10:57am

It was the waiting that was eating him up from the inside.  The only woman he had ever truly cared for was gone, and it seemed as if there was nothing anyone was going to do about it.  Alfonz had come to too many dead ends to find Celina himself, and he had unwillingly come to that conclusion.  There had been many days that he just stood, trying to uncover something in his own investigation that he had missed.  But even with his intelligence, Alfonz had come to the conclusion that he wasn’t an investigator type. 

It was this reason why he had decided to take a stroll down to the second level of the very building he worked in.  Alfonz wanted straight answers as to why things weren’t being done.  They had article after article in the paper about runespoor smuggling, and werewolves but what about his sister, or other whom had gone missing?  That was more important than any three headed snake any day.  Dark wizards… Alfonz had read that they were pairing the runespoors with the idea that a dark wizard was among them…

If that was the case then there should be more of the man power searching for his sister!  The more he walked, the more irritated he became.  His cold expression and darkened eyes would be the very first impression anyone walking by at that time would get.  Alfonz was tall, mean, and very angry and he wasn’t afraid of anyone getting in his way of finding answers.

Before thinking too much, he opened the door of the office and looked around.  Alfonz tried to pull himself together as he made the walk to the nearest desk with what he could only assume to be and office lapdog to the real aurors.  Clearing his throat, his head slightly cocked as he looked at his target. 

“Who exactly would I speak to about what aurors do with the time they’re not wasting it chasing down snakes?”   

(Jonas/Open)

Attempting to work on Level Two meant getting used to any variety of interruptions.  Trainees with questions about what they should do next, or stopping by with a coffee offering in hopes of getting to work on an actual case.  Archer, ducking in with a quick question about their shared investigation.  Pratt with a smart remark or Rosier posing a new conspiracy theory.  And then there were the dozens and dozens of daily exchanges with Jonas's partner, ranging from discussions about casework to theoretical questions (Jonas) to complaints over the weather (Adon), critiques over Jonas's choice in restaurants (Adon), and grumbling over the lack of a firm work ethic in England (Adon again).

But by far his least favorite of interruptions were complaints disguised as rhetorical questions.  With a sigh, Jonas looked up resignedly from the records on Lazarus Rippringham-Gomfrey's business dealings that he'd been pouring over.  Apparently if he wanted to get any actual work done, he'd be better off taking the files to his office.

"Far as I know, mate, no one's chased down any snakes since the summer," he said, an eyebrow raised as he regarded the man who had addressed him.  The Runespoor investigation had died down considerably over the past few months.  Since he and Adon had gotten back from Jerusalem, there hadn't been a single report of the three-headed snakes.  The Ministry's discovery of the Muggle-enabled trade routes had apparently halted the growing smuggling industry, at least for the moment.  It remained to be seen if it would manage to recoup and resurface, but the last time the Aurors had made smuggling into the United Kingdom this inconvenient, it had taken a decade and a half for it to grow back.

Jonas knew the man standing here before him -- not just from around the Ministry, because he'd have to live in a hole to be back for six months without being able to recognize the Department Heads on sight, but because Alfonz Jedynak had been a schoolmate once.  The other man had been the same year as he and Tait, the same house as Tamis.  The former Quidditch player was not the sort of bloke that one went out of one's way to get back in touch with, and save for realizing his current position, Jonas had no idea what the man had been up to over the past ten years.

Pushing off with his foot, he let his chair spin slowly around to face his visitor.  "We don't waste time," he said succinctly, regarding him with a frown.  "If you've got a question about how assignments work, then you ought to be talking to Department Head Rosier, Mr Jedynak.  I can't reckon that any of us in here are going to be able to answer it to your liking."

It was just as Alfonz had expected, except for the fact that he hadn’t known about the Runespoors investigation also taking a back burner.  Never being one to really keep up with the current events of a situation, Alfonz held his position.  The very last thing that he needed was to show any hint of confusion or delay.  However, changing his composure and trying to restrain from losing his temper too much at his place of work, Alfonz tried his hardest to smirk.  “You’re right,” Alfonz slowly and calmly stated.  “However, you know just as well as I that he’ll tell me the same thing you’ve just said.” 

Studying the situation, Alfonz considered his options.  Talking to the head of the department would be as futile as this encounter was proving to be.  Realizing that he should have thought through a more in depth plan, Alfonz began to feel his temper starting to rise.  Alfonz didn’t care how they did their jobs as long as something came from it, and in his opinion, he’d heard nothing and therefore nothing was being done.

Twenty years had passed since Hogwarts, and though Alfonz didn’t take note of every classmate he had ever come into contact with, he did recognize the man who sat before him.  The name, however, escaped him.  Lately though, there hadn’t seemed to be a person at the ministry or Quidditch fanatic that didn’t know his name.  Alfonz found that this had been the only time in his life where he wished he'd taken note; even the people he couldn’t have cared less about from his past were now coming into his future.  It was incredibly unnerving for the Jedynak man.  After his Quidditch career had failed, Alfonz realized that little by little he was losing control of everything around him. 

“Alright, then,” Alfonz grunted, looking around and noticing an unoccupied chair at a different desk.  He wasn’t leaving until he had figured out something that would convince him that he was wrong about anyone knowing what they were doing about finding his sister.  Placing his hand on the chair, he brought the chair right in front of his co-workers desk.  Alfonz looked up checking for reactions, and then sat down.  He wasn’t about to leave just yet. 

Letting out an exasperated breath, Alfonz crossed his arms and nodded his head.  To the untrained eye, it may have looked as if Alfonz was giving in or surrendering his stance.  However, Alfonz knew that it wouldn’t be that easy.  Ministry workers were notorious for being intelligent in their fields.

 “Let’s then not waste time together.” His speech was slow, and apparently straining to be collected.  “I don’t much care for how your work gets done, anymore than I’m sure you care how mine gets done.  However, I do appreciate results.”  Alfonz shrugged, his smirk completely gone as his eyes narrowed.  “Just as the results of my work brings pleasure and appreciation, anything you could prove as useful towards those you watch over and protect would also be truly appreciated.”

“And you’re correct,” Alfonz continued. “None of you here will answer my questions to my liking, because the only answer I need is the safe return of a person dear to me.  So, let me rephrase my question…”

“Who do I speak to, to find out the status of an investigation that is probably the lowest of concerns when it comes to what the ministry finds important?”

Jonas regarded the other wizard, his forehead creasing perplexedly, as he proceeded to grab a chair and join the red-headed Auror at his desk.  He couldn't fathom in the slightest what had triggered the sudden demands -- not that Jonas was familiar with every case under investigation by Level Two, but he kept an ear out for the bigger ones, both officially and unofficially.  As far as he knew, the Department of Magical Games and Sport had been mostly taken with planning the Tournament at Hogwarts this year, which his daughter was already bubbling about in her letters.  Whatever perceived slight had set this off, he couldn't imagine that it was official.  Despite his personal failings and his sometimes grating personality, Cameron Rosier was deft when it came to handling interdepartmental politics.

Which meant that whatever had set Jedynak off must have been non-work related.  His next words confirmed it: "...because the only answer I need is the safe return of a person dear to me."  Jonas's brow furrowed as he considered the other man with a frown.

"Well, to start, mate," he said in a perfectly amiable tone, as if they were discussing something mundane like the weather and not in the middle of a forced standoff in the Ministry, "I reckon you might get better results if you find a less confrontational way to phrase that question.  None of us are school kids out of Hogwarts."  Except for the trainees, but Jonas dismissed that with a genial wave of his hand.  "You come in here making demands and trying to bully us, there's not a bloke in scarlet who'd go out of his way to cooperate with you."

Knowing the others, they'd likely do a lot worse.  Archer would ignore him; Adon would go into his usual stony soldier mode and recite unhelpful procedure numbers from Ministry law codes; Pratt would probably take the bait and pick a fight.  He doubted that that was really what Jedynak was looking for.  The Department Head didn't seem to be deliberately trying to blow off steam; this seemed far more likely to be driven by desperation and frustration, the sign of a man who was used to being in control but suddenly found himself sidelined and helpless.  That didn't make Jonas feel any more sympathy toward the man, but he could understand his position.  No one liked feeling trapped on the outside.

"But even if you amend the question," he added, eyebrows raising, "that's not going to change the answer I can give you.  Level Two investigations are classified, Mr Jedynak.  If you want to find out what's being done with a case, you'll either need to talk to Mr Rosier or schedule an appointment with the Lead Auror on the investigation."

As he massaged and thought for a minute, Aflonz’s eyes closed slightly as not to allow notice of the burning sensation that they felt. 

He had to think of his next move.  What moves were there to be played?  Well, what had he found out?  … find a less confrontational way to phrase that question… there's not a bloke in scarlet who'd go out of his way to cooperate with you….But even if you amend the question, that's not going to change the answer I can give you….  Going back over every play made, Alfonz found nothing.  As he had concluded, they’d gone in circles and in the end this man could do nothing for him. 

Next move; Alfonz thought for a moment, thinking about the multiple possibilities.  He could speak with a different person, preferably a female auror?  No.  Alfonz thought about it and knew that the women aurors could be even as relentless because of the evident inferiority complex they all had.  They had to make sure their places were known, so they wouldn’t help him in any other way than just pissing him off more.  His skills were limited in the female department to begin with, and non-emotional, over compensating, problems were never, and would never be the answer to any of his problems. 

“Who is the lead auror on missing person’s cases?” Alfonz asked as calmly as he could growl without it coming off as bullying as the auror called it.  The only other play was to find out who could really help him, or at least lead him in the right direction.

Alfonz opened his eyes and starred at the man narrowly and coldly.  The burning only grew worse when his eyes opened, and the taste of a tall glass of fire whiskey called to him in the back of his mind.  He kept it together as much as he could, placeing his hand back into his lap, he resisted all urges to do or say anything not appropriate.

However, without really meaning to, but without really stopping it… the words slide right out of his mouth.

  “If that is a question you can answer that is,” Alfonz stated. “Could be classified, too, after all.”

The Auror waited silently, eyebrows still raised as he watched the other man struggle with his next move.  It seemed safe to say that Jedynak had not been promoted to lead Level Seven based on his strong people skills; diplomacy did not appear to be a usual part of his repertoire.  But he wasn't exploding -- he hadn't immediately snapped back, and he seemed to be trying to process what Jonas had told him.

Either that, or he was silently counting down from ten to stop himself from trying to hex an Auror.

Whatever internal debate Jedynak was holding finally came to an end, and it appeared that Bruce Banner had won.  The question may not have been polite in tone, but at least it was reasonable.  Jonas could work with sarcasm; that was several steps above being shouted at.

He gave a good-natured shrug in reply.  "You're a Department Head.  I reckon that's something you could find out easily enough," he said easily, nodding to the other wizard.  "The Lead Auror varies from case to case, so I'd have to know which one you're referencing.  Which missing person investigation were you interested in?"

Finally!  Alfonz was starting to actually get somewhere in the conversation and it was actually possible that this auror wasn’t a waste of air and space.  His look however, stayed directly on the man as stone cold as he could keep it.  There was no sign of relief or even the slightest hint that he was grateful for the movement in the conversation.  As of yet, this man had proved less than helpful and though Alfonz was a department Head, wasn’t him coming to the auror’s office the reason to find out whom was in charge in the beginning?

In the back of Alfonz’s mind, he began to become slightly more worried than relieved though.  He really hadn’t known where to begin because his father hadn’t been the most receptive when allowing Alfonz to know what information he could or should have when it came to Celina’s case.  Alfonz wondered if he was even allowed to know, but being her biological brother, Alfonz figured that the information was good as his if he just obtained it accordingly. 

“Well, that shouldn’t be too hard to figure out,” sarcasm still dripped off every word but Alfonz had to ask himself if that was even a question that was too hard to answer for himself.  “My sister.  She has the same name as I, after all.  Celina Jedynak.” 

 “I actually do not know too many details,” he admitted.

His forehead creasing, Jonas regarded the man in front of him thoughtfully.  The name Celina Jedynak -- any sort of missing person situation related to a Jedynak -- didn't ring a bell.  That meant that either the investigation was being worked by an Auror who did not normally leave their casework lying about on their desk, or that the file was so old that it had been buried underneath piles and piles of more current casework.  If he had to bet, Jonas would have placed his wager on the latter; meticulous Aurors did not lose touch with the victim's family members.

Now that he was thinking about it, though, something about this entire situation seemed a bit off.  Why had no one gotten in touch with Jedynak?  If the younger sister of a Department Head had disappeared, that could very well be a quiet strike against the Ministry -- some sort of attempt to blackmail or hurt the girl's older brother.  If the case was not being treated with utmost diligence, that implied that the Auror responsible for investigating it already had an idea of what had happened to Celina Jedynak.  And Jonas doubted that it was a kidnapping.

He could have pressed Jedynak for more details; asked him what he knew about the case, the last time he had heard from the Aurors; but he could dig around without that information.  Looking up the Lead Auror now would just give Jedynak another target for his anger, and while Jonas might enjoy watching the other wizard go toe to toe with Ed Pratt, he didn't particularly want to be responsible for setting him after Berkeley Cavanaugh or Dean Bailey.

The red-haired Auror gave an inner sigh.  If this had come up a few months before, when they had been in the heart of the Runespoor investigation or the hunt for Macduff, he would have pawned Jedynak off on Tamis or Rosier.  But here and now, he wasn't exactly overworked.  And as much as he might hate to admit it, even with the scant details that he could surmise, he was faintly intrigued.

"Tell you what," he said after a beat, his voice somewhere between bemused and resigned.  "I'll make some time this afternoon and see what I can find out.  Give me until tomorrow, and I can either let you know who's on the case or fill you in on where it's at.  Alright, then?  Except next time," he added, putting an amused weight to the words, "let's schedule the meeting in advance, yeah?  Storming into the office and targeting the first bloke you see might not work so well the next time."

It was a few minutes of wasted time watching as the Auror in front of him tried to deal with the situation at hand.  It did not surprise Alfonz however, because it seemed all work that was done him lately had been slow.  Whether from his own doing, or another’s, it didn’t seem to matter.  Everything was slow and taking turns not in his favor.  Alfonz raised an eyebrow at the situation.  What was taking so long for him to decide?

Alfonz thought seriously for a moment about the situation.  He really didn’t want to deal with any other people on this situation.  If his father found out that he was poking around after pretty much disowning the older Jedynak male, Alfonz was sure that the old retired healer could pull some kind of last favor to make it so whatever was known about Celina’s disappearance lay buried forever in a pile of paperwork.  Since it had been months, Alfonz had prepared him for the worst, but he decided that he had to know.  If for anything else… the closure.

Finally, he spoke. 

Alfonz was quite pleasingly surprised.  Not only was he going to help, but he was going to do so with, even still, a light, heartedness about him.  Alfonz nodded his head slowly, one time, acknowledging that he understood all of what the man said and he too internally gave a sigh of relief.  However, he smirked and couldn’t resist a word or two for himself.

“Seems I targeted the right bloke then,” Alfonz snorted, “Tomorrow then, what time for the appointment?”  Alfonz wanted to set things up as soon as he could.  Looking around though, Alfonz felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up slightly.  If he was being kept out of the information, then he didn’t want anyone else really knowing that he’d been snooping around.  “And maybe not in a place so formal?” He asked.

“And maybe not in a place so formal?”

Sudden images of back-water disreputable pubs, men in mirrored sunglasses, and discreet hand offs in darkened car parks danced before Jonas's mind.  There where times when he was almost willing to admit that he'd only become an Auror because attendance at Hogwarts probably disqualified him from employment at MI-6.  Alfonz Jedynak did not seem the sort to approve of code words and secret passwords -- but then, he was also backed into a corner.  And chances were good that he might not know any better.

"Sure.  You reckon around noon?" Jonas asked thoughtfully.  "We can call it lunch."  That would give him time to get through what he needed to for Radley this afternoon, do a bit of digging, and coincide neatly with him needing to get out of the Ministry so that he could check his phone at midday.

"There's a pretty good Muggle noodle place not too far from here.  Use the visitor's entrance and turn right; you'll spot it.  Dress mundane, and make sure no one follows you."  He hadn't been to Wagamama since the fourteenth visit with Adon, which was when his friend had finally put his foot down.  Jonas only dared suggest it now when he thought the Israeli was in an unusually good mood. 

"We'll meet at the second table from the back on the left.  Tell the hostess that the password is 'Crow's Nest.'"  It was sometimes a feat to maintain a straight face, but Jonas considered himself a near expert at it.  "Alright?  I'll see what I can pull together before then, Mr Jedynak."