Chapter Eight
501 West Washington St., Indianapolis, Indiana
April 24th, 2001, 8:29 a.m.
Rows of hospital beds now filled the warehouse, and painters on scaffolding worked tirelessly to paint the Goliath windows black from the inside. The Well-Manicured Man kept his surveillance steady on the medical staff, who swept around the structure like a swarm of bees to get the facility ready for its future patients. Once in a great while, a doctor came up to him to ask him a question. However, those doctors were quickly distracted by the orderlies and nurses peppering them with inquiries of their own.
He withdrew a pocket watch from his vest pocket and glanced at it again--Covarrubias was late. But after he placed it back securely in his vest, she walked in the door. "My apologies, sir. It was inconsiderate of me to waste your time--I know how valuable it is," she repented.
"Let's walk outside. It'll be more quiet out there," Well-Manicured Man acknowledged her with a nod and held the door open for her. "We can be in operations in thirty-six hours. The electricity has yet to be installed--that's what our current obstacle is. I believe you're here to report to me about another obstacle; one that's been removed from our path. Am I correct?"
"Campbell's been eliminated. He received a visit this morning from his daughter," Covarrubias told him.
"I thought he was single."
"He was. I chose not to use our informant to complete the task."
"And why would that be?"
"Suppose the Committee votes to stay here. Wouldn't it be wise to keep our contact in the police department?"
"Indeed, it would. However, if we must leave rather unexpectedly, we must leave no ties whatsoever, to our organization," the Well-Manicured Man reminded her. "I have a question for you, and I'd like you answer it as honestly as you possibly can."
"Sir, you know I would never consciously betray or lie to you."
"Good." He stopped dead in his tracks and stood near a truck's cab. "What has happened to Alex Krycek?"
"I thought you knew." Covarrubias paused for a few moments as the driver came in between them to open the door. He took a clipboard from behind the seat and left without a word after shutting the door. "We found his remains in the FBI parking lot garage two months ago."
"Remains? What happened?"
"He was shot through the skull with an automatic weapon--the bullet used was a 9mm. We're not precisely sure who killed him, but we know that for a fact-"
"Mulder?"
"That it was not him. He had already turned in his weapon to the FBI a month beforehand."
"What about his personal firearm?"
"It wasn't a 9mm. He owned a Walther .380."
"What about Strughold's nanite controller?"
"That was not found on the body, and we searched all throughout Krycek's residence for it. Someone has stolen it, and my guess would include Walter Skinner on that short suspect list," Covarrubias surmised. "But don't worry--that wasn't Strughold's only one. And I'm wondering, if he'd let us use the nanotechnology to fight off this virus, this purity substance."
"What about digitalis?"
"It works, but you know what the side effects are; heart arrhythmia, paralysis, and even death. I thought we're trying to save the human race, not kill it in the process," she said as she lifted a gloved hand in an upward motion and swept it across her neck.
"You bring up a good point." Suddenly, his cellular phone rang, and he retrieved it from his coat pocket. "Yes? Strughold, where are you? Well, if you are in Germany, how did you hear about--...she got approval from her superior at the FBI? Yes, she's right here, as a matter of fact. Would you like to speak with Marita?"
Covarrubias came forward and reached for the phone, but he waived her off at the last moment. "No? Well, I don't know, but I'll have to ask her. Yes, Campbell's dead. I told you. And if she cannot, I shall come up with a solution to the situation. Right. See you tomorrow."
He hung up and began to walk away from the truck; she followed him. "What was that about?" she queried.
"Agent Scully is being granted permission to stay here in Indianapolis by Deputy Director Kersh. Strughold was asking me if you have a solution to quickly end her involvement. You see, I told you that in time, you would gain his respect."
"My first thoughts go to the Attorney General, but I cannot legitimately come up with a reason to pull her out of there as of this moment. He always wants a reason, or at the very least, a credible excuse."
"What circumstance is the ultimate family reunion, albeit slightly morbid?"
"A funeral. You're not about to suggest that-"
"No. Death just creates an evanescent scenario for us--a quick fix, as you Americans call it. That was Spender's way, and we are determined now more than ever not to fall down the same treacherous path he carved for us," the Well-Manicured Man said. "I was speaking of abduction."
"Both of them have been taken; both of them would know what the signs are and possibly how to escape."
"Ah, but they have a son now. Did they take him on this trip?"
"I would say no."
"What makes you think that?"
"If I were a mother and an FBI agent, I would not want my child with me, especially since he's that young," Covarrubias reasoned. "As a matter of fact, I would leave him with a trusted family member."
"Ah, yes. Mrs. Scully. I believe she is living alone, is she not?"
"We could send out one of our men to follow her and find out."
"Do it. I don't care how, just have it done by tomorrow morning."
"Should we take him to them?"
"No. Keep him safe for now--we just want to remove Agent Scully from Indianapolis."
"I heard that the child is supposed to be special, though. He'll be safe in the facility. How long should we hold him?"
"I'll leave that decision to you. But when our men strike, it must be in one fell swoop, and no deaths."
"Of course--no deaths."
Indianapolis Police Department, South Precinct, Indianapolis, IN
April 24th, 2001, 9:06 a.m.
Detective Cooper yawned and began to unbutton his trench coat as he stepped through the doors to the precinct. "Good morning," he greeted Sgt. Riker, who simply nodded back without looking up from the reception bureau.
Another police officer approached Cooper. "Detective, there's been a murder in the holding area. Your suspect, the drug dealer, Campbell, is dead," he informed Cooper.
"Oh no. When did this happen?"
"Between six and seven o'clock, sir."
"Why didn't anyone give me a ring?"
"Well, he kind of just finished dying in the last fifteen minutes." Cooper left his coat on and pursued the officer to the jail. "We moved the other prisoners away from him."
"Just what in the hell happened here? Why didn't anybody call the paramedics!"
"I guess no one figured he was dying, sir. We did call them--they're on their way, but...you know what time of the morning it is, sir."
"Shit. Shit, shit, shit!" Cooper grabbed the officer's keys from his belt and let himself into Campbell's cell, making sure he did not disturb the scene. Campbell was on the floor; a large trail of blood on the bed and floor surrounded him entirely. The detective pulled out a pair of latex gloves and cautiously felt for a pulse in his neck with one of them.
"When the ambulance gets here, send them away. There's nothing they can do, like you said," Cooper sighed angrily. "Get the coroner...the Chief Coroner over here now."
"Yes, sir," the officer agreed and left Cooper alone.
He gently pushed Campbell's neck to the other side and found two punctures on it.
"Yikes. Better call his racquetball instructor and let him know that he'll be late for his lesson," Mulder called from the entrance to the jail, and Cooper's head snapped up.
"He's dead," Cooper informed him and got down on one knee to inspect the wounds more closely. "Though I'm not exactly sure of what to make of these stab wounds."
"He's been exsanguinated, Detective," Scully said and brushed by Mulder just outside Campbell's cell. "From the look of it, the attacker stabbed him here at the door and somehow, there was a struggle on the bed. Campbell then fell off and tried to crawl towards the bars for help."
"What time did you get here, Detective?" Mulder questioned him.
"About ten minutes ago, actually. I greeted a few people and before I could get to my office, someone came and told me that about Campbell's condition. What're you two doing here, anyhow?"
"I came by to see how your investigation's been going--my supervisor called me back, and now the FBI has an official concern for this case," Scully replied.
"I just came by for the free donuts," Mulder shrugged with a cavalier grin.
"What's uh, an exsanguination, Agent Scully?"
"The victim is usually pierced with, as you might have guessed, a sharp object in the jugular. Then the heart continues to pump, which is why there is so much blood everywhere." She donned her prophylactics and bent down to examine Campbell. "Two holes. Interesting."
"How so?' Cooper wondered.
"One is usually enough to begin the phlebotomy. But it seems as if this was done to quicken the death, so that twice the amount would spill out. Or perhaps, it was a case of inaccuracy on the killer's behalf. Now that I look at that second piercing, I'm more inclined to believe that theory."
"Why not just shoot him?"
"Someone would've heard the gunshot and possibly had time to rescue Campbell. Was this area being guarded this morning?" Mulder asked.
"As far as I know, it was," Cooper answered him and got up. "Ugh. I just bought these trousers," he growled as he noticed a few droplets of blood on his knee. "I'm going to go find out just how in the hell this guy got popped like this. Excuse me for a minute." He walked out of the cell, and Mulder took his place, careful not to step in anything.
"What're you thinking, Mulder?' Scully pressed her old partner and glanced upward at him.
"I'm thinking that I liked you better with your hair short. I don't know exactly why...I think it's an obstacle for me to get to your neck," he eyed her.
She pursed her lips together, took out another pair of gloves, and handed them to him.
"Hey, you wanted to know. Don't ask, don't tell."
"Don't go there, Mulder."
He shrugged and looked around the cell. Nothing looked unusual. The sheets were rumpled and bloody, the toilet had recently been used, and there looked to be about an inch left of toilet paper on the roll that sat just beside it. "Mmm..."
"The wheels are turning, Mulder. What's coming out?"
"Yeah, but the gears are rusty," he remarked and scratched his cheek. "Well, maybe I haven't lost my touch. I spy something...black."
Scully closed her eyes in vexation but let the feeling go; she remembered that Mulder always needed to play games. She considered buying him a 3D puzzle once when they were the hottest toys on the market, but figured that a model of Capitol Hill wasn't the best choice in gifting at the time. When he wanted to devote himself to something, he gave it his complete all. Seventy-five percent of the other time, he became bored too easily and frequently moved on to the next matter without a second thought.
"Is it animal or vegetable?" she returned.
"Neither," he stated with his eyes glued upon the object.
Scully arose and began to look around the cell. "Okay. Is it a piece of furniture?"
"Go fish."
"Umm...is it liquid?" Honest to God, she hoped that he was not looking at the oil. No, he seemed much too relaxed.
"Go fish," Mulder shook his head.
"Honestly, Mulder," her hands went to her hips indignantly. "I give up."
"I see you, but you usually can't see me. I have only one eye, but if you look through me, I can represent images that flow through your memory."
"What's up with all the riddles these days, Mulder?"
"Just think and follow my eyes, Scully." She gave him a sharp glare but did as she was told and was rewarded for her obedience soon after.
"A camera. No, you haven't lost your touch, Mulder."
"Well, it looks like some little girl claiming to be Campbell's daughter came in earlier this morning to see...him..." Cooper burst back into the jail and trailed off in his thoughts as he found them gaping at something in the air. "What's going on?"
"Uh, nothing. Did she sign in?" Scully asked.
"Yes, but, well...Campbell was single," Cooper stammered. "What are you staring at?"
"Someone that can tell us what happened," Mulder remarked and pointed to the camera.
"Right. Off we go to security, then. Come along. Forensics is itching to get in here and collect all the evidence while it's still mostly fresh." Scully and Mulder tore off their gloves and dumped them into a wastebasket outside the holding area.
"I have much to tell you, Agent Scully," Cooper began. "And the information is mostly from what I gathered yesterday while we were separated."
"Is it all right if I tag along?" Mulder kept walking with Scully and Cooper, although it sounded more like a statement than a request.
"Yes, by all means. I found a deputy coroner's fingerprints all over the autopsy bay. I also found yours, Agent Scully, and Dr. Verne's. However, on the refrigerator, there was only one set of fingerprints and hand imprints, which I would assume to be yours, Agent Scully, since you were the one that opened and shut the door when you hurried to put the cadaver back into cold storage. Does that make sense?"
"So far like dollars and cents," Mulder commented.
"I then found the roster duty for the night and found only one deputy coroner signed in by the name of Bertram Kovach. But, interestingly enough, he wasn't home when I tried to call him. And no one in his apartment building has seen him since yesterday morning," Cooper went on. "You were correct about their methods, Dr. Mulder. We couldn't find any other damning evidence, except for some freon and gasoline in that parking lot. You drive a rental, right, Agent Scully?"
"Yes, a Chrysler," Scully agreed.
"What about Dr. Verne?" Cooper opened the door to the security office, and there he already was.
"What about me?" Jarod questioned the Detective.
"What kind of car do you drive, sir?"
"A 2001 Toyota Celica. Why do you ask?"
"You don't uh...happen to have a gasoline or freon leak, do you?"
"Freon hasn't been used in car air conditioning since the 1980s. And no, I don't believe I have a gas leak."
"You were awfully quick to get up here," Mulder noticed.
"Well, I was called. I would be down in the cell right now examining the body, except that it's rather crowded. And I asked where the surveillance office was--remember that I was once a security guard?" Jarod replied.
"Yes, I recall hearing you say that yesterday," Scully remarked. "Was that before or after your residency in Delaware?"
That question caught him off guard. Perhaps working with an inquisitive FBI agent wasn't a wise idea. But it could just be an innocent inquiry. He chose to answer it as truthfully as possible. "Afterward," he said and cleared his throat.
"Where's the security technician?" Cooper wondered.
"Oh, he just stepped out for a minute. I think this is the camera that caught it all, if I'm not mistaken," Jarod observed and pointed to one of the monitors.
Neither Cooper nor Scully said a word. In fact, both of them were staring directly at Jarod. Mulder was the first to break the tension that had been gathering very quickly in the last two minutes. "It looks like the same angle to me, Scully, what do you say?"
"You may be right," she responded and crossed her arms.
"Sorry about that. Drank too much coffee, had to piss like a racehorse," the surveillance technician, Officer Clancy announced and walked into the office. "What can I help you folks with?"
"We're looking for a murderer. And we're kind of wondering why you didn't catch the person while she was in action," Cooper accused him.
"I...I...I don't know what to say, sir. I'm sorry. I just thought it was a little girl, that's all," Clancy apologized.
"Let's see the footage," Mulder motioned with his head to the monitor. "What time did this girl sign in, Detective?"
"Six thirty-two on the time sheet," Cooper declared and came closer to the desk.
"Let me just...uh...you know, I might have been switching one of the tapes in the VTRs," Clancy suggested as he traveled into the next room and stopped one of them. "These tapes only record for about eight hours or so. And I keep on asking them to upgrade to twenty-four hour machines, or at least some disk recorders so I can keep them in the same room with me."
"Yes, this is a rather crude setup for a police station," Jarod agreed. "Are you the only one on duty here?"
"No, there are 3 other officers. But it happened on my shift, so it is my fault."
"Not necessarily so," Scully shook her head. "Play the tape, please."
"Okay, here we are, at about six thirty-three," Clancy informed them and started the video.
The camera showed a girl that was about nine years old with brown hair and a winter coat journeying into the cell block. Campbell zipped up his pants and faced her. Although there was no audio, everyone could tell from Campbell's body language that he did not know who she was. The girl offered him a greeting card and smiled affectionately at him. He snatched it from her hands, scowled, and then threw it down to the ground. He was just about to turn his back on her when she began to speak.
Campbell leaned forward and a puzzled expression came over his face. He cupped a hand over his ear but still could not understand the girl. She beckoned him closer with one finger, and he knelt down right near the cell bars on one knee. The girl whispered her message and without wasting one more moment, withdrew the fatal stiletto weapon. She stabbed him in the neck, sneaked through the bars, and dragged Campbell by the collar to his bed. He weakly tried to stop the bleeding with one hand.
The girl pried his hand away from his neck and held it down, apparently not satisfied with her work. She brought the stiletto down again and severed the jugular vein in his neck a second time. The blood sprayed against the wall and continued to ooze onto the bed. She let go of his hand and slid back out of the jail. The girl looked up before she left directly at the camera and waived with a devilish grin. Then she walked out with her hands in her coat pockets.
"Remarkable," Jarod commented.
"Unbelievable, that's what it is. How can a girl that young possess that kind of strength or even knowledge of where to stab a bloke fatally in the neck?" Cooper demanded.
"Remember those bodies that were stolen from the morgues, Detective?" Scully reminisced.
"Yes, of course."
"They were killed in the same fashion, but only with one piercing to the jugular each. What else did you find out about our missing dead persons?"
"Oh, Walsh and O'Shaungnessy had only one thing in common with one another: taste in nightlife. I found credit card charges made at Dilvo's at the O'Shaungnessy residence after speaking with the widow. And I discovered a flier in the trash at Walsh's apartment," Cooper told the group.
"The CSI team went back to the drop scenes to try and recover trace evidence. Both bodies were placed a total of equal distance from Dilvo of one half mile. But here's another curious thing; two pairs of boot prints were found near the corpses with two rather familiar substances," Cooper went on.
"Freon and gasoline," Jarod insinuated.
"Correct. Shall we go to my office to discuss this? Thank you for your time, Officer Clancy." He ushered them outside and into a hallway. "Since the bodies were found face down on their stomachs, I would guess that two people picked up one body at a time with the help of a sheet or tarp--no, they must have used a sheet, and then unrolled it into its final resting position."
"Dr. Verne, I just had a revelation. What exactly, was the cause of O'Shaugnessy and Walsh's deaths?" Mulder asked.
They arrived in Cooper's office; all sat down except Jarod.
"Come on, Mulder. They bled to death," Scully rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I know...but I wonder if they did it because they were running out of time."
"Who?" Cooper asked.
"The deputy coroner and the former chief coroner. Tell me, were the levels of digitalis and Ecstasy found to be fatal amounts?" Mulder answered.
"No, they weren't. The traces of digitalis were much more prevalent than the methydioxymethamphetamine, though. I did an experiment yesterday, while I was waiting for the blood analysis to be finished. I took a drop of Walsh's blood with the MDMA and combined it with some digitalis that was there in the lab. The MDMA totally nullified it, over a total time period of about half an hour," Jarod explained.
"Looks like they were trying to kill the oil. But neither succeeded, or thought so, at least, and instead, they murdered both and dropped them for dead," Mulder proposed.
"But one of them did succeed, Mulder. The virus found in Vanessa Walsh's body was dead," Scully informed him. "I find it difficult to believe that a street drug could counteract an alien virus."
"Perhaps it was a combination of cold and the Ecstasy," Jarod said. "I'm still not so sure if I'm buying into the 'alien thing', though."
"Believe what you want, Dr. Verne. All Agent Scully and I are looking for is the truth. So far, you've heard a lot but seen nothing. I understand your frustration," Mulder patronized him. "You're trying to place yourself into Dr. Ward's shoes, right?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Well, he did supposedly retire a few days ago. What a coincidence--just before the bodies show up and you as well. Tell us, Dr. Verne, what drew you to Indianapolis? I'm not accusing you of anything, don't worry. I'm just curious."
"A lawsuit," Jarod flatly stated. "A lawsuit brought on by a family against a pharmaceutical company named Roush."
Scully's eyes met Mulder's.
"I thought I could find a rat in the coroner's office. Lots of cases in the Indianapolis PD's records are open. Do you know why? Because Dr. Ward never finished his reports."
"What was the cause for the suit?" Scully questioned Jarod.
"A project gone wrong, I guess. I'm not sure, because I hadn't had time to examine the body yet. I wound up in the middle of a pathologist seminar. The case that you saw me present in the hotel was one I'd done in Delaware."
"Well, it turns out that you did smell a rat, Dr. Verne. I didn't used to believe in fate, but now, I'm starting to wonder if I do," Mulder smiled amusedly. "Detective Cooper, you haven't said anything for a long while. Are you all right?"
"To say the least, a lot of this crap is going over my head. I'm caught in the middle of something very nasty going on--for one thing, I don't understand why Campbell was murdered. I also don't understand how a nine year old girl could possibly do what I saw on that surveillance tape," Cooper replied.
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I think the traffic from the CSI team should have dwindled down by now, and I'd like to examine the body," Jarod stated and reached for the doorknob. "Agent Scully, would you care to join me?"
"Actually, I...I think I'd better stay here and discuss some things with Detective Cooper. I'd like to go out and see the scenes myself, if possible," Scully answered. "But please, do keep us informed of your discoveries. Here." She handed him her FBI business card. "I might be out in the field."
"Okay, will do."
After he left, Scully exchanged a glance with Mulder. He folded one leg across the other and nodded. "Detective Cooper, you're right. It's difficult to know in times like this who allies or enemies are. I had to be sure that I could trust you with this information before I opened my mouth foolishly," she began.
"Consider yourself as having one more ally. As long my morals aren't compromised as an officer of the law, you can count on me. I'll do whatever it takes to get the truth," Cooper promised.
"What I have to tell you is quite unbelievable. But sometimes, the most inconceivable lie cannot appear to be the truth, and the truth is the easiest lie to conceive."
"Tell me what you know, Agent Scully. But if you can, please keep it to layman's terms. I'm a simple detective, not a scientist."
Half an hour later, Cooper stood from his chair and stretched. "You've had quite a long history with these people. It's amazing you're still alive," he observed. "Would anybody care for a coffee?"
"Yes, please. And could I ask for one favor, Detective?" Mulder inquired.
"What's that?"
"Could you bring back a donut with you?"
"I'll bring back three," Cooper nodded and chortled to himself as he exited the office.
"Any thoughts, Mulder?"
"On life or the case?" Her eyes climbed to the heavens, and she gave him a wan smile. "Oh, that's right. I barely passed my philosophy class my junior year in college. Here's a theory for you that I had been chewing on while you so eloquently told our tale. You know how you thought that the Adams of the Litchfield Projects were back? I think Dr. Ward is one of them. The other's got to be the missing deputy coroner."
"Yeah, but...well...--why not dump the bodies in the same spot? If they murdered Walsh and O'Shaungnessy like you say, why did they distance the corpses from one another?"
"To create confusion, perhaps. Whose body was found first?"
"O'Shaungnessy's, I believe," Scully said.
"All right, while the cops were running around the scene questioning everyone in the club and bystanders, they dumped the other body when no one was looking," Mulder offered.
"I wonder where the murders actually took place."
"A private home, most likely. When Detective Cooper comes back, have him send out a couple of officers to Dr. Ward's home. Or let's go visit him ourselves."
"Mulder, did you bring your personal firearm?"
"Of course, but I was hoping that I wouldn't have to use it, especially since I'm not an officer of the law anymore."
"Hope you like Boston cream; that's all that was left. Somebody did a David Copperfield on those jelly-filled ones," Cooper announced as he re-entered the office and shut the door behind him with his foot. "So, what would you like to do, Agent Scully?"
"Um, Mulder suggested we pay Dr. Ward a visit, that is, if he's still in town," she said and gladly took the styrofoam cup of coffee being offered to her. "It's probable that the murders took place inside a residence."
"Well, we have two suspects and two different homes. Let's divide and conquer. I'll take some men with me, and you can choose your own officers to go with you. It didn't really take me all that long to go get those donuts and coffee. I was out getting my search warrant for Bertram Kovach's apartment."
"How did you manage to get one so quickly?" Mulder inquired.
"I've acquired a few friends in the D.A. office that owe me favors."
"If you do happen to run into Mr. Kovach, apprehend him with caution. He's not a normal man--on the outside, he might appear as such, though," Scully admonished Cooper.
"Will do," Cooper agreed. "Looks like we've got to split up again, Agent Scully. You know, in spite of everything that's been done to the two of you, you're still the nicest Americans I've ever met. I can only hope that one day, all of the injustices that have occurred against you will be settled."
"With men like you that continue to hope and fight, I think there's still a chance," Mulder remarked and shook the detective's hand.
Minutes after they finished their coffee, Cooper approached Sgt. Riker's bureau once more. "Sgt. Riker, please give the address of Dr. Ward, former Chief Coroner of Marion County to the FBI people. Who's in at the moment that can give me a hand? I'm off to Kovach's."
"Well, I've got four men at your disposal. They're all on break now, but, I can get them for you whenever you need," she replied.
"That explains the shortage," Mulder muttered.
Riker's head popped up for that retort with a frown.
"Mulder," Scully's wary tone rebuked him.
"I'll go back and talk to them myself," Cooper waived Riker off and disappeared.
The police sergeant moved away from her desk and turned her back. Seconds later, she had the address and even had printed it out for them. "Thank you. I don't suppose you owe Detective Cooper any favors, do you?" Scully asked her.
"None that I can think of," Riker said and picked up the desk phone as it started to ring.