Disclaimer - I don't own anything/I'm not making any money/I'm just working off a major crush.
Chapter 2 - Brief Encounters
Much as Fraser had feared, the RCMP were conducting their operation out of Tuktoyaktuk because it was the closest piece of civilization, no matter how small, to the oil fields much farther north where the crippling destruction had happened. It would have been easier if they'd settled for Inuvik, which had a decent sized population, not every one of whom knew his name and family history, but in this midsummer heat it was cut off from Tuk by every means of transport but plane. In the winter it was possible to drive, although not everyone wanted to brave a road made of ice reinforced with more ice over arctic depths.
The flights from Chicago to Edmonton and Edmonton to Inuvik had largely been taken up with Ray's kvetching about exactly what sort of man had the money and influence to buy up both the Chicago PD and the RCMP. Benton let him rant, tuning out most of it, preoccupied. On the short light plane ride between Inuvik and Tuk, Fraser briefed Ray on his suspicion about Carl Johnson.
"I have nothing to go on but my memories of Carl as a boy, and intuition. I just can't see what a man of Carl's background and character would be doing volunteering for the cleanup crew. But even if he is on the level, he may be able to tell us about personalities involved."
"Yeah, yeah, Benny. It's a lead, and considering we're walking into this blind, we'll go with your instincts on it." Ray acceded. "I don't think the local boys will give us much else to do on this case. We're already going to put their noses out of joint. Might as well work the angle you've got."
"Ray, I know that you don't like being put into this situation, but these are my people, and I do feel an obligation to uncover the truth of the matter." Benton said earnestly, his intense gaze drilling into Ray.
"I get it, I'm not brushing you off. It's just that this really isn't my territory so I guess if you wanna lead, I'll follow. Up to a point. I'm not licking anything." Ray shuddered.
"Understood, Ray."
The rest of the flight passed quietly except for the sound of the plane's engines as Ray and Fraser stared out the window at the barren landscape below, each lost in different thoughts about going to the remote settlement.
There was a car waiting for them at the airport, an ancient but sturdy four-wheeler. Diefenbaker disembarked the plane and sat beside it, refusing to get in.
"Now, Dief, just get in the car." Benton crouched beside the wolf who looked away and gave a short whine.
"No, really. Nobody's going to remember. There's no reason to be embarrassed. You're a wolf after all. People expect feral behavior from a wolf. I'm sure it's all been forgotten."
Diefenbaker responded by laying down and settling his head between his paws.
"Oh, come on."
"What did he do?" Ray asked, intrigued. He'd long got over his disbelief at the sight of the grown man talking to his companion animal.
"It's really nothing." Benton said, standing up. "He needs to get over it. No-one's going to hold it against him."
"Yeah, but what'd he do?" Ray insisted.
"There was an incident. He was just following his instincts." Benton leaned over to whisper in Ray's ear. "The incident involved several items of laundry that were out drying in a woman's yard the last time that we were visiting. They went missing in suspicious circumstances and eventually we discovered that Diefenbaker was the culprit."
Ray hooted with laughter. "Diefenbaker went on a panty raid."
"Please." Ben whispered. "Don't make it worse. He's already embarrassed. It turns out that he was taking them for a bitch to have her pups on. It couldn't have been more natural."
Ray couldn't contain his mirth at the image of the wolf sneaking around with stolen undergarments in his mouth. Diefenbaker covered his ears with his paws and whined.
"Oh really. You just need to grow up!" Benton said with frustration. "Fine, stay here then. We'll be at the Mackenzie Inn. If you feel the need to slink into town under cover of darkness, you're going to have a long wait, Mister!"
Indeed, although it was already evening, the sky was still as bright as daytime as Fraser and Vecchio made their way to the MacKenzie Inn. It was too late to liaise with the operational center set up in the town's tiny city hall. After a quick dinner at the hotel's restaurant they retired for the night, but Benton lay awake for long, bright hours, contemplating how strange it was to be home again, his childhood home, after the transformative experience of life in the big city.
The last time he'd been back was on leave from his former post, which was comparatively near in geographical terms, but far enough away to feel that he'd escaped the gravitational pull of Tuk and childhood. It was certainly good to be back in familiar terrain, though, where he could understand the implications of every sight, sound and scent. He breathed the night air in deeply, grateful for its distinct lack of Chicago smog.
Ray was also unable to sleep. The midnight light was eerie. The lack of street sounds was damn near maddening. He hadn't really thought you could be distracted by the absence of noise but it put his senses on high alert. Too quiet. In spite of the way they had been dragged onto the case, his policeman's intuition was ticking away nicely, keeping him wide awake as he pondered the little they knew so far. This Arctic Defence crew, whoever they were, they were the obvious suspects. But he respected Benton's hunch. He wondered how far the Canadians had got. He wondered if they'd realize the asset a real local would be. Probably not. It was bound to be a pissing contest, especially with an American like him along for the ride. Then he wondered if the restaurant kitchen was still open, and if they could be persuaded to make a proper Chicago deep dish pie. Probably not.
"And to conclude our briefing, I'd like to welcome two officers who have joined the operation from Chicago." The operational team leader, Inspector Wheeler, in spite of Ray's comments about the local boys, was an attractive brunette in her early forties. Ray and Benton had arrived at the crowded city hall in plenty of time for the morning briefing the next day and listened to a thorough description of the ongoing search for members of Arctic Defence, who had now claimed credit for the drilling platform attack.
"I'm sure we'll all give them the warm and heartfelt welcome that they deserve for taking time away from their no doubt busy Chicago crime fighting schedules to come and share their wisdom with we mere parochial investigators."
The rest of the team turned to look at Ray and Fraser, and there was a polite golf-clap.
Benton leaned over to Ray. "I sense a little hostility, Ray. I don't think she was being sincere."
Ray rolled his eyes. "I'd say we were about as welcome here as a fart in a spacesuit."
"Very colorfully put, Ray." Benton agreed.
The briefing over, Benton and Ray edged forward to talk to the lead investigator.
"Sir, I'm Constable Benton Fraser, and this is Detective Raymond Vecchio of the Chicago PD. That was a very informative briefing."
She eyed Ray and Fraser, her eyes lingering blatantly on the mountie, weighing and measuring him.
"The detective is a dead loss. I can't stand balding men. They overcompensate. Nothing wrong with the body on that himbo Mountie, though. Or the face, for that matter. Those chiseled cheekbones and the piercing eyes. Hazel, or green?" she thought to herself, allowing a little smile.
"I'm Inspector Catherine Wheeler, as you should know. Nice of you to join us up here." She shook hand with Ray, and then with Fraser, gripping his hand a little longer than strictly necessary.
"Mmm. A real he-man grip." she thought.
"Well, sir, since we have all the information from the briefing and you seem to have all the current leads sufficiently under investigation, I was wondering if we could conduct some local interviews."
"You think you have a lead?" her eyes narrowed.
"Not exactly a lead. I thought we could get some background information. I lived in this town when I was a child, and I know of at least one of the locals who was involved in the cleanup effort."
"Oh, well." her assessment of the young constable dropped even further. Hick himbo. But still. Damned if he didn't have the most kissable looking lips.
"Yes, we do have most of the current information we've received under investigation. As you know, this is a major, high stakes operation, and I expect you'll understand that we already have quite a few resources assigned to it. You run along and interview locals, and try to stay out of the way, mmkay?" Her voice ended on a falsely sweet upward intonation.
Ray humphed, earning him a sideways glance from Fraser, and a glare from Wheeler.
"Oh, and constable, perhaps your work on this investigation would be enhanced if you'd come to my suite at the hotel after lunch for a debriefing." She allowed her eyes to issue an unmistakable invitation. At forty-three she knew her body was still toned and desirable from hours at the gym, and she knew what she wanted.
"I don't quite see the point, Sir." Fraser said, eyebrows furrowing. "I just gave you all the information I have, and I can't anticipate that I'll gather any more that's worth reporting back by..." he looked at his watch "one p.m.. That's only four hours from now. And if you meant briefing, not debriefing, then I do believe we heard all that we're going to need during your comprehensive statements this morning."
Ray was grinning as Catherine Wheeler blinked in astonishment. Could the man really be as vacuously pretty as he seemed? Could he honestly have missed the direct suggestion in her statement? Clearly his partner hadn't missed it and was amused by her surprise.
"Well. Then. That's fine. Just go and do whatever it is with the locals you want, and I'll see you at tomorrow morning's briefing. Don't screw up my investigation, toots."
Ray lost his patience as he turned on his heel to head toward the car. Over his shoulder he yelled "Yeah, you just watch your own back, toots."
In the car, Benton was silent for a minute or two, turning his uniform hat around in his hands.
"I don't think that went too well, Ray. I think you could have been a bit more diplomatic." he finally said. They were headed toward Carl Johnson's family home in the rougher part of town down near the docks.
"Me? Diplomatic? The woman practically tried to take your pants off right there."
"Ray, I understand she was a little patronizing, but-"
"But... 'why don't you come back to my place for a debriefing?'", Ray mimicked the inspector in an exaggeratedly seductive tone of voice. "Seriously, Benny, do you need an engraved invitation, or what?"
"Oh, I don't think she meant. She couldn't have been. Oh." Benton's eyes opened wide. "Oh, dear, Ray. That could be a complication."
Author's Note: Stay tuned for the next chapter, in which the boys begin their investigation in earnest, and there's just a hint of sappiness from an old friend. Please review and let me know what you think so far!
