The V Files: Strange Start to Summer

Chapter 12: Anonymous Tip

Mulder glanced in his rear view mirror at the vehicle behind him. Ed, Marcy and Anne were following them to the police station where they'd wait out the night under close watch.

"Do you think they'll be safe?" asked Scully.

"I don't know, I hope so because that's about the best we can do at the moment," Mulder replied looking in the mirror again.

A few minutes later, they pulled up in front of the local police station and Scully got out of the car. She would be accompanying the other three into the building and then staying there to conduct her research into Brittany Simmons.

"Be careful," she said as she closed the door.

Mulder and Veronica then headed straight for Stan's house to check if he had returned home.

"Mr Clifford?" Mulder called after knocking on the door for several minutes. "Are you there?"

Veronica went to the window and peered inside. "I don't think anyone is home," she said. "The lights are all turned off, there's no sign of movement."

"Damn!" cursed Mulder. He thought for a moment and then said to Veronica; "You go down that way and I'll go this way; do a quick door knock and see if any of the neighbours have seen him, or anything suspicious."

Veronica nodded and immediately started for the house next door. She tried every house up and down her end of the street but no one knew anything about the whereabouts of Stan. She returned to the car before Mulder and hoped that this meant he had had more luck than her. While she was waiting for him one of the neighbours from a nearby house approached her.

"Excuse me," the neighbour said. It was a slight woman with dark hair and large worried eyes, she glanced over her shoulder.

"Yes," said Veronica.

"I heard you talking to my husband a minute ago, asking him about Stan Clifford," she mumbled quickly.

"Yes," Veronica said eagerly. "Do you have any information on where he might be?"

"Not exactly," she said. "But I do have something that may be useful."

"What is it? I'm sure any information you have would be helpful."

The woman glanced over her shoulder again. "My husband doesn't like me to associate with Stan, he thinks he's no good," she explained. "I've noticed that car there," she pointed to a red car parked opposite Stan's house. "It's been there for a couple of days and I've noticed a woman in and out of it, she was poking around Stan's place yesterday."

Veronica looked over to where the woman had pointed to the empty car and examined it for a moment. When she turned to thank her, she saw her hurrying back to her own house.

"Find anything?" Mulder called as he returned from his door knocking.

"Maybe," said Veronica taking her phone out and dialing a number. "Hi Agent Scully, it's Veronica, can you run some plates for me?"

Mulder watched her curiously as she quoted the red car's registration plates.

"Jackpot," Veronica said to Scully's reply. "We'll come and pick you up."

"What was that?" Mulder asked once she had hung up.

"It looks like we've found Brittany Simmons," Veronica replied. "Or Brittany Field as she is now known. That's her car." She pointed to the red car.

Mulder smiled, impressed by Veronica's aptitude for detective work and at the break through she had helped them make.

"I'll wait here, in case she turns up," he said. "Can you go and pick up Scully?"

"Sure," Veronica replied as he threw her the keys.