Chapter Four.
Monica got up and went into her living room and opened a drawer in her desk looking for some phone numbers and came across a picture of her and Brad Follmer. She picked it up and looked at it and she thought back to time she met him and only wish she'd have gotten some evidence on him back when she spent all that time with him.
Flashback 1997.
Monica got to work at 9 AM on the button and as she walked to her desk she saw a man standing just outside the assistant director's office, dressed in a perfectly tailored Armani suit talking to the assistant director at the time Ed Parsons.
They were having a rather animated conversation, which ended with Parsons telling the new man to get out and get back to work.
The man came walking straight towards her and almost knocked her over as he brushed past her.
He stopped as soon as he made contact and then quickly helped her get her balance, "I'm sorry. How rude of me. My name is Brad. Brad Follmer. I just transferred here after being overseas for a couple years."
"Hi. I'm Monica Reyes."
"Excuse me for asking, but are you an agent?"
"Yes, why do you ask?" Monica asked, her eyes trying to get a read on Follmer.
"No reason. Just wanted to clarify. What department are you in?"
"I specialize in the occult. I'm working on a case right now that is very interesting. Almost borders on an X-File." Monica added, her enthusiasm for her work evident in her voice.
"X-File? How do you know about those?" he asked, strangely curious and somewhat puzzled that Monica had any knowledge of them at all.
Monica was pleased to talk about Mulder's work with anyone, "I know a lot about Fox Mulder's work. I've used a lot of his past cases for research on some of the cases I've had to work on. There's a lot of remarkable coincidences in both fields."
"That's very interesting." Follmer raised his eyebrow, "I had no idea Mulder was so well known."
"How do you know of him?" Monica asked.
"Oh we have some mutual acquaintances."
"I see. Well, I should get back to work. Nice meeting you."
"Yes, it was very nice indeed." he began to walk away and then stopped, "I know we only just met, but would you like to have lunch some time?"
"I don't know." Monica hesitated, "I'm not sure that's such a good idea. If were going to be working together, it just doesn't seem appropriate."
"It's just lunch. Not marriage." he said almost sarcastically, then smiled to cover it up.
Monica paused and her friend from the office Sandy Miller chirped in, "Just go to lunch Monica. It's really not against policy to share a sandwich and some soup."
She felt like she was being pushed into this just a little, but felt it couldn't hurt so she smiled slightly and nodded yes. He smiled back at her, "Great then, how about noon at the little diner on the corner."
"I'll let you know if I can't make it. Never know where work will take me." Monica said, giving herself an out, just in case. "Sounds good. I look forward to seeing you." he replied before walking out of the office.
Monica walked right over to Sandy's desk and stared at her until she stopped what she was doing, "What were you doing there?"
Sandy gave her a slight smile, "What? He seems nice enough and you never go out. So I figured I would help you along."
"Maybe I don't need any help." Monica said a bit louder than she meant, "Besides, I don't even know him."
"Oh don't be silly. He's one of the good guys remember?"
"I see, just because he wears a badge?" Monica said rolling her eyes, "Right, like there haven't been any creeps who worked for the FBI before."
"Don't be a party pooper. Just have lunch. If you don't like him that's it. One meal and you move on." Sandy added bluntly, trying her best to get Reyes on a date.
Monica rolled her eyes again at Sandy's friendly meddling, "I wish it were that easy. I still have to see him every day. It would be awkward if things didn't work out or if he had other expectations."
"You think too much."
"Maybe, but I just have a strange feeling about him. I can't put my finger on it though."
"Sounds like a good start to me." Sandy smiled, "Beats having no feelings about someone don't you think?"
"I did say strange feelings you know, not romantic feelings. You did catch that part right?" Monica said with a sarcastic smile.
"Yes, yes Monica. Just have lunch and talk to me when it's over."
"Fine, I will, but don't expect much." Monica said, constantly making sure Sandy didn't get her hopes up.
"I've learned not to with you. You're just hard to find a date for."
"Maybe you're just picking the wrong people."
"I'm beginning to see that." Sandy questioned, wondering just why Monica was so hard to fix up.
Monica didn't pay much attention to the last comment and went back to her desk to follow up a lead she was working on.
As lunch time rolled around she was still debating whether to meet this guy for lunch or not, but she didn't have to make that choice as Brad walked in and promptly asked if she was ready to go.
She had no time for excuses so she picked up her purse and they headed down to the diner.
They both ordered and Brad sat across from Monica studying her face carefully, almost to the point of being a bit creepy, she thought.
"So Monica, tell me a little about yourself?"
"There isn't much to tell. I'm the only child of two wonderful parents. I grew up in New Jersey, but spent a lot of my childhood on a farm on Rhode Island. I went to Columbia University, got a bachelor's degree in criminal psychology as well as studying occult criminology. I then spent a year working for a British security firm and doing some part time consulting for their special unit section. I then applied to the FBI about 7 years ago and here I am."
"That is a very impressive resume you have there." Follmer said with an appreciative smile, "But, I was really wondering more about your personal life as opposed to your professional one."
"Oh, well, I'm still single if that's all your asking." Monica took a sip of water from the glass in front of her and continued to try and read Follmer and kept coming up blank.
"No, not really." Follmer said and then changed the topic. "Anyway, how are you enjoying your time in the occult crimes division? Keeping you busy?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. I've seen some truly amazing things and investigated some remarkable cases in my years here."
"Now you mentioned the X-Files and Fox Mulder. I'm curious as to how much you know about them?" Follmer asked calmly.
"I think Mulder's record speaks for itself. I realize not everyone is a believer in UFO's, but there is more than enough evidence to support the X- Files. There are so many cases that have no rational or scientific explanation. I've studied numerous of their cases and am fascinated by them all."
"Yes, it is fascinating." he said, still not getting the answers he was looking for, "Have you ever met Mulder? Or his partner? I believe her name is Dana Scully?"
"No I haven't." Monica said as she nibbled at her food. "I only know them by name. I did speak with Mulder on one occasion, but I doubt he even remembers it."
Follmer was smiling the whole time and even when he was taking jabs at Mulder, he did it with such pleasure, "There are a lot of opinions about agent Mulder's state of mind, with some even believing he is more than a little unstable and that the X-Files should be closed. How do you feel about this?"
"I've heard nothing like that. Everyone I've talked to has had a good opinion of him." she stopped and put her coffee down and stopped eating for a moment, "Why all the questions about Mulder anyway?"
Follmer looked right at Monica and showed no emotion at all, "No reason. Just curious. I haven't met a lot of people who know of Mulder's work, that also think favorably about him. It's quite refreshing. Let's talk about something else."
The rest of the lunch was very pleasant and they discussed a bunch of nothing topics and then both went back to work.
It wasn't until about two weeks later that Follmer appeared at Monica's office and once again was in the assistant director's office and having yet another loud conversation. With yet the same result. Brad leaving in a huff and stopping by her desk, "I guess I should tell you the good news."
Monica stopped what she was doing and looked up at Follmer, "What's that?"
"I've just been given the assistant director's job of the NY bureau."
Monica looked more than a little stunned by this and something just didn't feel right. She tried to muster up enough energy to say something nice, "I guess congratulations are in order."
"Thank you." he said with a smiled, "It seems Parson is stepping down and they want me to take over. It's quite a break for me."
"I imagine it would be. I'm sure you will do a good job." she added politely, yet not really meaning what she said.
"Yes, I know I will." he said smugly, yet didn't even realize he was doing it. He walked back to his desk, had already packed up all his stuff and was sitting sorting through it when Ed came out with a couple boxes, looking anything like someone who had stepped down from his position voluntarily.
He gave Brad a very nasty look and then smiled at the rest of the employees as he walked to the elevator. Monica watched as Brad grabbed his things and then walked in and put them on Parson's old desk and then walked out to the door and removed the Parson's name from it and quickly slid in the his own, Assistant Director Follmer, name plate all ready to go.
As she watched Parson get on the elevator she turned and ran towards him and had him hold the door so she could talk to him. Once inside he let the door close and Monica looked over at him and said, "I can see that you didn't resign Ed, so what is going on?"
"It's politics Reyes. It always is. Follmer has some very powerful allies and connections and he wanted this job and now he's got it." Parson said, trying not to get to down about this.
Monica was visibly upset, "This isn't right though. You have so many years on the job. You're a great boss. I just want to do something that's all."
"I appreciate that Reyes. I do. But, you can't fight what you can't see, and the people pulling the strings for Follmer our so high up even I don't know who they are."
"I don't understand. He's fairly new here. How does he even qualify for your job?" Monica asked, wanting to know as much about Follmer as she could.
"He doesn't have to." Parson said sharply, then lowered his voice and looked up at Monica, "Look Reyes, my advice to you is transfer out of this department before you get mixed up with that man. He's trouble. Mark my words."
"I believe you. I do." Monica quickly agreed, knowing her first impressions about Follmer were coming true. "Now, is there anything I can do for you? Where are they transferring you to?"
"I get a nice cushy job as head of the FBI's Alaska bureau, with a grand total of one office, 3 agents and at the present time, no active cases."
"I wish you could fight this. I'm really sorry things turned out this way." Reyes added, "I hope you keep in touch though. I have a feeling Follmer won't be staying long. I think he has his sights even higher than this."
"I think you're right. You take care Reyes; and watch your back." Ed Parson's got off the elevator and waved to Monica as he walked out the main doors of the lobby and Monica went back up to the office and went inside to talk to Follmer.
After telling Follmer she didn't approve of his tactics Monica made it clear she was still interesting in going out with him. Just not for the reasons he suspected.
Flashback ends.
Scully walked out of the shower, saw Monica looking at something and moved in for a closer look. Monica heard Scully's footsteps and slid the picture into the drawer. She closed it, turned around and smiled at Scully. "You seemed lost in your thoughts there." Scully said as her hand brushed against Monica's arm, "I don't mean to pry, but did you want to tell me what you slid back into that drawer so fast?"
Monica smiled and took the picture out of the drawer and sat it back on the desk and looked back at Scully, "My first instinct is to say no, but I don't want to keep anything from you either. So I might as well tell you the whole story about Follmer."
"Follmer?" Scully asked with a surprise look on her face. "I know you and he had some kind of relationship. I didn't know there was a story there though? I'm a good listener though."
Monica then told Scully everything about how they met and how she didn't trust me from the start and then she told him how she decided to date him in hopes to gather information on him.
"You did what?" Scully said with yet another stunned look on her face, " Monica, first of all,that was very foolish and potentially dangerous if Follmer is mixed up in all this."
"I know. I know. Okay." Monica said quickly, trying not to get defensive, "But, at the time he seemed so harmless, almost inept really. He was not in the FBI for his keen mind I can tell you that."
Scully was intrigued by this new information, both that Monica didn't really date Brad and that she suspected him all along of being a bit shady, "Did you learn anything that seemed suspicious or might tie him to Krycek?"
"That's what I'm trying to remember." Monica said as she tried to think of anything that might be useful, "He had a lot of meetings that I just couldn't gain access to. He was always meeting with foreign security personnel, dignitaries and high level politicians, but most of his business was done in very public places."
"So is all this a dead end?" Monica racked her brain and finally came up with something, "There was one altercation he had with a man in the lobby of our main office, but I only heard about it from another agent. Apparently the man came in demanding to see Follmer and was told to leave and he got very belligerent and when Follmer came down to talk to the man the man assaulted Brad with his fists and then was escorted to our interrogation room."
"I don't follow." Scully asked, trying to follow everything Monica was saying as best she could.
"Well, the thing is the next day Follmer was sent on assignment to Russia again and that same man turned up dead. The cause of death was deemed accidental drowning, but there were many rumors that he was killed by Brad and that's why he left for Russia." Monica then walked over and grabbed an envelope aptly titled, Follmer and handed it to Scully.
"Inside this envelope, I have pictures of a dozen or so of his contacts and known agents he did business with. Near the back are three photo's marked "unknown" and I was wondering if you knew any of these men?"
Scully looked at all the photos and skimmed through the report on Follmer. She then took out the three pictures in the back and sat them on the table in a row. Her eyes lit up instantly and she grabbed the first one, "This is the bounty hunter. A shape shifter who I've had many close encounters with." she grabbed the next picture, "This is Jeremiah Smith, someone who has some special healing powers attributed to possible alien DNA as well. And this man is quite possibly the key figure in all of this. He's known as the cigarette smoking man and is thought to be dead, yet there has been no confirmation of this. Follmer is in this way deeper than I could have imagined. We need to get in touch with Skinner and get him this information."
Monica was pleased that she'd kept all this information and even more so now that Scully could use it, "I was keeping this in hopes of one day being able to get enough evidence on him to put him away. But, I never got one piece of concrete evidence. Even these pictures don't prove anything. They show he knew these men, but someone quite likely has pictures of you and Mulder talking to them as well. So we need more. This only helps connect him to all that is going on."
"That may be true, but Skinner needs to know he has to be careful in any future dealings with Follmer and we can't be giving him anymore vital information until we get to the bottom of this."
"I agree." Monica said quickly, then moved closer to Scully, "I have a number of copies of these files as well for protection, so we can take this one to Skinner."
Scully's eye's perked up when she saw how careful Monica had been, "Smart girl." "Thank you." Monica smiled. She then grabbed the folder, a briefcase from the floor and as the two women walked towards the door Monica's phone rang. She put the briefcase down and walked over to answer it, "Hello?"
"Put Scully on."
"Who is this?"
"Just put Scully on if you want some information on William."
Monica motioned for Scully to come over and then handed her the phone.
"Scully here. Who is this?"
"That's not important. I know your investigating the disappearance of your son. I have information regarding that. I will give said information for a price. Are you interested?"
"I am not about to deal with some extortionist when I'm looking for my son."
"I have no reason to lie about this." The man's voice said, "Okay, here is a sample of the information I have. Does the name Follmer mean anything to you? Or perhaps you know of an alien shape shifting bounty hunter? Or maybe even a man by the name of Alex Krycek? If so, you know I'm not just making this stuff up."
"Just tell me what you know. No more games. A lot of people know of those men. I need facts and I'm in a hurry." Scully said impatiently.
"I need to know I will get paid for this. If I turn on these men and they find out I'm a dead man."
"I'm not sure what kind of salary you think I make, but I'm by no means a rich woman." Scully responded bluntly but honestly.
"That's okay, get it from the FBI as an informant payoff. They do it all the time. I want $50,000 in unmarked bills and I will lead you to the man who kidnapped your son. I think that's more than a fair offer."
"Whoever you are, you're doing a lot of talking and have produced not one thing so far. I need something to go on before I even think of going to my superiors with such a request."
"Okay, okay. I'm sure by now you know it was Krycek who took your son. But, you don't know why or who he took the kid to. I do. The why is less important, the who is."
Scully was beginning go get impatient, "Enough double talk. Spit out a name or I'm gone."
"As far as I know he has no name. Everyone calls him, The Well-Manicured Man. I know it sounds odd, but that's all I've ever heard him referred to. He was presumed dead from all reports, but he's anything but. He's alive and well and is nothing like the 80 year old man he appears to be."
"What are you talking about?" Scully said, acting as unimpressed as she could, "We've heard of him but he was just part of the conspiracy. I need proof he's alive. Proof of where he is and more importantly proof he has my son. Get that and we'll talk about money."
"I have it."
Scully had no choice but to agree to the meeting, "Fine. Meet me at the corner of 6th and Birch Street at the park. I'll be at the concession stand from 2 PM until 2:15, be there or all bets are off."
"I'll be there." the voice said loudly and then hung up.
"What is it?" Monica asked as she moved over to Scully and hung up the phone for her and then grabbed her shoulders and tried to snap her out of her daze.
"What?" Scully said as her eyes began to focus and saw Monica staring at her intently, "I'm sorry. I just...this man says he has information as to who took William and why. I have to find out if he's telling the truth. I just don't want to get my hopes up to high in case this is just a hoax. I want to believe there is some hope though. I need to."
"There is Dana. There is. Don't ever doubt that. We are going to find William." Monica put her arm around Dana and held her close.
"You're right. I know we will." Scully looked down at her watch and saw that it was 8:35 AM so they had plenty of time to talk to Skinner and still make that meeting. "I don't know if we should tell Skinner about this meeting. He'll want to put us under surveillance and that could spook the guy."
Monica listened carefully to Scully before responding, "Maybe, but if he's just there to get your money then we have to stop him. Skinner could provide the manpower for that."
Scully realized she had no other choice, "I guess you're right. I just don't want to blow this."
"We won't. Now let's get to the office and see what Skinner has learned."
Scully nodded yes and they headed down to the car. The made their way to the bureau and up to Skinner's office and were shown in by his receptionist and both had a seat in front of his desk.
Skinner looked up from a file he was reading, "I'm glad you're both here. We received some very disturbing information about Follmer and his connection to the Russian mob. It's no secret he has spent many years in Russia over the years, well it appears he was a very busy man while he was there. He apparently knew both Salionov and Sikovic extremely well and after checking into his background further we found it was all fake."
"What?" Scully asked loudly. "How on earth is this possible? The FBI does the most thorough background checks of anyone. I don't see how he could slip through."
"Neither do we at the moment, but, he did. We've also learned that he is actually the brother of Alex Krycek." Skinner said very matter of factly as he dropped the bombshell on the two women.
Monica got up and went into her living room and opened a drawer in her desk looking for some phone numbers and came across a picture of her and Brad Follmer. She picked it up and looked at it and she thought back to time she met him and only wish she'd have gotten some evidence on him back when she spent all that time with him.
Flashback 1997.
Monica got to work at 9 AM on the button and as she walked to her desk she saw a man standing just outside the assistant director's office, dressed in a perfectly tailored Armani suit talking to the assistant director at the time Ed Parsons.
They were having a rather animated conversation, which ended with Parsons telling the new man to get out and get back to work.
The man came walking straight towards her and almost knocked her over as he brushed past her.
He stopped as soon as he made contact and then quickly helped her get her balance, "I'm sorry. How rude of me. My name is Brad. Brad Follmer. I just transferred here after being overseas for a couple years."
"Hi. I'm Monica Reyes."
"Excuse me for asking, but are you an agent?"
"Yes, why do you ask?" Monica asked, her eyes trying to get a read on Follmer.
"No reason. Just wanted to clarify. What department are you in?"
"I specialize in the occult. I'm working on a case right now that is very interesting. Almost borders on an X-File." Monica added, her enthusiasm for her work evident in her voice.
"X-File? How do you know about those?" he asked, strangely curious and somewhat puzzled that Monica had any knowledge of them at all.
Monica was pleased to talk about Mulder's work with anyone, "I know a lot about Fox Mulder's work. I've used a lot of his past cases for research on some of the cases I've had to work on. There's a lot of remarkable coincidences in both fields."
"That's very interesting." Follmer raised his eyebrow, "I had no idea Mulder was so well known."
"How do you know of him?" Monica asked.
"Oh we have some mutual acquaintances."
"I see. Well, I should get back to work. Nice meeting you."
"Yes, it was very nice indeed." he began to walk away and then stopped, "I know we only just met, but would you like to have lunch some time?"
"I don't know." Monica hesitated, "I'm not sure that's such a good idea. If were going to be working together, it just doesn't seem appropriate."
"It's just lunch. Not marriage." he said almost sarcastically, then smiled to cover it up.
Monica paused and her friend from the office Sandy Miller chirped in, "Just go to lunch Monica. It's really not against policy to share a sandwich and some soup."
She felt like she was being pushed into this just a little, but felt it couldn't hurt so she smiled slightly and nodded yes. He smiled back at her, "Great then, how about noon at the little diner on the corner."
"I'll let you know if I can't make it. Never know where work will take me." Monica said, giving herself an out, just in case. "Sounds good. I look forward to seeing you." he replied before walking out of the office.
Monica walked right over to Sandy's desk and stared at her until she stopped what she was doing, "What were you doing there?"
Sandy gave her a slight smile, "What? He seems nice enough and you never go out. So I figured I would help you along."
"Maybe I don't need any help." Monica said a bit louder than she meant, "Besides, I don't even know him."
"Oh don't be silly. He's one of the good guys remember?"
"I see, just because he wears a badge?" Monica said rolling her eyes, "Right, like there haven't been any creeps who worked for the FBI before."
"Don't be a party pooper. Just have lunch. If you don't like him that's it. One meal and you move on." Sandy added bluntly, trying her best to get Reyes on a date.
Monica rolled her eyes again at Sandy's friendly meddling, "I wish it were that easy. I still have to see him every day. It would be awkward if things didn't work out or if he had other expectations."
"You think too much."
"Maybe, but I just have a strange feeling about him. I can't put my finger on it though."
"Sounds like a good start to me." Sandy smiled, "Beats having no feelings about someone don't you think?"
"I did say strange feelings you know, not romantic feelings. You did catch that part right?" Monica said with a sarcastic smile.
"Yes, yes Monica. Just have lunch and talk to me when it's over."
"Fine, I will, but don't expect much." Monica said, constantly making sure Sandy didn't get her hopes up.
"I've learned not to with you. You're just hard to find a date for."
"Maybe you're just picking the wrong people."
"I'm beginning to see that." Sandy questioned, wondering just why Monica was so hard to fix up.
Monica didn't pay much attention to the last comment and went back to her desk to follow up a lead she was working on.
As lunch time rolled around she was still debating whether to meet this guy for lunch or not, but she didn't have to make that choice as Brad walked in and promptly asked if she was ready to go.
She had no time for excuses so she picked up her purse and they headed down to the diner.
They both ordered and Brad sat across from Monica studying her face carefully, almost to the point of being a bit creepy, she thought.
"So Monica, tell me a little about yourself?"
"There isn't much to tell. I'm the only child of two wonderful parents. I grew up in New Jersey, but spent a lot of my childhood on a farm on Rhode Island. I went to Columbia University, got a bachelor's degree in criminal psychology as well as studying occult criminology. I then spent a year working for a British security firm and doing some part time consulting for their special unit section. I then applied to the FBI about 7 years ago and here I am."
"That is a very impressive resume you have there." Follmer said with an appreciative smile, "But, I was really wondering more about your personal life as opposed to your professional one."
"Oh, well, I'm still single if that's all your asking." Monica took a sip of water from the glass in front of her and continued to try and read Follmer and kept coming up blank.
"No, not really." Follmer said and then changed the topic. "Anyway, how are you enjoying your time in the occult crimes division? Keeping you busy?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. I've seen some truly amazing things and investigated some remarkable cases in my years here."
"Now you mentioned the X-Files and Fox Mulder. I'm curious as to how much you know about them?" Follmer asked calmly.
"I think Mulder's record speaks for itself. I realize not everyone is a believer in UFO's, but there is more than enough evidence to support the X- Files. There are so many cases that have no rational or scientific explanation. I've studied numerous of their cases and am fascinated by them all."
"Yes, it is fascinating." he said, still not getting the answers he was looking for, "Have you ever met Mulder? Or his partner? I believe her name is Dana Scully?"
"No I haven't." Monica said as she nibbled at her food. "I only know them by name. I did speak with Mulder on one occasion, but I doubt he even remembers it."
Follmer was smiling the whole time and even when he was taking jabs at Mulder, he did it with such pleasure, "There are a lot of opinions about agent Mulder's state of mind, with some even believing he is more than a little unstable and that the X-Files should be closed. How do you feel about this?"
"I've heard nothing like that. Everyone I've talked to has had a good opinion of him." she stopped and put her coffee down and stopped eating for a moment, "Why all the questions about Mulder anyway?"
Follmer looked right at Monica and showed no emotion at all, "No reason. Just curious. I haven't met a lot of people who know of Mulder's work, that also think favorably about him. It's quite refreshing. Let's talk about something else."
The rest of the lunch was very pleasant and they discussed a bunch of nothing topics and then both went back to work.
It wasn't until about two weeks later that Follmer appeared at Monica's office and once again was in the assistant director's office and having yet another loud conversation. With yet the same result. Brad leaving in a huff and stopping by her desk, "I guess I should tell you the good news."
Monica stopped what she was doing and looked up at Follmer, "What's that?"
"I've just been given the assistant director's job of the NY bureau."
Monica looked more than a little stunned by this and something just didn't feel right. She tried to muster up enough energy to say something nice, "I guess congratulations are in order."
"Thank you." he said with a smiled, "It seems Parson is stepping down and they want me to take over. It's quite a break for me."
"I imagine it would be. I'm sure you will do a good job." she added politely, yet not really meaning what she said.
"Yes, I know I will." he said smugly, yet didn't even realize he was doing it. He walked back to his desk, had already packed up all his stuff and was sitting sorting through it when Ed came out with a couple boxes, looking anything like someone who had stepped down from his position voluntarily.
He gave Brad a very nasty look and then smiled at the rest of the employees as he walked to the elevator. Monica watched as Brad grabbed his things and then walked in and put them on Parson's old desk and then walked out to the door and removed the Parson's name from it and quickly slid in the his own, Assistant Director Follmer, name plate all ready to go.
As she watched Parson get on the elevator she turned and ran towards him and had him hold the door so she could talk to him. Once inside he let the door close and Monica looked over at him and said, "I can see that you didn't resign Ed, so what is going on?"
"It's politics Reyes. It always is. Follmer has some very powerful allies and connections and he wanted this job and now he's got it." Parson said, trying not to get to down about this.
Monica was visibly upset, "This isn't right though. You have so many years on the job. You're a great boss. I just want to do something that's all."
"I appreciate that Reyes. I do. But, you can't fight what you can't see, and the people pulling the strings for Follmer our so high up even I don't know who they are."
"I don't understand. He's fairly new here. How does he even qualify for your job?" Monica asked, wanting to know as much about Follmer as she could.
"He doesn't have to." Parson said sharply, then lowered his voice and looked up at Monica, "Look Reyes, my advice to you is transfer out of this department before you get mixed up with that man. He's trouble. Mark my words."
"I believe you. I do." Monica quickly agreed, knowing her first impressions about Follmer were coming true. "Now, is there anything I can do for you? Where are they transferring you to?"
"I get a nice cushy job as head of the FBI's Alaska bureau, with a grand total of one office, 3 agents and at the present time, no active cases."
"I wish you could fight this. I'm really sorry things turned out this way." Reyes added, "I hope you keep in touch though. I have a feeling Follmer won't be staying long. I think he has his sights even higher than this."
"I think you're right. You take care Reyes; and watch your back." Ed Parson's got off the elevator and waved to Monica as he walked out the main doors of the lobby and Monica went back up to the office and went inside to talk to Follmer.
After telling Follmer she didn't approve of his tactics Monica made it clear she was still interesting in going out with him. Just not for the reasons he suspected.
Flashback ends.
Scully walked out of the shower, saw Monica looking at something and moved in for a closer look. Monica heard Scully's footsteps and slid the picture into the drawer. She closed it, turned around and smiled at Scully. "You seemed lost in your thoughts there." Scully said as her hand brushed against Monica's arm, "I don't mean to pry, but did you want to tell me what you slid back into that drawer so fast?"
Monica smiled and took the picture out of the drawer and sat it back on the desk and looked back at Scully, "My first instinct is to say no, but I don't want to keep anything from you either. So I might as well tell you the whole story about Follmer."
"Follmer?" Scully asked with a surprise look on her face. "I know you and he had some kind of relationship. I didn't know there was a story there though? I'm a good listener though."
Monica then told Scully everything about how they met and how she didn't trust me from the start and then she told him how she decided to date him in hopes to gather information on him.
"You did what?" Scully said with yet another stunned look on her face, " Monica, first of all,that was very foolish and potentially dangerous if Follmer is mixed up in all this."
"I know. I know. Okay." Monica said quickly, trying not to get defensive, "But, at the time he seemed so harmless, almost inept really. He was not in the FBI for his keen mind I can tell you that."
Scully was intrigued by this new information, both that Monica didn't really date Brad and that she suspected him all along of being a bit shady, "Did you learn anything that seemed suspicious or might tie him to Krycek?"
"That's what I'm trying to remember." Monica said as she tried to think of anything that might be useful, "He had a lot of meetings that I just couldn't gain access to. He was always meeting with foreign security personnel, dignitaries and high level politicians, but most of his business was done in very public places."
"So is all this a dead end?" Monica racked her brain and finally came up with something, "There was one altercation he had with a man in the lobby of our main office, but I only heard about it from another agent. Apparently the man came in demanding to see Follmer and was told to leave and he got very belligerent and when Follmer came down to talk to the man the man assaulted Brad with his fists and then was escorted to our interrogation room."
"I don't follow." Scully asked, trying to follow everything Monica was saying as best she could.
"Well, the thing is the next day Follmer was sent on assignment to Russia again and that same man turned up dead. The cause of death was deemed accidental drowning, but there were many rumors that he was killed by Brad and that's why he left for Russia." Monica then walked over and grabbed an envelope aptly titled, Follmer and handed it to Scully.
"Inside this envelope, I have pictures of a dozen or so of his contacts and known agents he did business with. Near the back are three photo's marked "unknown" and I was wondering if you knew any of these men?"
Scully looked at all the photos and skimmed through the report on Follmer. She then took out the three pictures in the back and sat them on the table in a row. Her eyes lit up instantly and she grabbed the first one, "This is the bounty hunter. A shape shifter who I've had many close encounters with." she grabbed the next picture, "This is Jeremiah Smith, someone who has some special healing powers attributed to possible alien DNA as well. And this man is quite possibly the key figure in all of this. He's known as the cigarette smoking man and is thought to be dead, yet there has been no confirmation of this. Follmer is in this way deeper than I could have imagined. We need to get in touch with Skinner and get him this information."
Monica was pleased that she'd kept all this information and even more so now that Scully could use it, "I was keeping this in hopes of one day being able to get enough evidence on him to put him away. But, I never got one piece of concrete evidence. Even these pictures don't prove anything. They show he knew these men, but someone quite likely has pictures of you and Mulder talking to them as well. So we need more. This only helps connect him to all that is going on."
"That may be true, but Skinner needs to know he has to be careful in any future dealings with Follmer and we can't be giving him anymore vital information until we get to the bottom of this."
"I agree." Monica said quickly, then moved closer to Scully, "I have a number of copies of these files as well for protection, so we can take this one to Skinner."
Scully's eye's perked up when she saw how careful Monica had been, "Smart girl." "Thank you." Monica smiled. She then grabbed the folder, a briefcase from the floor and as the two women walked towards the door Monica's phone rang. She put the briefcase down and walked over to answer it, "Hello?"
"Put Scully on."
"Who is this?"
"Just put Scully on if you want some information on William."
Monica motioned for Scully to come over and then handed her the phone.
"Scully here. Who is this?"
"That's not important. I know your investigating the disappearance of your son. I have information regarding that. I will give said information for a price. Are you interested?"
"I am not about to deal with some extortionist when I'm looking for my son."
"I have no reason to lie about this." The man's voice said, "Okay, here is a sample of the information I have. Does the name Follmer mean anything to you? Or perhaps you know of an alien shape shifting bounty hunter? Or maybe even a man by the name of Alex Krycek? If so, you know I'm not just making this stuff up."
"Just tell me what you know. No more games. A lot of people know of those men. I need facts and I'm in a hurry." Scully said impatiently.
"I need to know I will get paid for this. If I turn on these men and they find out I'm a dead man."
"I'm not sure what kind of salary you think I make, but I'm by no means a rich woman." Scully responded bluntly but honestly.
"That's okay, get it from the FBI as an informant payoff. They do it all the time. I want $50,000 in unmarked bills and I will lead you to the man who kidnapped your son. I think that's more than a fair offer."
"Whoever you are, you're doing a lot of talking and have produced not one thing so far. I need something to go on before I even think of going to my superiors with such a request."
"Okay, okay. I'm sure by now you know it was Krycek who took your son. But, you don't know why or who he took the kid to. I do. The why is less important, the who is."
Scully was beginning go get impatient, "Enough double talk. Spit out a name or I'm gone."
"As far as I know he has no name. Everyone calls him, The Well-Manicured Man. I know it sounds odd, but that's all I've ever heard him referred to. He was presumed dead from all reports, but he's anything but. He's alive and well and is nothing like the 80 year old man he appears to be."
"What are you talking about?" Scully said, acting as unimpressed as she could, "We've heard of him but he was just part of the conspiracy. I need proof he's alive. Proof of where he is and more importantly proof he has my son. Get that and we'll talk about money."
"I have it."
Scully had no choice but to agree to the meeting, "Fine. Meet me at the corner of 6th and Birch Street at the park. I'll be at the concession stand from 2 PM until 2:15, be there or all bets are off."
"I'll be there." the voice said loudly and then hung up.
"What is it?" Monica asked as she moved over to Scully and hung up the phone for her and then grabbed her shoulders and tried to snap her out of her daze.
"What?" Scully said as her eyes began to focus and saw Monica staring at her intently, "I'm sorry. I just...this man says he has information as to who took William and why. I have to find out if he's telling the truth. I just don't want to get my hopes up to high in case this is just a hoax. I want to believe there is some hope though. I need to."
"There is Dana. There is. Don't ever doubt that. We are going to find William." Monica put her arm around Dana and held her close.
"You're right. I know we will." Scully looked down at her watch and saw that it was 8:35 AM so they had plenty of time to talk to Skinner and still make that meeting. "I don't know if we should tell Skinner about this meeting. He'll want to put us under surveillance and that could spook the guy."
Monica listened carefully to Scully before responding, "Maybe, but if he's just there to get your money then we have to stop him. Skinner could provide the manpower for that."
Scully realized she had no other choice, "I guess you're right. I just don't want to blow this."
"We won't. Now let's get to the office and see what Skinner has learned."
Scully nodded yes and they headed down to the car. The made their way to the bureau and up to Skinner's office and were shown in by his receptionist and both had a seat in front of his desk.
Skinner looked up from a file he was reading, "I'm glad you're both here. We received some very disturbing information about Follmer and his connection to the Russian mob. It's no secret he has spent many years in Russia over the years, well it appears he was a very busy man while he was there. He apparently knew both Salionov and Sikovic extremely well and after checking into his background further we found it was all fake."
"What?" Scully asked loudly. "How on earth is this possible? The FBI does the most thorough background checks of anyone. I don't see how he could slip through."
"Neither do we at the moment, but, he did. We've also learned that he is actually the brother of Alex Krycek." Skinner said very matter of factly as he dropped the bombshell on the two women.