set a trap and it had backfired. The man must have seen something or was on his way to the aunt’s when he was killed. The road that lead to Tarik’s aunts was a private one any on it had it be headed there or coming back from there.
Tarik listened to how she described the accident, realizing that the deer was a Patronus Charm. His was a falcon, but Tarik had heard that Khalid’s was an Egyptian Asp. Tarik had known for some time that his half-brother had been helped in hiding. Tarik was the best tracker excluding his father. When she talked about having been carrying Michael’s son, Tarik wondered where the boy was.
Tarik would talk to his blood brother about the Aurors. He saw no reason that they should have been involved, let alone ask a grieving widow for names and addresses. He would ask her what exactly they had said after she finished as it seemed to upset her.
Tarik smiled at her next comment realizing that she had spunk just like Mina and Sasha.
Tarik waited and then asked calmly, “Did you give these Aurors a way to get a hold of you? Rude, how? What did they say exactly?” It was not that he doubted her story. The questions were more to see if these “Aurors” were after something or just doing their job. It was also to see if he need to have Ari’s husband put some protectors on the farm or if her family was safe.
Flo sat silently for a few moments, trying to add all the information up.
Tarik saw the records and realized that his son was indeed following in his footsteps. Michaki had graduated with honors. He realized that he could not wait for the pictures to come. Tarik only was sad that his son had been yet another victim. Michaki had not even gotten to see his son. He was not mad at his father for hiding him. It had kept him safe until somebody had seen him and thought that he might be Tarik. That made Tarik realize that either his brother or the people hiding him wanted Tarik dead. They would pay, most had the good sense to leave the Medjai alone. Now these killers would find out why.
Tarik nodded as he handed her the key to Michaki’s vault. He also showed her the rest of what was in the envelope.
Tarik smiled, “I am proud of him. I am happy to know that he was as interested in finding me as I was.”
Tarik tried to calm his voice as he said the rest, “The night he, Abdan and my aunt were killed, I was supposed to be at my aunt’s but had been delayed. My sister Arianna, who I have always called Ari, had gotten a hold of me saying that if I got to our aunt’s by midnight, they had a surprise for me. I got there at ten minutes after midnight(November 1,). If he was killed on Old Medjai Road, there was only one place he could have been heading, my aunt’s? The only thing I am still trying to piece together is the order in which the murders occurred. I figure that Abdan was killed last as he had been tortured to death. So did they kill my aunt or Michaki first?”
“That number also looks familiar. If it is the same one I am thinking about we called it and were told to leave a message and someone would get back to us as soon as possible. The message was in a woman’s voice. Michael explained in his message who he was and why we needed to find the lawyer. No one ever returned our call though. It was supposed to be a direct line to Adban’s home, I think.”
“I probably should have tried it again after Michael’s death, but I was beyond thinking. Somehow I remember planning the funeral with the help of my family and friends, but the details are really sketchy. Two days after the accident I passed out and went into premature labor.” Flo’s hand subconsciously went to her stomach.
“When I woke up in the hospital, the baby had come but the doctor said he did not make it. I never did even get to see the little munchkin, because I fell back into my dream world for at least another month.”
“I do remember a nurse coming on duty the next day, and asking how I liked my new baby boy. The other nurse that was there whispered something and the first nurse just said she was sorry, that they had probably forgotten to write it on the chart, then went about fussing with the bed sheets and things. She had probably been embarrassed.”
“I was told later, they buried the baby in the same coffin as Michael. On the head stone it has Michael’s name and my boy’s name which was Marshall James. Michael and I had picked it out when we found out I was carrying a boy.”
“The Aurors knew how to get in contact with me because they came to my father’s farm to report their findings. Maybe rude is not the right work, callous may better describe it. The young one especially let it be known, if wizards hung around with muggles and tried to live in their world and use their contraptions, things could happen. He did not elaborate on what ‘things’ meant, but it was a slap in the face to me, Michael’s memory and even my family, because we all believe wizards and Muggles should live together. Somewhere in time there is a common bond.”
“I have pictures and papers also, which I will send for tomorrow. Michael kept every scarp.” Holding the key is the palm of her outstretched hand she asked,” What’s the key to? I heard you mention something about it when you were reading the letter from your sister Ari, but I was trying to not pay too much attention because it was a private thing.
“The witnesses said Michael had his turn signal on and had just made the turn onto another road when the accident happened. The Muggle Police did say the road had an Egyptian name, Old Medjai Road does sound really familiar. I can double check for you because I can get a copy of the Muggle police report sent here to the school. It may even give you the names of the witnesses. ”
“Michaki, I like that name, from the report had his accident at about 8:45 pm, from the best way the Muggle police could figure it, but it was after midnight before the police called me. I remember that because I was getting a little desperate to know where Michael was and had called around 10:00 to the meeting place to see if anyone had heard from him or if he had returned there.”
“That’s all I really remember. Sorry if it is not enough. I will try and see what else I can find out.”
(OOC: Combined threads from the previous site)
Flo accepted the cup of tea from Tarik and took a deep breath. It was not fair to Tarik to act like a love forlorn matron. “The picture?”, she started as she retrieved it from her pocket.
Tarik saw the woman called Flo take the tea and instantly wondered if she liked Egyptian Tea. To most it was weird and took a required taste to appreciate it’s soothing qualities. As she took the picture from her pocket, he again wondered how she came by it. Tarik was positive he had never worn an outfit like that.
“The picture is not of you, it is of my deceased husband Michael. He was killed ten years ago in a muggle car crash.” Flo looked at the picture and handed it to Tarik.
As she explained who it was and the man’s connection to her, Tarik remembered faintly seeing the face on another picture along with a letter. Thinking back as he sipped his tea,But where and when?
“The reason I have been so upset, is because, as you can see, your eyes are so much alike. It startled me to see you sitting at the table. Sorry if I created any unnecessary commotion.”
When she mentioned the eyes, it hit him of where he had seen it. It had been when he had helped his father with a trip to a lawyer. His father had demanded that he wait outside. So when his father had dropped an envelope as he was coming out, Tarik jumped at the chance to see what the visit was about. As he picked up the envelope a picture fell out. It was of the same man, he was wearing a three-piece suit and there was a woman wearing a wedding gown. Tarik asked who the man was and all his father said was that when Tarik had done what the council wanted then it would be safe to tell him. Tarik had also been warned not to go looking for answers and to focus on catching Khalid. Tarik had ask his sister to look into it without father’s knowledge. She had wrote him ten years ago to say that if he got to his aunt’s house in the next couple of days, he would meet the man. Tarik had shown up the following day to find his father’s sister dead.
Flo took a sip of tea, which was very good. She smiled and took another sip, because the tea had always had a very calming effect on her.
As she took a sip, he asked as he handed back the picture, “Did you ever send wedding pictures to a lawyer in Egypt?” Tarik wondered if his sister still was looking as he had received an owl from her only moments before coming into the Staff Room. He had not even had a chance to open it yet. His sister had been able to get a hold of their father’s things after his death. Arianna had said that she would write if she found anything.
It tasted like the tea Michael had always made. Flo remembered asking Michael about where he got the tea leafs from and he had explained they always came with the packet, containing his monthly allowance and a few other trinkets from time to time had been included. Flo had not tasted the tea in a long time, because when Michael died, the monthly allowances had stopped. The lawyer who had been handling all the transactions, from some unknown fund, had disappeared. She had spent one year in almost total isolation and depression. When her savings had run out she started looking for work. First there was the nursery school teaching job, which was a disaster, because of her magical tendencies to amuse the children at the completely muggle school, then the Nanny job which eventually lead her to Hogsmeade and then to the school.
Tarik smiled as she drank her tea. It showed that she had drank it before. Since his sister was the only supplier of that blend, Tarik knew that she had to have gotten it from Arianna’s shop somehow. Pulling his sister’s letter out of his pocket, Tarik debated on whether to open it.
Flo watched Tarik as emotions played across his face.
As Tarik thoughts raced, his falcon Horus came to him. It seemed Horus wanted the letter opened as he began nipping at it. Turning to Horus, he said calmly, “Yes, Horus. It’s from Arianna. It is too small to be your treat bag.”
“This tea is fantastic, Tarik, thank you. I haven’t had it since Michael passed away and the packets stopped arriving from the lawyer.”
Tarik thought about her words,Arinna, had said that the family’s lawyer Abdan Avukat had asked for larger tea and coffee orders up to ten years ago. Then the orders stopped coming in. His father even had gotten worried to the point that he had Arinna his secondary of his estate. The man had been found dead in his home, Tarik’s sources had said that he was tortured. Abdan’s death seemed to hit his father hard and Tarik noticed that his father had become even more secretive.
Leaning her head against the back of one of the wings in the chair Flo thought about Tarik’s question. “The one lawyer who seemed to be handling everything about Michael’s Trust funds gave us a phone number and a post office box to be able to send things to him. When we asked if we could see him personally he said he traveled a lot and never knew when he would be in his American office.”
Tarik still wondered who this Michael was and why his father would have his best lawyer handling the boy’s trust fund. Tarik did know that he and Arinna had never had to work to make a living. They worked because they wanted to not because they had to. Their grandparents had seen to that. Tarik’s son Ali even had money set aside for him. For some reason unknown to Tarik, his father had deemed this Michael worthy of being concerned family.
It made Tarik think back to his first love, Mina. Mina had been pregnant when she had been murder. When the Medjai had found her the baby had been forcibly removed. Tarik had known it would have been a boy and had even picked a name, Michaki. It was not his people way to name a baby, but he loved Mina and it was a custom of her people.
Tarik did know that Abdan had offices all over the world, as he was the only lawyer that all the Magi went though. Tarik still had his number in his head. Taking a paper, Tarik wrote it down 902-756-8578. Tarik handed the paper to Flo and asked, “Is this the number that you were to call?” If it was then Tarik had some very bad news.
Flo took another sip of tea, and thought back ten years into her past. It was painful but she would keep going. “He did have an accent, but we were never able to place it. When Michael and I were married, the lawyer, a Mr. Avukat, did ask for us to prove we were married. We sent a copy of our marriage certificate and a couple wedding pictures to the post office box. We did get a holiday card once from with an Egyptian post mark on it, but it wasn’t signed.”
Tarik knew that Abdan was Egyptian and Sudanian. He was Hawk of the Night’s cousin on his father’s side. Tarik now had the sad duty of informing this woman that he had been murdered October thirty-first. The family had found his body on November fifth. He would wait for her to finish due to the fact that it seemed that she was a hard time, dealing with the memories his question seemed to force her to relive.
”Mr. Avukat, totally disappeared, off the face of the Earth, after Michael’s death. I sent a notice to the post office box, but it was returned as being no longer in service. Nothing ever came again for the last ten years. The family members I have back home in the United States, keep an eye out for things.”
When she had finished, Tarik said a little sadden, “Abdan Avukat was family and also the Medjai council’s lawyer. He was murdered October 31, though we did not discover the body until the fifth of November.”
Tarik’s attention never wavered, while Flo was talking. When she had finished he reached in his pocket and pulled out an envelope. She saw in his eyes, the ones so similar she had learned to read when Michael was alive, Tarik was wondering if he should open the letter. Flo hoped it wasn’t bad news.
Now he was even wanting to see what Arinna had found.
When his falcon flew over to where he was sitting and started to nip at the letter, Flo smiled. The bird wanted to see what was in the letter. Who was Arianna, she wondered to herself. “Tarik you seem to want to read your letter. It is ok, go ahead. I’m going to see if I can find some treats for Horus.” She looked at the falcon and said, “Would you like that my fine feathered friend?” With that she put her tea cup on the small table, and headed for the kitchen area. If she remembered correctly, there were nuts and fruit in the bowl. She could cut up some fruit and make a small dish of a nice mixture, thus giving Tarik time to read his letter in private.
Horus had finally torn open the envelope and Tarik saw that it had four documents and a key. Tarik pick up the letter from Arinna, and nodded to Flo. Opening the letter and read,
“Dear brother,
I am sending you this letter with a birth record, a marriage certificate, school records and the key to the bank there in London. It would seem our father had never stopped hunting for Mina’s baby. His journal had stated that he had found Michaki when the boy was about four. Tarik don’t be upset with father about not telling you. Father believed that to protect you both, he had to act quickly. He had asked Abdan to insure the boy’s safety. The birth record shows both the name you gave him and the false name. The marriage is his marriage to a woman have yet to find. Her name is Flo Richards. Once I have found her, I will ask that you return the key as it is rightfully her’s. Tarik as you will see though the school records, your son had taken after you.
I am hoping that you are sitting down, for I am sorry to inform you that Michaki was killed ten years ago. He was the man that our aunt had found. I will see if I can find the albums of pictures that dad’s journal spoke of. If I do, be ready to receive a very big package. It seemed father had not wanted you to miss nothing.
I will keep hunting as I am sure that you want answers as do I.
Love Always,
Your Sister
Ari
Tarik smiled a little as he picked up the other documents and key. He would write Arinna and tell her about Flo.
Looking at Flo, Tarik realized that he had read the letter outloud.
Flo accepted the slip of paper from Tarik and read the phone number on it. “I know the area code is correct, but it has been 10 years since I have called the number. It does look familiar though. How come you have it, plus seem to have it memorized?” Flo was getting nervous.
Tarik smiled as he said, “We have learned to never have numbers laying around.” Writing another number 205-633-5247 on a different paper. Handing her the new number, he said, “What about this one?” The new number was to Adban’s home. All of his clients had it. Adban’s wife Mika had been out of town when her husband was murdered, but refused to move when the Magi realized that the safe house in the United States had been discovered. She had finally agreed but on one condition, she got to keep the same phone number.
Flo’s hand started to shake, so she put the cup back on the table. She looked into Tarik’s eyes as he told her about Mr. Avukat.[/quote]
Tarik reached out to steady her hand.
Tears rolled down her cheeks from the corners of her eyes as she leaned against the wing of the chair.
Tarik hated that it was his words that had made her cry. Tarik was already thinking of who could of known of the link between Abdan and the Medjai. Only one name came up, his half-brother Khalid. Khalid wanted something or somebody, but what or who, Tarik could only think of one, himself. Khalid was hunting him, but why. Tarik then thought of the proof that Potter and Dawson had, could Khalid have thought that Abdan would know where they had hid it. Khalid had not went himself, he had sent somebody, Tarik was sure. Khalid must have been surprised when Abdan could not tell where Tarik was. Only three people knew where he was at all times, his father, his half-sister Ari and Sasha McChey. None of the three had any reason to give Khalid anything.
Removing a tissue from her pocket she wiped the tears, then cleared her throat and said, “Tarik, my Michael had his accident on the 31st of October, ten years ago. I was not functioning very well after his death. Loosing Michael and the baby was so hard.”
Tarik was surprised that this Michael had died the same day as Abdan. Tarik wondered if Abdan had given some information that had lead to the man’s death. Abdan would have never intended for the man to get hurt, so had he planned some kind of trap for Khalid and the young man had gotten caught in it as well. Thinking of the man he was to meet at his aunt’s and Ari’s secretiveness as to details. Tarik’s mind was racing as he realized that if he had arrived on time, he would have been there when the attack happen on his aunt. His aunt had been counting on Tarik to be there. They had set a trap and it had backfired. The man must have seen something or was on his way to the aunt’s when he was killed. The road that lead to Tarik’s aunts was a private one any on it had it be headed there or coming back from there.
“The police said witnesses told them a deer suddenly appeared in the road, and Michael swerved to miss it and lost control. The deer disappeared as suddenly as it appeared apparently. Tarik he had been so happy that night. He had called from the meeting he was attending and said he needed to make a short stop and then he would be home with some very good news. We were going to have something to celebrate. He was as happy as when he found out I was carrying his new son.” Flo’s hand went to her stomach.
Tarik listened to how she described the accident, realizing that the deer was a Patronus Charm. His was a falcon, but Tarik had heard that Khalid’s was an Egyptian Asp. Tarik had known for some time that his half-brother had been helped in hiding. Tarik was the best tracker excluding his father. When she talked about having been carrying Michael’s son, Tarik wondered where the boy was.
“Two Auror’s came about three days later and said they had checked into the crash and the muggle police were correct in their assumptions. They asked if there was anyone else they should talk too.
Tarik would talk to his blood brother about the Aurors. He saw no reason that they should have been involved, let alone ask a grieving widow for names and addresses. He would ask her what exactly they had said after she finished as it seemed to upset her.
I did not tell them about the lawyer because that was my business not theirs.
Tarik smiled at her next comment realizing that she had spunk just like Mina and Sasha.
I went back to the family farm and never heard from either the police or them again. I am glad I do not have to deal with that type, they were very rude and hard especially the younger one.”
Tarik waited and then asked calmly, “Did you give these Aurors a way to get a hold of you? Rude, how? What did they say exactly?” It was not that he doubted her story. The questions were more to see if these “Aurors” were after something or just doing their job. It was also to see if he need to have Ari’s husband put some protectors on the farm or if her family was safe.
Flo sat silently for a few moments, trying to add all the information up.
Flo looked at Tarik’s face and saw the sadness.
Tarik saw the records and realized that his son was indeed following in his footsteps. Michaki had graduated with honors. He realized that he could not wait for the pictures to come. Tarik only was sad that his son had been yet another victim. Michaki had not even gotten to see his son. He was not mad at his father for hiding him. It had kept him safe until somebody had seen him and thought that he might be Tarik. That made Tarik realize that either his brother or the people hiding him wanted Tarik dead. They would pay, most had the good sense to leave the Medjai alone. Now these killers would find out why.
“Tarik, Sir. This letter, from Ari you sister, is it really saying you were Michael’s father?” Flo wanted to try and make some of the pain go away for a person she was realizing was her father-in-law.
Tarik nodded as he handed her the key to Michaki’s vault. He also showed her the rest of what was in the envelope.
“He was a good man, a fantastic man. He was kind and caring. We were very happy for the short time we were together. We never stopped looking for you. You would have been very, very proud of him and I know in my heart he would have been very proud to call you father.”
Tarik smiled, “I am proud of him. I am happy to know that he was as interested in finding me as I was.”
Tarik tried to calm his voice as he said the rest, “The night he, Abdan and my aunt were killed, I was supposed to be at my aunt’s but had been delayed. My sister Arianna, who I have always called Ari, had gotten a hold of me saying that if I got to our aunt’s by midnight, they had a surprise for me. I got there at ten minutes after midnight(November 1,). If he was killed on Old Medjai Road, there was only one place he could have been heading, my aunt’s? The only thing I am still trying to piece together is the order in which the murders occurred. I figure that Abdan was killed last as he had been tortured to death. So did they kill my aunt or Michaki first?”
“That number also looks familiar. If it is the same one I am thinking about we called it and were told to leave a message and someone would get back to us as soon as possible. The message was in a woman’s voice. Michael explained in his message who he was and why we needed to find the lawyer. No one ever returned our call though. It was supposed to be a direct line to Adban’s home, I think.”
“I probably should have tried it again after Michael’s death, but I was beyond thinking. Somehow I remember planning the funeral with the help of my family and friends, but the details are really sketchy. Two days after the accident I passed out and went into premature labor.” Flo’s hand subconsciously went to her stomach.
“When I woke up in the hospital, the baby had come but the doctor said he did not make it. I never did even get to see the little munchkin, because I fell back into my dream world for at least another month.”
“I do remember a nurse coming on duty the next day, and asking how I liked my new baby boy. The other nurse that was there whispered something and the first nurse just said she was sorry, that they had probably forgotten to write it on the chart, then went about fussing with the bed sheets and things. She had probably been embarrassed.”
“I was told later, they buried the baby in the same coffin as Michael. On the head stone it has Michael’s name and my boy’s name which was Marshall James. Michael and I had picked it out when we found out I was carrying a boy.”
“The Aurors knew how to get in contact with me because they came to my father’s farm to report their findings. Maybe rude is not the right work, callous may better describe it. The young one especially let it be known, if wizards hung around with muggles and tried to live in their world and use their contraptions, things could happen. He did not elaborate on what ‘things’ meant, but it was a slap in the face to me, Michael’s memory and even my family, because we all believe wizards and Muggles should live together. Somewhere in time there is a common bond.”
“I have pictures and papers also, which I will send for tomorrow. Michael kept every scarp.” Holding the key is the palm of her outstretched hand she asked,” What’s the key to? I heard you mention something about it when you were reading the letter from your sister Ari, but I was trying to not pay too much attention because it was a private thing.
“The witnesses said Michael had his turn signal on and had just made the turn onto another road when the accident happened. The Muggle Police did say the road had an Egyptian name, Old Medjai Road does sound really familiar. I can double check for you because I can get a copy of the Muggle police report sent here to the school. It may even give you the names of the witnesses. ”
“Michaki, I like that name, from the report had his accident at about 8:45 pm, from the best way the Muggle police could figure it, but it was after midnight before the police called me. I remember that because I was getting a little desperate to know where Michael was and had called around 10:00 to the meeting place to see if anyone had heard from him or if he had returned there.”
“That’s all I really remember. Sorry if it is not enough. I will try and see what else I can find out.”