I don't own the characters, Marvel does. I'm just borrowing them and certainly wouldn't dream of making any money from them. Like it would pay the rent anyway. LOL

Chapter 2

Remy and Bishop arrived at the morgue. On the way they had stopped by Remy's office to get a camera. Bishop used his badge and position to get them into the viewing area. The coroner led them to the freezer. She pulled out the drawer and then pulled back the sheet. This part always made Remy queasy. While the viewing area had a medical smell, it never seemed to cover the corpse well enough for him. It brought memories of his childhood. He was playing in the bayou with his cousins when they found a dead body in Lake Pontchartrain. It had decomposed and it smelled horrible. He coughed to quell his stomach. Bishop was emotionless. He had seen this sort of thing, and he had become so desensitized by it, that it just wasn't that big of a deal for him. He noticed his friend's unease and went right to work on any possible clues.

Remy photographed everything that Bishop deemed important. Remy also made mental notes himself while looking at the corpse. There were no wounds to speak of; the arms, neck and feet did not have bruises nor was there skin under the fingernails to indicate a struggle. If he was held down in the Hudson, there would have been something.

The coroner explained briefly: "He couldn't get oxygen and went unconscious after three minutes, then his body went into cardiac arrest after five minutes." The coroner crossed her arms waiting for any questions from either of the gentlemen. When it appeared they were done looking at the body, she covered it up and pushed it back into the freezer. She handed a report to Bishop. He thanked her and they left the viewing room.

Remy considered the corpse. It was an odd way to die. Especially without physical evidence. It made him think that they were dealing with someone similar to himself and Bishop. They never really talked about the extra things they could do. It was left in the background. But Remy thought that perhaps someone who had special abilities was involved. Bishop cleared his throat. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure, just thinkin'." Remy played with the camera. The case seemed more interesting before seeing the body. He was hoping for a simple solution for his friend. The mutant element complicated things and he wasn't sure if he really wanted to help Bishop with this one. Bishop could sense his friend's hesitation.

"We better get those developed," Bishop patted Remy on the back to move him along. They walked in silence until they reached the street. Bishop turned to Remy and watched him adjust his hair under his hat and straighten his tie. The camera was slung over his shoulder.

"I can't pay you for this one." Bishop fidgeted with his hat and tie as well.

Remy rolled his eyes. "I thought that might be the case."

"But if you find something," Bishop paused and stared out at the busy city street, "anything I can use to convince the Commissioner that this is a case that the department should be working on, then I can take care of expenses." Bishop knew he was asking for a lot from Remy. And Remy didn't always like some of these cases he gave him. Bishop was hoping that this one was just odd enough to pique Remy's interest.

They lingered a little just watching the city life roll by. "Alright, fine, I'll do it." Remy took a breath and then smiled at his friend. "You owe me Scotch now."

Bishop laughed, "Sure, no problem."

"I need to see Marko in the asylum." Remy was certain that a mutant would be involved and he would need anything that would help. "If you have any other odd reports in your files, I'd like to see those too." Remy smiled at a woman walking past them. She winked back as she passed by.

"I'll have Bobby meet you later at the club with everything you need."

"Fine."

"I've gotta get home and see my wife. What's the point of taking a day off if I don't spend time with her?"

Bishop extended his hand to Remy. They shook hands and walked in opposite directions down the street.

Remy LeBeau arrived at his office and placed the camera on Jean's desk. He gave Jean a big smile, "Any calls?"

"No, not today." Jean beamed back at Remy.

"Any checks come in?" Remy was loosening his tie, he threw his hat on the hat rack.

"A couple, we're still waiting on the Worthington check to come in. Should be here in a day or so." Jean rifled through the mail looking for anything else he might need to know.

"Good, the Worthington one is a big one. Call James have him meet me at the club later tonight around nine. And have those pictures developed. I need them before I meet with James." Jean nodded her head and picked up the phone.

Remy walked into his office and closed the door. He needed to make a list of things to do. He planned to check out the crime scene with Logan. He thought it would be best at night so that they wouldn't be seen. He spent time writing down things he thought about at the morgue. The morgue gave him the creeps. Remy chuckled slightly since he was a private detective and sometimes he dealt with dead bodies. He just liked the missing persons and finding cheating spouses parts better. Remy filed away some papers in a folder that he would give to Jean.

Remy stretched in his chair and put his feet on his desk. As soon as he closed his eyes to rest, the phone rang.

"James is on the phone" Jean said with a smile in her voice.

"'K, put it through" Remy waited on the line for James' voice and straightened in his chair.

"Alright kid, what do ya got?" was the response from the phone.

"'Ello James" He loved making James wait. It was more of a ball busting thing. "I've got something odd for us this time."

Logan gruffed a little. "None of what you have is easy."

Remy shifted in his seat and unbuttoned another button on his shirt, trying to get comfortable. "We are looking for a mutant." Remy paused. "One with water type powers."

"Anything to go on?" Logan hated cold trails. It meant spending time in places he didn't like or in places the just plain stank.

"I have some photos and I know where the crime scene is." Remy poured himself a drink and plopped the bottle down on the desk. "This one is gonna be a bit different James."

"I had a feelin'. Just how much trouble is this one?" They had not done anything fun in a little while. He was feeling the need to stretch a little. He didn't mind helping Remy out, but every once in awhile he just wanted to let loose. He liked the docks, it made him work out all his aggression. But it wasn't the same as really ripping into someone who deserved it. And he could tell through his conversation with Remy, he might see some action. It made him smile.

"I think this mutant doesn't have an issue with using his powers." Remy felt bad for those who didn't try to stay in step with the norms of society. Society wasn't all that nice to people who were different. To flaunt it was just plain stupid. It could cause you the mental harm that you would never recover from. It was easy to explain away physical ailment or some disease, but blatant use of mutant powers meant the asylum.

"Well, I wouldn't mind getting a little exercise." James smiled to himself.

"Yeah, well, lets keep this quiet." Remy didn't want to cause a stir.

"Alright whatever you say, LeBeau," Logan was just thrilled with the thought of a fight. It made his mouth water.

"Meet me at the Club around nine tonight." Remy was finally feeling a bit tired. He sat up in his chair, waiting for Logan's response.

"Ugh, the Club? Do we really have to meet there?" Logan was annoyed. He hated the place. It was a place for people to act like something they weren't. It was annoying in general. He couldn't ever understand why LeBeau liked to go there.

"That's the place, and you know why," Remy smiled. It made him laugh that Logan hated the place so much. But it was where he could mingle with many contacts that were important for him to keep in touch with.

"Fine, whatever arsehole. I gotta go, see you there." Logan hung up.

Remy shook his head and chuckled to himself. The Club would be fine. He'd get what he wanted, look inconspicuous doing it, and still move forward. It was perfect, and Lila was singing tonight. That was a bonus. She always looked fantastic when she sang at the Club.

Jean knocked at the door.

"It's open. He looked up."

"I'm leaving now. Here are the documents you need." Jean dropped off the papers on Remy's desk.

"Thanks Jean." Remy winked at Jean and she blushed. She closed the office door behind her. Remy took this time to relax, in an hour or so he would change clothes and go to the Club.