Agent of Chaos (The X-Files: Origins #1)(63)

“What are you talking about?”

“I tried to tell the sheriff, but he wouldn’t listen. There’s a second killer. The person who gave Earl Roy the bones.”

Ressler picked up his pen. “Did you see this person?”

“No.”

“Then what makes you think there’s another killer?”

“Earl Roy didn’t just dig up old bones to make those arrows, but I’m guessing you already know that. The bones came from adult murder victims, and removing the bones themselves took some work—chopping-off-hands kind of work.”

“Did Earl Roy tell you about that?” Ressler frowned and shook his head, disgusted.

Mulder wasn’t about to tell Agent Ressler that he got the information by sneaking around the police station and looking at photos the Major’s “source,” Sergio, had stolen from the morgue.

“That doesn’t matter. What I’m trying to tell you is that Earl Roy couldn’t have done any of that. He can’t handle the sight of blood.” Mulder rushed on. “When I was locked up in his basement, I cut my hand. When Earl Roy saw the blood, the guy went ballistic.”

Ressler started writing.

“I’m talking about a full-blown panic attack from a little blood smeared on the floor.”

Mulder held up his hand so Ressler could see his palm. “That’s the cut.”

It was so small that Ressler had to lean over his desk to take a closer look.

“But Earl Roy crawled away from me like I had severed an artery. And he begged me—his prisoner—not to come near him. That’s the reason he poisoned the kids. No blood. How could a guy like that hack up a body?”

“He couldn’t,” Ressler confirmed. “What you’re describing is a called hemophobia. And you deduced there was a second killer based on the connection between the bones and Earl Roy’s hemophobia?”

“Earl Roy also told me there was another killer,” Mulder said. “In a delusional sort of way.”

“I’m not sure I follow.”

“He’s obsessed with this fantasy series about the Eternal Champion, a character who fights to restore the balance between Chaos and Law. It’s pretty complicated.”

Ressler nodded. “We know about the books and the Eternal Champion. Propps hasn’t stopped talking about them.”

“He wouldn’t shut up about it with me, either. He kept saying he was the Eternal Champion’s protector. But it didn’t click until I saw his reaction to the blood.”

Agent Ressler leaned back in his chair, studying him.

Mulder recognized that look. “You don’t believe me, either.”

“Actually, I do.” Ressler opened a folder and thumbed through the papers inside. “I witnessed Earl Roy’s hemophobia firsthand.”

“How?”

“When I spoke to the sheriff, he told me that you were in shock, and I should wait a few days before I interviewed you. He said you thought there was another killer because Earl Roy was terrified of blood. He didn’t take any of it seriously.”

“But you did?” Mulder asked.

“I can’t take the credit. I mentioned the conversation to Agent Douglas, and he decided to conduct an experiment. He tossed a crime scene photo on the table when we questioned Earl Roy.”

“What happened?” Mulder tried to picture the scenario.

“He almost dislocated his shoulder trying to climb under the table to get away from the photograph. Not many people would’ve put this all together, Mulder. If you were older, I’d hire you.” Ressler didn’t sound like he was making fun of him.

“Wait. Then you believe there’s another serial killer?” He stared at him in shock.

Ressler dodged the question by asking one himself. “When you were alone with Earl Roy, did he mention his brother?”

The word hit Mulder like a brick. “He has a brother?”

“Montgomery Propps. He’s three years older than Earl Roy, and we suspect he was either directly involved in Earl Roy’s crimes or he was at least aware of them. The fact that he didn’t show up for work the morning after Earl Roy was arrested makes both scenarios more likely.”

Mulder put the legal pad with his notes on Ressler’s desk and pushed it toward him. “I don’t know if this will help.”

Ressler picked it up and skimmed the pages. “You wrote this?”

“Yeah. I stayed up all night working on it.”

“These aren’t notes, Fox. This is a profile of Montgomery Propps.” He stared at Mulder, stunned. “And it will help. Sometimes profiles help us identify violent offenders, but we also use them to locate offenders faster. I need to show this to Agent Douglas, and then get it to our team at the BSU. Thank you.”

Agent Ressler led Mulder back to the reception area, where Phoebe was reading a pamphlet. “Give me a few minutes,” Ressler said. “And then I’ll walk you over to the coffee shop to meet your dad.”

“We’ll be fine on our own,” Mulder said. “It’s right across the street.”

“Stay put,” Ressler ordered, still reading Mulder’s notes as he pushed the office door open with his free hand.

The moment the door shut, Phoebe asked, “What just happened?”