J. Edgar Hoover Building
Washington D.C.
June 7, 9:05 A.M.

Fox Mulder reclined in his office chair with a copy of The Search for Missing Time. The new book was the first popular work by Madeleine Perdue, a professor of psychology at Oxford who developed an interest in the "alien abduction" phenomenon. While a student at Oxford, Mulder did not take any courses taught by Perdue, but he did hear from other students about her disdain for intellectual sloppiness. Upon publication of her book, Perdue became persona non grata among her colleagues, who thought that the quality of her own scholarship had started to decline due to her interest in such an unusual topic. Possibly in anticipation of such criticism, she began the book with the old motto of the Royal Society: "On the word of no one."

As Mulder read through an account from Wales, he heard a knock on his door. "Come in."

As Dana Scully walked into the office, Mulder got up to turn on the projector. "So, what are we doing on our summer vacation, Mulder?"

"We're going to look into this." A washed-out photograph of a cow with a bite wound on its neck materialized on Mulder's projector screen. "This cow was found dead at Fleischer's, a factory farm in Middleton, Ohio. It's a small rural community, about a half-hour away from Dayton and Springfield."

"Standard predation behavior, I would guess," Scully commented as she examined the image.

"Predators usually eat what they attack, but bite marks were the only wounds found on this animal."

Scully thought for a moment. "Could this be related to those cases of cattle mutilation you've told me about?"

"Maybe, but without the usual signs, such as removal of body parts."

"So, what do you think it was?"

Mulder clicked to a new slide, which showed the corpse of a man with the same wounds in his neck. "Jeb Bundy was a security guard at Fleischer Farms. A worker there found him dead yesterday morning, with the same wounds found on the cow. What makes this really strange is the fact that blood was found around the cow's body, but hardly a trace was found in or around Bundy."

Scully walked up to the apparition of Bundy, looking at the burgundy holes in the guard's pale neck. "The exsanguination reminds me of the case where we learned about the Litchfield experiments. But the wounds are obviously bite marks."

Mulder started scratching under his chin. "A vampire," he said softly.

Scully turned away from the image of Bundy's body. "Mulder, I never thought I'd say this, but some of the ideas you've had in previous cases almost seem to make more sense. At the very least, I don't doubt a top-secret government conspiracy. How far away is Wright-Patterson from Middleton?"

Looking at the floor, Mulder responded laconically, "About 20, 30 miles."

"It might not point to all the answers. But it might provide a good lead." After a pause, Scully added, "Vampires seem too far-fetched."

"Why's that?"

"We've never investigated anything where that was a possibility."

"Now we might just be. Together." Mulder walked towards the door. "I need to take care of something before we go, though."

Scully looked at Mulder with a quizzical expression. "Okay."

"I'll just be a few minutes," Mulder said, striding through the door and sprinting down the hallway.

"Take the time you need," Scully called out to him as she stood in the doorway. Mulder could get moody, but rarely before they actually started investigating a case. It's like when something reminds him of Samantha, Scully thought, puzzled at how the deaths of a cow and a security guard at a factory farm could connect with a personal tragedy.

Roundhouser's Restaurant
Middleton, OH
June 8, 12:13 PM

As a respite from investigating the incident as Fleischer's, Middleton police chief Clem Krause reclined in a booth at Roundhouser's, a local greasy spoon. Although he had finished his usual lunch, Krause remained at the restaurant to await the arrival of two FBI agents called in to investigate the case. As he zoned in on his second refill of coffee, Krause observed a tall blond man in camouflage enter the restaurant.

Oh, no, Krause thought. Not him.

The man sat at a table next to Krause. "So, Clem," he asked the police chief as he settled in a chair, "you decided to take a break from investigating Jeb Bundy's murder?"

"Afternoon, Carl. I'm actually going to meet with some people who might help us get some answers."

Carl looked at Krause for a few seconds. "You've been holdin' out on us, Clem. I heard from somebody there was mysterious wounds found on Jeb's neck."

"Look, Carl," Krause said, leaning towards the other man. "I know that you want some answers. Hell, I want some answers. Even if I had them, I couldn't share much of anything with anyone."

Carl got up from the table. "I'm sorry, but Jeb was a friend and a patriot, and I think we need to know." After walking a few tables away, he turned around and shouted, "We have a right to know."

Everyone in the restaurant turned in Carl's direction as he sat down. Krause looked out the window and drank his coffee.

A Chevrolet Corsica pulled into Roundhouser's gravel parking lot. A well-dressed man and woman emerged from the car. Must be them, Krause thought. Look too fancy for here. The pair entered the restaurant, found Krause at his booth, and walked towards the table.

"Chief Krause?" the man asked.

"Boy, you're good," Krause nodded. "Must be my outfit."

"Fox Mulder. This is my partner, Dana Scully."

"I can't tell you how glad I am to see you," Krause said, shaking hands with the two agents. "Too bad it's under these circumstances, though. This is the first time the FBI's had to come here under my watch"

A few tables away, Carl set his menu down and turned towards Krause's booth. He got up from his table.

"You eat yet?" Krause asked.

"We ate at the airport," Scully said. "Thanks."

Carl started walking towards them.

"Well, let's get down to..." Krause noticed Carl. "Leave this alone, Carl."

Mulder and Scully turned towards Carl, standing a few feet away.

"Feds, Clem? They have no business here. Besides, they're not leaving us alone."

"We need their help. They might be able to help us solve Jeb's murder."

"I'll bet they can." Carl looked at Mulder. "And I'll bet you know everything."

"Excuse me?" Scully asked.

"I'm talkin' to your boyfriend here."

"And I'm speaking as a Federal agent."

"Scully..." Mulder started.

"Carl," Krause said firmly. "Just have a seat and order your lunch, or I'll take you in for interfering with the investigation into the death of Jeb Bundy."

Carl's eyes darted between Mulder and Scully. "All right. I'll go and get my lunch, and I'm gonna have some coffee. Lots of it. I'm gonna need to keep my eyes peeled for suspicious activity." Still looking at Krause and the agents as they left the restaurant, he shouted, "And I know all about Oklahoma City!"

As they walked out of the restaurant, Krause said, "I must apologize for Carl. He has a serious mistrust of authority, especially the Federal government.

"Who is he?" Mulder asked.

"Carl Bowman. He's a member of Brothers in Liberty, Ohio. They're a militia group that formed in the area a few years ago. He started getting vocal after Bubba, no offense, got elected. But the bombing in Oklahoma City really shook him up. He thinks McVeigh's a scapegoat, too."

Getting into the patrol car, Scully asked sardonically, "So he doesn't have a problem with us?"

"Nothing personal. Just business," Mulder quipped.

Starting the car, Krause commented, "I'm a conservative myself, but Carl and the BLO's just way out there. They believe the stuff you'd expect. World government. Trilateral Commission. World Bank. Black helicopters." He shook his head and gave a quick theatrical laugh. "No surprise, Carl says he's seen them around here."

"Really?" Mulder asked.

"Claims they're from Wright-Pat."

Recalling her casual mentioning of Wright-Patterson the day before, Scully and Mulder looked at each other. "What else does Bowman think he's seen?" Mulder asked, turning back towards Krause.

"Well, that's about it. He also thinks that the government knows about UFO's," Krause chuckled. "He hasn't elaborated, but that's something else he's told me."

"You've spoken with him about this before?" Mulder asked.

"Well, he's spoken to me. I just listen a few minutes before I tell him that I have a case to investigate. Makes me wish I had some of that ESP so I could get the dispatchers to call me on a 'case' every time I see Carl. He's got good intentions, but his ideas can get pretty spooky."

"Did Bowman know Jeb Bundy?"

"Saw them together quite a bit, him and several others. He didn't say much, but he was just as committed as Carl is."

"I'd like to speak with Carl Bowman," Mulder said.

"Well, he's usually at Roundhouser's for lunch and dinner, after the big rushes. I don't think he'll speak with you, though. Besides, I don't think you'd want to get stuck sittin' with him and listenin' to all his crazy ideas."

"You'd be surprised," Scully commented.

Fleischer Farms
12:41 P.M.

When they arrived at Fleischer Farms, Krause parked outside the structure where the incident occurred. Yellow police tape blocked the entrance. "It happened on the other side, but there's no place to park back there," Krause said, lifting up the tape to let Mulder and Scully through and opening the door.

As they progressed to the other side of the barn, Mulder and Scully looked around the building. "I can't believe the size of this place," Scully said.

"About as big as a town block in Middleton, but just one big building," Krause said. "Sadly, the town ain't what it used to be. More established places downtown closing, giving way to empty storefronts or businesses and restaurants that close after about a year, if they're lucky. The only places that have been around since I was a kid include the pharmacy, Nelson's restaurant, maybe a couple of banks. A lot of our manufacturing businesses have closed shop, too. That's why we let Fleischer come to town, to boost the economy, but it breeds problems of its own."

Halfway into the building, Krause stopped at a chalk outline of a body. "I don't think I need to tell you what happened here."

"This is where they found him?" Scully asked.

Pointing in the direction of the empty pen, Krause said, "We're certain he ran from way down there before someone, or something, got him. That's where we found the cow with the same wounds."

"He was pursued," Mulder commented. "Whatever attacked the cow decided to attack him."

"The cow would be an easier target, though," Krause said. "I could see a predator just wanting to fend off a competitor."

"Unless Bundy's attacker thought that it was more important to keep him quiet about what he saw," Mulder observed. "That's why the cow was left to bleed to death."

Krause looked at Mulder skeptically. "But the wounds had to have come from a predator. I don't know of one that would pursue somebody like that, though. They usually just try scaring people off."

"It was a predator, all right. Quite possibly a human, or a humanlike predator."

His arms now akimbo, Krause asked, "What are you suggesting, Agent Mulder? A rabid monkey? The Wolf Man?"

"I wouldn't say that," Mulder replied. "Besides, there wasn't a full moon, and the nature of a werewolf attack resembles that of a standard predator." The agent paused. "Maybe the attacker thought Jeb Bundy had more desirable blood."

Still standing with Scully, Krause looked on incredulously as Mulder walked towards the other end of the barn. "He rules out the Wolf Man in favor of Dracula, and with a straight face?" Turning to Scully, Krause asked, "Does he always come up with theories like this?"

"That's why I accompany him on these cases," Scully asked.

"To reel him in?"

"To determine the validity of his claims."

"And he's still in the FBI?"

Scully watched as Mulder continued to the end of the barn. "Yes. And I'm still his partner." She followed Mulder, with Krause close behind.

When Mulder reached the empty pen, he called out to Krause, "Where's the beef?"

"The cow's remains have been destroyed."

"What?" Mulder asked incredulously.

"The vet, Percy Swann, has samples taken from the wound."

"I'd like to look at those," Scully said. "I could compare them with what I find on Bundy's wounds."

"Do you think that will help us catch the vampire?" Krause asked sardonically

"It will help us catch whatever killed the cow and Mr. Bundy," Scully replied. "Right now, we can't afford to rule out anything plausible."

Mulder peered into the pen. "Aside from the blood, everything here seems pretty neat for having been the scene of an attack."

"We left the pen intact as much as we could," Krause said. "The apparent lack of struggle is odd, considering how predators usually behave."

"Might have been a bat," Scully commented. Turning to Krause, she said, "Could you take me to see Bundy?"

"Of course. What about Mulder?"

"He needs to do what he does, and I need to do what I do."

"Don't worry about what I find," Mulder said to Krause. "I propose, Scully disposes."

Rounderhouser's Restaurant
5:07 P.M.

Carl Bowman sat at his usual table with a Coke. As he waited for his dinner, Bowman lit a cigarette and glanced through the latest bi-weekly bulletin from the Brothers in Liberty national newsletter.

"Interesting reading, Mr. Bowman?" Bowman heard someone ask.

Bowman set down the newsletter to see Mulder standing over his table. "Well, if it isn't the G-Man. Where's your girlfriend, and what the hell do I owe this displeasure to?"

"I want the same thing you want. Answers about who killed Jeb Bundy."

"I don't know anything." Bowman said. "But I think someone else does," he added, lowering his eyebrows at Mulder.

"I want to find out who that someone, or something, is."

"You wanna know what I think? I think it's one of those half-human, half-Reptilian hybrids your people have been working on. I think the government creates them using alien technology in a top-secret bunker under Wright-Patterson, and one of 'em got loose." Bowman took a breath. "What do you think?"

"I think most of that's untrue, and it has nothing to do with the case. I wouldn't be surprised about the alien technology being used for something, though."

"You're just being funny, aren't you?"

"Not exactly. But I am serious about figuring out what's going on around here."

"If you're tryin' to frame me, you can forget it. I'm on to your tactics."

"What, have you been observing my patterns of behavior?"

Bowman picked up the Brothers in Liberty newsletter. "This tells me everything the government doesn't. And I don't like you using that college talk with me, Mr. Mully."

"Mulder." He paused. "Look, I'm sorry we got off to a bad start. May I have a seat, maybe ask you about Jeb Bundy?"

Bowman stared at him a few seconds, then gestured for him to sit.

"Thank you." Mulder pulled out the chair and sat. "Mr. Bowman, did Jeb have any enemies?"

"I don't know. You tell me."

Mulder's eyebrows lowered. "You know, the way you have been evading my questions, I'm beginning to wonder if you might know more about Bundy's death than you claim I do."

Bowman looked directly at Mulder. "What are you implying?"

"The same thing you've been implying about me." Mulder noticed that Bowman's expression had softened slightly. "I assume you don't like people making false assumptions about you. I'm the same way. So, we can play these games, or you can tell me what you know about Jeb Bundy that might help me figure out who, or what, killed him."

"Why do you keep saying 'who, or what'?"

"I have reason to believe that Bundy was killed by a human, or a humanlike creature."

Bowman stared at Mulder. "What do you mean humanlike?"

"You should know, reading that newsletter," Mulder said, pointing at the Brothers in Liberty publication.

"So you're admitting this is all real?"

"No. What they put out is mainly trash." Mulder paused. "Considering what I've encountered, I've wondered if Brothers in Liberty might be providing cover stories that hide the conspiracy of a very real shadow government."

Bowman stared at Mulder for a few seconds. "Wow! If you're tellin' the truth..."

"It is the truth. I've put my life, and Agent Scully's life, in danger for it."

"So, what the hell's goin' on?"

Mulder looked at Bowman a few seconds. "I don't know if I want to say. It's too complicated, I don't know enough, and I'd hate to place your life in danger."

"It'll be in danger, anyway, once they implement their plans."

"The plans you're thinking of might be different from what they might actually execute. All I know is that they're very clever. Hardly anyone knows about them, but they're powerful enough to eat your group for breakfast."

"So why haven't they wiped out Brothers in Liberty, like in some big Ruby Ridge or Waco incident?" Bowman asked.

"As I said before, your group's probably useful to them. They put out crazy stories in these newsletters, and people start to believe them. Meanwhile, the figures behind the real conspiracy can keep working in the shadows."

Bowman looked away from Mulder. "Jeb was a patriot. He wouldn't have liked being used like that." He looked back at Mulder. "Maybe he was on to them. Maybe somebody in BLO knew it."

"Do you know this for sure?"

Bowman looked down at his dinner. "Hell, I don't know. I mean, we had our squabbles, but nothin' major. I think we all just wanted to do what we thought was right for the country. From what you tell me, I'm not so sure we were."

"We all do what we think is right."

"Yeah, but c'mon. We run around in camo playin' freakin' paintball to get ready for the swarm of black helicopters sent by the Trilateral Commission. They'd cream us in a second."

"What I deal with, your people probably couldn't begin to do much of anything."

Bowman looked up. "Not anymore."

"What?"

"They're not 'my people' anymore. As soon as I get home, I'm gonna take off this damn camo get-up and burn it in the trash barrel." He paused. "It's the least I can do to honor Jeb's memory."

Swann Veterinary Clinic
7:15 P.M.

Scully removed the cell phone from her jacket pocket as it began to ring. "Scully."

"I'm back at the hotel. Listen, I had a talk with Bowman..."

"Carl Bowman, of the BLO militia?"

"Not anymore. I was able to gain his trust, and he told me about his relationship with Bundy. I don't think he had any reason to hurt him. Bundy also had no real enemies Bowman knew of, other than the imaginary ones."

"How did you gain his trust?"

"Common interests, though his ideas are more 'out there' than mine."

Scully picked up a vial containing a sample collected from the cow at Fleischer. "Speaking of 'out there,' I found something unusual in all the samples from the bite wounds."

"What's that."

"An enzyme that neither Swann nor I had seen before. I also found it while examining Bundy. We're having the samples sent to a lab for identification."

"How soon before we have results?"

"I'm not sure, but we hope to have it identified soon."

"If it's an unknown enzyme, it probably won't help us catch the culprit. We still need other clues to be able to do that."

"No, the analysis won't likely help with capture, especially if this is some kind of unknown creature. Still, it wouldn't hurt to at least catalog the enzyme, especially if it hasn't been discovered before. Maybe give some veracity to those hunches of yours if we encounter something similar later."

Mulder smiled. "You're right."

"Here's another unusual detail. I also found traces of semen on Bundy's legs. There's a very strong possibility that he ejaculated during the attack, though I'm not sure how with him bleeding from a vital artery." She waited a few seconds for a response from her partner. "Mulder?"

"Sorry. I know some people get such a thrill out of the prospect of their own deaths, or of coming close to death, like in cases of autoerotic asphyxiation. However, in this case, Bundy wasn't alone, and he may not have been a willing victim. At least, not to getting killed."

"So what happened, Mulder?"

"I don't know, but something changed Bundy's mind. Maybe that enzyme you found is the key to figuring it out."

"I'd better re-examine Bundy to see if there are any additional traces in his system." Scully paused. "I'll probably be back late. It depends on what I find."

"I'll leave the light on for you."

After they both hung up, Mulder noticed a small piece of paper in front of the door. After getting up from his chair, Mulder walked closer to the paper, which had no writing; just a blank space with a block for a stamp. A postcard? he thought, bending down to pick it up and turn it over. On the other side, he saw a picture of the railyards that split the northern and southern parts of Middleton.

What's his interest in all this? Mulder wondered, immediately determining who would leave such a calling card.

Middleton railyards
8:23 P.M.

Waiting in the Corsica, Mulder contemplated the 45 minutes that had passed since his arrival at the railyards. He already read a copy of Middleton's weekly newspaper twice, finally setting it aside in favor of a travel guide of Dayton and Springfield he had borrowed from the hotel room. In such a small town, he knew that the usual reports of school board meetings, little league games, and the names of people fined for speeding violations would pale in the shadow of the story of the case he and Scully had begun to investigate.

Mulder's cell phone jarred his ennui. "Mulder."

"It's me," he heard Scully say on the other end.

"You sound perturbed. What's wrong?"

"The body's gone."

"What?"

"Someone at the hospital said that a man with a badge came by and asked to take the body for further examination."

Mulder looked out his windshield. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"How are we supposed to continue the investigation, Mulder?"

"I'm off on another lead right now. I hope to be back before sunrise."

"Sunrise? Mulder, what's going on here?"

"I'll tell you when I find out something."