"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton

Chapter 6:

Supping With The Devil

"Mr. Mulder, please, take a seat."

The room was large and opulent. With the huge Afghan carpet under his feet, and the antique maps of various countries on the wall, Mulder felt like he was in a Kipling novel. The neo-colonial atmosphere of the room contrasted sharply with the Renaissance façade of the waiting room. *Probably like how Deger contrasts with the façade of his company*. Mulder walked across the room. Dim mood lighting emanating from a light on the oak desk and from a light above a map of Africa. Mulder had to try and watch his step to avoid the tribal art scattered throughout the room. He finally plunked down on a soft leather couch close to the desk.

Alexander Deger stood with his back to Mulder. He gazed longingly out the glass wall, at the waves crashing soothingly on the dark shore. Their foaming white caps spoke of the coming squall. The dark clouds that were forming obscured the pale moon from the sea below. The squall was close.

Deger turned to Mulder and sat in the high-backed chair at his huge desk. He had a face carved from leather, with dark blue eyes and a large smile that had won over many an enemy. If only they knew what truly lay behind the smile.

"How can I help the FBI?"

Mulder fished in his pocket for a picture of Sampson, then handed it to Deger.

"Mr. Deger, do you recognize this man?"

Deger stared at the picture. His eyes narrowed.

"Yes, Mr. Mulder. I believe that's Don Sampson." -he shook his head- "Terrible, terrible business. A good man, but I think he didn't understand the dynamics of the business world. He was better at diving for gold than making deals in boardrooms."

Mulder found Deger's tone almost condescending.

"You had business with Mr. Sampson?"

Deger leaned back. His face became obscured in a shadow. "I have business with most everybody in Vero Beach, Mr. Mulder. Most everybody along this coast, as a matter of fact."

"And just what kind of business, Mr. Deger?"

"Oh, this and that, Mr. Mulder. This and that. I find that most people who wish to gain insight into the precious metals industry come to me for advice."

"So Sampson was trying to enter the precious metals industry?"

"Unfortunately, he believed I could fence the artifacts he recovered to my contacts around the world. That way he would not have to give the government the fourth of his finds it was owed. I, of course, had to turn him down. I'm not one to start a fight with the government, Mr. Mulder, because we both know who would win."

*Do we?* thought Mulder, *there's something off here.*

Rain began to rhythmically drum against the dark glass wall.

"So you turned down Sampson. Could he have gone to somebody else?"

"I'm sure he could've. He had contacts throughout Vero Beach. Some of them less than savory. You'd be better off going to the marina and asking questions."

The rain drummed louder into the glass.

"Where exactly were you when Sampson was killed, Mr. Deger?"

Deger leaned forward in his chair. His face emerged from the darkness, and he had a slight smirk on his face. But his eyes remained dark.

"Am I a suspect in this murder, Mr. Mulder?"

"I'm just covering all the bases, Mr. Deger."

"Well, Mr. Mulder, I happened to be having dinner with the Governor that night. You can call him up of you want to confirm that, Mr. Mulder. I have him on speed-dial," Deger said, reaching for the phone on his desk.

"No, no, there's no need for that."

"I didn't think there would be."

Mulder didn't like how this was shaping up. Something about this whole scene seemed staged. Like Mulder was just playing a part. Deger seemed like a man who wasn't afraid of anything, least of all the law. Well, Mulder would try to change that. He wouldn't play anyone's part, certainly not this arrogant bastard's.

"You know, I'm starting to think that you were more involved in Sampson's business than you let on."

Any hint of a smile disappeared from Deger's face. All that was left was pure, cold, stone.

"You better think hard before you keep talking Mr. Mulder. Think real hard about the future."

"Its *Agent* Mulder, Mr. Deger. Men are dead, and I'm going to ask you whatever I want to find out just what happened here."

"*Mr.* Mulder, perhaps you don't know the situation here. Or maybe it's just your overall attitude. At least that's what I can find from your file."

Deger pulled out a folder from a drawer and laid it on the desk. The words 'FBI: Fox Mulder' were printed on it.

"With a *spotless* record like yours," Deger continued, "its not surprising that you don't know when to shut up and do what you're told."

Mulder got to his feet. He saw his file. His eyes narrowed and turned as dark as the storm outside.

"I'm giving you one chance to walk out of here with a future, Mr. Mulder. If I can come across information like this-" Deger waved the file "-what makes you think I'm not capable of far, far worse things? I've bought and sold men with better principles than yours, Mr. Mulder. Far better. Walk away right now, and perhaps I'll forget this encounter."

The room was silent. Except for the ever-present rain hitting the glass. Mulder leaned forward and rested his hands on Deger's desk.

"You don't scare me. I know your kind, Deger. Men that think they're untouchable. Men that try to manipulate the world. But not everybody is willing to be a sheep. I will find out how you're involved in this, and I can promise that whatever power you may hold over Washington won't stop me."

Deger laughed a cold laugh.

"What do you know of power, Mr. Mulder? What do you know of sheep and shepherds? There are always people willing to be led- for a price. And everyone has a price. Some just have higher prices than others."

Deger pulled another file from his drawer and dropped it on his desk. It had the words 'Samantha Mulder' printed on it. Mulder's eyes widened when he saw it.

"I admire your will, and there are better ways than threats to get to men. You see, I knew the Bureau would have you down here before you even heard of this case. I know all about you, Mr. Mulder. I do my research." Deger looked at the folder. "And I know that it must've been tough to loose such a nice girl at such a young age."

"You bastard. Don't you talk about her."

"Oh, your temper is just another fault. But I'm willing to look past that, and make a deal with you, Mr. Mulder. I could use another clever man like you at the Bureau. I'm willing to let your present indiscretions slide, if you start working for me. Then all the information I could purchase-" with that Deger waved the folder "-on your dear sister, well then, it will be all yours. And I'll say I've been able to purchase some interesting information."

Deger paused. Rain beat the glass in the background.

"I've named your price, Mr. Mulder. The question is, will you accept?"

Mulder stared long and hard at the folder in Deger's hand. The rain continued to pound against the glass. Thunder boomed off across the sea somewhere. *Is he playing me? But what if it is about Samantha? How could I turn it down?*

"Tick tock, Mr. Mulder, tick tock. I have business to attend to, and the dear Agent Scully must be waiting for you."

*Scully. What would she say? Could I betray her? Could I betray myself?*

"The Truth has a price. And now you have to pay for it."

Mulder looked up from the folder. His eyes had returned to the color of night.

"No."

"No!?!"

"I will bring you down, Deger. And when you've fallen, make sure to look up and remember who put you there."

Mulder turned to leave.

Deger's eyes turned to fire. He clenched his teeth in a vice, and jumped to his feet.

"You don't walk away from me! You hear me, Mulder! You don't walk away from me! I've made nations crumble! You're nothing! Nothing!"

Mulder stopped at the door. He looked over his shoulder.

His voice was low. "When is enough power enough?"

Deger took a breath and straitened his clothes.

"Well if you have to ask, then it's certainly not enough."

Deger sat back down. His face receded back into the shadows.

"I feel sorry for you, Mr. Mulder. But then you've sealed your own fate."

Mulder left the room. *It stops being the Truth when you give up what you believe in.*

Deger sat alone in the dark room. His only company was the rain. He picked up the phone.

"Get me Graham. I've got another job for him."

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Hey, how's it going? Me, well I'm doing well. Just trying to write on as usual. I always like direct confrontations between protagonist/antagonist, so that's how this chap came up. I also like the idea of 'good guys' being tempted and their reactions to it. Tell me what you think about this confrontation (which, I know, probably seems similar to Mulder/CSM confrontations, but I'm trying). Looking forward to hearing what you have to say, most sincerely yours,

-The Guy Who Wrote This

P.S.- If you saw Deger = Greed, then congrats! You got it! You have my full admiration!