Delete search created from another and both are gone

I'm on the phone with support right now explaining what I believed happened.

I created a copy of a saved search (Edit, change name, Save As)
I experimented with the copy for awhile
I deleted the copy

I then noticed that both the copy AND the original were gone.

Support is saying I need to contact my sales rep to purchase professional services time.  Of course this got me fired up and I am now holding for a supervisor.

I'm curious if anyone else has ever encountered this situation?
As you can imagine it will be impossible to prove to NetSuite that I didn't delete the Saved Search.  if it was a basic search I would just recreate it, but it had a TON of formulas and other really tricky stuff that I have long since forgotten.