Agent of Chaos (The X-Files: Origins #1)(65)

“I’m heading back to Quantico, to the BSU.” He looked at Mulder. “There’s a profile I want to get over to my colleagues as soon as possible.”

As Ressler turned to leave, Mulder realized he had another question. “Agent Ressler? What’s a good major for someone who wants to join the FBI after they finish college?”

Ressler smiled. “Psychology.”

“Political science and economics will carry you further, and Georgetown has top-notch programs in both,” Mulder’s dad couldn’t resist mentioning.

“That’s good to know,” Mulder said. “But I’m not going to Georgetown.”

Phoebe’s mouth fell open.

Bill Mulder’s nostrils flared and his jaw muscles twitched. “What did you say?”

Mulder ignored him and looked at the FBI agent. “And which school has the best psych program?”

“That’s easy. Oxford.”

“Thanks.” He watched as Ressler pushed up his rolled sleeves and opened the door to leave.

Agent Ressler paused to say one more thing. “Come see me when you need a job in a few years.”





CHAPTER 27

Washington, D.C.

4:58 P.M.



The window slid open, as if someone had greased it just for X. People wasted ridiculous amounts of money buying reinforced doors and high-tech dead bolts to protect their homes, but nine times out of ten they skimped on the windows—and any halfway decent criminal knew it.

He started to push the window up the rest of the way, and it got stuck.

X heard his father’s voice in the back of his mind. “That’s what you get for being such a know-it-all.”

Guess his loser father was right for once in his life. It was a shame the man was buried too deep in the ground to enjoy it.

X’s mouth stretched into a satisfied smile.

You never forget the first person you kill.

Two minutes and twelve seconds later, he returned the lock pick to his wallet and ducked under the window frame and into the room.

A flash of red caught his eye, and he noticed the poster on the back of the door.

Farrah Fawcett.

The kid had good taste.

He dusted off his pants and felt a twinge of … guilt? All right, maybe he felt a little sorry for the kid. It was hard for a boy to lose his father.

Unless you killed him yourself.

It was the kind of thing his boss would say.

He walked by the desk and flicked a model of the Enterprise from Star Trek hanging above it. “Sorry, kid.” X watched it spin. “Your dad should’ve kept his mouth shut.”

He slipped out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him, but not before he kissed two of his fingers and touched them to Farrah’s lips. In the hallway, he heard the crackle of static, followed by a man’s voice.

Time to go to work.

Halfway down the stairs, he caught a glimpse of his mark. This would be easier than he had expected.

“Sergio, can you hear me?” More static. “Staff Sergeant? Report.”

“Sergio is unavailable,” X said. “You sound like a real crackpot calling him on that thing. If only everyone knew how sane you are…”

The man dropped the microphone. But he recovered quickly and jumped to his feet. “Who the hell are you, and what are you doing in my house?”

X took off his blazer and draped it over the banister. “You don’t remember me, Major Winchester? That hurts.”

The Major studied X. “I don’t know you, and I never forget a face.”

“Unless we want you to.” X walked toward the Major. “It seems like you’re remembering a lot these days. Unfortunately, that’s a problem.” He slid a pair of black leather gloves out of his pocket and put them on. “And I’m a problem solver.”

The Major’s eyes went wide. “You’re one of them.” He took a step back. “What did you do to Sergio?”

“If I were you, I’d worry about yourself.”

“Whatever they promised you, it’s all lies,” the Major stammered. “They want our planet. Are you just going to hand it over to them?”

X moved closer. “The world is a pretty messed-up place.…”

The Major held his hands out in front of him. “I have a son. He needs me. Just give me a little time to make sure he’ll be all right.”

“Gary, right?” X asked, measuring the Major’s reaction. “Don’t worry about him. He’s a smart kid. We’re already keeping an eye on him.”

“Leave my boy alone, or I’ll find you in hell.” The Major’s tone turned to ice. “That’s a promise.”

“You’ve got a lot of fight in you, Major Winchester. It’s a shame you picked the wrong team.”

“You don’t have to do this.” The Major tried to take another step back, but there was nowhere left to go.

“It’s funny.… Your wife said exactly the same thing.” X tilted his head to the side. “You think that’s a coincidence?”

The Major’s expression clouded over. “There are no coincidences.”

He lunged at X, who pivoted to the side at the last possible moment. As the Major charged past him, X moved behind. In a rapid succession of movements, he reached over the Major’s shoulder and grabbed his chin, then caught the back of the man’s head with his other hand and jerked his hands in opposite directions. “I agree.”