The next murder

[MD2, 1:30PM, Central Hospital]

<>

Jim showed the sheriff the photograph of the cabin. "Any idea where this place might be located?"

Jackson looked the photo over. "There's a lot of cabins in the mountains around here. All kinds of little back roads that don't go anywhere," he said. "Might be the old Renault place, though. Up on Birch Ridge Road."

The sheriff excused himself, needing to get back to the office, leaving the three agents gathered in the parking lot of the hospital. Jim looked at the scrap of paper, then at Zenya and Vanessa.

"Something tells me that one of you ladies would have better luck than I would," he said.

Zenya dialed the number and waited through several rings until a gruff male voice finally said,

"I got this number from Helping Hands poster," Zenya said, letting her accent come through more than usual. No reason to alert the group to why someone wanted to meet with them.

There was a long pause filled with muted arguing in the background, then the voice of an older female came on the line. the woman asked.

"I need to speak with someone."

"Not on the telephone."

"No, but someone else might be. Could we meet?"

"Near Central Hospital."

The line went dead.

"Lincoln Street Diner in twenty minutes," Zenya reported. "They seem to be a secretive bunch. She ask for a name and didn't give me a chance to ask for hers."

"While we're waiting, maybe we can get an address to go with this number," Jim said.

<>

A quick call to the 'phone company revealed a rather interesting fact.

"That number belongs to a Mr R Renault, 1001 Mountain Road, Sante Fe."

Zenya and Vanessa looked surprised.

"So, the cabin in the picture. Where do we think that might be, mmm?" Vanessa smiled.

"It certainly looks as though we have got something. I better 'phone the chief."

Dialling the number of Jordan's cellphone, the man answered quickly.

<>

"Jim here. We have some news."

<>

"She wouldn't be called Renault by any chance, would she?"

<>

"I found a picture of a mountain cabin. Sheriff thinks it belongs to the Renault family. Also, the Helping Hands group meet in people's homes. The number to dial for this weeks meeting belongs to Mr R Renault."

<>

"Yeah, also, Zenya made arrangements to meet someone on the end of that number. She's got to be at the Lincoln Street Diner in fifteen minutes"

<> Jim groaned inwardly. <<....and tell Zenya to proceed to the meeting. I'll have Leo as her man on the ground and I'll be around too>>

He grinned at Leo, while Jim signalled to Vanessa she would be joining him at the cabin. She didn't look too happy.

"OK chief. We'll get right on it. I'll wait for your call."

<>

"So what is happening?" Zenya queried.

"Vanessa and I will be going up to the cabin. Surveillance. You are to proceed to the meeting at the Lincoln Street Diner. Leo is your man on the ground, Jordan the spare, so you're well taken care of."

"Two men looking after me. What is a girl to do?" Zenya laughed.

Jim and Vanessa gathered their surveillance equipment and packed up the car. They stopped briefly at a little store and picked up some food and drink. As they wound their way up the mountain road, both new they were getting closer to crunch time. The next murder was going to take place, and soon.

"How are you feeling Vanessa?" Jim asked.

"A bit nervous. You?"

"Yeah. Even after all those missions, I still get butterflies before a big op. It's all coming together. I get the feeling that things are going to happen up here at the cabin. Still, we don't know who is meeting Zenya."

"Well, we have enough food to keep us going for days!" She looked at Jim slightly amused, with a little reproach.

"Heh! I'm a growing boy and I get hungry."

They laughed as the car drove past them. It was going quickly, as if it was late. Jim checked his watch.

"It might just make it, if it keeps going at that speed."

He 'phoned Jordan and warned him of the car, telling him they had let it go in order to watch the cabin.

<>

They found the cabin in good time. Driving past, they went up the road until they found a place where they could pull off and not be seen. They worked their way back through the woods, finding a suitable patch in which to set up the stuff. They set up the camera's and the binoculars. Looking at the cabin, it was impossible to tell if there was anyone in, though some smoke was coming out of the chimney.

All they could do now was watch and wait.

NRPG:
I think it is nearing crunch time!! Very exciting :-)
Jeff, how does Leo feel about protecting a woman's life after what happened? Anyway, the gruesome twosome will maintain watch while you guys do all the exciting stuff!! =8-7

Respectfully submitted,

FCO Lt.(jg) Olivier Patru, USS ORION NCC-1997, Starfleet.
Private Eoin McDonald, Ranger, TEAM LEO, Ragnarok.
Special Agent-1 Jim Reaper, X-Files Division, FBI.
Ar'Aman Bowright and Darar, Daere Warren, DragonLands.

aka Peter Shillan.