Chapter Two – Our Foundations

"A monster?"

Shawn nodded.

"I know how it sounds. But I'm not insane. Something took Conner."

Olivia studied him for a moment, realising that it didn't matter what she thought – Shawn believed that a monster took his friend and his sister. It was written all over his face.

"So tell me what happened that day."

Shawn stood and started to pace, his long legs covering the small space of his room in easy strides.

"I've always wanted to be a swimmer. The water is the only place that has ever felt like home. And that day was the last day before the cold settled in and I would need to start swimming at the pools. Conner was meant to stay on the ledge and time me but he got bored. We decided to race. I always won."

Shawn smiled slightly at the memory before it dropped away quickly.

"I let him get in front of me. I was being lazy really, not even trying. And then he kind of froze, looking confused. And before I could ask what was wrong, he suddenly went under, as if pulled down by something. I swam faster, and by the time I got to where he was, he was gone. I dove down and tried to find him but there was nothing there."

"How do you know it was a monster?"

Shawn paused, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"I saw something."

"What?"

"I don't know. It had a tail. And it was fast. Really fast."

Olivia nodded.

"OK. Are you sure?"

"Yes. But you don't have to believe me. No one else did. And now my baby sister is gone. The monster got her too."

"We don't know that."

"Yes you do. Why else would the FBI be investigating a supposed drowning? It took my sister. She wanted to go to the Olympics too."

At the mention of his sister, his voice broke and she could see the start of tears in his eyes. Deciding that the poor boy had been through more than enough, she stood and handed him her card.

"If you remember anything, call me. Anything at all."

Shawn nodded slightly before he started pacing again and Olivia let herself out of the room, closing the door softly behind her. She headed back downstairs, pleased to discover that she had slipped away un-noticed by the parents and by Sherriff Lootes. She took her position beside Peter again and tried to listen to what was being said. While talking to the parents, her mind kept flicking through Shawn's statement, what he had described and what he believed had happened to his friend and years later, again to his sister. She kept a close eye on Lootes, her instincts screaming. Something wasn't right here. Even if Shawn hadn't supported her suspicions, she still didn't trust the elderly Sheriff.

When they finally made their way back to the lab, Samantha was waiting for them. Walter had already gotten started on the examination, a liquorice stick poking out from between his lips. Olivia was surprised to see Wallace hanging over his shoulder, the two men speaking quietly. Astrid was moving back and forth between them, making sure that Walter had everything that he needed. When Walter saw them, he smiled widely.

"Agent Dunham! Just the woman I wanted to see. You brought me something very interesting today."

Olivia smiled and glanced at Wallace before focusing on Walter again.

"How so Walter? What have you learnt?"

"That it wasn't a shark. And that this young lady was a very strong swimmer."

Peter cleared his throat behind her and she could hear the smile in his voice.

"We knew that already Walter."

Walter shrugged and returned to his task. Wallace stood a little straighter, removing the plastic cover from his clothes, fixing his tie. Olivia suddenly remembered what Nina had said. She hated to admit it but Nina had been right. It was very rare that they were able to take advantage of a fresh pair of eyes for any of their cases.

"What do you think Wallace?"

Wallace glanced at the body again.

"Not a shark. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen a bite pattern like this."

"How so?"

"Do you know anything about sharks, Agent Dunham?"

Olivia shrugged slightly.

"I watched JAWS."

Wallace nodded slightly, a small smile on his face.

"Though based on real events, hardly a great calling card for sharks. Do you mind if I show you something?"

Wallace indicated the body and Olivia moved closer.

"There are over four hundred types of sharks in the ocean. Those that feed on larger prey such as mammals have pointed lower teeth for gripping and triangular upper teeth with serrated edges for cutting."

Olivia studied the injury for a moment, trying to grasp on the idea that Wallace had been indicating.

"So this is too neat?"

"Precisely. There should be more, for lack of a better word, mess."

"Ok. So you said that there were over four hundred type's right? Is there one that you could think of that could do this?"

Wallace shook his head, a small frown on his face.

"No. They are apex predators and if one was found at that lake, you would know soon enough. There would be plenty more attacks for one thing and the fish would be severely affected for another."

"So we can definitely rule out sharks."

Olivia was talking more to herself at this point, stepping away from Wallace. She moved over to where Astrid was typing something on the computer, head bent.

"Hey Astrid, can I ask a favour?"

"Sure."

"Can you look up a name for me? Conner Flinch"

Astrid typed in the words quickly and as Shawn said, article after article appeared before them, claiming it to be nothing more than a tragic drowning.

"What about a coroner's report? And any other cases that might match these injuries or suspicious deaths going back twenty years."

Astrid smiled brightly.

"How about you and Peter go for coffee and I'll have this all ready for you when you get back?"

Olivia glanced up at Peter, who had taken Wallace's place beside Walter, heads bent, their voices low. She often wondered if Peter realised just how like his father he actually was. When they were focused on something, it was with complete dedication. Wallace offered her a slight smile.

"I can give you a hand if you like. My shout."

"Thanks."

The sun was still high in the sky as they moved out of the building. This was as good a time as any to apologize for her behaviour earlier. It was uncalled for and immature. She was frustrated but she didn't need to take it out on him. They started the walk to the coffee shop and Olivia felt the sun on her arms again, her mood lifting.

"Listen Agent Wallace-"

"I'm not technically an agent. Call me Simon."

"Ok then. Simon, I wanted to apologize for my attitude earlier. I was frustrated."

Simon nodded slightly, his hands tucked in his pockets.

"I can understand that. I am moving in on your territory."

"You make me sound like a guard dog."

Simon frowned slightly.

"Not my intention. It's just that your reputation precedes you and Nina Sharp made it clear that I if I wanted to maintain my position at Massive Dynamic, I would need to do well here."

"So we are being used as an exam room?"

"Hardly. It's just that with my specialty I may be helpful to the Fringe division."

"So your specialty is marine biology?"

Simon shrugged slightly.

"Among other things. Most of my training was highly classified."

"Impressive. Also the fact that Nina Sharp doesn't just hire anyone makes me more curious."

"She has a reputation too, if that helps."

Olivia laughed lightly.

"Tell me about it. So can I ask a personal question?"

"As long as it's not classified, go for it."

"Are you married?"

"No."

"Kids?"

"No. My lifestyle doesn't really allow for much in ways personal relationships."

"That must be tough."

"You get used to it. What about you?"

Olivia shrugged slightly.

"I don't have any kids. I have a beautiful little niece called Ella."

"Married?"

"No."

Simon nodded slowly and she could see him watching her from the corner of her eye. They made it to the coffee shop and as promised, Simon paid. Olivia shook off his offers to pay for the cake slices the she ordered for Walter and Astrid, making sure that there was a couple of apple turnovers in there for Peter too. Hands full, they headed back to the lab. Astrid handed her a handful of papers, her smile widening at the sight of cake and coffee.

"Thank you. I'm still working on the previous cases but I'll get them to you as soon as I can."

"Thanks Astrid."

Walter clapped his hands as she handed over the various slices and his liquorice tea.

"Agent Dunham, you are an angel. I was just saying to Peter I could do with something sweet."

"You have jars of candy."

"Yes but not cakes Peter! I wish I had jars of cakes."

She finally got to Peter's coffee handing it over with the apple turnovers.

"I know you like these."

"You spoil me, Miss Dunham."

With a quick smile turned on her heel and headed for Walter's office. She needed to think. She laid out the notes about Conner Flinch on the desk, pulled out her notebook and got to work. She quickly learnt that Conner was buried at a local cemetery. If they could exhume the body, perhaps that could help the find out what happened to Samantha. Or, at the very least, find out what killed the little boy to start with. A soft knock on the door snapped her from her thoughts and she looked up to find Peter in the doorway, a smile on his face, the paper bag in his hand.

"I saved you a turnover."

"They were both for you."

"I know but you need to eat too."

"I don't think apple turnovers are on the food pyramid."

"You are not looking at the pyramid close enough. Apples are good for you."

He slid into the office and took the seat across from her. He handed her the bag and she didn't realise how hungry she was until the scent of apple and sweet pastry caught her attention. Peter read through her notes silently as she ate, pausing to sip her coffee. She wiped her fingers carefully on a napkin.

"Broyles should be able to help with the exhumation. Astrid managed to track the coroner. He died two years later, I can't even question him."

"So are you sure that Shawn was on the level?"

Olivia nodded as she brushed a few stray pastry crumbs off the desk.

"He was very convinced. If he's wrong, then we can solve something that has clearly been haunting him."

"Fair enough. So, what did you learn about Wallace on the coffee run?"

Olivia smiled

"Simon isn't married, no kids and his training is classified. And I apologized to him for my attitude. Apparently, we have a bit of a reputation."

"Really?"

"According to Simon. I can only assume the information is good."

"Then they don't know about the late night parties and illicit drugs?"

Olivia smiled wider.

"Should I be concerned that both of us can mark one of those things off our to-do lists?"

Peter offered her back her notes with a smile.

"Possibly, yes."

Olivia pulled out her phone.

"I hate this part."

"I know but it needs to be done. We need to know what killed this Flinch kid."

"I know. But I'm fairly certain there is a special circle of hell for those that dig up dead kids."

"It can't be as deep as the one reserved for those that kill them in the first place."

"True."

Olivia pressed in Broyles number, waiting for his familiar voice to come onto the line. They needed Conner Flinch and there was no other way to get the information that they needed.