Atlantic City

New Jersey

Friday, 15.27 hours

"Ms. Parker, please calm down. I can’t understand what you’re saying." The police officer tried to calm her down. She was out of breath from screaming and running around the house. He took her arms and led her to the couch. She was trembling and unfocused. Rebecca Jenkins, her neighbor, who called the police after hearing her screams, went to the kitchen and brought a glass of water. She sat beside Jennifer Parker and asked her to drink. She was twenty-eight years old, a beautiful woman with blonde hair, and very kind hearted. She helped her a lot.

"Now, Ms. Parker, can you tell me what happened?" He asked.

"Molly is gone….. Becky, I… I…" She started crying. Becky held her and calmed her down.

"Ssh… Jenny. Look at me. You are saying that your baby is gone. How?" Becky held her by her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes.

Ms. Parker started crying again.

"Jenny. Jenny. Stop! You have to control yourself and tell us what happened, OK. If you keep panicking, how is the police gonna find out what happened?"

Jennifer Parker looked at her with wet eyes. She was still trembling, but her emotion was more controlled. She gulped and continued, "She was sleeping, so I went to the kitchen and started baking the cookies. I thought I heard the front door closed, but when I checked, there was no one. I went back to the kitchen. After I finished cooking, I started wondering why Molly was so quiet, so I went to the bedroom and.. and.. and…. She was gone…" She started crying again.

Officer Johnson took notes and asked, "How long was it from when you heard the door closed until you found out that your daughter was gone?"

"I… I.. don’t know… fifteen to twenty minutes I guess." She replied groggily.

"How could someone be so cruel, Officer? She’s only three years old." Becky asked.

"We will investigate this case, Ma’am. You don’t have to worry." He assured them.

Jennifer Parker could only looked at him with sorrow. She felt hopeless for Molly. She wasn’t so sure if this man could find her again. Tears started falling down her cheek. She was thirty when her fiancee took off with another girl, leaving her pregnant with the child. Yet she had decided to keep the child. With the help of her good friend Becky, she had been sure that she could raise the child. Becky loved children and was very patient with them. She taught history at the school for the deaf, and she had told her that she would be more than happy to help her. Now, nothing was so sure anymore. Yet she knew someone who might be able to help her.

She watched Becky walked the policeman to the door. They were talking but she couldn’t hear them.

"Officer, I do hope you can find her as soon as possible." Becky said whispering.

"Ma’am, please do not worry too much. We…"

"No, Officer, you don’t understand. Molly is sick. She is very sick. She has to get her shot in the next two days." She spoke in a low voice.

"What’s wrong with her?"

"She’s suffering from some kind of hormonal deficiency. Anyway, the most important thing is, Officer, she has to get the medicine in two days. I don’t really understand about it, dr. Mitchum said it’s a rare disease, there’s no cure."

"Excuse me, Ma’am. Did you say dr. Mitchum? Is it dr. Ronald Mitchum from Santa Anna General Hospital?"

"Yes, yes, that’s right. He’s the best pediatrician in town. Do you know him too?"

"No, Ma’am… it’s just such a strange coincidence that her wife reported him missing yesterday afternoon. Anyway, I have to get going now, Ma’am. I will inform you if something comes up."

Becky sighed and went back inside the house, closing the door behind her.

FBI Headquarters

Washington DC

Friday, 16.00 hours

"Come on, Mulder, it’s only three-hour drive from here. Besides, if you don’t feel like searching for a baby girl, you can always seek your Jersey Devil. You’ve been there digging up that case before." Scully smiled as she tried to convince Mulder to come with her to New Jersey to spend their weekend.

"I’ll drive." She said again when Mulder didn’t answer her.

"Then you don’t need me, Scully." He smiled.

"Oh come on, Mulder. I don’t like driving alone. I’ll pay for the expenses, how’s that?" Scully looked at him, full of hope.

Mulder’s smile broadened, "Tell me again about this friend of yours….".

"She’s a single parent, lives in Atlantic City, her occupation is selling homemade cookies and cakes, and she’s about 33 years old. Her baby is 3 years-old and according to her, was kidnapped this afternoon."

"No X-files?" Mulder asked.

"No X-files." Scully’s face suddenly became serious, "I just wanna help an old friend." She added.

"OK, when do we leave?"

Scully smiled, "I’ll pick you up at 6."

Atlantic City

New Jersey

Friday, 18.30 hours

Becky Jenkins jogged down the street humming. She was jogging back from the church to her house. It was a routine activity for her on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. She taught history in the morning, came back home and helped Jenny with the cooking or took care of Molly, went to church to attend the choir practice, changed to her sport attire and jogged back home. With a backpack on her back, she took a longer road than usual. She got back earlier than usual from the church this evening, so she had more time for her jogging.

Yet, unlike any other days when she could just relax enjoying the TV shows after having a shower, this evening she would have to keep her best friend company. She had decided to stay with her until the case was solved. She had moved some of her stuff to Jenny’s house this afternoon and stayed with her since. She was about to cancel her choir practice, but Jenny insisted her to go on her routine, said she needed time to be alone for awhile.

Friday, 21.08 hours

"A nice neighborhood." Mulder commented, as he walked his way up the door.

"Yes." Scully looked around her. She rang the bell. Only a few seconds later, they heard the door clicked opened. A beautiful blond girl opened the door, smiling.

"You must be, Dana." She said. "Come on in. I’m Becky Jenkins."

"This is my partner." Scully introduced Mulder to her.

"Hi, I’m Becky. Please come in".

They walked into the living room and Becky asked them to sit down.

"I’ll get Jenny, I think she’s sleeping."

A moment later Jenny walked into the living room. She started sobbing when she saw Scully.

"Oh Dana.. please help me." She said.

"Just tell me what happened, Jenny."

Becky went away from them and busied herself in the kitchen. Mulder followed her.

"I’m sorry to come up here very late."

Becky looked up and smiled, "Oh, no problem Agent Mulder. I’m just glad that the two of you came as soon as you can. I know this is not part of your job. I am truly grateful that you came all the way here to help her."

"So, can you tell me what happened here this afternoon?" Mulder asked her.

Becky related to him the accounts. She also mentioned about what the policeman said regarding the disappearance of Molly’s doctor, dr. Ronald Mitchum.

"I don’t know if this information can help you find her, Agent Mulder, but the policeman thought it was such a strange coincidence."

"Do you think it’s strange, Ms. Jenkins?"

"You’re asking me?" Becky smiled in surprise. " I don’t know, I’ve only met dr. Mitchum for a couple of time when Jenny didn’t feel too good to go out. I usually take care of the cooking when she takes Molly to the hospital. I don’t know if it’s strange or not, Agent Mulder. I only know that Molly has got to be found within two days. If not, then only God can save her."

Suddenly her face changed. A pool of tears appeared in her eyes. Mulder took her hand and held it. She looked up and smiled wearily.

"I’m sorry, Agent Mulder. I tried to be strong for Jenny, but I just…. I just…. Jeez.." she tried hard fighting her tears. She looked up to the ceiling and swallowed hard.

Mulder knew she was going to say something now. Probably something important, but probably not.

"I love her like my own daughter. Jenny is my best friend, Agent Mulder. I…. She had gone through a lot of troubles keeping her. She was dumped by her fiancee, my brother. I saved her at the right time. She was about to commit a suicide when I arrived. She slit her wrist." She stopped and looked at Mulder.

"I’m a Christian, Agent Mulder. I believe that suicide is a sin. I successfully brought her confidence back, I persuaded her to have a motivation for life, but I have not succeeded in bringing her to God’s way. I don’t force my belief to others, ever. Jenny is such a fragile person. Her only motivation in life is Molly. I’m afraid, Agent Mulder. I’m afraid for her. I’m afraid I can’t save her soul once she lost her motivation. Please find her, Agent Mulder. Let me help. I can’t just stay here seeing her crying. I know I can help. Let me help you find her….."

Becky almost lost control of herself. She started to speak louder and her tears were starting to fall down her cheek.

Mulder held her close, "Ssh… It’s allright, Ms. Jenkins. You are the strong one here. Don’t get weak. You don’t want her to see you like this, right?"

Becky straightened her hair and wiped her tears. Smiling faintly she said, "Yes, Agent Mulder, I’m the strong one in this house. So, how can I help?"