He closed the file. The pages that followed depicted the young man's ability to not only endanger his own safety but the people around him. Relocation came frequently for this one, he was quite the asylum hopper. That is, of course, until Stones Sanitarium met it's end in the riotous flames. He shook his head and frowned. That place, it was crucial, it drew Sputterspark and Bell together… and someone else. He glanced at a key on his desk. After a moment of hesitation he picked it up and unlocked a drawer in the sturdy desk. The drawer was empty apart from one more file. One, he had read so often lately he could almost recite the damned thing. His fingers curled on the edge of the open drawer. He knew no answers would dawn on him from reading it again, it was tampered with, edited. Either that or the lies ran back too far, somehow he suspected that the latter could be the case. Before he gave into his temptation to pour through the dog eared pages, or to slam the drawer shut and call it a night, his office door opened again. A massive form lumbered into the room, one that was usually tense with good posture. Now, it was slumped slightly, exhaustion pulling the pride out of him. The bear closed the distance between them with his normal long strides.

"Good evening, or should I say… Good morning, Agent Grizzlikof." J. Gander smiled lightly.

"Gud mornink." He grunted. His dark eyes looking a bit more bloodshot then was to be expected.

"Oh my, you haven't slept since you started the investigation have you?" The bear's eyes looked away momentarily; it was enough of an answer for him. Hooter closed the drawer locking it tight, then leaned back into his chair. "What can I assist you with?"

"Dis investigation has no structure, Direcktor." Sighed the bear miserably.

"No structure, and no easy answers I assume?"

"So et vould seem. De widow killed her husband, dat much we know. Eet was pretty clear, but whoever killed her…"

"Knew their way around a murder scene?"

"Exactly, no fingerprints, not even a bit of dander. Direktor… in my opinion de murder was professional. A professional's work we've seen before."

Hooter blinked slowly. He thought the same thing. He just wanted his top Agent to confirm it.

"So, it was a F.O.W.L. job then…"

"So et vould seem."

"I wonder what the motive was…"

"Dat es where I cannot help you sir."

"And the professional?"

"Again, I am not certain, but et looks to be the work of their operative codenamed: Steelbeak."

"My, he was busy that night." Hooter commented to the air.

The two men stood in silence, the unpleasantness of their careers hanging around them like vultures. Hooter let out a small sigh and pulled himself back to the task at hand.

"Can I assume the late Mr. Flood's body is still accounted for?"

"Yes, he was very dead when he was buried." If Grizzlikof thought the question was ridiculous he certainly hid it well.

"Well at least we don't have to worry about him. It seems some people know how to stay dead." Hooter glanced at the files on his desk and stacked them neatly on top of each other. "I will arrange for you to have a few more seasoned field Agents to assist you in your investigation Grizzlikof."

"Thank you Direktor." The bear saluted him.

"But I have some new orders for you." Hooter saw the bear's giant shoulders sag slightly. "I want you to go home, get some rest, and report to work at least an hour late tomorrow. You can't deprive yourself of sleep now, who knows when it will be available next."

Grizzlikof's mouth curled in a sort of grimace, but he saluted again. Hooter knew he didn't like to take breaks when working on a case, especially when F.O.W.L. was involved. He watched the bear leave; it was more than a feeling that told him he'd need his aid soon. This quiet was nearing its end. A storm was brewing, the clouds just had to blow in for it to start. He put Elmo Sputterspark's file, along with his regular work load into the desk. To his arthritic bones… it felt like rain.

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All characters are © Disney apart for the ones I made up… they're mine obviously.

Ahh, sorry it took me so long to wrap this up. But I had a lot of work to do. To mention something I neglected to (though some picked it up anyway… you smarties. :D ) Michael Bell or uh… Quackerjack's identity is named after the voice actor that portrayed him in the cartoon. Also, Stones Sanitarium is in honor of the great Tad Stones who brought our beloved Masked Mallard to light. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed and I hope you enjoyed my little filler story while I try to beat my muse into submission as I wrestle with Trials of the Hero.