FISCHER ESTATE
10:46 PM


The head cook of the Fischer estate was cleaning up the kitchen 
when he heard noises outside. They were strange rustling sounds 
in the wooded area that started just a few feet from the back 
door. He knew it wasn't the federal agents. They'd all left 
except for the one who was sitting, watching for any sign of 
strangers.

He heard growling. "Damn dogs!" he said. They'd had problems with 
strays for the longest time, even though nobody had an idea about 
how the dogs got into the large yard. The cook picked up a knife 
and went outside to scare the dog away.
	
"Get out of here, you dumb mutt." He didn't see a dog so he turned 
around and started back to the door.
	
Something had been waiting in the shadows for this moment. It 
pounced on the cook, digging its claws into his back. He was 
surprised and stabbed at the creature over his shoulder. It 
roared and pushed him to the ground. That's where the cook 
bled to death. 



SHAMROCK INN
JULY 10 9:48 AM


"Scully, wake up!" Mulder called through his partner's motel room 
door. "Get dressed. We have to get to the Fischer place. There's 
been another killing."
	
Scully groaned, pulled herself out of bed and opened the door for 
Mulder. "Hold on for a few minutes. I'll get dressed quickly." 
She grabbed her suitcase and lugged it into the bathroom. She 
left the door open a crack. "Who died?"
	
"The head cook, Ross Sloane. He was found near the woods on the 
Fischer property. He'd been mauled and he bled to death."
	
"Any suspects?" Scully called.
	
"I'm afraid we have one at the moment. It's Brea. She didn't 
really like Ross. Other help said he'd come onto her many times, 
grabbing her rear end and squeezing her thighs on several occasions. 
Other cooks claimed Brea had flirted with him but he got the wrong 
idea. She flirted with anyone she thought was attractive but most 
of the time, she was just trying to be friendly."
	
"She flirted with *anyone*?" Scully repeated as she came out of 
the bathroom. She was fully dressed but held her pumps in her hand.

"Yes. According to most of the staff at the estate, Brea is bisexual. 
Her best friend Jesslyn is more than just her friend."

"So you think that Brea--in tiger form--killed Ross Sloane because 
she was sick of him touching her when she wasn't interested?"

"Precisely." He paused. "But how a fifteen-year-old can be bisexual 
is beyond me."

Scully put on her shoes. "Mulder, kids these days are so much 
different than we were when we were young. Being bisexual is pretty 
much accepted. What I'm wondering is if Brea was bisexual before 
her parents' divorce."

"I wonder if Wendy Bartlett knows her daughter is bisexual." He 
turned to leave the room. "Oh, there was a piece of evidence found 
at the crime scene. It may help us find the killer."

"Well, what was it?"

"A knife covered in blood that isn't Ross Sloane's."



FISCHER ESTATE
10:14 AM


"I'm guessing he's been dead for almost twelve hours," Scully said 
after pulling up the sheet that covered Ross Sloane and looking at 
the body.
	
"Where's Brea?" Mulder asked Agent Paulsen.
	
"She should be at the Bartlett home. We'll call her if you want 
us to."
	
"We should take her in for an interview. She is a suspect in the 
murder of her father but she is now the only suspect in this murder."
	
"Because of Mr. Sloane's advances, right?" Paulsen said. "No other 
people living here had a problem with him. They all said he doted on 
Sarah Fischer, buying her books and reading them to her."
	
"He probably got the wrong impression when Brea flirted with him. 
He most likely thought that, considering her past sexual indulgences, 
she would engage in any act with anybody of any age," Mulder pointed 
out. "I mean, I'm sure Brea has brought people home and I'm sure they 
could be heard."
	
"That's a shame," Scully said. "She never had an authority figure 
around so she could do whatever she pleased. It's a good thing her 
mother's coming home."
	
"We have to check Brea for any cuts and see if there are any records 
of hers around that have her blood type on it. If you find that, 
Agent Paulsen, have it tested against the blood on the knife."
	
"Will do, Agent Mulder." Paulsen wrote everything down on his 
note pad.
	
"Also have Gillian Fischer contact me when she arrives in town." 
Mulder borrowed Paulsen's pen and pad and wrote down his cell and 
motel room numbers down.
	
"Sure. After you visit Brea, call me with what you find out. We need 
more evidence to arrest her but we should be able to take her in 
for questioning."
	
"Okay," Scully called as she and Mulder went back to their car.
	
"Do you think Brea will talk to us?" Mulder asked as he got behind 
the wheel.
	
"I don't know. Just be nice but not too nice, if you get my meaning."
	
"Scully, she likes women too. You're not off the hook," Mulder 
challenged.
	
"I guess you're right but since Jesslyn is around, Brea probably 
won't be looking for anybody."
 	
"You're probably right, Scully."



BARTLETT RESIDENCE
11:06 AM

	
"Brea's not feeling well," Wendy informed the agents when they arrived 
at the house. "She came home from her date last night and was really 
sick."
	
"About what time did she get back?" Mulder asked.
	
"Nearly eleven-thirty. She'd left Jesslyn and their dates at the 
movies a little earlier but she took a long time to get home since 
she was so sick. She was probably drunk but why do you ask?" She led 
them inside to the living room.
	
"A cook named Ross Sloane was killed last night at the Fischer place. 
We're here to see if Brea knows anything about it."
	
"How would she know anything? Is she a suspect?"
	
"Yes. Apparently Brea had flirted with Mr. Sloane many times and
he got the wrong notion about her intentions. On several occasions, 
he was reported to have grabbed her buttocks and thighs all because 
she'd flirted with him and he'd assumed she was trying to seduce 
him," Scully explained. "According to others working at the house, 
she didn't like it much and hated Mr. Sloane for it."
	
"That's why Brea was usually here when Eric went away. Did that 
pervert do anything to Sarah?" Wendy asked, concerned. 
	
"No," Mulder said. "He was really nice to her. He constantly bought 
books and read them to her. The maids said he showed nothing but 
love towards that little girl. He was never alone with her for a 
long time. People were always checking up on them," Mulder said.
	
"The only reason he'd gotten the idea that Brea was interested in 
him was because of her promiscuity, her tendency to get involved 
with anybody who piqued her interest." Scully added quietly, 
"Everybody at the Fischer place says Brea is bisexual."
	
Wendy nodded. "Oh, I know. She and my daughter are lovers," she 
said. "Most are their female friends are lesbians or bisexual. 
Some of their guy friends are bisexual as well but most are 
straight. They just get off on the idea of having two girls 
at once."
	
Scully's eyes widened. Wendy had spoken so casually about her 
daughter's sexuality, it amazed her. "And you're okay with that?"
	
"I think it's great. They're being themselves and enjoying it. 
Jesslyn and Brea are best friends but even closer than that. When 
they make love to males or females, they are full of compassion. 
I am so happy that kids are becoming aware of their sexuality but 
are being careful about it."
	
Mulder was quite embarrassed. "I'm glad you're so proud. It's 
good they're trying new things and adults are so supportive of it."
	
"Hello." Brea came into the living room, carrying a glass of orange 
juice. She smiled as she sat down across from Scully. "I'm really 
sorry for my foul language yesterday. It was uncalled for."
	
"That's okay." Scully gave a nervous smile.
	
"Brea, Agents Scully and Mulder would like to talk to you. Ross 
Sloane was killed last night."
	
"Really?" she asked after sipping some juice. "How?"
	
"Um, in the same manner as your father. He was mauled and bled to 
death," Mulder explained. The girl stared at him. "I heard Ross 
was not popular in your book."
	
"No. He was a pig. He'd grope me as if I wanted to screw him. I 
never did. I was just being nice to him," Brea told them. "He'd 
always said he would give me 'the best lay of my life'."
	
"Did he ever go further than just touching?" Scully asked. "All 
these reports of him grabbing you came from witnesses. Are there 
any things somebody may not have seen?"
	
"Yes. That slime had sneaked into my room and felt me up. I hit him 
and he eventually left me alone. Of course my father was never home 
so I couldn't tell him." She stopped. "Am I a suspect?"
	
"Unfortunately, you're the only one right now." 
	
"Someone's setting me up. I didn't kill him."
	
Mulder said, "If that's the case, would you like to come into 
police custody?"
	
Brea looked frantic. "Yes. You can ask me as many questions as you 
like, just as long as I'm safe." She stood up. "I'll go pack." She 
left the room.
	
"She's really scared that somebody's after her," Wendy said.
	
"We'll take her into custody until we're sure that there is another 
suspect and this person is after Brea," Scully said. "We probably 
will have to wait until Gillian Fischer arrives to ask Brea any 
questions."
	
"I have one more question, Wendy. You might be able to answer it. 
Do you know if Brea has become promiscuous as a result of her 
parents' divorce or was she different after she came back from 
Africa?" Mulder said.
	
"She wasn't into experimenting before she went to Africa. She was 
still a virgin. When she got back, she went all the way with some 
boy and has been promiscuous since then." 
	
"Brea, you don't have to go. We'll protect you," Jesslyn called as 
Brea returned to the living room. Jesslyn followed her. "Please, 
Brea. Please stay here."
	
"Jess, I can't stay here if somebody is after me. I'd put you all 
in danger. I don't want anything to happen to you or your mom or 
Sarah. Just promise me you'll take care of her. She can't come 
with me." Brea put her duffel bag down on the couch.
	
"Sure. We'll watch Sarah." Jesslyn wrapped her arms around Brea and 
kissed her on the lips quickly. "Just call me when you can."
	
"I will." She picked up her bag. "Wendy, if my mom calls, tell her 
we're fine."
	
Scully and Mulder stood up. "Your mother is coming home as soon 
as she can. We got ahold of her and she's on her way," Mulder 
told Brea.
	
"Great," she said, sounding relieved. She went to the door.
	
"Brea, where are you going?" Sarah called from the stairs. She ran 
to her sister.
	
"I'm going somewhere safe but Wendy and Jess will care for you 
and then, Mommy will be home soon." Brea was saddened when Sarah 
wrapped her arms around her waist and started crying. "I'll be 
back as soon as I can."
	
"Don't go, Brea. The monster will get me if you're not here."
	
"No, it won't." Brea loosened her sister's grip and knelt down so 
she could see directly into Sarah's eyes. "I won't let anything 
happen to you. I love you." She kissed the little girl's cheek.
	
"I love you," Sarah said, clasping her hands behind her sister's 
neck and hugging her fiercely. "I'll see you soon, right?" Brea 
nodded.
	
Scully was very touched by the two sisters. It reminded her of the 
relationship she'd had with her older sister Melissa, her only 
sister who'd been murdered. She shook her head to make the memories 
go away. "Let's get going," Scully said.
	
"I'll be back in a little while," Brea told Sarah as she walked 
out the door.



MALIBU POLICE DEPARTMENT
12:16 PM


"Why were you so frantic to get out of there?" Mulder asked after 
seating Brea in an interrogation room. It was sparsely furnished 
with a table, chairs and a phone. 
	
"If the person who is really the murderer is after me, I don't 
want to put people I love in danger. That's why I left. I love 
them all too much to allow anything to happen to them."
	
"You should have brought Sarah with you," Scully said.
	
"I couldn't. She would have an awful time. I don't want her to see 
the criminals that are brought in here. She's always lived a 
sheltered life. My parents protected her from the world. I do 
that now. She's too innocent to know about things, like my 
relationships or the crimes that occur around us." Brea smiled. 
"She knew my parents were divorced but she doesn't know why. She 
thinks it was because my mom was in Africa and my father was here."
	
Scully sat beside the teenager. "Your little sister will have to 
learn about the world sooner or later. She won't always be guarded 
and she'll have to learn to be independent, like you, like your 
mother."
	
"I know that. Sarah was already exposed to evil once, when she 
found my father dead. I really wished she hadn't seen that."
	
Mulder was amazed at Brea's devotion to her sister. She'd seemed 
so tough and cold the first time he and Scully had met her but 
now, she was showing a totally different side of her personality. 
	
"I hope you brought something to do," he said. "We'll keep you 
in custody until your mother gets here or until you want to leave."
	
Brea pulled out her Walkman. "This will keep me busy."
	
"If you need anything, just knock on the door. We probably won't be 
here but we'll post an officer out here." Scully got up and went 
to the door. "We'll tell you when your mother is here.
	
"Feel free to make as many calls as you want. If you want to 
get out of here, we can bring you to our motel. Just call us if 
you want to leave, or if you're hungry."
	
"Thanks, Agent Mulder, Agent Scully." She put her headphones on.
	
Mulder looked at his partner. "How about some lunch, Agent Scully?"
	
"Sure but you're buying."



MECCA DINER
12:46 PM

	
"I've changed my mind about Brea. Underneath that tough exterior 
is a caring young woman. Sarah's lucky to have a sister like her." 
Scully speared a piece of chicken with her fork.
	
"I don't get why Brea was so intent on staying in police custody. 
She even agreed to answer questions. No usual suspect would do 
that. Perhaps she didn't murder anybody."
	
"You could be correct."
	
"Do you want to go back to see Brea after lunch?" Scully asked.
	
"Yeah. Actually, I'll grab something for her to eat. I can't imagine 
that food from a vending machine is healthy. Do you think she'd like 
French fries and a Coke?"
	
"Sure. What kid wouldn't?"
	
Mulder finished his hamburger as Scully slowly ate her chicken 
Caesar salad. "I'll be right back, Scully. Take your time finishing 
up." He went up to the counter and ordered Brea's lunch.
	
A few minutes later, the food was ready and Scully was done eating 
so Mulder paid the bill and the agents left for the police department.



MALIBU POLICE DEPARTMENT
1:17 PM

	
"Did she make any calls?" Mulder asked the police officer guarding 
the room. He looked at Brea through the one-way mirror. She was 
sitting with her coat draped over her shoulders and her headphones 
were still in place.
	
"Just to her sister but other than that, she's been listening to 
music. At one point, I took her to the soda machine but she's been 
in there the rest of the time."
	
"Thank you, sir," Scully said as she twisted the doorknob.
	
Brea smiled as soon as Mulder and Scully came into the room. She 
pulled off her headphones and said, "You're back quickly. Did you 
have a nice lunch?"
	
"Yeah," Mulder said. "We brought you back something." He placed a 
paper bag in front of her.
	
"Thanks. I was starving." As she reached to open the bag, her 
jacket fell off. She wore a tank top and on her upper left arm, 
there was a large piece of gauze taped in place.
	
"What happened to your arm?" Scully asked.
	
"I went out drinking last night with Jess and our boyfriends. 
Somebody broke a beer bottle on the ground. I started to feel sick 
so I got up to leave. I fell because I was so drunk, and I cut myself."
	
Mulder was smiling to himself as Scully inspected the wound. "This 
is pretty deep. I think you might need stitches. Does it hurt?"
	
"It did when I put the disinfectant on it. It hurt like a bitch. 
I think I need new dressing for it." She winced as Scully moved 
her arm carefully. 
	
"Sorry." She let go of Brea's arm and gently replaced the gauze. 
"Why don't you eat and then we'll take you to see a doctor?"
	
"Um, okay. I'm still going to stay here but maybe getting out for 
a little while will be good." She pulled out her lunch and started 
eating.
	
Mulder pulled Scully into a corner. "I'm not a medical expert, 
Scully, but that looks like a clean cut.  The way she fell, the 
glass would have torn the skin, not sliced it neatly."
	
Scully bit her lip. "Yeah. I thought the same thing but that doesn't 
mean Brea is a weretiger and that she killed Ross Sloane and was 
cut during the attack."
	
"Hopefully, Paulsen gets those blood test results back soon." 
Mulder checked his watch. "It shouldn't be that much longer."
	
Scully went back to Brea. "The guard outside said you called Sarah. 
How is she handling you not being there?"
	
"Pretty good. Wendy and Jess are really nice to her. They think 
of her as a member of their family, the way they think of me." Brea 
ate three fries. "Want some?"
	
"No thanks." Scully smiled. "What do you think about your mom 
coming back?"
	
"I'm glad. I had a lot of time with her but Sarah didn't. She needs 
her here." Brea took a sip of her soda. "I think I need her as 
well. She always makes me feel special, not like a slut that 
everyone else has made me out to be."
	
"Is that the reputation you have?"

"You know that already. You've talked to the hired help at my house. 
That's what they think."

Scully looked at the girl. "Do you ever stop to think that what 
people say isn't important? It's all about what you think about 
yourself."

"Yeah, I know. It's just hard. I don't want Sarah finding out that 
her sister is a whore. Since all the help think that, she's bound 
to find out."

"I'm sure Sarah won't care about what people say. She just has to 
know that her sister loves her." Scully looked at Mulder and he 
smiled.

"I'm done. Let's go to the doctor's office." Brea closed the 
Styrofoam container from her fries and wiped her fingers on a 
napkin.



PACIFIC MEDICAL CENTRE
LOS ANGELES
2:13 PM

"Come back and see me in a week, Brea, and I'll take the stitches 
out," Dr. Melissa Gellar said as she put a piece of gauze over 
the freshly sutured wound.

"Thank you, Doctor." Brea smiled and looked at her arm.

"Come on, Brea." Mulder led the girl outside while Scully remained 
to speak to Dr. Gellar.

"Doctor, did that cut look it came from a piece of broken glass 
or a blade?"

"It was too clean to be a piece of glass. I believe it was some 
sort of knife."

Scully couldn't believe it--Mulder was right.