Tuesday, April 8
Washington D.C.
Hoover Building
"I brought you another cup of coffee. You look like you're getting a little ragged." Mulder put a large cup in front of Scully. "Skim milk, two sugars. Just the way Madame likes it."
Scully's stomach grumbled. What she really wanted was some dinner, but Mulder was insistent on going through the stacks of files he had on his desk before they left for Ohio in the morning. She wrapped her hands around the Starbucks coffee cup to feel the warmth. As usual, the basement was cool with a hint of damp in the air. She was not looking forward to spending an indeterminable amount of time in Yellow Springs, Ohio investigating a psychic who seems to have an uncanny knack of figuring out every murder case the local police department had consulted her on. Skinner wanted the partners to investigate a possible role the psychic might have had in the murders, because even the locals were becoming suspicious of the woman's 100% accuracy. Mulder's interest, of course, was different.
"Thanks for the coffee, Mulder. How many more cases do we have to go?"
"Um, about ten more."
"But we have already reviewed fourteen! How long has this woman been at her crystal ball, anyway?" Scully raised her eyebrow at Mulder.
"I told you this already. Pay attention, will you? The cops went to this woman only a year ago when they had hit dead ends in a child abduction and murder case. The psychic then gave them information about several cold cases in the area that were long forgotten. They charged all but one of the suspects, and since then, they have asked her about other murders throughout Ohio. She has led them to a strong suspect in each one. Uncanny, huh?" Mulder leaned back in his chair and put his intertwined hands behind his head.
"Sounds like an episode of 'Unsolved Mysteries' to me." She stood up from behind her desk and stretched.
"Ah, that's what I love about you, Scully. Your unwavering skepticism and your prejudgment that there will always be an explanation besides paranormal phenomenon." Mulder reached over and took a sip of Scully's untouched coffee. He made a face. "How can you stand skim milk in your coffee, for god's sake? Something wrong with cream?"
"Okay, Robert Stack, let's knock off these files tonight, and I'll bet you by midnight, I will have a perfectly rational explanation of all this."
"I bet you will too. But I won't believe a word of it."
She reached out and lightly punched him on the shoulder. "And you call *me* close-minded?" she said. As she pulled back her arm, she glanced at her watch.
"Mulder, I have a great idea. Why don't we finish these tonight at my place. I bought some fresh pasta yesterday, and I can make us a quick dinner. I need to get out of this basement."
"Good idea. I'll be at your place in an hour."
"You know what, make that two. I would feel a lot better if I could stop by my health club and get in a quick workout. Okay?"
Mulder grinned as he righted his desk chair, no longer a risk of flipping over. "I would hate to stand between a woman and her exercise. I'll see you at eight."
Scully gathered her stuff and waved goodbye to Mulder as she headed toward the garage. Looks like rain, she thought to herself.