Agent of Chaos (The X-Files: Origins #1)(24)

“Why not?”

Gimble scrambled behind them. “Lord Manhammer’s Underground Strategy 101. Never kill the guy with the plan.”





CHAPTER 11

Outside the Mulder Residence

10:30 P.M.



X sat in the black sedan, watching Fox Mulder and his merry band of fools. He had a decent view of the living room and kitchen, thanks to the sliding glass doors on the balcony. Not that it mattered. X was more interested in what the three kids were saying, and a few strategically placed bugs in the apartment allowed him to eavesdrop on their conversations. Unfortunately, there was no way to filter out the boring ones, like the one they were having now.

Fox and his friends had formulated a plan to go back to the police station what felt like hours ago, and ever since then X had been stuck listening to a lot of crap about a stupid game.

He almost regretted bugging the place.

This assignment was starting to feel like the organization’s version of latrine duty. Nights like these made him second-guess his decision to turn down a job offer from the CIA two years ago.

At least the radio stations in DC were better than the ones in his backwoods hometown, a place he never planned to see again. He turned up “September,” by Earth, Wind and Fire and closed his eyes.

The passenger door opened and X jumped.

“Sleeping on the job?” the boss asked, sliding into the seat next to him.

“I wasn’t asleep.”

“Sleep on your own time, and give me a report.” A Morley dangled from the corner of the boss’s mouth. “What has Fox Mulder been doing since the last time I saw him?”

“Plenty.” X sat up straighter. “The kid’s smart. I’ll give him that much. Smarter than the DC police department, that’s for sure.”

“Details.”

“Fox has been nosing around the Billy Christian case. The boy they found dead in the crypt.”

“I’m familiar.” Smoke filled the car with every word.

X couldn’t understand how his boss managed to smoke and hold a conversation at the same time without dropping the cigarette out of his mouth. But as X’s grandmother used to say, “The devil has his tricks.”

“Fox thinks there’s a connection between Billy Christian’s and Sarah Lowe’s kidnappings. He claims the Christian boy was wearing the girl’s pajamas when they found him. Fox noticed a distinctive stain.”

“The boy has a photographic memory. Chances are, he’s right.”

“He tried to tell the detectives in charge of the case, but it didn’t go well. He’s planning to try again.”

“So Fox Mulder is intelligent and persistent? Two qualities I value.” A flicker of what X almost considered a smile pulled at the corner of the smoking man’s mouth. “Let him follow this particular rabbit down the rabbit hole. Give him a little help if he needs it. I’m talking about a nudge, X. Not a push. I want to see how smart the boy really is.”

“Understood.”

“Good.” The boss opened a pack of cigarettes and slid one out. He handed it to X. “You’ve never smoked before, have you?”

“I never had the urge.”

The boss tucked the cigarette in X’s shirt pocket. “Every man should try a Morley once in his life. Consider it a gift.” As he stepped out of the car, he paused and turned to X. “And do try to stay awake. The work we’re doing will change the world, and you have a front-row seat. If you aren’t more careful, you’ll miss it.”

A chill ran up X’s spine. The smoking man shut the car door and strolled off into the darkness, leaving X in a cloud of smoke.

The only trace his boss ever left behind.





CHAPTER 12

Winchester Residence

10:55 P.M.



Mulder and Phoebe sat in the Gremlin under a streetlight in front of Gimble’s house, waiting for him to put the Major to bed so they could leave for the precinct. Once the three of them had hatched their plan, Mulder couldn’t wait to get going. But Gimble wasn’t the holdup.

Phoebe had called the precinct earlier to find out if the Laurel and Hardy detectives were on duty, and their shift didn’t end until ten. Mulder couldn’t afford another run-in with them.

“What’s taking him so long?” He tapped his thumb against the steering wheel.

“No idea,” Phoebe said, changing the radio stations. She bypassed the Bee Gees and Toto and settled on Styx’s “Renegade.”

“You really are the perfect woman.” Mulder smiled at her.

“I know.”

Gimble’s front door flew open and he ran down the sidewalk and stopped next to the car. The Major appeared in the doorway a second later, holding a mop across his chest like a firearm. “Get back in the house, Gary. This is a stage two lockdown.”

Gimble cursed under his breath, then turned around and shouted, “I’m just warning Mulder.”

The Major zeroed in on Mulder. “You need to get back to base, airman. They’re coming. Soon they’ll have all the bones they need.”

Mulder stuck his hand out the window and gave the Major a thumbs-up. “Okay, sir.”

“Who’s coming?” Phoebe looked around.