4:17pm

McNamara was glad he'd seen the car driving up to the parking lot by accident. He'd been about to leave the area and drove past the junction when he noticed the car taking a turn up to the parking lot. At this time of year there were very few visitors and he'd been curious about what they'd want up there.

He had followed them at a save distance, using his binoculars to keep track of them while they were first searching Mulder's rental and then climbing down the ravine where Mulder had fallen down after his push. He was not happy when he saw that they actually found the agent.

Something had to be done. Still observing the scene McNamara almost did a double take when he zoomed in on the blond woman just to find her starting right back at her, as if she knew he was there.

Getting up and running back to his car to fetch his gun he heard a faint rumbling in the distance. Stopping he looked up to search the sky for the source. After a few moments his eyes locked on a small dot in the sky which rapidly got bigger. A helicopter.

Damn. He just HAD to eliminate Mulder. Apparently he was not dead yet and they'd radioed for help. If he got on the helicopter there was no way he'd be able to finish the job. Determined he opened the car door and snatched his weapon before running back to the edge of the ravine.

4: 29pm

"Alison?"

Dana Scully was looking at the other woman who was staring intently up the hill. What had she said? *He's here*?

Alison turned to her and repeated: "He's here."

"Who's here? Where?"

"The man who pushed your partner down the ravine, he's up there, watching us."

Scully looked up but couldn't see anything but the helicopter which was coming closer and closer. Skinner went a couple of steps into the desert and kept waving his arms. The helicopter landed about 15 yards from him.

Scully gave the paramedics a short report on Mulder's condition. They adjusted an IV drip to get fluids into his body.

She stepped aside for a moment and gave Skinner a sign to follow her. They walked a few yards so they wouldn't have to shout to be heard through the helicopter noise.

"Alison told me the guy who pushed Mulder is up there. Now I'm torn… I don't know if I must make sure Mulder gets to a hospital safely or to check out if she's right."

"Up there?" Skinner asked and just like Scully before he scoped out the outline of the edge of the ravine.

"Yes." Scully nodded.

"Tell you what. You and Alison take a ride in the chopper with Mulder and I'll climb back up to the car and check the area. If somebody is there I'll try to find out who it is. If not, I'll just follow you to the hospital by car. There's only one hospital close by, a military hospital. It's about 20 miles from here. They'll take Mulder there and I'll meet you there then. Deal?"

Scully pondered a moment and then nodded. Together they walked back to the chopper where the paramedics were telling Alison they had to go now.

Scully quickly asked them to wait another minute and went over to Alison who was still looking up the ravine. When she heard Scully approach she turned to face her.

"He's got a gun." she simply said.

"A gun?" Scully repeated. When Alison nodded she turned to call Skinner. "He's got a gun."

"I'll be careful. I got mine, too."

"Sir, are you sure you…." Skinner interrupted her.

"Yes. Now get in there so Mulder can get some treatment." Seeing that Scully was still hesitating he threatened. "I'll make it an order if I have to, Agent Scully."

Scully smiled and then turned to climb into the chopper.

"You, too", Skinner said to Alison.

"Be careful", she said and joined Scully.

Skinner stood there for a moment and watched the helicopter disappear into the sky. Then he took out his phone to call in a forensics team and started climbing up the path again.

It took him a while longer than the descent had taken. As soon as he reached the top he paused and took his gun out. Slowly he followed the path to the parking lot, paying attention to every noise and movement he noticed.

4:56pm

Wesley McNamara watched the whole scene unfold below him. He saw how they carried Mulder into the chopper, how the redhead and the bald guy talked and then how the two women got into the chopper before it took off.

There was nothing he could do, because his gun didn't reach as far as the chopper and even if he ran towards the scene they'd be long gone when he got there.

Watching the chopper leave he was wondering where they'd take Mulder. His only chance to kill the man now was to get him in hospital. Searching his brain he came up with only one hospital close by. He'd have to take his chance there. If they didn't bring him there, he'd have to come up with a new plan.

Glancing through his binoculars one more time he saw Baldy climbing up the path. *Time to go, Wes*, he thought to himself and returned to his car.

5:16pm

Skinner had carefully returned to Mulder's rental. So far he'd seen nothing suspicious. Maybe Alison had been wrong about the perp being here. Searching the parking area again without success he checked his watch and decided to wait for the forensics team to arrive.

He didn't have to wait long. Soon in the distance of the dusty street he saw a group of four cars coming up for the lot.

Skinner approached one of the vehicles and identified himself. Then he gave the man in charge all the information he had, pointed out the spot where they had found Mulder and handed the man the keys to Mulder's car.

Knowing there was nothing he could do to help the men with their work he decided to get going and join Scully and Alison DuBois at the hospital.