Before the War... Part Two
Ch7
It had occurred to Doggett during his conversation with Monica just where he had seen the symbol that was scattered among William’s drawings. He took the red eye back to Washington and stopped by his house to confirm what his memories were deeming to be true. Upon entering the door, he headed straight for the den where he rummaged through an old photo album. Its leather bound spine was torn from the middle down; the binding was so delicate that he had to force himself to slow down while flipping through the pages. He finally came across the photo he had been searching for. Its edges were bent and scattered white lines embedded it from wear. Along its bordered edge was a hand written note ‘John, 23rd infantry 1977’.Pictured were four men standing in front of a shipping dock off Curtis Bay in Baltimore. In the distance a condemned building could be seen. The script along the red bricks read ‘Buckley & Sons Brewery’. It was the twisted emblem along the billboard’s edge that confirmed Doggett’s suspicions; he had seen the symbol before.
He walked over to the oak desk that lined the den’s east wall and took a small key from his pocket. He unlocked the center drawer and recovered his black address book. Its pages opened to the S’s just as he had intended. Brunette pictured to his left had been is friend since the first time they meet; John had served nearly four years with him yet hadn’t spoken to him in twenty. It wasn’t long until his eyes skimmed past just the name he was looking for, Daniel Scott. They had shared atrocities that no man should ever have to experience. John dialed the 907 area code to his old friend’s Anchorage home. The call took a few moments to begin its succession of rings.
“Scott Residence.”
“Danny? It’s John Doggett; we served together back in ’77.”
“Holy hell John, how have you been? It’s been…well it’s been a damn long time. Last I heard you joined the FBI.”
“Well that’s actually why I’m calling. Do you remember the bar off Curtis Bay in Baltimore?”
“Remember it, that’s where I meet my wife!”
“There’s an old brewery right off of 11th, just caddy corner to the bar. Do you know anything about it?”
“You mean Buckley’s old place? Yeah legend has it that old man Buckley up and disappeared around ’82 and the brewery just sort of died. If I remember correctly he had quite a few of them. Working on a case in Baltimore?”
“Something like that. Who took over after Buckley left?”
“I assume one of his sons but I’m not positive. You know you might try asking Jimmy Stewart. He had a part time job there the summer before he enlisted.”
“Alright, I don’t mean to run off but I’m on a time constraint, great to talk to you; thanks for your help.”
“Don’t be a stranger, John.”
John knew he would probably never speak to Danny again but he promised to stay in touch all the same. There had to be a connecting factor in this case and the quicker he knew the connection the better but for the moment his gut told him that William’s life was in imminent danger.
Ch8
The cool air of the corridors hit her stronger than the breeze in the D.C. air. While the doors slid open and the stall sterile smell of a medical bay greeted her senses. This was another memory Scully had never expected to experience again. She had both studied and taught at Quantico but most importantly she had uncovered many mysteries here. Mysteries that had so unceremoniously led to the very spot she now found herself in today. She slid her fingers along the railings and processed just what it was she was doing and just how far she had let her mind wonder over the years. The portraits on the wall were just as they had been and the gut wrenching feelings she had so often taken through the exit doors rushed back to her. Amongst them, the sinking feeling that she might have made a mistake choosing to run, a mistake in giving in for her own comfort but most of all in thinking anyone could protect her son better that she could. Yes she had made a difference as a doctor, she had saved countless lives and had helped families to heal but at the FBI she was giving a voice to those who were screaming with no one to hear them through the darkness. She found the very truths that would have otherwise never have seen the light of day. She inhaled letting the full weight of her miseries fall upon her shoulders and as she rarely did, she began to cry.
Hard sobs threatening to immerge, Scully looked to her left and saw an unoccupied lab that she quickly retreated to. Time slowed and her vision blurred while the salt from her tears left its evidence along her face. She watched as the first droplet splashed against the metal edge of a microscope. The only other time she had cried with such vigor was as a small child.
They say the first real heartbreak stings far worse than those that proceed. The revelation that the world and all of its cruelties has finally visited you and can steal the breath from your lungs frightens even the most of courageous souls. Scully dabbed at the corners of her eyes and with all of the strength she could muster forced her overwhelming feelings back into their tightly locked box, where even Mulder knew not of their existence. Her fingers wrapped soullessly around the door handle and pulled its frame toward her as her eyes meet Monica’s.
“I’ve been looking for you. Have you found out anything about the victims?” Monica said.
“I haven’t even begun the autopsies.”
“Dana have you been crying? Are you ok?”
“Yes Monica I’m fine. Now I have work to do.”
Scully took no hesitation in turning her stained face from Monica and made her way down the corridor toward the morgue. Monica wished so deeply that Scully would trust her enough to let her in, to help ease her fears. She could see that Scully was in such pain and bared the brunt of it alone. Scully would forever be the porcelain queen atop her sorrowful tower with no one able to reach her. Monica hoped that one day she would allow herself a confidant.
…
Scully meticulously covered herself with faded blue scrubs and adorned her hands with latex. A white mask covered her face from ear to ear and extended below her chin and to the bridge of her nose. She wheeled out the identical gurneys that held the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Van de Camp. She slowly uncovered Mrs. Van de Camp’s face from underneath the hospital issue ivory sheet. Her face was slender and her brunette hair was pulled back to reveal her features. This had been the women who had watched her son grow. She feed him, bathed him and comforted him when he was afraid. Scully wiped the sweat from her brow with the top of her wrist, moving a fallen strand of red hair from her eyes as she did so. No matter, Mrs. Van de Camp was now Scully’s only clue as to the whereabouts of her son. Her son, she’d forgotten the sweet serenity of the statement. She pulled a small black tape recorder from the pocket of her shirt and spoke softly into the miniature microphone.
“The time is thirteen hundred hours on the tenth of September twenty ten; subject is a white female approximately thirty eight. I’ll begin the exam with a Y incision.”
Scully used the scalpel placed on the tray next to the exam table to trace an incision into the women’s chest. She cracked her sternum and did an internal exam. She weighed her stomach followed by her intestines and quickly moved on to the cranial portion of the autopsy. She paid close attention to the entrance wounds on her skulls; traces of gun powder residue encircled the wound which was to be expected. Though she knew the outcome, she checked for abnormal occurrences per Mulder’s request. She preformed the same procedures on Mr. Van de Camp. The autopsies progressed with little out of the ordinary. Scully sent for full toxicology screenings to be performed as well as a full blood workup on each. Both victims’ were ruled homicides with cause of death being one point blank gunshot to the head. She’d expected to find little in the way of answers but it still disappointed her to be no closer to William than she had been before. Perhaps the blood tests would provide some insights. Scully ventured out into the hallway, where Monica had been patiently waiting for answers.
“Anything?” Monica asked
“Nothing conclusive, I’m still waiting for some test results but we seem to be at a standstill. There is no indication of who the killer might be. Both victims were shot between the eyes with a 9mm. Ballistics reported the edges of the bullets had been shaved to cover any identifying marks of a manufacturer. Even the killer’s cleanup was impeccable.”
“I just spoke to John and they didn’t find much else in Wyoming. He’s headed back to report to Skinner. Do you want me to relay your findings? “
“I’m waiting on the results of the blood tests and toxicology report. I don’t want to report anything until I’m sure that there is nothing to be found here.”
“Let me know when you know something.”
Scully nodded in acknowledgement and watched as Monica walked down the hollowed corridor. A set of beige chairs lined the wall and Scully found herself drawn to them. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and sat on the farthest chair. Her head fit perfectly within her hands as she took a moment to rest.
“Dr. Scully?”
“Yes.”
She lifted her head to meet the eyes of a man who couldn’t have been more than twenty-five. His eyes seized her attention with their emerald tint. He wore a white physician’s coat and held a manila folder in his left hand. The stethoscope around his neck swayed in rhythm with the heartbeat she could now feel in her throat.
“Your autopsy results, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
She cleared her throat and picked at the sealed label of the envelope.
Ch 9
Though the fall had begun to immerge, most of the residences of D.C. didn’t find the need to stop and acknowledge it. Even fewer realized there was an outside world beyond their line of sight. None of them realized that the man in the car next to them was rushing against time and his own notions of the future to uncover the message he had found taped to a ceiling fan. Mulder’s own amateur decoding abilities had only helped him realize the date in the upper right hand corner and a jumble of nonsense throughout the rest of the text.
The journey from his car, through the lobby and the ride in a crowded elevator barely fazed him. They were all smudges compared to the focus of his attention. While working in the Bureau, Mulder had made contacts in all areas of investigation and at this instance he had called upon Teresa Knowles, the best code breaker and creator know to the states. She discovered Mulder’s work in early ’95 when she intercepted a transmission from Oxford containing his records. She had kept tabs on him ever since. On many an occasion she knew what Mulder was in for long before he did. There was no one she trusted more.
Teresa found little that shocked her but Fox Mulder, he kept her in awe and now she was the key to the next puzzle piece in the hunt for William. Mulder seemed to appear just as her thought of him had, out of the blue.
“Teresa, anything worth reporting” Mulder said out of breath.
“Once I found the key symbols and could coordinate the simple dialect the rest was a synch.”
“And?”
“It’s a threat. ..Here see for yourself.”
As you know the time for William is at hand. You have served us well and we have compensated you for your services. On the eve of September 15th the exchange will be made. If we see any hesitation on your part, the consequences will be grave.
1511 York Ave Georgetown
Mulder could barely believe what he was reading. The threat had been against William this whole time. Despite every effort he and Scully made, William was still in danger. The lump in his throat began to crawl but his throat and nausea was a quick chaser. What would he tell Scully? He couldn’t tell her that the greatest sacrifice she had ever made was in vain. He also couldn’t keep such a perilous secret to himself.
“Fox, there’s more, whoever sent this wasn’t bright enough to seal the envelope without saliva. I sent the letter and envelope to forensics and we got a match… Douglas Masterson.”
“As in Senator Masterson?”
“One and the same.”
“Thanks Teresa, I owe you.”
“You owe me more than one.”
Mulder darted past the lab equipment and toward the nearest exit but not before flashing Teresa his best smile of gratitude. He had little in the way of a plan but that had never stopped him before. He ran down the corridor toward the green exit sign hoping this was the lead he had been looking for. Mulder reached for his cell phone in his jacket pocket and dialed Skinner’s office. Being the precise man Mulder knew he was, Skinner picked up on the first ring.
“Skinner.”
“Sir, I need you to track down an address for me.” Mulder said.
“What goose chase have you found yourself in now, Mulder?”
“One that I’m hoping turns up a golden egg.”
“And who are you presuming is a golden egg?”
“Senator Masterson. I need his home address.”
“Absolutely not, I don’t want to be the one subpoenaed for your trespassing hearing!”
“Sir, trust me this will go off without a hitch… and I won’t be on tomorrow’s Washington post, I promise.”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m about to make a mistake?”
“Have I ever steered you wrong before, on second thought don’t answer that.”
“Give me five minutes, and Mulder if this goes south you’re on your own and try not to get yourself arrested this early in the investigation.”
Though Skinner had asked for five minutes he called Mulder back in two with just the information he had been seeking. Senator Masterson lived in an upscale neighborhood within Fairfax County. It didn’t surprise Mulder in the least that this particularly shady Senator would call Fairfax home. Known for its lush lifestyle and privileged families, it was just the place for a well to do Senator to set up shop.
The twenty five minute car ride to Masterson’s front door was spent musing over the possible connections he could have to the Van de Camps and William. Despite the fact that Mulder was anything but underprivileged as a kid, exuberant wealth always found a way of getting under his skin. The homes were fenced with neatly kept shrubbery and lawn accessories. Masterson’s home was surrounded by much of the same except it was one of the few that wasn’t closed off by a gigantic security fence. Instead the house was lined with a modest white fence of about waist height.
Mulder parked three houses down, shut off his headlights and waited to see just who was home. The Lincoln in the driveway indicated that one of the family members was currently at home but Mulder knew better than to trust what was right in front of him. In the twenty minutes Mulder watched the house, none of the lights came on and he saw no movement within the house. An upper room window showed a computer and a desk; that was where he needed to be.
Mulder exited the car carefully as to not make a sound and alert any neighborhood dogs. He nonchalantly began to walk along the sidewalk toward the house. Instead of going straight to the Masterson’s home he walked passed and entered the side yard of the neighbors. An unsteady drainpipe lined the west side of the house and passed to the left of the office window. He placed one foot on the metal piece connecting to the house and within two steps he was on the first floor roof. He ducked below the first window and placed his back to the siding as he shimmed open the office window. Without as much as a thud he entered the office and took a brief moment to take in his surroundings. He immediately went to the computer and sat on the leather clad rolling chair.
Without surprise, the computer displayed a password log in. Mulder attached a sleek black drive to the computer’s port which quickly randomized all possibilities based on the password length and soon came up with the correct log in. Once he had access Mulder began to shuffle through all of Masterson’s documents and files. Most of the documents were budget charts and current voting polls. He even came across a few school papers no doubt done by Masterson’s children but nothing of significance. In one last effort to find what he had come for Mulder hacked into the command sequence of the computer and looked for hidden or encrypted files. Somewhat to his surprise one suspicious document was generated titled ‘Dr. Hermes Research’. It was in fact an entire folder of documents relating to this Dr. Hermes.
The creek of the front door knob turning was unmistakable. Mulder’s pulse quickened and his fingers began to cramp at the prospect of getting caught. He rapidly copied all documents in the ‘Research’ folder and unplugged the drive he had used to hack into the computer. He carefully tucked it into his pocket and returned the office chair to its original position. He silently slipped out of the window he had come in and disappeared into the night.
Ch 10
Blood seeped from the small paper cut along Scully’s index finger. A droplet fell splashing along the corner of the autopsy envelope. She had been in such a hurry to see the results; she hadn’t even noticed the cut until the red stain caught her eye. She quickly dabbed at the envelope and brought her finger to her mouth to ease the pain and stop the bleeding. After a few moments of clean up, she once again tore at the envelope to free the autopsy blood test results. Everything seemed pretty standard as her eyes scanned along the information. Nothing of consequence on the toxicology report and normal levels of blood platelets recorded at 275 and 315 k/cu mm respectively. No signs of anemia with red and white blood cell ratios within standard range. All blood sugar and pressure levels were acceptable as well. Scully didn’t expect to find any huge revelations among the results but she was disappointed none the less. As she pondered what to do next her phone began to vibrate in her lab coat pocket.
“Scully”
“I’ve got something that might shed some light on this whole case.”
“Mulder what are you talking about?”
“Trust me Scully. You are going to need to see this yourself to make sense of it.”
“I’m on my way.”
…
Scully entered her and Mulder’s apartment not sure of what she should expect. Mulder had been direct on the phone but not panicked. She fumbled for her keys making just enough noise that Mulder opened the door before she could find her missing keys and enter herself.
“Mulder, what is it that just couldn’t wait?”
“Scientists have unlocked great mysteries of human genetic have they not?” Mulder asked.
“Yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that the actual human genome project was completed in 2000 but scientists are still gaining insight by the day. There have since been massive extensions on the project moving into further study of diploids. We know far more that we did even six months ago but the premise of knowing all that the human genome is made up of is still a far cry from within reach. What does this have to do with the case?”
“Make sense of this for me.” Mulder motioned to the computer monitor near the window.
Intrigued, Scully moved to the computer monitor without hesitation. Her eyes widened as she absorbed the content the screen held. Each paragraph seemed to brighten her face more than the latter. The light from the screen showed her face’s every mark and freckle. Mulder relished a second and remembered the first time he had discovered each of the freckles. He first noticed the fragile one just above her right eyebrow during a six hour car trip to southern West Virginia. She had fallen asleep with her head propped against the window. Her ashy hair blew with the sway of the wind and the sun lay on her face just enough to highlight the tan embellishment. His favorite however was hidden behind her hair at the nap of her neck. This one would never be forgotten or how he first became acquainted with it. Mulder was shaken from his precious memories by the one he shared the memories with.
“Mulder this is incredible. Where did you find this?”
“Let’s just say I borrowed it.”
“On any other basis this would be considered science fiction but there is supporting documentation right here. Mulder do you realize what this could mean, it would change the way doctors, scientist, and researchers approach medicine entirely. This is the makeup of a test subjects DNA structuring with complete analysis of enhanced abilities based on his genetic composition. Who is the primary on these studies?”
“Every case was supervised by a Dr. Hermes, a French man. I did a little research on him and it seems they used a pseudonym for the actual researcher’s identity. The only Jacques Hermes I could find was born in 1909. He was a scientist but I highly doubt that a 100 year old man would be making ground breaking scientific discoveries. No to mention the actual Dr. Hermes died in 1993.”
“Incredible, according to these case files patient X’s genetic structure is comprised of a twenty fourth pair of chromosomes that seems to be casing what is a significant amount of what could only be described as junk DNA. He exhibits increased brain functionality with MRI scans showing activity in sectors that have been classified as dormant. Dr. Hermes also mentions in detail that the boy possesses unexplainable abilities.” Scully guided Mulder’s eyes to the doctor’s descriptions of his patient.
The boy was secured in an inescapable dormitory but under review of the security cameras he caused the very lock on his door to move as if by telekinesis and in turn the boy was able to escape. He was later apprehended and put under 24 hour watch were he continued to exhibit presumably supernatural behavior. I have only come across two individuals in my years of study that have been able to complete these feats. Both boys share only one common trait; the structure in which their DNA is organized. My team can only conclude that their particular abilities come from the unidentifiable strands of DNA that are contained within their 24thchromosome pair.
Next Part: celinejaneway.livejournal.com/7102.html#cutid1
It had occurred to Doggett during his conversation with Monica just where he had seen the symbol that was scattered among William’s drawings. He took the red eye back to Washington and stopped by his house to confirm what his memories were deeming to be true. Upon entering the door, he headed straight for the den where he rummaged through an old photo album. Its leather bound spine was torn from the middle down; the binding was so delicate that he had to force himself to slow down while flipping through the pages. He finally came across the photo he had been searching for. Its edges were bent and scattered white lines embedded it from wear. Along its bordered edge was a hand written note ‘John, 23rd infantry 1977’.Pictured were four men standing in front of a shipping dock off Curtis Bay in Baltimore. In the distance a condemned building could be seen. The script along the red bricks read ‘Buckley & Sons Brewery’. It was the twisted emblem along the billboard’s edge that confirmed Doggett’s suspicions; he had seen the symbol before.
He walked over to the oak desk that lined the den’s east wall and took a small key from his pocket. He unlocked the center drawer and recovered his black address book. Its pages opened to the S’s just as he had intended. Brunette pictured to his left had been is friend since the first time they meet; John had served nearly four years with him yet hadn’t spoken to him in twenty. It wasn’t long until his eyes skimmed past just the name he was looking for, Daniel Scott. They had shared atrocities that no man should ever have to experience. John dialed the 907 area code to his old friend’s Anchorage home. The call took a few moments to begin its succession of rings.
“Scott Residence.”
“Danny? It’s John Doggett; we served together back in ’77.”
“Holy hell John, how have you been? It’s been…well it’s been a damn long time. Last I heard you joined the FBI.”
“Well that’s actually why I’m calling. Do you remember the bar off Curtis Bay in Baltimore?”
“Remember it, that’s where I meet my wife!”
“There’s an old brewery right off of 11th, just caddy corner to the bar. Do you know anything about it?”
“You mean Buckley’s old place? Yeah legend has it that old man Buckley up and disappeared around ’82 and the brewery just sort of died. If I remember correctly he had quite a few of them. Working on a case in Baltimore?”
“Something like that. Who took over after Buckley left?”
“I assume one of his sons but I’m not positive. You know you might try asking Jimmy Stewart. He had a part time job there the summer before he enlisted.”
“Alright, I don’t mean to run off but I’m on a time constraint, great to talk to you; thanks for your help.”
“Don’t be a stranger, John.”
John knew he would probably never speak to Danny again but he promised to stay in touch all the same. There had to be a connecting factor in this case and the quicker he knew the connection the better but for the moment his gut told him that William’s life was in imminent danger.
Ch8
The cool air of the corridors hit her stronger than the breeze in the D.C. air. While the doors slid open and the stall sterile smell of a medical bay greeted her senses. This was another memory Scully had never expected to experience again. She had both studied and taught at Quantico but most importantly she had uncovered many mysteries here. Mysteries that had so unceremoniously led to the very spot she now found herself in today. She slid her fingers along the railings and processed just what it was she was doing and just how far she had let her mind wonder over the years. The portraits on the wall were just as they had been and the gut wrenching feelings she had so often taken through the exit doors rushed back to her. Amongst them, the sinking feeling that she might have made a mistake choosing to run, a mistake in giving in for her own comfort but most of all in thinking anyone could protect her son better that she could. Yes she had made a difference as a doctor, she had saved countless lives and had helped families to heal but at the FBI she was giving a voice to those who were screaming with no one to hear them through the darkness. She found the very truths that would have otherwise never have seen the light of day. She inhaled letting the full weight of her miseries fall upon her shoulders and as she rarely did, she began to cry.
Hard sobs threatening to immerge, Scully looked to her left and saw an unoccupied lab that she quickly retreated to. Time slowed and her vision blurred while the salt from her tears left its evidence along her face. She watched as the first droplet splashed against the metal edge of a microscope. The only other time she had cried with such vigor was as a small child.
They say the first real heartbreak stings far worse than those that proceed. The revelation that the world and all of its cruelties has finally visited you and can steal the breath from your lungs frightens even the most of courageous souls. Scully dabbed at the corners of her eyes and with all of the strength she could muster forced her overwhelming feelings back into their tightly locked box, where even Mulder knew not of their existence. Her fingers wrapped soullessly around the door handle and pulled its frame toward her as her eyes meet Monica’s.
“I’ve been looking for you. Have you found out anything about the victims?” Monica said.
“I haven’t even begun the autopsies.”
“Dana have you been crying? Are you ok?”
“Yes Monica I’m fine. Now I have work to do.”
Scully took no hesitation in turning her stained face from Monica and made her way down the corridor toward the morgue. Monica wished so deeply that Scully would trust her enough to let her in, to help ease her fears. She could see that Scully was in such pain and bared the brunt of it alone. Scully would forever be the porcelain queen atop her sorrowful tower with no one able to reach her. Monica hoped that one day she would allow herself a confidant.
…
Scully meticulously covered herself with faded blue scrubs and adorned her hands with latex. A white mask covered her face from ear to ear and extended below her chin and to the bridge of her nose. She wheeled out the identical gurneys that held the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Van de Camp. She slowly uncovered Mrs. Van de Camp’s face from underneath the hospital issue ivory sheet. Her face was slender and her brunette hair was pulled back to reveal her features. This had been the women who had watched her son grow. She feed him, bathed him and comforted him when he was afraid. Scully wiped the sweat from her brow with the top of her wrist, moving a fallen strand of red hair from her eyes as she did so. No matter, Mrs. Van de Camp was now Scully’s only clue as to the whereabouts of her son. Her son, she’d forgotten the sweet serenity of the statement. She pulled a small black tape recorder from the pocket of her shirt and spoke softly into the miniature microphone.
“The time is thirteen hundred hours on the tenth of September twenty ten; subject is a white female approximately thirty eight. I’ll begin the exam with a Y incision.”
Scully used the scalpel placed on the tray next to the exam table to trace an incision into the women’s chest. She cracked her sternum and did an internal exam. She weighed her stomach followed by her intestines and quickly moved on to the cranial portion of the autopsy. She paid close attention to the entrance wounds on her skulls; traces of gun powder residue encircled the wound which was to be expected. Though she knew the outcome, she checked for abnormal occurrences per Mulder’s request. She preformed the same procedures on Mr. Van de Camp. The autopsies progressed with little out of the ordinary. Scully sent for full toxicology screenings to be performed as well as a full blood workup on each. Both victims’ were ruled homicides with cause of death being one point blank gunshot to the head. She’d expected to find little in the way of answers but it still disappointed her to be no closer to William than she had been before. Perhaps the blood tests would provide some insights. Scully ventured out into the hallway, where Monica had been patiently waiting for answers.
“Anything?” Monica asked
“Nothing conclusive, I’m still waiting for some test results but we seem to be at a standstill. There is no indication of who the killer might be. Both victims were shot between the eyes with a 9mm. Ballistics reported the edges of the bullets had been shaved to cover any identifying marks of a manufacturer. Even the killer’s cleanup was impeccable.”
“I just spoke to John and they didn’t find much else in Wyoming. He’s headed back to report to Skinner. Do you want me to relay your findings? “
“I’m waiting on the results of the blood tests and toxicology report. I don’t want to report anything until I’m sure that there is nothing to be found here.”
“Let me know when you know something.”
Scully nodded in acknowledgement and watched as Monica walked down the hollowed corridor. A set of beige chairs lined the wall and Scully found herself drawn to them. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and sat on the farthest chair. Her head fit perfectly within her hands as she took a moment to rest.
“Dr. Scully?”
“Yes.”
She lifted her head to meet the eyes of a man who couldn’t have been more than twenty-five. His eyes seized her attention with their emerald tint. He wore a white physician’s coat and held a manila folder in his left hand. The stethoscope around his neck swayed in rhythm with the heartbeat she could now feel in her throat.
“Your autopsy results, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
She cleared her throat and picked at the sealed label of the envelope.
Ch 9
Though the fall had begun to immerge, most of the residences of D.C. didn’t find the need to stop and acknowledge it. Even fewer realized there was an outside world beyond their line of sight. None of them realized that the man in the car next to them was rushing against time and his own notions of the future to uncover the message he had found taped to a ceiling fan. Mulder’s own amateur decoding abilities had only helped him realize the date in the upper right hand corner and a jumble of nonsense throughout the rest of the text.
The journey from his car, through the lobby and the ride in a crowded elevator barely fazed him. They were all smudges compared to the focus of his attention. While working in the Bureau, Mulder had made contacts in all areas of investigation and at this instance he had called upon Teresa Knowles, the best code breaker and creator know to the states. She discovered Mulder’s work in early ’95 when she intercepted a transmission from Oxford containing his records. She had kept tabs on him ever since. On many an occasion she knew what Mulder was in for long before he did. There was no one she trusted more.
Teresa found little that shocked her but Fox Mulder, he kept her in awe and now she was the key to the next puzzle piece in the hunt for William. Mulder seemed to appear just as her thought of him had, out of the blue.
“Teresa, anything worth reporting” Mulder said out of breath.
“Once I found the key symbols and could coordinate the simple dialect the rest was a synch.”
“And?”
“It’s a threat. ..Here see for yourself.”
As you know the time for William is at hand. You have served us well and we have compensated you for your services. On the eve of September 15th the exchange will be made. If we see any hesitation on your part, the consequences will be grave.
1511 York Ave Georgetown
Mulder could barely believe what he was reading. The threat had been against William this whole time. Despite every effort he and Scully made, William was still in danger. The lump in his throat began to crawl but his throat and nausea was a quick chaser. What would he tell Scully? He couldn’t tell her that the greatest sacrifice she had ever made was in vain. He also couldn’t keep such a perilous secret to himself.
“Fox, there’s more, whoever sent this wasn’t bright enough to seal the envelope without saliva. I sent the letter and envelope to forensics and we got a match… Douglas Masterson.”
“As in Senator Masterson?”
“One and the same.”
“Thanks Teresa, I owe you.”
“You owe me more than one.”
Mulder darted past the lab equipment and toward the nearest exit but not before flashing Teresa his best smile of gratitude. He had little in the way of a plan but that had never stopped him before. He ran down the corridor toward the green exit sign hoping this was the lead he had been looking for. Mulder reached for his cell phone in his jacket pocket and dialed Skinner’s office. Being the precise man Mulder knew he was, Skinner picked up on the first ring.
“Skinner.”
“Sir, I need you to track down an address for me.” Mulder said.
“What goose chase have you found yourself in now, Mulder?”
“One that I’m hoping turns up a golden egg.”
“And who are you presuming is a golden egg?”
“Senator Masterson. I need his home address.”
“Absolutely not, I don’t want to be the one subpoenaed for your trespassing hearing!”
“Sir, trust me this will go off without a hitch… and I won’t be on tomorrow’s Washington post, I promise.”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m about to make a mistake?”
“Have I ever steered you wrong before, on second thought don’t answer that.”
“Give me five minutes, and Mulder if this goes south you’re on your own and try not to get yourself arrested this early in the investigation.”
Though Skinner had asked for five minutes he called Mulder back in two with just the information he had been seeking. Senator Masterson lived in an upscale neighborhood within Fairfax County. It didn’t surprise Mulder in the least that this particularly shady Senator would call Fairfax home. Known for its lush lifestyle and privileged families, it was just the place for a well to do Senator to set up shop.
The twenty five minute car ride to Masterson’s front door was spent musing over the possible connections he could have to the Van de Camps and William. Despite the fact that Mulder was anything but underprivileged as a kid, exuberant wealth always found a way of getting under his skin. The homes were fenced with neatly kept shrubbery and lawn accessories. Masterson’s home was surrounded by much of the same except it was one of the few that wasn’t closed off by a gigantic security fence. Instead the house was lined with a modest white fence of about waist height.
Mulder parked three houses down, shut off his headlights and waited to see just who was home. The Lincoln in the driveway indicated that one of the family members was currently at home but Mulder knew better than to trust what was right in front of him. In the twenty minutes Mulder watched the house, none of the lights came on and he saw no movement within the house. An upper room window showed a computer and a desk; that was where he needed to be.
Mulder exited the car carefully as to not make a sound and alert any neighborhood dogs. He nonchalantly began to walk along the sidewalk toward the house. Instead of going straight to the Masterson’s home he walked passed and entered the side yard of the neighbors. An unsteady drainpipe lined the west side of the house and passed to the left of the office window. He placed one foot on the metal piece connecting to the house and within two steps he was on the first floor roof. He ducked below the first window and placed his back to the siding as he shimmed open the office window. Without as much as a thud he entered the office and took a brief moment to take in his surroundings. He immediately went to the computer and sat on the leather clad rolling chair.
Without surprise, the computer displayed a password log in. Mulder attached a sleek black drive to the computer’s port which quickly randomized all possibilities based on the password length and soon came up with the correct log in. Once he had access Mulder began to shuffle through all of Masterson’s documents and files. Most of the documents were budget charts and current voting polls. He even came across a few school papers no doubt done by Masterson’s children but nothing of significance. In one last effort to find what he had come for Mulder hacked into the command sequence of the computer and looked for hidden or encrypted files. Somewhat to his surprise one suspicious document was generated titled ‘Dr. Hermes Research’. It was in fact an entire folder of documents relating to this Dr. Hermes.
The creek of the front door knob turning was unmistakable. Mulder’s pulse quickened and his fingers began to cramp at the prospect of getting caught. He rapidly copied all documents in the ‘Research’ folder and unplugged the drive he had used to hack into the computer. He carefully tucked it into his pocket and returned the office chair to its original position. He silently slipped out of the window he had come in and disappeared into the night.
Ch 10
Blood seeped from the small paper cut along Scully’s index finger. A droplet fell splashing along the corner of the autopsy envelope. She had been in such a hurry to see the results; she hadn’t even noticed the cut until the red stain caught her eye. She quickly dabbed at the envelope and brought her finger to her mouth to ease the pain and stop the bleeding. After a few moments of clean up, she once again tore at the envelope to free the autopsy blood test results. Everything seemed pretty standard as her eyes scanned along the information. Nothing of consequence on the toxicology report and normal levels of blood platelets recorded at 275 and 315 k/cu mm respectively. No signs of anemia with red and white blood cell ratios within standard range. All blood sugar and pressure levels were acceptable as well. Scully didn’t expect to find any huge revelations among the results but she was disappointed none the less. As she pondered what to do next her phone began to vibrate in her lab coat pocket.
“Scully”
“I’ve got something that might shed some light on this whole case.”
“Mulder what are you talking about?”
“Trust me Scully. You are going to need to see this yourself to make sense of it.”
“I’m on my way.”
…
Scully entered her and Mulder’s apartment not sure of what she should expect. Mulder had been direct on the phone but not panicked. She fumbled for her keys making just enough noise that Mulder opened the door before she could find her missing keys and enter herself.
“Mulder, what is it that just couldn’t wait?”
“Scientists have unlocked great mysteries of human genetic have they not?” Mulder asked.
“Yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that the actual human genome project was completed in 2000 but scientists are still gaining insight by the day. There have since been massive extensions on the project moving into further study of diploids. We know far more that we did even six months ago but the premise of knowing all that the human genome is made up of is still a far cry from within reach. What does this have to do with the case?”
“Make sense of this for me.” Mulder motioned to the computer monitor near the window.
Intrigued, Scully moved to the computer monitor without hesitation. Her eyes widened as she absorbed the content the screen held. Each paragraph seemed to brighten her face more than the latter. The light from the screen showed her face’s every mark and freckle. Mulder relished a second and remembered the first time he had discovered each of the freckles. He first noticed the fragile one just above her right eyebrow during a six hour car trip to southern West Virginia. She had fallen asleep with her head propped against the window. Her ashy hair blew with the sway of the wind and the sun lay on her face just enough to highlight the tan embellishment. His favorite however was hidden behind her hair at the nap of her neck. This one would never be forgotten or how he first became acquainted with it. Mulder was shaken from his precious memories by the one he shared the memories with.
“Mulder this is incredible. Where did you find this?”
“Let’s just say I borrowed it.”
“On any other basis this would be considered science fiction but there is supporting documentation right here. Mulder do you realize what this could mean, it would change the way doctors, scientist, and researchers approach medicine entirely. This is the makeup of a test subjects DNA structuring with complete analysis of enhanced abilities based on his genetic composition. Who is the primary on these studies?”
“Every case was supervised by a Dr. Hermes, a French man. I did a little research on him and it seems they used a pseudonym for the actual researcher’s identity. The only Jacques Hermes I could find was born in 1909. He was a scientist but I highly doubt that a 100 year old man would be making ground breaking scientific discoveries. No to mention the actual Dr. Hermes died in 1993.”
“Incredible, according to these case files patient X’s genetic structure is comprised of a twenty fourth pair of chromosomes that seems to be casing what is a significant amount of what could only be described as junk DNA. He exhibits increased brain functionality with MRI scans showing activity in sectors that have been classified as dormant. Dr. Hermes also mentions in detail that the boy possesses unexplainable abilities.” Scully guided Mulder’s eyes to the doctor’s descriptions of his patient.
The boy was secured in an inescapable dormitory but under review of the security cameras he caused the very lock on his door to move as if by telekinesis and in turn the boy was able to escape. He was later apprehended and put under 24 hour watch were he continued to exhibit presumably supernatural behavior. I have only come across two individuals in my years of study that have been able to complete these feats. Both boys share only one common trait; the structure in which their DNA is organized. My team can only conclude that their particular abilities come from the unidentifiable strands of DNA that are contained within their 24thchromosome pair.
Next Part: celinejaneway.livejournal.com/7102.html#cutid1