Chapter Six
Williams' Electronics, Boston, Massachusetts
April 1st, 1999, 12:14 p.m.
"Mr. Williams, someone's here to see you," a male young adult knocked on the door after letting Stewart and Lloyd back behind the sales counter.
"Let them in, Chris, and close the door on your way out," Dominic gently instructed him, and he resumed his normal duties moments later. "I wasn't expecting you until tonight, Katherine." Stewart noticed the awkward body language Williams was exhibiting toward him, so he moved slightly farther away from Lloyd's personal space.
"Sarah called me to tell me that Chauvret has agreed to front the shipment to Vancouver. I felt that a more personal visit was required instead of a phone call," Stewart announced.
"How ironic," Dominic chortled. "I know what's going on in your mind, Bernard, so why don't you just come out and say it audibly?" He turned away from his project and faced them.
"Ashcroft phoned me, too. He says the FBI's gotten a warrant for your arrest."
"Oh, that. I was expecting them to come charging across my doorstep last night. But they didn't, thanks to you, Katherine," he leered. "How much am I going to see on my Master card this month?"
"I paid it in cash, Dominic, and secondly, I helped speed it up so I wouldn't have to sit and listen to him drone on for hours in a drunken stupor."
"You, impatient? You must have been tired last night," Stewart broke in.
"He's not one of those people that becomes the life of the party, let's just say," she rolled her eyes.
"But back to the matter at hand, Dominic. Aren't you going to want to leave town?"
"I'm not worried, Bernard. Part of our setup includes my arrest. I'd worry about getting that guard and yourself out first."
"But you're supposed to be in Ottawa in two days!" Stewart exclaimed. "A police arrest is nothing because of our link with Ashcroft, but things could turn very nasty with the FBI."
"Leave that to me. I still have a good amount of influence over Agent Mulder," Katherine placated him. "Besides, didn't Ashcroft say that they'll be just holding him for interrogation purposes?"
"I suppose so. I apologize, Dominic...Katherine. Chauvret's recent aggressive pressure has woven its way under my skin. I really don't like the man at all. Why do we continue to do business with him?"
"Because of his outstanding number of prominent contacts in the shipyards and port agents," Katherine returned patiently.
"Yes, I agree with you, Bernard...the man does have a proverbial stick up his ass. But he gets the job done just as you and Sanchez," Dominic interceded.
If only I weren't married, things would be much less complicated.
"You should have made it a phone call, Bernard, unless you want me to keep hearing your thoughts. And I wouldn't want to share them with a lady present."
"What makes you think you can be so candid with people and not have something to worry about?" Stewart snarled.
"Again, I can pretty much tell who would follow through with a threat or not. Don't you have something better to do than waste your time here right now?"
"I do, actually. I have a lunch meeting in half an hour to attend. Here's the original disc--it's better that you keep it than I." He removed the surveillance recording from a suit coat pocket and placed it into Williams' hands. "Any further contact that I make with you should only be for an emergency, yes?"
"That's correct. I'll be able to slip in and out of their hands like Jackie Chan. For now, take a vacation to Aruba or something. Katherine will call Sarah, and she'll call you when we need your services again." The curator parted from their company, and Lloyd set her briefcase down near a table leg. "You caused a minor breach in their partnership last night, Katherine."
"I'm waiting for the but to come next." Williams reached up as a sighted person might and caressed her hair. She caught his hand and interlaced her fingers with his.
"I care for you very deeply. And I hate to ask you to do this, but...-"
"You want her to witness some affection in public?"
"I told you they have a strong bond, Katherine. We're going to have to work fastidiously in order for it to be completely severed. Do you understand what I'm asking of you?"
"I do. I'm just dreading the thought of it."
"Hmm...so sometimes having a man run through your thoughts isn't such a bad idea." He brought her hand closer to his chest and began to rub her hand in between both of his.
"Not when it's only used for a certain purpose," she grinned devilishly.
"You might want to use the back door on your way out."
"You're not getting rid of me that easily, Dominic." Katherine invaded his personal space and trailed her right index finger down his cheek.
"I mean it. I can hear them coming in the front entrance right now."
"Really? What fragrance is she wearing today?"
He closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose deeply.
"J'adore by Christian Dior. Oh my."
"What are you picking up?" He released her hand, and she retrieved her briefcase suspiciously.
"Some x-rated pictures running through Agent Mulder's mind," Dominic laughed.
"Hope they don't involve me," she smirked.
"They don't." On that note, she gave him a sigh of annoyance and mouthed a goodbye to him upon her exit. Seconds later, Chris opened his door once more.
"Sorry to disturb you again, sir-"
"Bring them back here. I wouldn't want to create a scene in front of the customers."
"What do you mean, Mr. Williams?"
"The FBI agents will be taking me away for a little while, Chris. You remember how to lock up, right?"
"Of course, Mr. Williams." As soon as Mulder and Scully crossed the threshold to his workshop, Williams arose with his cane and flipped it down.
"Dominic Williams, we have a warrant for your arrest," Mulder withdrew the car rental agreement from his pocket and waived it in the air with a flourish.
"Of course you do. I'll come willingly, so you won't need to cuff me, Agent Scully," he said serenely to her just as she was about to step towards him.
"Then you can drop the cane act," Scully retorted smugly. "If you need any assistance, we'll give it to you," she added afterwards, politely. However, she still cuffed his hands together in the front and gently led him out the front door. Mulder followed the two, and as he opened the back car door, Williams shook his head with a tiny chortle.
"What's so funny?" he asked Dominic.
"Your unspoken chemistry. The unprofessional thoughts running in both of your minds like two penned up animals--makes me wonder who's gonna break out first."
"That's enough, Mr. Williams," Scully scolded him as she entered the front passenger seat. They arrived at the FBI field office and escorted Williams into a mirrored holding room. Pendleton popped his head into the room to stare at his new captive inquisitively and made a gesture to Scully to come closer. She did and meekly accepted the real warrant from his hands. "Make sure this interview is done by the book," he snarled in a harsh whisper. "If I hear of any unorthodox methods being used, I'll see to it that Skinner's both notified and the OPC...not necessarily in that order, either!"
"Sir...-"
"I'll be expecting some J & B by the end of the day to be left upon my desk, Agent Scully." He disappeared behind his own office door with a deafening slam shut.
"2 rosaries. There's a liquor store just down the street," Williams stated.
"What?" Scully whirled around with surprise.
"Just answering your questions," he shrugged with a smirk.
"I'm afraid my partner doesn't quite believe you can read thoughts as readily as I do," Mulder broke in.
"I know."
"Then let's play a game."
"Mulder, stop right there. You can't go on any further until his attorney's present," she strode over to him and whispered into his ear.
"I was just going to invite him into my head," Mulder shrugged. "So what's it like, can you hear both of us right now?"
"Mulder!" Scully gave him one of her penetrating glares and pulled out her cell phone. "Mr. Williams, do you need me to punch in the number?" Again, to her surprise, Williams extended his hand to her and accepted the electronic device. She patted Mulder on the arm and signaled him to join her in a corner.
"Wanted me all to yourself, huh?" he grinned roguishly.
"I'll let you know when I think you're humorous," she snapped back in a hushed tone. "We're on pins and needles with Pendleton, Mulder. Just watch your behavior."
"Who died and anointed you queen?"
"I'm trying to keep us in line here."
"Well, I'm trying to solve the case."
"By goading his supposed talents? You're better than that, Mulder."
"Just what do you intend to accomplish by questioning him, then? You were the one that told Pendleton you needed a warrant anyway."
"I wanted to arrest him, not interrogate him."
"You know that a surveillance tape with his image on it isn't going to be enough to convict him, Scully. I suggest we utilize a different strategy to get more evidence."
"You already did, Mulder! That piece of electronics he used was made by his own hands. Granted, I don't exactly understand how he created the thing. Did you ask Byers to lift prints off of it?"
"Too many people have handled it." Scully's hands embraced her temples, and she began to knead them slowly with polysyllabic groans. "Ahh...what about that frame you had examined? Wasn't it a fake? We could track it down from the Boston Port Authorities and then-"
"Mulder, you are a godsend. Thank you." She lifted her head from her fingers and was about to stroke his face but then remembered their present company. Her hands instead judiciously went to tap his shoulders lightly and then back to their crossed form.
"I wish I could get those words carved into stone," he murmured.
"All right, while I go to the police department to retrieve the frame, you stay here and wait for his lawyer to be present before questioning him."
"You mean guard him? How far is he going to go? And what am I going to do in the meantime?"
"Tsk, oh, you sound like my eleven year old godson, Mulder. For god-sakes, pull yourself together," Scully huffed and bit her upper lip. His sullen expression reappeared as if she had just run over his dog, and she let her commandeering gait down for a few moments. "Fine. You go to the police department--I'll wait here."
"I promise to bring back something good, pookie," he winked and poked her in an unguarded spot near her ribs on his way out.
Where the hell did that nickname come from?
"The cartoon strip series Garfield--it's the pet name Garfield gave his teddy bear. And stop trying to look so hot and bothered every time he teases you...you secretly crave every morsel," Williams remarked snidely.
"If you really can read my thoughts like you say, Mr. Williams, then you should know you're drifting into some very ominous waters." As he glanced in her opposite direction, he cocked his head to one side as if he were listening to the tsunami of a lifetime hitting his ears. He shifted into a proper posture from his previous slouch and placed his feet squarely onto the floor.
"I believe you," he nodded timidly.