Meanwhile...
The printer made a whining noise that hurt Reyes' ears as it printed out a single sheet of paper. She'd never noticed how annoying the sound was before, but she wondered if she was just feeling irritable because she was pessimistic about her odds. The paper finally spit out of the printer, and she picked it up.
While Maria and Carlos didn't know the name of her birth mother, they did know the name of the adoption agency the arrangements had been made through - Los Ninos Angelico, which was Catholic like the name hinted at. Having gone to a catholic elementary school, Reyes knew of tight-lipped nuns could be about private matters, so she wasn't very hopeful about getting answers.
She dialed the number anyway. When someone answered, she said, "Hi, I was placed with a family through this agency, is there any way I can get some information about my adoption?"
The person answering spoke English, which made Reyes wonder if they only did because she had spoken it first. She didn't really care either way. The woman asked for her name, then put her on hold. Predictably, she came back on the line saying, "I'm sorry, the records of your adoption are sealed."
"But I'm over eighteen, doesn't that make a difference?" Reyes asked gamely.
"I'm sorry- "
"Look, Sister... I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."
"Corazon." Reyes stifled the urge to laugh- Sister heart, how original. How inappropriate for someone who seemed so cold. "Sister Corazon, I'm expecting myself. Twin girls. I just want to find out my birth family's medical history- "
"We can't give that sort of information." The nun told her. "Over the phone."
Reyes was about to ask her if being there in person made a difference, but the dial-tone sounded in her ear. She decided not to call back.
The three agents uneasy looks; they hadn't known that they'd been waiting on anyone. The fact that the now all-too-familiar smirk was back on the sheriff's face did nothing to reassure them.
Two minutes later the cabin's door banged open and a man lugging a dufflebag bustled inside. "Hi!" I'm Barry Lutz." He introduced himself breathlessly, struggling with his bag.
Scully stared at him until she realized that she was, then looked away, embarrassed by her lack of manners. Barry didn't seem to notice her scrutiny, so she dared another short look at him. The most striking them about the man was that he was tiny. Even Scully was a few inches taller, so at most he was five foot even. He was saved from appearing twelve years old by the presence of a bad fu manchu that was much darker than his blond hair. "Glad you could join us." The sheriff told the little man.
"I'm glad to be here, Sheriff Davis." Barry replied happily. "I'm sure the good sheriff told you what I do." He addressed the agents.
"Actually no." Doggett replied.
"Oh." Barry looked slightly disappointed. "I'm a cyptozoologist."
Scully and Doggett exchanged unhappy looks but Mulder seemed pleased. The sheriff took that moment to announce that he was leaving. Barry waved good- bye, but the others barely heard him.
"So, who am I bunking with?" Barry asked.
"Me." Doggett said. "But I'd prefer the bottom bunk if you don't mind."
"No, that's fine. I like the top bunk. It's one of the few times I'm up higher than other people." He said with a good-natured chuckle. Then he turned and gave Mulder and Scully an appraising look. "So I guess you two will be in the other room...are you married?" He asked, giving Scully an admiring look.
Mulder was momentarily flustered, and tried to think of an explanation, but Scully spoke right up. "Yes, yes we are. And we have two kids. Would you like to see their pictures?" She asked sweetly. Mulder blinked, but he didn't realize she was sick of all admiration from men whose titles ended in ologist.
"Maybe later." Barry said. "I think now would be a good time to get something to eat, if you all don't mind."
"Sounds good." Mulder agreed. "Why don't I help you with that?"
Scully demurred. "I'll join you in just a minute. First I want to call my mom and let her know we got here ok."
Barry looked dismayed. "But you can't."
"Why not?" Doggett asked. He'd been thinking of calling home before dinner too.
"There's no cell phone tower." Barry explained. "And no land-line either. I thought that the sheriff would have told you that before sending you up here."
"He didn't explain much." Mulder said unhappily. "How do we keep in touch with our families then?"
"Mail?" Barry shrugged. "The mailman trucks up here every day. Or when we're not busy you could drive into town and use a pay phone, I guess." Neither option seemed terribly appealing.
"Doggett, you and I are driving into town first thing tomorrow morning." Scully said in a tone that made neither Mulder or Barry protest the time they'd lose because of it. Doggett nodded, but he wished that he could call Reyes sooner.
"So what do you think of this Barry person?" Scully asked Doggett the next morning while they drove back to town.
"I think he snores." Doggett said sourly. He hadn't gotten a great night's sleep.
"I'm asking you a serious question." Scully insisted.
"And I think he seriously snores." Doggett yawned. "I don't know yet. He seems friendly enough, but how irritating he is is going to depend on how zealous he is about his 'calling'."
"I don't even know what he thinks is mutilating cattle." Scully complained. "I thought that was just something aliens 'did'."
"I'm sure we'll find out sometime today." Doggett replied.
Scully called dibs on the phone. She explained that they'd be in and out of contact due of the lack of phones where they were, and Maggie assured her that the kids were both fine. Scully had trouble asking about William, but Maggie told her that he'd calmed down not long after they left. Then both kids got on the line, so she was able to hear for herself that they were ok. After telling everyone she loved them, she hung up and handed the phone over to Doggett. "Take as long as you want, John. I'm going to go across to that little market and see if I can get us something decent to eat. Pancakes from a mix are ok, but they'll become boring quick."
"Ok, but get some meat." Doggett called after her, already dialing his number. Scully wrinkled her nose.
To Doggett's relief, Reyes picked up immediately. "Hi, Honey. I'm sorry I didn't call last night, but we have a problem. There are no phones up where we're staying. In a friggin' cabin if you can't believe that."
"I can believe it." Reyes told him, thinking about the place where William was born. "I'm glad you got there ok."
"Yeah, all four of us go there safe and sound."
"Four?"
"Yeah... We've got a cyptozoologist up there with us for some fool reason. He's my roommate, lucky me."
"He? Guess I shouldn't be jealous, then." Reyes laughed.
"Uh, uh, no way. There's no one I'd rather share a room with than you." Doggett told her sweetly.
"None of that!" Reyes admonished. "You'll make me really miss you."
Scully returned with the groceries, including meat, a few minutes later, and they began the long drive back to the cabin.