Chapter 10

Scully's Apartment

7:15 p.m.

Scully had run as fast as she could from the city morgue. When she had reached the parking lot, she stopped to catch her breath. She had to get as far away from Jeremy as possible. She had not liked how he had grabbed her and intimidated her. It had almost seemed like he was a different person and nothing like the sweet guy that she used to know. It was amazing how status could change someone. There had been a time when she would have considered dating Jeremy but as she had told him, he had been too busy trying to impress his superiors. When he had made the statement concerning Mulder, Scully realized she had probably over-reacted with elbowing him in the stomach but then again maybe she hadn't. He had hit a nerve with her and she knew if he wished he could use it to his advantage. She was always sensitive when it came to Mulder and unfortunately it had caused many problems.

These thoughts were running through her mind as she pulled up to her apartment. Again, her pre-occupied mind made her unaware of the car parked across the street and the pair of eyes that sat in the darkness watching her.

Getting out of the car, she grabbed her satchel and headed into her apartment. Making her way to her apartment, she unlocked the door and stepped inside. Laying her satchel on the chair, she took off her trenchcoat and hung it in the closet. Walking over to her stereo, she placed a CD of "Beethoven" and pressed "PLAY". Instantly, the soothing melodic notes of "Moonlight Sonata" began to fill the room. She always liked to listen to classical music when she wanted to sort out her thoughts. She walked over to the window and opened it. She closed her eyes and felt her skin tingle as a breeze came over her. It did not seem like a normal breeze but one that held mystery. This breeze almost had a scent on it and it intoxicated her. An image began to conjure up in her mind. She saw the shadow of a man holding out a single red rose to her. As she took the rose, he touched her hand. An electricity and sensual feeling overcame her as she felt herself being drawn to him. She reached out her hand and was just about to see his face when she heard a voice.

"Not yet, my love. You will see my face when we meet. I know you are most anxious to know me and why I have come to you. Come to me and I will reveal everything to you. Everything your heart desires and all the questions you wish to know the answers to."

Suddenly the image was gone and she found herself standing by the window again. What had just happened to her? She had felt like she was not even there for those few moments. Something told her that she should go to the restaurant even though she knew that Mulder would tell her not to. She was unlike Mulder in some ways in that at times she longed for some things beyond work. She remembered the time that Mulder had gone out of town and she had gotten involved with a strange man as well as had a tattoo done. She could not really explain to Mulder why she had done it. It was almost like there was another side to her that even she did not understand at times. That mysterious side of her was controlling her even now.

She walked back from the window and walked into her bedroom closet. As she walked it was almost like she did not have control over her actions. She looked through her wardrobe and picked out a black outfit with black straps. As she looked at it, she remembered the first time she had worn it. She could still see CSM sitting across from her at the table holding a wineglass. He like so many others in her life had manipulated her and in many ways taken advantage of her. Taking off her skirt and blouse she slipped into the black dress. Walking up to her mirror she looked into it and brushed a piece of her auburn hair behind her ear. Reaching into her jewelry box she pulled out two pearl studs and placed them in her ear. She then pulled out a string of pearls and reaching around her neck closed the clasp. She rarely dressed up but when she did, she did have some things for the occasion. She knew where this restaurant was and she knew that the dress code was formal. She took one last look in the mirror and satisfied with her appearance went back into the living room. She went to pick up the phone and was just about to dial Mulder's number when she stopped. She always let Mulder know when she went to do something she was unsure of but this was a time when she felt that he should not know. She placed the phone back on its cradle and went to fetch her coat.

Krycek sat in the car and a smile came across his face. When Scully had gone to the window, he had watched as the breeze had buffeted her auburn hair. He could almost feel the touch of her skin and could feel her longings crying out. He knew now how much she wanted to meet her admirer and he had prevented her from calling Mulder. He knew that Mulder would be the only thing to stand in his way. Issac had said that he was going to take care of Mulder but until then he had to take care of things himself. He watched as Scully came out of the apartment and stepped into her car. There were times when he did like having the influence over others and now was that time.

"You don't know her the way I do Mulder and you never will. You will never know the secret desires she harbors and be able to fulfill them."

He started the car and headed toward his destined rendezvous.

The City Morgue

7:45 p.m.

Nurse Saunders had grumbled as she had wheeled away the dead body on the gurney. "Just who the hell does he think he is?" she muttered. She admitted that she thought he was handsome but in the personality department that was another matter. It had angered her the most that he had made her look like an "ultimate ass" in front of the FBI Agent. She had plans for the evening and they were being put on hold because of having to prep the body. After putting the body on the table she had taken out a tag and written "Doe, John" on it before placing it on the toe. She gathered the usual tools used for an autopsy and placed them near the table. She then walked into an adjoining room to gather the rest of the materials when she ran into the local coroner. "Oh, I'm sorry I thought I was alone in here. I was just prepping a body for autopsy in the far room. Excuse me, Dr."

"It's quite all right Nurse Saunders." The coroner said reading her nametag. "I don't usually work this late either but I have people riding me up and down regarding this case. If you need any of these tools I would be happy to relinquish them to you." He gave her a warm smile.

"That is very kind of you Dr." she replied batting her eyelashes at him. Alison knew she was a terrible flirt but she didn't care. She liked men and she was quite familiar with the local coroner. She had seen him come into the morgue many times and he had always glanced a smile her way. She had hoped that he would ask her out but so far had not done so. She was becoming so desperate that she had even considered asking him herself many times. She watched as the Dr. continued with his autopsy. He then placed the tools she needed onto the table. She went to pick them up when he placed his hand on hers.

"So tell me, Ms. Saunders. What is a lovely lady like you doing working here on a Friday evening? I would think that someone like you would be out on a date somewhere?"

"You flatter me Dr. However I must inform you that I do not have a date tonight."

"Is that so?" the coroner grabbed her hand. "Well now you do."

"Are you asking me out Dr.?"

"Yes, I believe I am. As soon I am through with this autopsy I would be honored if you would join me for dinner tonight. That is if you wish to go?"

Alison smiled. "I think that would be very nice. Let me finish prepping this body for autopsy and I will meet you there as I will need to go home and change."

The coroner smiled back. "Sounds good to me. Meet me at the Red Rose café and I should be along shortly."

"All right I will be there." She turned to leave. "Oh, and Dr, please call me Allison."

"Very well, Allison." He said smiling. "My name is John."

"Well, John I will let you get back to your autopsy and see you at the Red Rose." Allison said blowing him a kiss. She picked up the tools and headed out of the room. She could sense the coroner's eyes watching her and she swung her hips a little more. She could almost see him drooling even now and a smiled crept across her face. She loved having men wrapped around her little finger. "Well, you had your chance Dr. Jeremy Spears." She muttered as she walked back into the room. She looked at the table and dropped the tools that she was holding. The body that had been on the table was...gone! She looked around the room with no signs of anyone. She quickly ran out the door and looked down the hallway but nothing but emptiness met her eyes. "Well, it couldn't have just walked out of here all by itself!" she muttered.

She was about to go down the hallway to find Dr. Jeremy Spears when she stopped. "Wait a minute, I have a date. He asked me to prep the body for autopsy and that is exactly what I did. It is not my fault if the body turns up missing when I am gone. Anyone could have walked in to get the body when I left the room." She walked to the back room and grabbed her coat. "Let Dr. Spears deal with the missing body. After all I am just a nurse!" She muttered as she walked towards the door and to her car.

Dr. Jeremy Spears came down the hallway minutes later and headed towards the room where he had told Nurse Saunders to prep the body for autopsy. Approaching the door he put on a pair of latex gloves. "All right, it's ShowTime!" he said opening the door. His cheery attitude was taken away as he looked at the empty table in front of him. "What the hell?" He looked at the door to make sure he was at the right door. "This is the right room but where the hell is the body?" He muttered. He could see the tools were placed on the table just like they should only thing was there was no body!

He walked out of the room and made his way to the security desk. "Excuse me, but has anyone else been in room number "16" besides myself and Nurse Saunders?"

The security guard looked at his clipboard. "No, No Dr. no one else signed for entering that room. Why?"

Jeremy turned pale. "I...I was just wondering. Thank you."

"Are you all right Dr. Spears?"

"Yes, yes I am please excuse me."

He walked away from the security desk and made his way to a far room. He opened up his briefcase and pulled out a small black book. Years ago, she had given him her cell number in case he needed to contact her regarding information on cases. He hoped it still worked, as he did not know whom else to contact regarding what had just happened. "This is definitely up your alley, Dana." He muttered as he dialed her cell.