Benjamin Mears House, August 24th, 10:30pm
Ben Mears was older than Mulder had expected his grey hair thick and wiry hung loose about a face that was tanned with days spent outdoors and deep lines that spoke of long history. His blue eyes were almost pale, Mulder could see why Scully and Haskell looked at him the way they did. Ben was man's man by no mistake. "I see three people in front of me and all of you look like law enforcement," Ben said eyeing them up at the door of his home as he walked up the pathway, "Sheriff," he gave Haskell a curt nod then looked the two strangers up and down, "Federal agents no doubt."
Mulder smiled and nodded, "that obvious?" he said pulling out his credentials and letting the ranger take a long look. Scully did the same and Mulder noticed the way Mears lingered a little too long on her credentials, "we were hoping you could help us out." Mulder said a tad too loud turning the focus away from Scully.
Haskell had tried calling Ben at his home with no replay and after a few more phone calls around town it turned out he had taken a small group into the foothills and was set to return that evening, it was full dark by the time the ranger had pulled up in his drive and walked lazily up the pathway to his front door and the three waiting figures, "Is that so," Ben said sparing a glance at Haskell, "and what would the FBI want my help with?"
Haskell spoke before Mulder could, there was too much testosterone floating around and they had only been stood her a couple of minutes, "We need your help tracking someone in the hills,"
This got Mears' full attention, "Christ Sarah, you talking about the killer," he shook his head, flabbergasted at the request, "I told you at the last sight I had tracks and I could have followed it right there and then," he watched Haskell pale her eyes flicking to the two agents, this was information that she had not told them, he felt a little bit of pity for Sarah but also anger that she was now asking for his help over a week later, "it's been over a week you'll be lucky if I can find gnat shit now."
Mulder was a little surprised that Haskell had not told them about Ben's offer sooner, he guessed she was a little embarrassed that she had turned him down, maybe she was a little too scared what they may discover, or...he saw it then, the looks were there and the way Mears had switched to calling her Sarah with ease, they had been lovers or still were and Haskell had said no to keep Mears safe. But at what cost to someone else? "If this thing is still out there it will kill again and just keep going, anything you can do to help might just set us on the right track."
"Thing?" Mears laughed to himself, "Bigfoot! One week the FBI laughs at Sarah the following week they are true believers in old Sasquatch, listen up Agent Mulder there isn't any legendary creature out there. This is one, maybe two guys who have eaten one too many mushrooms and think they are something they ain't!"
"If it is men Mr Mears then they'll be easier to track surely?" Scully stepped between the men even she could feel the tension between these two men and she had noticed the looks between Haskell and Mears and felt a little disappointment. "Whoever or whatever it is out there has killed four people and is still loose, we cannot find them on our own," Scully's voice softened as she went on easing the tension in the air, Mears took a step back his attention on her, his blues looking directly into her own and making her heart skip, she felt like a school girl again for a few seconds.
Mear's was silent, he looked between the three of them, Sarah he trusted but these two agents were likely to start crying to come home the moment they got a blister. He knew if he said no Sarah would lead them in on her own and right into trouble no doubt "We start in the morning get here before sunrise and we will head into the hills in my truck," and with that the deal was struck.
Mulder thanked Mears in his best agent voice possible, polite and to the point he wanted away from the guy as quickly as possible. Ben watched the agents drive off in their car. Haskell lingered on his porch leaning against one white painted wooden railing. "Arrogant little prick that one," Mears said watching the tail lights disappear down the road.
"Reminds me of someone I know," Sarah replied a crooked smile on her lips, Ben turned looking a little hurt, "You are both going to need to take it down a notch if we are going to be up there for the next few days I don't want to be arresting you for murdering a Federal agent Ben."
Ben shrugged and smiled, "If he accidentally slips it wouldn't be murder just a tragic accident."
Sarah shook her head, "Don't even joke Ben I am serious, I have a good feeling about these guys, especially him." Mears raised his salt and pepper eyebrows, "not that sort of feeling,"
Ben unlocked the front door, "You coming in?" he asked without looking over his shoulder, he smiled to himself as he heard the front door close behind him he turned as he felt Sarah's hands on his back.
Motel 8, August 25th, 5:15am