From: mrkeller829@gmail.com   
      
   =====o============================o=====   
   "Chermera" by Mary Ruth Keller Part 25  of 45   
   E-mail: mrkeller@eclipse.net, mrkeller829@gmail.com   
   PG-13   X-File: Myth-arc   Disclaimed in Part I   
   Already sent to Gossamer   
   =====o============================o=====   
      
   Playa del Norte Street   
   La Jolla, CA   
   Friday, June 19, 1998   
   8:47 am   
      
   Nichols had finished his conversation with the head Marshal as their assembled   
   officers waited behind them. "We ready?"   
      
   A curt nod, then Pierce spoke into his wrist. "All exits covered. Proceed."   
      
   Shiffeln and Herrod, wearing identical dark green suits, made their way inside   
   the Spanish-styled four-story structure.   
      
   In the rear of the assembly, Mulder bent over his partner, his breath warm on   
   her ear. "At least we're only dealing with humans."   
      
   She sent him a quick eye-roll, but said nothing.   
      
   Back in the front, Shiffeln's voice crackled out of a hand-set. "You guys   
   better get up here. You're not gonna believe this. The guy and the old broad   
   ain't here. Her wheelchair is, though. Got enough clothes, wigs, and make-up   
   for a Cabaret performance    
   scattered around."   
      
   Nichols turned to one of the agents who had been on stake-out. "What have you   
   seen?"   
      
   The man shrugged. "A lot of people, mostly leaving in groups of two or three.   
   We've had cameras watching both front and rear entrances. We can review the   
   tapes here or back at the offices."   
      
   The balding Montanan gestured for the partners to come to the front of the   
   group. "Chief, if you and Scully wouldn't mind, you know this guy best. Think   
   you can pick him out in a disguise if we set you two up in the van to go   
   through tapes?"   
      
   The agents exchanged a glance, then headed back to the surveillance truck.   
      
   --o-0-o--   
      
   Playa del Norte Street   
   La Jolla, CA   
   Friday, 9:13 am   
      
   Dana Scully tapped the monitor she was using. "Mulder, I think this is he."   
      
   He rolled his chair beside hers to watch over her shoulder as she replayed the   
   tape. "Or, she." He grinned down at her. "He's the right height, but, an ugly   
   blonde." Turning back to his monitor to fast-forward through the images, he   
   grunted. "The woman's    
   passing as this man." He poked the screen. "Not enough swagger in the walk."   
      
   Pierce had been glaring at them both from a seat toward the front of the van.   
   "About time, you two. They have a forty-five minute head-start on my people."   
      
   After scrolling forward a few more minutes, Scully tucked her chin. "Tell your   
   people to look out for a red Impreza, Utah license plate. She just entered the   
   vehicle and drove off." She tried zooming, then shook her head. "I can make   
   out the second digit    
   of the license number is 5 and the last is an L, but the rest are blurred."   
      
   Mulder crossed his arms. "They traveled separately, and she made a point of   
   driving past the van. She may be acting as a decoy."   
      
   Nichols nodded. "Okay, the Bureau will alert the airports, trains, buses,   
   ports and the Highway Patrol in case they try to leave the city. I'll also   
   contact the SDPD. They have more eyes than we do. We can at least get her in   
   for questioning, even if she    
   knew nothing of his actions."   
      
   Pierce snorted. "Locals. Amateurs."   
      
   The balding Montanan shook his head. "Not a bit. I've worked with them on   
   other cases. They'll bring her in, regardless of her current appearance."   
      
   Wordlessly, Pierce stalked out of the van, slamming the door behind him.   
      
   Nichols glared at the chair the Marshal had been using. "You'd think no one   
   could do law enforcement but them." He shook his head, before smiling over at   
   the partners. "Thanks, Chief, Scully. I can say it, even if he won't." He   
   opened the door to exit,    
   then paused. "Great. We've attracted the media. Hang tight, guys." He closed   
   the door behind him, giving the partners some quiet.   
      
   Scully slumped down to rest her head on the back of the seat.   
      
   Mulder reached over to brush his fingers over the back of her hand, which was   
   lying limply on the worktable. "Okay, Scully?"   
      
   One corner of her mouth quirked. "Tired. A little achy." She straightened.   
   "Not bad." She turned to him. "Pierce really needs to dial it back a notch.   
   We're all on his side."     
      
   He shifted next to her. "Try telling that to him."   
      
   They exchanged tiny grins, then, as the handle rattled, faced the door.   
      
   Nichols poked his head in. "The SDPD has the Impreza."   
      
   The partners were on their feet. Mulder let out a huff. "That was fast."   
      
   The dark look on Nichols's face brought them to a halt. "Unfortunately,   
   Scully, we'll be needing your services yet again."   
      
   She cocked her head. "Accident?"   
      
   The greying head shook. "Not automotive. The vehicle was found on the meridian   
   of the 805. Looks like another poisoning."   
      
   She looked up at the tall agent's face, before turning to the ASAC. "Do we   
   have the body, Nichols, or do the Marshals?"   
      
   "No, neither. It's in the morgue at the Northern Division. SDPD's head   
   pathologist, Hitchens, is standing by to offer you any assistance you may   
   need, Scully." Nichols pulled the van door aside to let them descend. "We've   
   got a uniform to get you there    
   in style."   
      
   The tall agent smirked down at his partner as he clicked the car door open for   
   her. "You got that wave memorized yet, Doctor?"   
      
   She cocked an eyebrow at him after he closed it behind her.   
      
   He held his hand vertically, rotating it from side to side.   
      
   Nichols's mustache was twitching as she was driven off, then he watched while   
   Mulder, keys in hand, headed for their rental while humming a snippet from   
   Thomas Arne's 'Alfred.' "Those two." He smiled to himself.   
      
   --o-0-o--   
      
   Northern Division   
   San Diego Police Department   
   San Diego, CA   
   Friday, 11:04 am   
      
   Dana Scully, still in her scrubs, emerged from the small morgue at the back of   
   the Division Building. As she was pulling off her face mask, she walked down   
   the corridor to a tight group of waiting men: Nichols, Mulder, Donato, a   
   Latino, and an African-   
   American.   
      
   She nodded to Sergeant Johnson, whom she had met briefly on her arrival. "Sir,   
   this has all the hallmarks of cyanide poisoning. There was no blockage of the   
   heart, but, yet, cardiac arrest is my diagnosis. She had flushed skin, and   
   I've taken blood    
   samples to test."   
      
   The tall African-American nodded. "I've met this woman." He looked over at   
   Donato and the Latino. "She was the one claiming to be Evans's sister." He   
   turned back to the diminutive agent. "Sorry, need to finish introducing you.   
   Agent Scully, this is    
   Richard Gonzales, one of my detectives. He's partnered with Jerry Donato."   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)