Conspiracies (2/4)
Peggy Mei-Ling Li
From a...@cix.compulink.co.uk Sun Sep 11 12:10:26 1994
Date: Sun, 11 Sep 94 18:30 BST-1
From: Adam Webb <a...@cix.compulink.co.uk>
To: ma...@uclink.berkeley.edu
Subject: Conspiracies part 2 of 4
CONSPIRACIES - Part 2 of 4
This story is © 1994 Adam Webb. The characters Fox Mulder, Dana Scully
and the name X-Files are © Fox Network Programming & Ten Thirteen
Productions. E-mail correspondence to the author via the Internet should
be addressed to A...@CIX.Compulink.UK.
FBI Headquarters, Washington D.C. Day Two, 8:00am
In a nondescript briefing room on the first floor of the imposing J.
Edgar Hoover Building, eight Special Agents were seated behind bare,
functional tables arranged in a U-shape. Director Skinner stood at the
apex of the formation, reading from notes attached to a clipboard which he
held like a shield. The pages were summarised evidence pertaining to the
suspicious death of Senator Peter Van Thewsen, which the FBI had been
ordered to investigate as a possible conspiracy. At the present time,
nobody knew if Van Thewsen’s death was a lone event, or part of a larger
plot against the Senate Committee which he’d chaired.
Dana Scully was paying careful attention to everything that was
said, hoping to spot something that had previously been missed. Being
chosen for the task force was the first really interesting job she’d been
given since the closing of the X-Files. Someone was giving her a break,
and that made her all the more determined to shine.
“Kremmer and Schultz,” the Director nodded at the pairing, “I want
you to cover the medical angle. According to forensics, our mystery man’s
fingerprints were surgically removed. Very recently and expertly.”
Skinner informed. “I want to know who did the job.” Pausing momentarily
he glanced at his notes. “He hasn’t had any facial alterations, as far as
the lab can tell. At least not in the last five years. So the chances
are that this guy’s mug is in someone’s files.” Focusing on the two agents
seated the farthest from him, he said, “Now. Scully and Drake.”
To the left of his new partner, Special Agent Nick Drake was
leaning forward, elbows on the table top and cigarette wedged in the
corner of his mouth. He’d already got the case pretty much worked out,
but knew better than to come right out and say so. In almost twenty-five
years with the FBI he’d learned that each type of case had its own
predetermined length; an amount of time that was considered appropriate
for a full and professional examination of the facts. Even if the
solution was the most obvious thing in the God-damned world, that time
could not be screwed around with. Smart guys knew it, and went with the
flow. “Your assignment is to take a fine tooth-comb, and use it on Van
Thewsen’s past. There may be something there that can help us determine
the killer’s true ID.” Skinner said.
Great, Scully thought, another indoors job with the chain-smoking
Nick Drake. Another day that would end with her clothes and hair reeking
of stale nicotine. Eyes flickering briefly to the face of the man
standing in the corner of the room Scully saw that, as if picking up on
her discomfort, he too was lighting up another cigarette. The smoking man
had made no comment and taken no active part in the briefing.
Scully still didn’t know who he really was, and didn’t want to know.
Knowing too much was the reason she’d been reassigned.
“Okay, let’s go.” Drake said as if issuing an order. Hauling
himself out the seat he crushed the remains of his smoke into an ashtray
and immediat- ely delved into his jacket pocket for another cigarette.
“Hey,” he shook the packet, “I’m nearly out. Mind if we stop at the
machine on our way down to the computer room?”
“Not at all.” Dana smiled icily. “In fact you can stop there just
as long as you like.”
CONSPIRACIES - Part 2 of 4