Afraid

Chapter 4

"Major Investigation Department."

Red looked at her, "I thought you was-"

"Major Investigation Department! I got a Section 3A."

Red used a long clawed stick to push a button out of his reach. The elevator starts to go down. Porpentina leads the two of them to a large meeting room in the middle of a discussion.

When the group heard their footsteps they all turned to them. Rayla saw the man whom she had seen at the ruined street. She didn't hear the conversation between the president and Porpentina as her attention was on the man. She blinked and he was suddenly blond with piercing blue eyes.

She gasped softly and closed her eyes. When she opened them, he was back to dark hair and eyes. She now knew who he was, and he wasn't the man he was parading around as. She refocused on the conversation as the man now turned to her. Porpentina looked humiliated as she said, "Yes, ma'am."

She led them out and Rayla looked at Newt, who appeared bemused. She looked ahead at the elevator as they re-entered it. They descended to a cramped basement room.

There were at least a hundred typewriters clacking away with no one typing on them. There were tubes coming out of the ceiling with little origami rats going up and down them. Probably memos.

Porpentina leads them to a small corner of the room. Slightly above and in front of the desk was a sign that read: Wand Permit Office. Rayla ducks under the sign slightly while Newt ducks completely under it. Porpentina went behind a desk and takes off her hat and coat.

She appeared to be trying to seem authoritative as she busied herself with papers.

She looked at them, "So, you got your wand permit? All foreigners have to have them in New York."

"I made a postal application weeks ago," said Newt, clearly lying.

"So did I," Rayla spoke kind of softly now.

Newt looked at her curiously. She seemed very nervous now.

Something in that meeting room had scared her and he wanted to know what. He wanted to protect her, now that he knew what she was. Especially in here.

He turned back to Porpentina, who was now sitting on the desk, writing on a clipboard, "Scamander... and you were just in Equatorial Guinea?"

"I've just completed a year in the field. I'm writing a book about magical creatures."

Like- an extermination guide?"

Rayla bristled at that question and let out a small, soft growl-like sound.

Newt looked at her before answering, "No. A guide to help people understand why we should protecting these creatures instead of killing them."

Rayla gave him a small smile of thanks. He smiled back. The moment was interrupted when a angry shout came from around the corner. "GOLDSTEIN! Where is she?! GOLDSTEIN!"

Porpentina ducked behind the desk, making Rayla snicker softly and amusing Newt. A short, pompous man came around the corner and immediately knows where Porpentina was hidden. "Goldstein!"

Rayla jumped slightly bumped her head on the sign. Newt looked at her with concern and she smiled.

"I'm fine, just a small bump. No harm done."

"Did you just butt in on the Investigative Team again? Where've you been?"

Porpentina awkwardly just said, "What...?"

The man turns to Newt and Rayla. "Where'd she pick you up?"

They look at each other, "Us?" Newt asked.

They look at Porpentina, who shook her head with a desperate look on her face. Neither Newt or Rayla spoke, annoying the man.

He turns to Porpentina, "Have you been tracking them Second Salemers again?"

Porpentina shook her head, "Of course not, sir."

The man from the other room rounds the corner and the short man suddenly straightened, as if trying to appear authoritative in front of this higher ranking man.

"Afternoon, Mr. Graves, sir!"

Graves looks at him, "Afternoon, ah- Abernathy."

Rayla smirks at this, clearly Graves barely remembered Abernathy's name. She then realized who this man really was and took a small step back.

Porpentina stepped forward and started to speak quickly, "Mr. Graves, sir, this is Mr. Scamander- he has a crazy creature in that case and it got out and caused mayhem in a bank, sir."

Curiosity written on his face, Graves said, "Let's see the little guy."

Porpentina sighed in relief and placed the case on the desk. Rayla looked at Newt, who looked nervous. She put her hand on his arm and squeezed in assurance. He gave her small, tight smile as the case was opened to reveal- pastries.

Newt looked horrified as he saw the contents. Graves looked confused, but then smirked slightly. He shook his head, "Tina..."

He closed the case and walked away as the trio looked at each other.