And here's chapter two!

About three months pass quickly and uneventfully as I continue to get settled in at Le Petit Vingtième.

Tintin and I are able to do a few small stories mainly about mediocre cases with the help of Thomson and Thompson, but I can tell that Tintin's getting restless due to the lack of action with each passing day.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, what with all of the stories he's told me over the past few weeks about adventures he's had all over the world.

I'm glad that we are able to get to know each other better, but I'm still tired of doing the insignificant reports from day to day and I can find myself gradually getting bored as well.

Fortunately, one particular day in July takes a turn for the better.

Tintin and I are relatively quiet at first; due to Brussels' summer heat and humidity that I had reluctantly become accustomed to since I'd left New York.

"Did you find out anything when you talked to Jonathan downtown yesterday?" I try desperately to make conversation.

"Nothing." Tintin replies blankly, petting his fox terrier, Snowy who is clearly not enjoying the heat either.

"So what are we going to do now? We can't just sit around all day doing nothing."

"I know, but I just wish something would happen."

"Me too."

The telephone interrupts our conversation.

"Please excuse me." Tintin apologizes while reaching for the receiver.

"Of course."

"Hello? … Thompson and Thomson! ...Yes, I just…What? …Gone?"

There is a long silence with Tintin's expression saddening with every passing second.

"I see. Well, thank you for telling me, detectives. Good-bye."

"Is something wrong?" I say.

"Professor Calculus has gone missing," Tintin replies quietly.

You were saying something about lack of action?

"Who is this Professor Calculus anyway?" I inquire as we walk out of the newspaper office with Snowy following close behind, his tail wagging at the sight of us being in a better mood.

"He specializes in nuclear physics and he's a good friend of mine," Tintin replies. "The funny thing is that this isn't the first time that he's been kidnapped."

I look at him with my eyes dilated.

"It's not?"

"No, this is about the third time that it's happened."

Tintin then goes on to explain that the unfortunate Professor was first kidnapped by the Peruvians* and then by the Police of Szohod, Colonel Sponsz**.

Even while he's still describing the fiascos, we encounter Thompson and Thomson.

"'Allo Tintin, Miss Fleming." They nod in greeting.

"Hi detectives." Tintin says, his expression looking brighter already in the expectation of something more exciting.

"How've you been?" I smile, also looking forward to something to write about other than new stores opening or someone's lost cat.

"Very occupied now due to this kidnapping." Thomson states.

"Details, please?" I request, pulling out my notepad.

"Unfortunately, the clues were very limited. The Professor was last seen in his lab at Marlinspike Hall not three days ago and was found missing just last night. There weren't any signs of a break in, but a broken syringe was found in the room that is being analyzed as we speak."

"Very peculiar." I take note of these points.

"Any idea as to who did it?" Tintin inquires, clearly itching for more information.

"Well, you know that only two other people take residence at the Hall at the moment: The Captain and the butler."

"Of course you've taken into consideration that it could've been committed by an unknown party on the estate. I hear that it has happened in the past," I point out.

The policemen raise their eyebrows at my comment.

"An excellent deduction, Miss Fleming. A young lady very careful to dot her i's and cross her t's." Thompson says approvingly.

"To be precise, a young lady careful to cross her eyes and dot her t's." Thomson echoes.

I have to stifle back a chuckle at the detective's mistake, but manage to maintain my "business" expression.

"We do have one question, though." Thompson says.

"Oh?" Tintin looks intrigued.

"Did either of you happen to hear about the man with identity papers from Wadesdah passing through Marlinspike? He was a suspect of stealing a car a week ago but was never found."

"So you believe that he could be a suspect too?" Tintin inquires.

"Exactly." Thomson confirms.

"But you've never seen this man before?" Thompson presses on.

"Can't say that I have. But I'm really not sure. It's been a tiresome week." I reply, sighing at the thought of the report I have to pull an all-nighter on when I get home.

"I'm afraid I haven't either." Tintin says.

"I see. Well, thank you for your time, Tintin, Miss Fleming."

I wave them away.

"Don't mention it. We'll let you know if we pick up anything else."

"Thank you, miss. Good-bye!" Thomson calls back, turning around to tip his hat.

Unfortunately, this caused the detectives to collide and tumble head-over-heels on the street curb.

"Hey! Why don't you watch where you're going?"

"Well, I was following you!"

"Precisely! You were following me, that's why I stopped!"

I can only grin and shake my head at the antics of the bumbling policemen.

"Have they always been this way?" I turn to Tintin.

"As long as I've known them, at least."

"Maybe all for the better. To be quite honest, I can't imagine them differently." I comment as we make our way for Labrador Road.

Tintin laughs.

"Neither can I, Katrina. Neither can I."

The rest of the walk is silent and I use the time to contemplate the situation at hand. From what Tintin has told me, this isn't the first time the Professor has gone missing in the past few years. Was the reason for the kidnapping the same as then or was it different? Better yet, was the kidnapper one of the same people as in the past?

"Do you want to come in for some tea? It's really no trouble."

I snap out of my reverie and find myself standing outside of Tintin's apartment.

I really am quite surprised by his question. Of course I had become friends with Tintin and I liked him and cared about him. And I had only met him about three months ago. Yet I couldn't help wondering if he was trying to kick our relationship up a notch.

'You swore off dating when you left the States. Say no.' The practical side of my conscience advised.

'Tintin just invited you in for tea! TINTIN! Say yes!' The dreamy side contradicted.

'Firecrackers, Katrina! Inviting someone in for tea hardly qualifies as a date!'

'All the more reason to accept the invitation!'

Nevertheless, Tintin's offer still hangs in the air, and when I don't respond, the young reporter's expression changes from hopeful to concerned.

"Of course if you're busy, I completely understand."

Once again, I am led away from my train of thought and I address the trench coat clad journalist.

"I don't know…" I say cautiously. "I do have some things to finish up at the apartment…" My voice trails off. I don't let my eyes meet Tintin's as much as I normally would want them to.

"I see. Well, maybe some other time then." He says, sounding a little bit disappointed. "But see you tomorrow all the same. We have to go to Marlinspike Hall; there's someone there that I'd like you to meet." His contagious smile returns.

"I look forward to it. Good-bye!" I say, grinning back.

"Til tomorrow, Katrina." He calls with a wave.

As I walk the few remaining blocks to my own apartment, I can't help cringing at how stupid I must have looked in front of Tintin.

What was I supposed to do? I mentally slap myself. I couldn't just nod and smile like a lovesick girl.

It's true that Tintin is a very nice young man. He's handsome, brave, caring and a gentleman. A true gentleman. I wish…

I catch myself just in time.

Come on, Katrina. Face it. Get your act together. First of all, you met him only three months ago. Second of all, you've sworn off dating and that is specifically why you left New York and came to Brussels. To forget him and what he did to you…

Even after all this time, I still felt penned up emotions trying to get out at the memory of the horrible weeks before I left the States. All I can do is sit on the curb with my head rested in my hands, not even noticing that I'd walked past my apartment two blocks ago.

Sorta ending with a mysterious angst shot there, but I promise that it will make sense later on! Many thanks to those of you who read and reviewed the first chapter! To answer the question from RenaissanceElf, the year in this story is 1947 and Katrina is seventeen. Thank you all once again for reading this! Please review and the third chapter will come within the next few days!

*See "The Seven Crystal Balls" and "Prisoners of the Sun"

**See "The Calculus Affair"