A/N: I'm so sorry about how long it has been since I updated. I thought after finals I would be able to write, but then my computer crashed. So now I've been writing on spirals and trying to find somewhere to type and upload. It's been pretty bad. So please stick with me! Oh, and this one isn't one of my longer chapters, but that is because the next part really didn't flow with this chapter and I wanted to post something for yall. Hopefully this gives you some more information to start making your speculations. And I'd love to hear what you think. :D
The next morning, Logan went down to the garage to grab his bike for a Saturday ride. However, when he opened the garage door, he noticed a space where Ororo's Ford Focus should have been. Frowning, he glanced out into the driveway, still no car. Going back into the house, Logan yelled for a couple of the kids. Kitty, Rogue, and Jean came down the stairs.
"What is it?" asked Rogue.
"Have you seen Ororo?" All three of them exchanged looks before glancing back at him.
"Well, with everything that happened last night-" started Kitty, as if she felt like she had to make up some excuse.
"No," answered Rogue bluntly. Jean placed her hands on either side of her head and tried to scan the mansion for Storm.
"I don't sense her," she said, blinking. She tried again, but came up empty. Logan took one look at the three of them and stalked up the stairs. He went straight to Charles Xavier's office.
"Can I help-" Before he could finish Logan interrupted.
"Where's Ororo?" he demanded. Charles studied him carefully before answering, trying to pick just the right words.
"Storm is a grown woman. I am sure she can handle herself, where ever she may be." Knowing this would not satisfy the Wolverine he added, "This isn't the first time she has been gone all night," hoping he would take the hint.
"You think she is seeing someone," came the quick response. Again, Xavier weighed his words carefully. Logan was staring long and hard and if the old man didn't know any better, he would have assumed Wolverine was trying to read his mind.
"Like I said before, she is a grown woman. And whatever she is doing, or whomever she is seeing, seems to be doing a great deal of help to her adjusting after Apocalypse."
"The kids think she's with her sister or off seeing Evan in the sewers." It was more of a train of thought than a statement.
"And what do you think, Logan?" Charles leaned back in his chair watching the feral man pace back and forth in front of him.
"I know what I think. I want to know what you think." Sighing, Charles wheeled himself out from behind his desk.
"I know your feelings for Ororo, Logan, but you have to understand-"
"Been pokin' around in my head, have ya?" Charles rolled his eyes. "If you've been in my head that means you've been in hers. Who is it? Do we know him? 'Ro ain't one to have no one night stands."
"Logan, it is not that simple. Storm has been with me long enough to know how to keep her thoughts private and I do not wish to invade that privacy." He raised a hand to stop the coming protest. "However, I agree, she should be back by now. I will go check Cerebro to make sure she is still in Bayville, but I refuse to invade her privacy any further than that."
Several minutes later, Logan stood outside of Cerebro growling at everyone that happened to walk by. It was taking way to long, which could only mean one thing.
"I cannot find her," Charles said grimly as the door opened up. Just as Logan was about to start up his rampage again, Jean rounded the corner. "I am going to let Jean try; she might be able to locate her." Before Wolverine could say another word, the door closed behind the two of them. This time it was Remy and Rogue that came down the hall.
"Professor found another mutant?" asked Rogue, peering at the door. Logan could not decided if he should worry about how close Remy was standing to the teenage girl or why they were unable to locate Storm.
"Not exactly," he grumbled. The door opened again and Xavier and Jean exited.
"My office," was all the old man said.
The X-Men and Brotherhood gathered around his office, expecting to receive news on Magneto's case, however, they were met with much graver information.
"As you all know, Storm has been absent from the house for at least fourteen to eighteen hours. However, Jean and I have been unable to locate her in Cerebro." Whispers flew throughout the room.
"What does that mean exactly?" Kitty popped the question that was on all of their minds. "Like, she's just not using her powers, right?"
"Technically, that's not true. Ororo's mutation is unique, meaning she is in constant use of it. She constantly controls the air around her. It is a sub-conscious habit. Storm should always come up on my radar."
"Unless..." murmured Jean, trailing off before she could finish the thought. Everyone in the room started at her. It was Scott who finished the sentence.
"Unless she was dead." There was an eerie silence that descended upon the room. No one spoke or moved. Most were even afraid to breathe. Suddenly, Charles looked up.
"Or if her mutation had been negated."
"Like Magneto's," said Lance. It was the first time anyone from the Brotherhood had said a word.
"You think there is a connection?" asked Wanda.
"I think there are no such things as coincidences."
Hank flipped through page after page of scientific and legal observations of the crime scene trying to find any evidence that could prove Magneto's innocence. However, all of the evidence seemed to be circumstantial. Which meant, there was an arguable case for both sides and it would come down to a judgment call by a jury. A jury of humans, nonetheless.
"Found anything?" Scott was leaning against the doorframe of the library the blue beast had taken over. There were paperwork and books scattered across the entire room.
"Nothing of any use," Hank sighed and removed his glasses, rubbing his tired eyes. "It is all wrapped up very nicely. Almost too nice if you ask me."
"But they won't ask you. Or any of us."
"That is my fear, my boy. Even if Magneto was innocent, his perception in society is not pleasant. A jury might put him behind bars any way. The only way to get him off is to find evidence of someone else at the scene." Scott walked over and picked up some of the pictures and began glancing over them. He blanched when he reached a particular picture.
"You can't even tell it's him," he commented bitterly. Hank suddenly looked up.
"What did you say?" Scott looked back at him in confusion.
"I mean the murder was brutal. I had no idea it was that bad. It's disgusting really, completely-"
"No, no. Repeat what you said."
"I said it's hard to even tell it's Kelly."
"That's it!" Hank grabbed the picture and sprung from his chair, sprinting out of the room. Scott trotted after him down the hall to Professor Xavier's room. Charles looked up from his desk as soon as Beast flew into the room.
"Henry? What is it?"
"Look at this picture!" Charles grimaced as his eyes took in the mangled face and bloody body that once held Mayor Kelly's soul. It was the last thing he wanted to see. He had spent all of yesterday trying to locate Ororo. She had been gone for over thirty hours now.
"What exactly am I looking at?" he turned the picture face down on the desk, unable to stare at the horrific photograph any longer. Even Scott regretted looking at it. The image would burn any memory.
"Exactly," stated Hank with a look of pure excitement on his face. "If I put this in front of someone who had no idea Kelly was dead, would you be able to tell it was him?"
"I guess not."
"There are no tattoos or birthmarks or any other form of identification." The scientist's voice was starting to become more rushed.
"I hardly doubt they would have identified him as Kelly unless they had DNA evidence," said the Professor.
"I thought you would mention that." Hank placed a document on the desk next to the picture. Charles looked it over and back at the man in front of him in confusion. "This says the body is Edward Kelly."
"Look at the signature at the bottom."
"Don Hoje." The look of confusion still had not left Charles or Scott's faces.
"No one at the Bayville Police Department has that name."
"Didn't they bring in the FBI?" asked Scott.
"Yes, but I couldn't find anything on Mr. Hoje."
"That doesn't mean he doesn't excist," sighed Professor Xavier. Hank grabbed a pen and a scrap of paper and wrote 'Don Hoje'. Then, he wrote something else below it and handed it to the man before him. "John Doe."
"John Doe. It's an anagram." A smile spread across his face and even Scott caught himself grinning.
"We can't prove that," said an exasperated Charles.
"But it does prove something more sinister is going on here than we thought. What would be the only reason the FBI wouldn't let Bayville's lab do the DNA testing, or at least do a second look?"
"They are covering something up."