Title: There's Something…Different About This Case…

Chapter Two

Author: Insomnia, a very bored shipper!

Disclamer: I don't own any characters. If I did I would be really rich.

Genre: MSR…the only kind there should be

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Mulder and Scully left the Elvis-themed restaurant and headed towards the local precinct to do a little background checking on the two men who claimed to have abducted, after which the local PD would drive them over to the camp site to check for any possible evidence left behind by the abductors. Scully was tired of this case and believed there was nothing to it, especially nothing involving extra-terrestrials. Her partner, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying himself, looking happily around at the neon lights that dotted the city's landscape. Neither of the two agents had ever been to Las Vegas before this case. He was hoping to get it cleaned up quickly and spend a night checking out the casinos…not so much to gamble, but so he could pretend he had a normal life, and was simply on vacation with his best friend…the auburn haired FBI agent. He wished he could pretend they were a couple. Arcadia had been so much fun.

Reaching the police station the agents quietly discussed the case as they waited to speak with the head detective in charge.

"Mulder, have you considered the possibility that this 'abduction' might only be a simple case of robbery? We should check to see if either men had anything taken from them."

He turned to look at her with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Well that would be some elaborate theft, wouldn't it…I doubt either man had many valuables on their person, they were camping after all…and they were miles off the road. What thief is going to go so far out of their way to mug two men camping in a desert? And how does that explain the hypothermia? No, something strange is going on here, Scully. Something not very ordinary after all."

Soon the police chief became available and introductions where made. Scully asked the man if either man had reported any of their immediate belongings missing after the abduction.

Chief Montgomery flipped though his case file. "Harry Bellows' wallet is reported missing. He added that there was only five dollars in it at the time though, his driver's license and a few membership cards…"

Mulder interrupted the man with a request. "Could you just run a check for me and see if his driver's license has turned up anywhere? Meanwhile we should get going to the campsite." The chief agreed to do so and sent over one of his men and gave him the appropriate directions to the site. The man, Officer Marsh, led them to an all-terrain vehicle used by the police department and they began the drive to the site.

Officer Marsh was an attractive man and seemed to take an interest in the female FBI agent. The entire way there he made small talk and went on flirtatiously with Scully, who was sitting in the front seat with him. Mulder sat in the back seat, fixedly gazing out the car's window but silently listening to every word that passed between the officer and his partner. His sights remained fixed on the passing tumbleweeds and scraggly bushes until he heard Scully laugh at some joke the officer had made. Glancing over he caught Scully looking back at him.

"What's the matter Mulder? We're almost there." He suddenly realized he had a scowl on his face. Quickly wiping it off he mumbled something about the heat and turned back to the roadside view that was quickly passing them by. Was he jealous? No! Why on earth would he be. Scully wouldn't be attracted to a man like Officer Marsh, would she? Of course not. Or would she be? Why was he even concerning himself with such a trivial matter? Sometimes he hated his own mind.

Thankfully they soon arrived at the campsite and he speedily opened his door and went around the side of the car to open Scully's. She looked at him in surprise, but thanked him. Throwing a glance at the police officer he abruptly turned away and walked over towards two small tents, one of which had collapsed. There was the typical camping gear scattered about. No effort to clean up the site had been made.

After searching the ground for what seemed like an eternity in the desert heat, Officer Marsh called out, "I got a partial tread!" The tread was left somewhat under one of the wiry little bushes that dotted the landscape. The officer continued. "There was definitely a car here…judging by this tread I'd have to guess a jeep. All other traces of the vehicle would probably have been blown away by the wind by now, we're lucky to have found this one."

Mulder and Scully looked at each other. The officer had no knowledge of the case, he didn't know of the abduction claims. Scully raised her eyebrows and smiled at Mulder. She loved it when she was right. It made her feel so empowered when her hunches proved more valid than her partner's usually insane sounding theories. However, she didn't find herself feeling that empowerment too often…

Back at the PD the trio was greeted by the chief, who was brandishing a manila envelope stuffed with papers. "This is today's found ID's reports. I had one of my officers look through it for Harry Bellows' ID, and sure enough there it was." He pulled out the top paper and handed it to Scully. She scanned quickly over the form and handed it over to Mulder. He too glanced over it and requested to use the telephone to call the contact number that had been included on the paper. It was a French restaurant called "Le Jardin de la Joie". Excusing himself, he went down the hall to use the telephone that had been pointed out to him. Scully remained in the large, noisy room of the PD.

Having made his call and receiving directions to the restaurant, Mulder made his way down the hall, but stopped at the entranceway to the main area. Scully was standing close to Officer Marsh, looking up at him. Mulder inched a bit closer to hear what was being said, but still remained concealed by the open door.

"So Dana, what are your plans for tonight? Ever been to Vegas before?" the officer asked her, smiling.

"Uh, well, Nick, I , ah…" So that was the bastard's name. Nick. Nick the Prick. Couldn't he see that Scully wouldn't be interested in a man like him? Mulder suddenly felt very territorial for some reason.

"I would love to, and no, I have never been this city before…But you see, I'm working on this case, and…well I really don't know if it's the best thing for me to be going out while I'm here…" Scully replied guiltily, knowing full well that she would have tonight free. There seemed to be nothing left to investigate but the restaurant. But for some strange reason she couldn't explain…didn't want to explain….she wanted just to be with her partner. She inwardly told herself that it was because they didn't get much time to socialize together, like normal people. The officer gave her a small smile that didn't do much to conceal his disappointment. She reached over and touched his arm, about to say something to assure him that her rejection had nothing to do with him personally, when Agent Mulder suddenly swept by and slapped the manila envelope in her hand. Barely glancing at her, he announced that he got the directions and he was ready to check the restaurant out. Glancing over at the dejected officer she smiled at him and gave him a small goodbye, then turned to her partner and left the station with him.

He had been afraid that she was going to accept that officer's obvious invitation to a date when she reached out to touch the man's arm. He had to interrupt before that happened. Scully would most likely be busy tonight, she would probably be thankful that saved her from a night of meaningless conversation with that guy. But who was he kidding. What she did was no business of his. So why did it feel like it was? And it wasn't a big-brother feeling either….could it be jealousy? Quickly pushing those thoughts out of his mind, he opened the door to the rental car and got in.

"Le Jardin de la Joie" Mulder said, emphasizing the French accents with a flourish. "How would a man's wallet travel from a campsite almost 50 miles away, to a fancy French restaurant? And all without the man knowing it?" The two agents stood outside the restaurant.

"I don't know Mulder, maybe it was craving some escargot avec des champignons?" Scully joked. Ahhh, the rare Scully joke, thought her tall partner. His French being trivial, all he could think of to say was "Peut-être, ma cherie". Following him into the restaurant Scully smiled behind his back. Once inside they were immediately greeted by an immaculate looking man with a heavy French accent. "Mademoiselle, Monsieur, table for two?" He smiled and clasped his hands together. Mulder spoke up.

"We're here about the license that was found. I spoke to a Monsieur du Pont about it, we need to speak with him." The host didn't look surprised and invited them to follow him into the back of the dining area and through a small door. An old man sat inside at a desk, making entries into an account ledger. He spotted the two agents and stood up to shake hands.

"Bonjour, I am Monsieur du Pont, the owner of this restaurant. I believe you have come to inquire about the wallet I had found this morning?" Learning that this was indeed the case the man continued.. "I was helping to restock the freezer room when I discovered it underneath a shelf on the bottom. It is very strange. I do not know how such a thing could have come to be in my freezer. My chefs are not allowed to take personal items with them into the kitchen. And the freezer was locked." Clearly perplexed, the man shrugged his shoulders and looked at the two agents expectantly, knowing that while having the wallet in his freezer was indeed an embarrassment of sorts, he still could not understand why there were two FBI agents come to visit him about it.

Feeling that the owner had nothing to do with why Harry Bellows' wallet was in his freezer, Mulder asked to be shown where exactly it had been found. They were led to the freezer room in the kitchen and shown inside. It was a large space, and looked to be very clean. Both agents examined the area and found no further clues.

"Monsieur du Pont, we're going to have an officer come down and dust the freezer door for prints. That wallet belongs to a man who was taken from 50 miles away, and who can not remember where he was taken." Scully spoke. Turning towards Mulder she said in a low tone, "Mulder, did you remember to search for another hotel?"

Mulder shook his head no. She rolled her eyes and gave him an annoyed glance. "Well, why don't you stay here and wait for the officer, I'll take the rental car and check out some local hotels, book us a couple of rooms and leave our luggage there. I'll call your cell and let you know where I book us." Her partner agreed to this plan and Scully left to find them a hopefully normal hotel in the area.

Whew, Ok that was the 2nd chapter. I really hope that you liked this one as well…please, please let me know if you like it! Is the mystery ok? How's the romance working out for you? Don't worry, I hope to have the mystery solved and our two agents kissing by the end of the story ;)

Look on the bottom left hand corner to review...you don't even have to register. J

And thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter so far. Really cool of you. This is my first piece of fiction that I have ever written, so they really do encourage me.