1Chapter One

He had been sat there in his car for ages, watching the apartment building. He had seen the mailman come and go, the same thing happened with the paperboy. He'd watched joggers pass his car, completely oblivious to his presence. He didn't mind though; he preferred going unnoticed, it made his task easier.

For a split second he worried that he wouldn't be able to recognize him: that the man he sought after would just walk past his car window and he wouldn't be any the wiser. He shook his head and smiled malevolently. There was no way he could ever forget him; his image was forever burned in his memory since their last encounter, roughly eleven years ago. He doubted very much if the arsehole even remembered him. His expression set into one of malice. Never the less, after this second encounter, he would make sure he left a lasting impression on his nemesis.

The sun was just beginning to set when he saw him. Hatred coursed through his veins at the very sight of him. Tall as ever, with a charming, cavalier air about him. He had to admit, the guy was good looking. Dark hazel eyes that had a certain boyish glint to them, a cheeky smile; the kind of stuff women always went crazy about. He was wearing a suit; probably just back from work. While he watched, the passenger door opened and a second figure stepped out. This one caused him to do a double take.

It was a woman, also in a suit. She was petite, standing a head shorter than her companion, with short russet hair and blue eyes. In other words; beautiful. The watcher observed his enemy walk round the car towards his pretty friend and begin talking. He was too far away to hear the words; he concentrated more on body language. And from the look of things, his 'friend' obviously cared for his associate. A malicious smile crossed his face as an idea hit him. He watched the man walk into his building and, as quick as a flash, pulled out a Nikon camera and snapped a photo of the attractive woman.

He froze as she turned to stare in his direction, but relaxed and snapped another picture when he realized that the glare from the sun concealed his position. His smile grew wider as he watched her climbed into the driver's side of the car and pull away from the curb, then proceeding to drive down the street and out of sight around a corner. This was just too easy. He shifted the car into drive and sped down the street. He needed to put the second part of his newly formed plan into action.

Fox Mulder was sat in his apartment, alone as ever. Suggestive moans and groans were coming from the television, which he stared mindlessly at. He was so bored even his favorite blue movie couldn't cheer him up. Listlessly he switched off the TV and turned to stare at the phone. Should he call Scully? And if he did, what excuse would he give? They hadn't had a case in weeks so that was out of the question. Besides, it was 2:00 am; she was probably fast asleep like most normal people on the planet. 'Since when has that stopped me?' he thought with a smile.

As if making up his mind for him, his telephone began ringing. He grabbed it and placed the receiver to his ear.

"Hello?"

Silence greeted him.

"Hello?" Still nothing. With a sigh, he hung up. Flipping the light out, he lay on his sofa in the dark, listening to the rain and letting the minutes creep slowly by.

The next day Mulder was up bright and early. He showered, dressed and grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and a cup of coffee for breakfast. After snatching up his keys, badge and gun, he exited his apartment closing and locking the door behind him. He was about to walk down the corridor towards the elevator when he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was a white envelope on the floor outside his door, addressed to him. Bending down, he picked up the envelope and ripped it open, pulling out its contents.

There was a piece of paper wrapped around something. He regarded it with confusion for a few moments before unfolding the piece of paper to see what it contained. His eyes grew wide with confusion. It was a picture of Scully. It had been taken the day previously, judging by the clothes Scully had on. She was staring straight at the camera but it was obvious she had no idea it was there.

Ripping his eyes away from the image he turned to the piece of paper that had also been contained in the envelope. Written on it, in poison pen, was "Very pretty, isn't she?" Shaking his head, he stuffed the photo and letter into his inside pocket and proceeded down the corridor. He would deal with this later. Right now he was going to be late for work.

He saw him exit the apartment building and walk to his car. From the look on his face he was deep in thought about something. The watcher smiled to himself, knowing that he would've received his little letter first thing that morning. His smiled grew wider, seeing the obvious concern it brought him. Still, what he had in mind was going to cause him a hell of a lot more than just concern.

His eyes followed the car down the street and out of view. He made a mental note to drag this out as long as possible. After all, it would add to the torture.

Slightly breathless, Mulder exited the elevator at the basement and started down the corridor. Damn traffic. He glanced at his watch and cringed – 8:34. Late again. Stepping inside the office he did a quick scan, noting that Scully's coat and briefcase were present. Yet she was nowhere to be seen. His mind returned to the photo and note in his inside pocket and his pulse quickened a little. A voice coming from in front of him and slightly to his right slowed it.

"I was beginning to wonder when you'd grace me with your presence. I've been here since 7:30." Scully stepped out from behind a filing cabinet, a hint of amusement in her voice. A slight smile crossed her pretty features but faded quickly after taking one look at her partner.

"Are you ok Mulder? You look pretty rough. Bad night?" Her brow furrowed with concern, she took a few steps towards him.

"Yea I'm fine," he replied, shrugging his coat off and hanging it up on the stand. "What you got for me?" He gestured towards the manila folder in her hands. She passed it to him and he opened it, scanning the words.

"Don't get too excited, it's not an X-File. Skinner drafted us in on this due to lack of manpower and the fact that we 'haven't had a proper case in over four weeks',"

Mulder carried on reading so Scully continued.

"There have been seven attempted kidnaps in the past two weeks, all within a two mile radius of each other. The last two have been near the child's play area in Lafayette Park. We think he'll strike there again; he's getting a little desperate due to lack of successes. Eyewitnesses have said they've seen the same man hanging around the scenes on each separate occasion. He's been identified as one Evan Michael Chandler."

That name sounded familiar to Mulder, although he couldn't remember where he'd heard it before. "Although he has previous for kidnapping, there wasn't enough evidence to hold him so he was released without charge."

"Where do we come in?" Mulder asked a little impatiently.

"Agent Matt Berry, the agent heading this investigation and Deputy Director Kirsh are organizing an operation to catch this guy. Judging by his previous time span it should probably be early next week. We have to go to a meeting concerning it at 11:30." While Scully had been talking, Mulder's thoughts had drifted back to the note and the phone call he had received the previous night. They were connected, of that Mulder was sure. But how? And who? Also, what was there motive? Those were the things he had to work out before things progressed any further.

Scully meanwhile had noticed the lapse in Mulder's concentration.

"MULDER LOOK! A UFO!" Scully shouted and he jumped, looking around him. She could barely contain a giggle. "Nice to see you're back with me. Did you hear a word I just said?"

"Yes," he lied and Scully's eyebrow shot up. "Most of it anyway. What was that last part? About the meeting?"

"It's at 11:30 in Skinner's office. Make sure you're there," she added, grabbing her coat and heading towards the door.

"Why? Where are you going?"

"I have an appointment. I'll be back for the meeting though, but I won't have enough time to come and find you beforehand."

"Fine, I'll make sure I'm there. What kind of appointment?" But she was already out the door. He stood listening to the click of her heels fade slowly away, and then the ping of the elevator doors.

Once he was sure she wasn't going to come back for something she'd forgotten he sat down in his chair and pulled the note and picture out from his inside jacket pocket. He stared at it for a long while. Judging from the angle of the picture, the photographer was on the other side of the road. He hadn't noticed any cars there, but then again he hadn't been looking. He wondered if Scully had noticed anything but got rid of that idea straight away. He wasn't about to tell her and worry her if it was nothing. Stiffness in his shoulders told him he'd been sat there for quite a while. But how long exactly? He shifted his position and glanced at the clock. 11:26.

"Shit!" He jumped up from his chair and dashed out of the office and down the hall.

Once the elevator doors had pinged shut, a lone figure dressed in black entered the office quietly. Stealthily, the person walked towards the desk and placed a white envelope in the center. And as quietly as they had arrived, the figure left.