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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 10, 2009 18:35:01 GMT -5
Ted had taken Riley home when she was finally ready to be released from St. Mungos. He still wasn't sure if Andi was angry with him for this, but he didn't know what else to do. She needed help, and she was too scared to go back to Geoffrey's place. He couldn't blame her, even though they all knew Geoffrey would never intentionally hurt her.
But then, he didn't know what to do. He had to go into the office, and Andi was back at Hogwarts. He couldn't leave Riley alone, and she insisted on coming to work anyway. So he brought her, just hoping she'd be safe here. He passed Angelique earlier in the day, and just rolled his eyes. What else was he supposed to do?
He was busy though, and the last he saw her, she was just sitting at her desk, her knees pulled to her chest in her chair. He ached for her, and told a few of the other Aurors just to keep an eye on her.
At lunch, he went back to her desk, planning on offering her at least a cup of coffee for lunch. When he got there, however, her desk was empty. Ted stood still, momentarily confused. She must have been with Hayden.
Approaching Hayden's desk next, he didn't see Riley, but he was undeterred. "Hey, Hayden. Have you seen Riley around?"
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Post by Hayden Ferrera on Jul 11, 2009 7:25:48 GMT -5
Like Ted, Hayden ached for Riley. He didn't really know what was going through her head and he didn't know how exactly to help her. It a way it made him feel completely helpless but maybe soon there would be some kind of breakthrough, even if it was a small one.
Busily, yet tiredly, Hayden sat at his desk looking through everything. Why did he keep so many papers?
He wasn't even paying attention to the time. Although if he was it wouldn't have mattered anyway. He wasn't that hungry. Ted's presence made him look up. His look went to a little confusion and worry. "She hasn't been by here."
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Post by Kit Cunningham on Jul 12, 2009 14:32:44 GMT -5
(Hope you don't mind if I make an appearance in this thread. I figure I qualify as "Etc.")
Kit was walking by Hayden's desk at that moment and heard what was going on. Everyone in the department was aware of the situation concerning Riley, and they had all been trying to keep an eye on her. Having already lost one auror, and nearly losing her as well, everyone was on high alert.
"Hey, are you guys looking for Riley?" she asked. "I saw her about half an hour ago. She said something about having to go to the ladies' room."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 13, 2009 3:31:44 GMT -5
Ted frowned at Hayden's answer. It made him uneasy, though he tried not to show it. The Ministry was huge. She could be anywhere. More than that, someone would have seen if something happened.
"She's not at her desk," he told Hayden slowly, keeping his tone calm.
Another voice distracted him, and his frown only deepend. Did girls normally take half an hour in the restroom? Maybe she was having a break down. "Thanks, Kit. Do you think you could do me a favor and check if she's there? I just sort of... I'm worried about her." He stopped himself from saying that he felt like she was his responisbility.
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Post by Kit Cunningham on Jul 13, 2009 15:45:30 GMT -5
Kit was actually concerned, too. In fact, she had tried to stop Riley from going off alone and had been promptly told to shove off. Realizing that it had been over half an hour ago since she had gone off, Kit had a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"Yeah, I'll go check," she replied. It didn't matter now if Riley wasn't likely to be glad to see her; the important thing was that they would know that she was safe. Surely she understood that.
She hurried off in the direction of the ladies' bathroom.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 13, 2009 23:54:40 GMT -5
Ted thanked her, and when she was gone, he looked worriedly at Hayden. "She should have known to tell someone where she went. Right?" He was allowing Hayden to see how nervous he was about this. "She knows she's in danger, so she'd let us know when she left somewhere."
That was his logic. That was why he was worried and convinced that something happened. "I don't even know where to start looking for her."
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Post by Hayden Ferrera on Jul 14, 2009 10:08:13 GMT -5
"Thanks Kit," Hayden said just before she left.
He rubbed his forehead and looked up to Ted. "Yes, she should have but you know Riley." Hayden didn't think anything of Ted being nervous because her disappearance made him a little more nervous as well.
"I tell you what, if Kit comes back and says that Riley is not there, we'll start looking every where we can. Maybe she wanted to be alone for a few minutes. We'll find her Ted." He had to have some kind of optimism.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 14, 2009 11:26:52 GMT -5
"Yeah, I know Riley," Ted said, his tone somewhat resigned. The girl was independent to a fault, and Ted was just worried that it was going to get her killed. There was nothing wrong with thinking you needed someone to watched your back. Except, evidentally, in Riley's mind.
"If Kit come backs... without Riley, we'll have her help us, too. Someone needs to find her." He was trying to be optimistic and patient waiting for Kit, but he had a bad feeling.
(Why doesn't Hayden have the extra ten galleons?)
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Post by Kit Cunningham on Jul 14, 2009 11:40:15 GMT -5
(Haha, I actually don't, either. I guess sometimes I forgot to add them, lol.)
Kit had run to the ladies' room and checked each stall for a sign of Riley. The bathroom was actually empty, except for one stall, which turned out to be occupied by Cynthia, who was not particularly thrilled about being barged in on. But when Kit explained the situation, Cynthia understood and volunteered to help out.
So, a few moments later, Kit came running back into the auror office with someone next to her, but it was Cynthia, and not Riley.
"Guys... she wasn't there," Kit said breathlessly.
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Post by Cynthia Darling on Jul 14, 2009 11:45:11 GMT -5
Cynthia let Kit speak first, then she stepped out from behind Kit, nodding gravely.
"But I swear I saw her about 20 minutes ago," she explained. "She was leaving the bathroom and heading toward the lifts. I thought maybe we could all split up and look around the Ministry for her. It's only 20 minutes, she probably hasn't got far. Maybe she went to see that blonde girl who works in the Portkey office... Isn't she dating Riley's friend... the one who...." She frowned, not wanting to remind everyone that Riley's friend had tried to kill her.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 14, 2009 11:55:35 GMT -5
Ted frowned deeply. Kit didn't even have to say anything for Ted to know that she didn't find Riley in the bathroom. He was suddenly very worried.
"Okay. Let's split up," he said, nodding his thanks to Cynthia. "We should put out word that we're looking for her," he said. "The other Department heads may need to know... Hayden, can you alert Angelique?" Riley couldn't be out there on her own... she had too many enemies, it seemed, and he thought it was rather reckless of her to go off alone.
But maybe that was the point.
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Post by Kit Cunningham on Jul 14, 2009 12:24:56 GMT -5
Kit nodded. One of the things people didn't know about her was that she was at her best when in crisis mode. She was efficient and quick to act. "Do you want me to alert the Minister?" she asked. "Maybe he can get the word out more quickly that way."
She didn't care that they would look foolish if Riley was just down in the cafeteria or something. Better that than to lose another auror. And given the situation surrounding Riley, the precautions were more than necessary.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 14, 2009 12:30:34 GMT -5
Ted hesitated, realizing quickly that he was going to take charge of the situation. People were asking him questions, so he had to figure out what to do right away.
"I'll talk to Vincent," he said, almost slowly. He didn't want to alert him as the Minister, because he didn't think they should be that concerned yet. But Vincent had trained Riley, and he was aware of the situation... he wanted to let him know what was going on, but not ask for his assistance right away.
"But Angelique needs to be alerted right away. Cynthia, will you see if she's with Geoffrey's girlfriend?" He already asked Hayden to go to Angelique, which left Kit. "Kit, will you check the cafeteria?"
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Post by Kit Cunningham on Jul 14, 2009 12:38:05 GMT -5
Kit nodded. "OK. That sounds good," she said. She didn't really know Vincent, anyway, and Ted did. It was better that he talk to him, and they could check the more obvious places first. Then, if they didn't find her, they could figure out what to do from there.
"Report back here in 15 minutes?" she suggested.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 14, 2009 12:52:31 GMT -5
Ted nodded. "Yeah, see you all here. Thanks for helping," he added, and he glanced at each of them, and then turned to go to the Minister's office.
What was he supposed to tell Vincent? Well, whatever it was he said, Vincent would know what to do. And even if he didn't, Ted was going to find Riley. It didn't matter what that took.
He checked in with Vincent's assistant, who told him to sit and wait while she went to see if Vincent would see him. Ted rolled his eyes at the formality of it, but he supposed he had to put up with it. He wouldn't sit though, and was nearly pacing while he waited, praying one of the other three would find her. And then he was going to shake her until she had some sense in her.
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Post by Vincent Corrigan on Jul 14, 2009 13:01:08 GMT -5
Vincent had only just come back from his honeymoon with Emily a few days before, so he was really still getting into the swing of things at work. He had been out the day Riley was attacked in the Ministry. Perhaps that was the reason it had happened, or at least that was what Vincent was worried about. So now he was spending most of his day trying to devise new security measures in the Ministry.
He was surprised, however, when his secretary informed him that Ted Tonks was requesting to see him. He had no idea what it could be about, but he would have to deal with it.
"Send him in."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 14, 2009 13:16:49 GMT -5
The woman returned, telling Ted he was all right to go in, and Ted gave her a rushed thank you.
He moved past her desk and knocked once on Vincent's door before he went inside. He caught sight of the man who had also trained him, as well as Riley, and he sighed. Neither he or Angelique deserved all this stress. And naturally, it was all happening at a terrible time, with Vincent just coming back and soon after Roland's death, the attack in Hogsmeade.... things weren't ever going to get easy.
"Vincent," he said, nodding his head.
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Post by Vincent Corrigan on Jul 14, 2009 13:28:57 GMT -5
Vincent looked up at the sound of Ted's voice. Leaning back in his seat, he took in Ted's expression, which was one of panic. Immediately, he straightened up, realizing that this was business and not a casual chat.
"What's wrong, Ted?" he asked. "You're white as a sheet. Don't tell me there's more trouble in the Auror department...."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 14, 2009 13:35:48 GMT -5
"No, it's possible that's nothing wrong," Ted told him quickly. He really didn't want Vincent to worry, but he should be aware of the situation from the beginning.
He let out a breath and sat down in the seat opposite Vincent on the other side of the desk.
"It's just that I took Riley to stay with Andromeda and me after she left St. Mungo's, and then I brought her in today, and she's..." He hesitated. This felt ridiculous. But even as stubborn as Riley was, he couldn;t forget the way she had clung to him that day, and he couldn't help but think that she would have come to him if she went anywhere. "We're looking for her, but it seems that Riley's missing. And I'm worried."
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Post by Vincent Corrigan on Jul 14, 2009 13:50:09 GMT -5
Vincent frowned. Yes, it could be nothing. But after what had already happened to Riley, he wasn't sure he wanted to take that risk.
"OK," he said. "Keep looking for her. Anywhere you can think of. Start in the Ministry, then get back to me. I'll order a lockdown... no one gets in or out. If you don't find her, we're going to have to assume she either left, or was taken out of the Ministry by force. How long has she been missing?"
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