The Marfa Murder Mysteries
By: Katie Phillips
Written: February 2004
Disclaimer: I know they belong to CC, I just want to know if he even thinks about them anymore. Keywords: MSR, Casefile Rating: R (to be on the safe side) Archive: Sure, just let me know where. Feedback: PLEASE!!! [email protected].
Summary: Mulder gets tied up working on a case with VCU so Scully is forced to go undercover on her own down in Texas investigating mysterious deaths involving the world famous Marfa Lights. Problems arise and Mulder also goes undercover to make sure his partner is safe.
Many thanks to Sallie for not only doing the beta work on this story but for also coming up with the title.
Author's notes: This story is completed and Sallie is busy doing the beta- work on the last part of it. As soon as she is done, I will post it.
"Thank you for coming, Agent Scully." AD Skinner motioned from behind his desk for her to have a seat. "I also asked Agent Mulder to join us but apparently he is still tied up at VCU."
"They've been working pretty much around the clock Sir, trying to catch that serial killer." Scully took her seat, crossed her legs and waited.
Before Skinner could speak further, the door opened and one very tired Fox Mulder entered the room. All it took was one look at him to see that his stint with VCU was taking its toll.
"Thank you for coming, Agent Mulder." Mulder nodded to Scully and took his seat next to her. "Are you making any progress on your case?"
"It's been slow going, Sir. We're hoping to catch a lucky break soon." Mulder rubbed at his eyes with the balls of his hands. He looked like he was in dire need of both sleep and a cup of coffee.
"I'm sure they're happy to have your help, Agent."
"Thank you, Sir."
"The reason I've sent for you both is because of something that's happening in southwest Texas." Skinner referred to the folder on his desk. "In a place called "Marfa" to be exact."
"'Marfa,' as in the 'Marfa lights'?" Skinner had Mulder's total attention now.
Skinner gave him a brief nod. "The area is going through a bit of a recession, and local authorities are trying to use the rumors surrounding these lights to help stimulate the economy. There's been a simple viewing area open to the public for years, but now they've decided to open up a more elaborate research facility and museum."
Mulder smiled. "Trying to find a way to sell more t-shirts, no doubt."
Skinner gave him a slightly annoyed look and continued. "The facility is set to open shortly with great fanfare, and practically every politician in the state attending. Unfortunately they've been having some problems."
"Problems Sir?" Scully was still trying to figure out what any of this had to do with her and Mulder.
"A few of the construction workers on the site have died under mysterious circumstances, and just last night a couple sitting in one of the viewing areas appears to have been electrocuted in their car." Skinner closed the folder and looked at both of his agents. "The El Paso Bureau believes that someone in the area is upset about the opening of the facility. They've asked for one or two agents to go undercover and give them a hand catching the perpetrators."
"When do we leave Sir?" Mulder was eager to check out the mysterious lights for himself, and obviously had no problem
leaving the VCU investigation.
"Agent Scully will be heading out first thing in the morning."
"Alone?" Mulder ignored the look Scully threw his way. "Without backup?"
Skinner ignored him, and directed his next words to Scully. "You'll be employed at the new facility in their information center and gift shop. This should give you full access to everyone and everything."
Scully nodded and waited for him to continue. "The town is very small so it's crucial you don't break your cover. The SAC out of El Paso will let you know the arrangements for contact with the Bureau."
"Meaning no disrespect Sir," Mulder began, before Skinner cut him off.
"I know you want to go too Mulder, but the VCU needs you. Their case is very much in the public eye, and the Bureau wants it wrapped as soon as possible. When you're done there, we can address you joining Agent Scully if the case warrants it."
Mulder scowled at Skinner but said nothing further. Scully shot him a look of sympathy before turning her attention to Skinner. "When do I leave, Sir?"
"First thing in the morning." Skinner passed her the file and an airline ticket. "Agent Mulder, I was hoping you could spare an hour or two this morning to go over everything you know about the Marfa Lights with Agent Scully." Skinner knew how disappointed Mulder was at not being assigned this case, and wanted to at least give him the chance to say 'goodbye' to his partner.
Mulder brightened a bit. "I can give Agent Scully all the time she needs, Sir."
XXX
Since Mulder had to return to VCU that morning, he and Scully agreed to meet around noon. Lunchtime came and went, with Mulder unable to get away. He finally hooked up with Scully around 8:30 that evening, at her apartment.
"Mulder you look exhausted." Scully opened the door and ushered him in. "When was the last time you slept?"
Mulder gave her a wan smile. "I got a couple hours last night, or was it the night before?" He shrugged and followed Scully into her kitchen where she had a pot of coffee brewing. "You know how I get when I start profiling someone, I can't stop until I'm done."
Scully nodded. She hated what working with VCU did to Mulder, and was glad he only had to help them occasionally. "Do you think you're close to being done?"
"I think so, but I'm really going to piss some people off with my profile. It's totally different from the one they're using now."
Scully and Mulder settled onto her couch, and he gave her a brief rundown of the case and his profile. Once again she found herself impressed with the way Mulder's mind worked, and his ability to see things that others missed. When he finished, she asked him about the Marfa Lights.
"Scully, they're one of the great scientific mysteries of modern time. They were first spotted during the late 1800's and have been seen constantly ever since. There are tons of theories about them. Some folks believe they're nothing more than car headlights bouncing off the mountains. Others think they're swamp gas or some sort of UFO."
"Is that what you think?"
"That they're UFO's? Only in the most technical sense, that they have yet to be identified. I don't think they have anything to do with aliens at all."
"But you do have a theory?" Scully put down her coffee cup, turning to give Mulder her full attention.
"Of course I have a theory, Scully." Mulder smiled at his partner. "The land upon which this facility has been built was supposedly Apache burial grounds. Their legend states that the Marfa Lights are Apache spirits roaming the earth. I think some of the spirits are mad enough to stop roaming and actually put up a fight."
Scully gave Mulder her patented raised eyebrow. "You're saying that these attacks are being caused by annoyed spirits?"
"Wouldn't you be annoyed if someone built a gift shop on your final resting place?"
"Most likely, but from what I've read, the burial grounds are located more to the south."
"As far as they know." Mulder said raising his own eyebrow.
XXX
Mulder and Scully spent the rest of the evening just talking, until Mulder realized how late it was. "Sorry Scully," he said getting up and returning his coffee cup to the kitchen. "I had no idea it was so late. I'll leave you to finish packing. I know you have an early flight and a million things to do before you leave."
Scully didn't want to see him go but knew he was right. She did have a million things to do. She followed him to the door. "You will remember to water my plants this time, won't you Mulder?"
Mulder smiled down at her. "You're plants are safe with me, Scully."
"That's what you said last time."
"I replaced the ones I killed, Scully." Mulder chuckled but then turned serious. "Don't forget our password. Leave me a message and I'll drop everything and get out there."
"I'll be fine, Mulder." Scully smiled. He looked like a mother sending her child off to college for the first time.
"Please, Scully?" Mulder threw her his best puppy-dog look.
"Okay, okay. If I get in trouble I'll call your cell phone and say 'iced tea.'"
"Thanks, Scully." Mulder wrapped his arms around her and held her close, putting his chin on top of her head. "I'm going to miss you G-woman."
Scully closed her eyes and savored the feeling of being in his arms. "I'll be back before you know it, Mulder."
Mulder said nothing. He gave her a kiss on the forehead before releasing her and walking out the door. Scully shut the door to her apartment, suddenly feeling very alone. She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders and went to finish packing.
XXX
After a long conversation with the SAC in El Paso, it was decided that Scully would head directly for Alpine, a town about ten miles from the research center. A small apartment was waiting for her there with everything she would need to start work the next day. It was also arranged that she would check in with the SAC Thursday evening at 7PM, using a pay phone. During that conversation, the next check-in would be arranged.
The four hour drive from El Paso to Alpine gave Scully a good opportunity to observe her new surroundings. She had never been to this part of Texas before, and was surprised to see how dry and sparsely populated it was. She was sometimes able to drive for 10 to 15 minutes on the highway, without seeing another car.
It was definitely not Washington DC.
The town of Alpine was a small one, and Scully had little trouble finding her apartment complex. Her apartment was a small one bedroom and was nicely furnished. She had even been supplied with linens and a fully stocked refrigerator.
Scully unpacked and then went to explore the town. Alpine was a simple place, especially when compared to Washington, but it seemed to have everything she needed, and the people were friendly and outgoing. Scully found it hard to believe that any of the people she met were capable of murder.
Returning to her empty apartment, Scully placed a small bunch of flowers she'd bought in a glass, and put them on a knotty pine table next to the telephone. She had been told her cell phone would be relatively useless in this part of Texas. Unable to get a signal, she stared at it angrily, desperately wishing she could call her partner. After several minutes, Scully sighed and turned away. XXX
The Marfa Lights research facility was about a twenty minute ride from Alpine, over twisting roads that wove their way through some very impressive rock formations. The formations slowly disappeared and Scully found herself traveling down a long, straight stretch of road.
She didn't see another car for miles, let alone another building. The only signs of mankind were the train tracks that ran parallel to the road, and the wires that lay between the two. The landscape was so barren and flat, that Scully was able to spot the research facility long before she got there.
She pulled her car into a parking space and quickly checked her reflection in the mirror. Agent Scully always straightened her hair, but Scully's alter ego had decided to go for the more natural look, and let the waves in her red hair come out. That, combined with her simple short-sleeved blouse and jeans, completed the picture. Scully smiled at her reflection. Even Mulder would have to do a double-take to recognize her.
The research facility was a hubbub of activity as construction workers and painters hurried to complete their tasks. Scully entered through the main door, taking a moment to review the exhibits that lined either side of the hall on the way to the information desk. The desk was large and contained a computer, a cash register and a display of books ready to be purchased by tourists eager to remember their experiences.
The desk was located by the door to the gift shop. It was an oddly shaped room that was filled with a variety of shelves, most of which still stood empty. Scully could smell the strong odor of paint as she approached the desk and assumed that the shop had just been completed.
There was a middle-aged man in jeans and cowboy boots leaning over the desk, looking at the blueprints spread out in front of him. At the sound of Scully's footsteps he looked up smiling, as his eyes went over her.
"You must be Ashley." The man straightened and walked over to her, hand extended. "I'm Stan, the overseer for this mess." He waved his hand, gesturing to the activity that was going on around them. Despite his joke, Scully could tell instantly that he was very proud of the place.
"Nice to meet you Stan." Scully shook his hand and then gestured herself. "Looks like there's still a bit of work to be done."
"That, my dear, is an understatement. We are scheduled to open on Saturday which only gives us four days. Thank God the politicians aren't showing up for another two weeks. With a little luck, we'll get all the bugs worked out by then."
Scully smiled, taking an instant liking to Stan. He wasn't a very tall man, maybe six inches taller than she, but he had kind blue eyes and was quick to smile. He patted the desk. "This will be your domain Ashley. You and Suzie Ortiz will be the two manning the desk and the gift shop. I'll leave it to the both of you to work out your schedule."
"We plan to have the facility open from 9 am to 11 pm everyday. I expect a few scientists to wander in here during the day to use our research library. Normally tourists won't bother coming by until after dark. We're hoping that by having a decent gift shop, and maybe in a month or two a little café, that we can get folks traveling down Route 90 to stop in anytime."
Stan gave Scully the grand tour of the facility. It featured not only the gift shop and its storage room, but a small kitchen around which the café would be based. There was a comfortable room for viewing the "official" Marfa Lights video, which Scully was told could be purchased for the low price of $9.95, and a nearby exhibition room that featured dozens of photographs and first-hand accounts of witnesses to the local phenomenon.
Passing through double doors marked 'no admittance,' Scully and Stan arrived at the research part of the facility. The room was filled with computers, slide projectors and files holding copies of all the research completed to that point. One wall was made completely of glass, and gave the researchers the opportunity to view the lights without having to deal with the elements. Several large stationary cameras, telescopes and binoculars stood ready at the windows.
Scully's tour concluded with a walk around the outside viewing area. It featured more stationary binoculars and was littered with picnic tables and permanent benches. There were also plenty of parking spaces allowing tourists to view the lights from the comfort of their own cars.
The tour completed, Stan left Scully in the hands of Suzie, who spent the rest of the day showing her how to work the register, enter inventory into the computer, and create interesting displays within the gift shop.
Halfway through folding her second box of t-shirts, Scully noticed a dark-haired man staring at her. Suzie noticed him too. "That's Carlos, Marfa's very own Romeo. I'm sure he heard about you and came to check you out for himself."
Scully hated to admit it, but Carlos gave her the creeps. "Does he work here?"
Suzie nodded her head. "He's in charge of the entire construction project. Considers himself to be very important, and compared to a lot of folks around here he is." She smiled politely at Carlos before steering Scully into the stockroom. "He's comes from money--oil money--and he thinks he can buy anyone or anything he wants. Too bad he has such a superior attitude, because he is kind of cute."
Scully peaked out through the stockroom door to see if Carlos was still hovering about. He was. He and Stan appeared to be deep in conversation. She had to admit that the man was good looking in his tight jeans, cowboy boots and hat. "Have you and he. . ." she began.
Suzie giggled. "You'll be hard pressed to find someone under the age of 40 that Carlos hasn't dated in one form or another. We went out for a month or so. It was fun at first, but I got sick of him talking about himself all the time." She looked at Scully who was still watching Carlos through the partially open door. "I don't want to set your mind against him. If y'all want to try him out yourself, you go right ahead."
Scully turned towards Suzie and smiled. "I would be happy to meet him, of course, but somehow I don't think he's my type."
XXX
Scully did meet him and everyone else associated with the research facility over the next few days. Carlos seemed to ooze charm, and apparently took an instant liking to her. Scully tried her best to ignore him, until she realized that it was in the best interest of the case for her to try and get to know him better. He had asked her to dinner, but citing how much work she needed to get done before Opening Day, they ended up instead, having coffee every morning before Scully headed into work.
Another person caught her eye as a possible suspect. Bobby Durham was a naturalist who had spent his entire adult life studying the Apache civilization. He wasn't pleased about where the research facility was built, and didn't mind telling people about it. He was about as non- Texan as they come, often walking around the facility in his Ramones t-shirt and Earth shoes. He reminded Scully a lot of Langley.
Before Scully knew it, Thursday had rolled around, and it was time for her to check in with the El Paso Bureau. She gave them a list of names to look into, and was told to call in again on Sunday morning at 9AM, to find out if anyone on her list had a criminal record or appeared anywhere at all in the FBI databanks.
Scully returned to her apartment to find Carlos leaning against her door, obviously waiting for her. "Howdy, Ashley. It's about time you got home. You left the facility over an hour ago."
Scully gave him a weak smile, thinking, not for the first time, how much she missed carrying her weapon. She opted against the sarcastic comment that was on the tip of her tongue. "Hi Carlos, I had some errands to run. Do you need help with something?"
She paused outside her door, not anxious to open it. She knew, without a doubt, that Carlos wouldn't be easy to get out of her apartment once he'd made his way inside.
"Concerning the facility? No." He smiled and took a step closer to her. Scully could feel his breath on her face, and resisted the urge to step back. "I figured since they let us go home early tonight, that you'd have no excuse not to have dinner with me."
Scully said nothing, groping hopelessly for a reasonable excuse not to join him. Thinking of none, she gave him another weak smile. Taking this to be an acceptance of his offer, Carlos took her by the arm and led her outside to where his pickup truck was parked.
Scully looked at the door and was thankful that she was wearing her jeans as she hoisted herself up. She waited for Carlos to settle in. "Where are we going?"
"There's a steak place down the street. I figured it was about time you got to sample the best of what Texas has to offer." Scully smiled and nodded, wondering if he was talking about the food or himself.
The dinner itself lived up to its reputation. Scully wasn't much of a red meat eater, but found her steak to be tender and quite flavorful. Unfortunately, she was not as pleased with her dinner companion.
She did have to admit that Carlos was a very good looking man. Practically every female eye in the place followed him as they walked to their table. Unfortunately, Carlos was only too aware of this fact, and acted as if Scully should be honored to be in his company.
He liked to talk about himself--a lot. Scully let him ramble on, using the opportunity to find out as much about him and his connection to the research facility as possible. Carlos had been brought on board almost immediately. He was known for his ability to sweet talk people into making donations. That wasn't his only asset. The research facility had been the brain child of his father, who had made a rather sizeable donation to the project.
Scully made a mental note to have the Bureau check into Carlos's immediate family, as she sipped her coffee and nodded through his monologue. After enlightening her about his importance to the research facility, he continued by outlining his entire life for her. By the time he was pulling up to her apartment building, Scully knew that he was the star of his high school football team, and was offered a full scholarship at Penn State but had turned it down to go to Texas A&M at his father's request.
As the truck pulled to a stop, panic engulfed Scully. She realized that Carlos may have been planning to come up to her apartment. She saw him reach for his keys to turn off the engine, and she spoke quickly without thinking. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Carlos." She reached for the door handle.
"Aren't you going to invite me up for coffee?" Carlos raised an eyebrow at her and gave her a suggestive leer.
"I don't think that will be a good idea," Scully said, looking down at her feet. "We do *work* together, more or less."
Carlos nodded and looked at her carefully. His frown quickly changed to a smile, as if he had just figured something out. "Playing hard to get, huh?" He leaned over, until his face was inches away from her. "I don't get discouraged that easily." Before Scully knew what happened, Carlos had his hand behind her head. He pulled her towards him, and thrust his tongue deeply into her mouth.
It had been a long, long time since Scully had received more than a chaste peck on the lips, and it took her a second to realize what was happening. She didn't respond with arousal, but with disgust. Her hand instinctively reached for her gun, and when she realized it wasn't there, she pushed him away, none too gently.
"Good night." Scully quickly climbed down from the truck, and couldn't get back to her apartment fast enough. All she could think about was grabbing her bottle of mouthwash and spitting the taste of him down the drain.
Carlos watched her hurry to her door, and grinned to himself. "No one says 'no' to me, missy. No one."
XXX
Walter Skinner looked at his watch and smiled when he heard a sharp knock on his door. He knew it was Mulder, eager to hear about his phone call with the El Paso SAC. He was frankly surprised that Mulder hadn't magically appeared at exactly when he'd been scheduled to make the call.
"It's open." Skinner suppressed a smile as Mulder tried to look casual entering the room. "Sit down. What can I do for you Agent Mulder?"
"I wanted to update you on the Baltimore case."
"Has something changed since the 5:30 briefing?" Skinner's amusement rose as he watched Mulder squirm in his chair. He knew he should put the agent out of his misery. After all, it was Mulder's profile that had provided a major break in the case.
"Not really, Sir. With a bit of luck we'll be able to pick up our suspect sometime over the weekend."
"Good work, Agent. I know you aggravated a few people when you came out with your profile, but they're whistling a different tune now."
"Thank you, Sir." Mulder paused staring down at the floor. "There is one other thing, Sir."
Mulder looked up and was surprised to find Skinner actually smiling. He could count on one hand, the number of times he had seen Skinner smile. "I don't suppose it has anything to do with the conversation I had with the El Paso SAC fifteen minutes ago."
Mulder shrugged but straightened up, his attention fully focused on Skinner. "Scully checked in right on schedule and provided us with a half dozen names to run through the system."
Mulder was about to speak but Skinner silenced him with a raised hand. "I've already forwarded a copy of the list to you." Mulder nodded his thanks. "The facility is opening Saturday, with Scully scheduled to check in again Sunday."
Mulder rose and was opening the door, when Skinner called his name. "Mulder, there was a message for you. Scully told the SAC to let you know that she doesn't need any iced tea, but would kill for some Starbucks coffee."
Mulder burst into his own smile. "Thank you Sir." He left the room knowing, at least for now, Scully was safe.
XXX
Friday passed in a blur as everyone rushed around, trying to get everything ready for the opening the next day. Stan, who normally was unfazed by anything, was starting to wear under the stress, while Suzie broke into tears, twice, when she was told that the Hershey bar order would not arrive until Monday.
Scully had hoped that Carlos would be too busy to bother with her, but wasn't so lucky. He managed to find reasons to swing through the gift shop at least six times during the day. "He's after you big time Ashley," Suzie had said when Carlos finally left the shop. "You didn't happen to turn down his advances, did you?"
Scully blushed a little and then smiled. "How did you know?"
"Carlos is wearing a look of determination I haven't seen since the mayor of Marfa refused to dedicate a small park in his family's honor."
"Did he get his way?"
"Oh yeah, Carlos always gets his way."
Scully was about to respond about how disappointed Carlos was going to be, when Stan came in holding a piece of paper and looking as white as a ghost.
"What's the matter Stan?" Suzie dropped her bottle of cleaning solution onto the counter and hurried over to him.
Stan waved the paper at them. "I thought it couldn't get any worse than Bobby Durham trying to get a court order to keep us from opening tomorrow." He saw the look of shock on the two women's faces and smiled. "It didn't work. He's just blowing smoke the way he always does. This, however," he shook the piece of paper again for emphasis, "may be serious."
Scully took the piece of paper and glanced at it. On it was a simple message. "Do it and you'll pay."
"Any idea what this means?" Scully watched nervously as Stan took the paper back and then showed it to Suzie. They were probably destroying any fingerprints left behind by the note's author.
"We've had a couple of strange incidents here. We thought they were just coincidences. Now I'm not so sure."
"Have you called the police?" Suzie was starting to look a bit pale.
"Yeah, Henry is going swing by on his way home and take a look at it." Scully was shocked at the laid back attitude towards such an obvious threat. "Can't they get here any earlier?" She asked, trying not to sound too much like an FBI agent.
"They're over at Jake's ranch, looking into some cattle rustling."
This reason seemed to satisfy Suzie. "They'll be here tomorrow, won't they Stan?"
Stan smiled at her and gave her an affectionate pat on the head. "Don't you worry Suzie, we've hired extra security for tomorrow. I expect everyone associated with this place, except for that peace-loving Durham, will bring along their guns."
That particular thought made Scully's head spin. It did give her an excuse to bring her own weapon, however. "Do you shoot, Ashley?" Suzie looked at her with her big, brown eyes. She smiled when Scully nodded. "Pistol or shotgun? My Daddy gave me my first shotgun when I was twelve. Still have it. I think I'll bring that one."
XXX
Scully rose early Saturday and showered quickly. She had only been in Texas for a few days, so she was surprised to find she was excited about the opening. She had had a chance to drive around the area, and could see how important, economically, the facility was. It simply had to be a success.
She donned her blue jeans and newly acquired cowboy boots, and slipped on a slightly-too-tight t-shirt before downing a cup of weak coffee. She grabbed a bottle of water and a granola bar as she dashed out the door.
When she arrived at the facility, things were already in full swing. Stan was strutting around like a proud father, while Suzie was standing on a chair, hanging streamers and balloons. "Howdy Ashley!" she called from her perch. "Grab a chair and start on those balloons, will you?"
Scully nodded and was heading towards the stack of balloons on the counter, when suddenly someone grabbed her arm. She looked up and saw Carlos looking down at her, smiling. "Sorry I've been too busy to give you the attention you deserve."
Scully resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "I've been so busy myself that I didn't notice." This comment invoked a glare from Carlos and snickers from Suzie.
Carlos chose to ignore the comment, giving Scully a tug towards him. He bent down so his face was close to hers. "Tonight, when the band starts playing outside, the first dance is mine." He let her go and began to walk away. He stopped and turned to face her. "And the last."
Suzie, Stan and Scully all watched until he left the room. Suzie immediately burst out laughing. "He is pretty confident of himself. If he gives you any trouble, give me a signal, and you and I will head into the safe confines of the ladies room."
Stan walked over to Scully and put his hand on her shoulder. "Think you can handle him?"
Scully nodded. "Too bad. I would love an excuse to shoot that SOB."
+++ end of part one +++
Disclaimer: I know they belong to CC, I just want to know if he even thinks about them anymore. Keywords: MSR, Casefile Rating: R (to be on the safe side) Archive: Sure, just let me know where. Feedback: PLEASE!!! [email protected].
Summary: Mulder gets tied up working on a case with VCU so Scully is forced to go undercover on her own down in Texas investigating mysterious deaths involving the world famous Marfa Lights. Problems arise and Mulder also goes undercover to make sure his partner is safe.
Many thanks to Sallie for not only doing the beta work on this story but for also coming up with the title.
Author's notes: This story is completed and Sallie is busy doing the beta- work on the last part of it. As soon as she is done, I will post it.
"Thank you for coming, Agent Scully." AD Skinner motioned from behind his desk for her to have a seat. "I also asked Agent Mulder to join us but apparently he is still tied up at VCU."
"They've been working pretty much around the clock Sir, trying to catch that serial killer." Scully took her seat, crossed her legs and waited.
Before Skinner could speak further, the door opened and one very tired Fox Mulder entered the room. All it took was one look at him to see that his stint with VCU was taking its toll.
"Thank you for coming, Agent Mulder." Mulder nodded to Scully and took his seat next to her. "Are you making any progress on your case?"
"It's been slow going, Sir. We're hoping to catch a lucky break soon." Mulder rubbed at his eyes with the balls of his hands. He looked like he was in dire need of both sleep and a cup of coffee.
"I'm sure they're happy to have your help, Agent."
"Thank you, Sir."
"The reason I've sent for you both is because of something that's happening in southwest Texas." Skinner referred to the folder on his desk. "In a place called "Marfa" to be exact."
"'Marfa,' as in the 'Marfa lights'?" Skinner had Mulder's total attention now.
Skinner gave him a brief nod. "The area is going through a bit of a recession, and local authorities are trying to use the rumors surrounding these lights to help stimulate the economy. There's been a simple viewing area open to the public for years, but now they've decided to open up a more elaborate research facility and museum."
Mulder smiled. "Trying to find a way to sell more t-shirts, no doubt."
Skinner gave him a slightly annoyed look and continued. "The facility is set to open shortly with great fanfare, and practically every politician in the state attending. Unfortunately they've been having some problems."
"Problems Sir?" Scully was still trying to figure out what any of this had to do with her and Mulder.
"A few of the construction workers on the site have died under mysterious circumstances, and just last night a couple sitting in one of the viewing areas appears to have been electrocuted in their car." Skinner closed the folder and looked at both of his agents. "The El Paso Bureau believes that someone in the area is upset about the opening of the facility. They've asked for one or two agents to go undercover and give them a hand catching the perpetrators."
"When do we leave Sir?" Mulder was eager to check out the mysterious lights for himself, and obviously had no problem
leaving the VCU investigation.
"Agent Scully will be heading out first thing in the morning."
"Alone?" Mulder ignored the look Scully threw his way. "Without backup?"
Skinner ignored him, and directed his next words to Scully. "You'll be employed at the new facility in their information center and gift shop. This should give you full access to everyone and everything."
Scully nodded and waited for him to continue. "The town is very small so it's crucial you don't break your cover. The SAC out of El Paso will let you know the arrangements for contact with the Bureau."
"Meaning no disrespect Sir," Mulder began, before Skinner cut him off.
"I know you want to go too Mulder, but the VCU needs you. Their case is very much in the public eye, and the Bureau wants it wrapped as soon as possible. When you're done there, we can address you joining Agent Scully if the case warrants it."
Mulder scowled at Skinner but said nothing further. Scully shot him a look of sympathy before turning her attention to Skinner. "When do I leave, Sir?"
"First thing in the morning." Skinner passed her the file and an airline ticket. "Agent Mulder, I was hoping you could spare an hour or two this morning to go over everything you know about the Marfa Lights with Agent Scully." Skinner knew how disappointed Mulder was at not being assigned this case, and wanted to at least give him the chance to say 'goodbye' to his partner.
Mulder brightened a bit. "I can give Agent Scully all the time she needs, Sir."
XXX
Since Mulder had to return to VCU that morning, he and Scully agreed to meet around noon. Lunchtime came and went, with Mulder unable to get away. He finally hooked up with Scully around 8:30 that evening, at her apartment.
"Mulder you look exhausted." Scully opened the door and ushered him in. "When was the last time you slept?"
Mulder gave her a wan smile. "I got a couple hours last night, or was it the night before?" He shrugged and followed Scully into her kitchen where she had a pot of coffee brewing. "You know how I get when I start profiling someone, I can't stop until I'm done."
Scully nodded. She hated what working with VCU did to Mulder, and was glad he only had to help them occasionally. "Do you think you're close to being done?"
"I think so, but I'm really going to piss some people off with my profile. It's totally different from the one they're using now."
Scully and Mulder settled onto her couch, and he gave her a brief rundown of the case and his profile. Once again she found herself impressed with the way Mulder's mind worked, and his ability to see things that others missed. When he finished, she asked him about the Marfa Lights.
"Scully, they're one of the great scientific mysteries of modern time. They were first spotted during the late 1800's and have been seen constantly ever since. There are tons of theories about them. Some folks believe they're nothing more than car headlights bouncing off the mountains. Others think they're swamp gas or some sort of UFO."
"Is that what you think?"
"That they're UFO's? Only in the most technical sense, that they have yet to be identified. I don't think they have anything to do with aliens at all."
"But you do have a theory?" Scully put down her coffee cup, turning to give Mulder her full attention.
"Of course I have a theory, Scully." Mulder smiled at his partner. "The land upon which this facility has been built was supposedly Apache burial grounds. Their legend states that the Marfa Lights are Apache spirits roaming the earth. I think some of the spirits are mad enough to stop roaming and actually put up a fight."
Scully gave Mulder her patented raised eyebrow. "You're saying that these attacks are being caused by annoyed spirits?"
"Wouldn't you be annoyed if someone built a gift shop on your final resting place?"
"Most likely, but from what I've read, the burial grounds are located more to the south."
"As far as they know." Mulder said raising his own eyebrow.
XXX
Mulder and Scully spent the rest of the evening just talking, until Mulder realized how late it was. "Sorry Scully," he said getting up and returning his coffee cup to the kitchen. "I had no idea it was so late. I'll leave you to finish packing. I know you have an early flight and a million things to do before you leave."
Scully didn't want to see him go but knew he was right. She did have a million things to do. She followed him to the door. "You will remember to water my plants this time, won't you Mulder?"
Mulder smiled down at her. "You're plants are safe with me, Scully."
"That's what you said last time."
"I replaced the ones I killed, Scully." Mulder chuckled but then turned serious. "Don't forget our password. Leave me a message and I'll drop everything and get out there."
"I'll be fine, Mulder." Scully smiled. He looked like a mother sending her child off to college for the first time.
"Please, Scully?" Mulder threw her his best puppy-dog look.
"Okay, okay. If I get in trouble I'll call your cell phone and say 'iced tea.'"
"Thanks, Scully." Mulder wrapped his arms around her and held her close, putting his chin on top of her head. "I'm going to miss you G-woman."
Scully closed her eyes and savored the feeling of being in his arms. "I'll be back before you know it, Mulder."
Mulder said nothing. He gave her a kiss on the forehead before releasing her and walking out the door. Scully shut the door to her apartment, suddenly feeling very alone. She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders and went to finish packing.
XXX
After a long conversation with the SAC in El Paso, it was decided that Scully would head directly for Alpine, a town about ten miles from the research center. A small apartment was waiting for her there with everything she would need to start work the next day. It was also arranged that she would check in with the SAC Thursday evening at 7PM, using a pay phone. During that conversation, the next check-in would be arranged.
The four hour drive from El Paso to Alpine gave Scully a good opportunity to observe her new surroundings. She had never been to this part of Texas before, and was surprised to see how dry and sparsely populated it was. She was sometimes able to drive for 10 to 15 minutes on the highway, without seeing another car.
It was definitely not Washington DC.
The town of Alpine was a small one, and Scully had little trouble finding her apartment complex. Her apartment was a small one bedroom and was nicely furnished. She had even been supplied with linens and a fully stocked refrigerator.
Scully unpacked and then went to explore the town. Alpine was a simple place, especially when compared to Washington, but it seemed to have everything she needed, and the people were friendly and outgoing. Scully found it hard to believe that any of the people she met were capable of murder.
Returning to her empty apartment, Scully placed a small bunch of flowers she'd bought in a glass, and put them on a knotty pine table next to the telephone. She had been told her cell phone would be relatively useless in this part of Texas. Unable to get a signal, she stared at it angrily, desperately wishing she could call her partner. After several minutes, Scully sighed and turned away. XXX
The Marfa Lights research facility was about a twenty minute ride from Alpine, over twisting roads that wove their way through some very impressive rock formations. The formations slowly disappeared and Scully found herself traveling down a long, straight stretch of road.
She didn't see another car for miles, let alone another building. The only signs of mankind were the train tracks that ran parallel to the road, and the wires that lay between the two. The landscape was so barren and flat, that Scully was able to spot the research facility long before she got there.
She pulled her car into a parking space and quickly checked her reflection in the mirror. Agent Scully always straightened her hair, but Scully's alter ego had decided to go for the more natural look, and let the waves in her red hair come out. That, combined with her simple short-sleeved blouse and jeans, completed the picture. Scully smiled at her reflection. Even Mulder would have to do a double-take to recognize her.
The research facility was a hubbub of activity as construction workers and painters hurried to complete their tasks. Scully entered through the main door, taking a moment to review the exhibits that lined either side of the hall on the way to the information desk. The desk was large and contained a computer, a cash register and a display of books ready to be purchased by tourists eager to remember their experiences.
The desk was located by the door to the gift shop. It was an oddly shaped room that was filled with a variety of shelves, most of which still stood empty. Scully could smell the strong odor of paint as she approached the desk and assumed that the shop had just been completed.
There was a middle-aged man in jeans and cowboy boots leaning over the desk, looking at the blueprints spread out in front of him. At the sound of Scully's footsteps he looked up smiling, as his eyes went over her.
"You must be Ashley." The man straightened and walked over to her, hand extended. "I'm Stan, the overseer for this mess." He waved his hand, gesturing to the activity that was going on around them. Despite his joke, Scully could tell instantly that he was very proud of the place.
"Nice to meet you Stan." Scully shook his hand and then gestured herself. "Looks like there's still a bit of work to be done."
"That, my dear, is an understatement. We are scheduled to open on Saturday which only gives us four days. Thank God the politicians aren't showing up for another two weeks. With a little luck, we'll get all the bugs worked out by then."
Scully smiled, taking an instant liking to Stan. He wasn't a very tall man, maybe six inches taller than she, but he had kind blue eyes and was quick to smile. He patted the desk. "This will be your domain Ashley. You and Suzie Ortiz will be the two manning the desk and the gift shop. I'll leave it to the both of you to work out your schedule."
"We plan to have the facility open from 9 am to 11 pm everyday. I expect a few scientists to wander in here during the day to use our research library. Normally tourists won't bother coming by until after dark. We're hoping that by having a decent gift shop, and maybe in a month or two a little café, that we can get folks traveling down Route 90 to stop in anytime."
Stan gave Scully the grand tour of the facility. It featured not only the gift shop and its storage room, but a small kitchen around which the café would be based. There was a comfortable room for viewing the "official" Marfa Lights video, which Scully was told could be purchased for the low price of $9.95, and a nearby exhibition room that featured dozens of photographs and first-hand accounts of witnesses to the local phenomenon.
Passing through double doors marked 'no admittance,' Scully and Stan arrived at the research part of the facility. The room was filled with computers, slide projectors and files holding copies of all the research completed to that point. One wall was made completely of glass, and gave the researchers the opportunity to view the lights without having to deal with the elements. Several large stationary cameras, telescopes and binoculars stood ready at the windows.
Scully's tour concluded with a walk around the outside viewing area. It featured more stationary binoculars and was littered with picnic tables and permanent benches. There were also plenty of parking spaces allowing tourists to view the lights from the comfort of their own cars.
The tour completed, Stan left Scully in the hands of Suzie, who spent the rest of the day showing her how to work the register, enter inventory into the computer, and create interesting displays within the gift shop.
Halfway through folding her second box of t-shirts, Scully noticed a dark-haired man staring at her. Suzie noticed him too. "That's Carlos, Marfa's very own Romeo. I'm sure he heard about you and came to check you out for himself."
Scully hated to admit it, but Carlos gave her the creeps. "Does he work here?"
Suzie nodded her head. "He's in charge of the entire construction project. Considers himself to be very important, and compared to a lot of folks around here he is." She smiled politely at Carlos before steering Scully into the stockroom. "He's comes from money--oil money--and he thinks he can buy anyone or anything he wants. Too bad he has such a superior attitude, because he is kind of cute."
Scully peaked out through the stockroom door to see if Carlos was still hovering about. He was. He and Stan appeared to be deep in conversation. She had to admit that the man was good looking in his tight jeans, cowboy boots and hat. "Have you and he. . ." she began.
Suzie giggled. "You'll be hard pressed to find someone under the age of 40 that Carlos hasn't dated in one form or another. We went out for a month or so. It was fun at first, but I got sick of him talking about himself all the time." She looked at Scully who was still watching Carlos through the partially open door. "I don't want to set your mind against him. If y'all want to try him out yourself, you go right ahead."
Scully turned towards Suzie and smiled. "I would be happy to meet him, of course, but somehow I don't think he's my type."
XXX
Scully did meet him and everyone else associated with the research facility over the next few days. Carlos seemed to ooze charm, and apparently took an instant liking to her. Scully tried her best to ignore him, until she realized that it was in the best interest of the case for her to try and get to know him better. He had asked her to dinner, but citing how much work she needed to get done before Opening Day, they ended up instead, having coffee every morning before Scully headed into work.
Another person caught her eye as a possible suspect. Bobby Durham was a naturalist who had spent his entire adult life studying the Apache civilization. He wasn't pleased about where the research facility was built, and didn't mind telling people about it. He was about as non- Texan as they come, often walking around the facility in his Ramones t-shirt and Earth shoes. He reminded Scully a lot of Langley.
Before Scully knew it, Thursday had rolled around, and it was time for her to check in with the El Paso Bureau. She gave them a list of names to look into, and was told to call in again on Sunday morning at 9AM, to find out if anyone on her list had a criminal record or appeared anywhere at all in the FBI databanks.
Scully returned to her apartment to find Carlos leaning against her door, obviously waiting for her. "Howdy, Ashley. It's about time you got home. You left the facility over an hour ago."
Scully gave him a weak smile, thinking, not for the first time, how much she missed carrying her weapon. She opted against the sarcastic comment that was on the tip of her tongue. "Hi Carlos, I had some errands to run. Do you need help with something?"
She paused outside her door, not anxious to open it. She knew, without a doubt, that Carlos wouldn't be easy to get out of her apartment once he'd made his way inside.
"Concerning the facility? No." He smiled and took a step closer to her. Scully could feel his breath on her face, and resisted the urge to step back. "I figured since they let us go home early tonight, that you'd have no excuse not to have dinner with me."
Scully said nothing, groping hopelessly for a reasonable excuse not to join him. Thinking of none, she gave him another weak smile. Taking this to be an acceptance of his offer, Carlos took her by the arm and led her outside to where his pickup truck was parked.
Scully looked at the door and was thankful that she was wearing her jeans as she hoisted herself up. She waited for Carlos to settle in. "Where are we going?"
"There's a steak place down the street. I figured it was about time you got to sample the best of what Texas has to offer." Scully smiled and nodded, wondering if he was talking about the food or himself.
The dinner itself lived up to its reputation. Scully wasn't much of a red meat eater, but found her steak to be tender and quite flavorful. Unfortunately, she was not as pleased with her dinner companion.
She did have to admit that Carlos was a very good looking man. Practically every female eye in the place followed him as they walked to their table. Unfortunately, Carlos was only too aware of this fact, and acted as if Scully should be honored to be in his company.
He liked to talk about himself--a lot. Scully let him ramble on, using the opportunity to find out as much about him and his connection to the research facility as possible. Carlos had been brought on board almost immediately. He was known for his ability to sweet talk people into making donations. That wasn't his only asset. The research facility had been the brain child of his father, who had made a rather sizeable donation to the project.
Scully made a mental note to have the Bureau check into Carlos's immediate family, as she sipped her coffee and nodded through his monologue. After enlightening her about his importance to the research facility, he continued by outlining his entire life for her. By the time he was pulling up to her apartment building, Scully knew that he was the star of his high school football team, and was offered a full scholarship at Penn State but had turned it down to go to Texas A&M at his father's request.
As the truck pulled to a stop, panic engulfed Scully. She realized that Carlos may have been planning to come up to her apartment. She saw him reach for his keys to turn off the engine, and she spoke quickly without thinking. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Carlos." She reached for the door handle.
"Aren't you going to invite me up for coffee?" Carlos raised an eyebrow at her and gave her a suggestive leer.
"I don't think that will be a good idea," Scully said, looking down at her feet. "We do *work* together, more or less."
Carlos nodded and looked at her carefully. His frown quickly changed to a smile, as if he had just figured something out. "Playing hard to get, huh?" He leaned over, until his face was inches away from her. "I don't get discouraged that easily." Before Scully knew what happened, Carlos had his hand behind her head. He pulled her towards him, and thrust his tongue deeply into her mouth.
It had been a long, long time since Scully had received more than a chaste peck on the lips, and it took her a second to realize what was happening. She didn't respond with arousal, but with disgust. Her hand instinctively reached for her gun, and when she realized it wasn't there, she pushed him away, none too gently.
"Good night." Scully quickly climbed down from the truck, and couldn't get back to her apartment fast enough. All she could think about was grabbing her bottle of mouthwash and spitting the taste of him down the drain.
Carlos watched her hurry to her door, and grinned to himself. "No one says 'no' to me, missy. No one."
XXX
Walter Skinner looked at his watch and smiled when he heard a sharp knock on his door. He knew it was Mulder, eager to hear about his phone call with the El Paso SAC. He was frankly surprised that Mulder hadn't magically appeared at exactly when he'd been scheduled to make the call.
"It's open." Skinner suppressed a smile as Mulder tried to look casual entering the room. "Sit down. What can I do for you Agent Mulder?"
"I wanted to update you on the Baltimore case."
"Has something changed since the 5:30 briefing?" Skinner's amusement rose as he watched Mulder squirm in his chair. He knew he should put the agent out of his misery. After all, it was Mulder's profile that had provided a major break in the case.
"Not really, Sir. With a bit of luck we'll be able to pick up our suspect sometime over the weekend."
"Good work, Agent. I know you aggravated a few people when you came out with your profile, but they're whistling a different tune now."
"Thank you, Sir." Mulder paused staring down at the floor. "There is one other thing, Sir."
Mulder looked up and was surprised to find Skinner actually smiling. He could count on one hand, the number of times he had seen Skinner smile. "I don't suppose it has anything to do with the conversation I had with the El Paso SAC fifteen minutes ago."
Mulder shrugged but straightened up, his attention fully focused on Skinner. "Scully checked in right on schedule and provided us with a half dozen names to run through the system."
Mulder was about to speak but Skinner silenced him with a raised hand. "I've already forwarded a copy of the list to you." Mulder nodded his thanks. "The facility is opening Saturday, with Scully scheduled to check in again Sunday."
Mulder rose and was opening the door, when Skinner called his name. "Mulder, there was a message for you. Scully told the SAC to let you know that she doesn't need any iced tea, but would kill for some Starbucks coffee."
Mulder burst into his own smile. "Thank you Sir." He left the room knowing, at least for now, Scully was safe.
XXX
Friday passed in a blur as everyone rushed around, trying to get everything ready for the opening the next day. Stan, who normally was unfazed by anything, was starting to wear under the stress, while Suzie broke into tears, twice, when she was told that the Hershey bar order would not arrive until Monday.
Scully had hoped that Carlos would be too busy to bother with her, but wasn't so lucky. He managed to find reasons to swing through the gift shop at least six times during the day. "He's after you big time Ashley," Suzie had said when Carlos finally left the shop. "You didn't happen to turn down his advances, did you?"
Scully blushed a little and then smiled. "How did you know?"
"Carlos is wearing a look of determination I haven't seen since the mayor of Marfa refused to dedicate a small park in his family's honor."
"Did he get his way?"
"Oh yeah, Carlos always gets his way."
Scully was about to respond about how disappointed Carlos was going to be, when Stan came in holding a piece of paper and looking as white as a ghost.
"What's the matter Stan?" Suzie dropped her bottle of cleaning solution onto the counter and hurried over to him.
Stan waved the paper at them. "I thought it couldn't get any worse than Bobby Durham trying to get a court order to keep us from opening tomorrow." He saw the look of shock on the two women's faces and smiled. "It didn't work. He's just blowing smoke the way he always does. This, however," he shook the piece of paper again for emphasis, "may be serious."
Scully took the piece of paper and glanced at it. On it was a simple message. "Do it and you'll pay."
"Any idea what this means?" Scully watched nervously as Stan took the paper back and then showed it to Suzie. They were probably destroying any fingerprints left behind by the note's author.
"We've had a couple of strange incidents here. We thought they were just coincidences. Now I'm not so sure."
"Have you called the police?" Suzie was starting to look a bit pale.
"Yeah, Henry is going swing by on his way home and take a look at it." Scully was shocked at the laid back attitude towards such an obvious threat. "Can't they get here any earlier?" She asked, trying not to sound too much like an FBI agent.
"They're over at Jake's ranch, looking into some cattle rustling."
This reason seemed to satisfy Suzie. "They'll be here tomorrow, won't they Stan?"
Stan smiled at her and gave her an affectionate pat on the head. "Don't you worry Suzie, we've hired extra security for tomorrow. I expect everyone associated with this place, except for that peace-loving Durham, will bring along their guns."
That particular thought made Scully's head spin. It did give her an excuse to bring her own weapon, however. "Do you shoot, Ashley?" Suzie looked at her with her big, brown eyes. She smiled when Scully nodded. "Pistol or shotgun? My Daddy gave me my first shotgun when I was twelve. Still have it. I think I'll bring that one."
XXX
Scully rose early Saturday and showered quickly. She had only been in Texas for a few days, so she was surprised to find she was excited about the opening. She had had a chance to drive around the area, and could see how important, economically, the facility was. It simply had to be a success.
She donned her blue jeans and newly acquired cowboy boots, and slipped on a slightly-too-tight t-shirt before downing a cup of weak coffee. She grabbed a bottle of water and a granola bar as she dashed out the door.
When she arrived at the facility, things were already in full swing. Stan was strutting around like a proud father, while Suzie was standing on a chair, hanging streamers and balloons. "Howdy Ashley!" she called from her perch. "Grab a chair and start on those balloons, will you?"
Scully nodded and was heading towards the stack of balloons on the counter, when suddenly someone grabbed her arm. She looked up and saw Carlos looking down at her, smiling. "Sorry I've been too busy to give you the attention you deserve."
Scully resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "I've been so busy myself that I didn't notice." This comment invoked a glare from Carlos and snickers from Suzie.
Carlos chose to ignore the comment, giving Scully a tug towards him. He bent down so his face was close to hers. "Tonight, when the band starts playing outside, the first dance is mine." He let her go and began to walk away. He stopped and turned to face her. "And the last."
Suzie, Stan and Scully all watched until he left the room. Suzie immediately burst out laughing. "He is pretty confident of himself. If he gives you any trouble, give me a signal, and you and I will head into the safe confines of the ladies room."
Stan walked over to Scully and put his hand on her shoulder. "Think you can handle him?"
Scully nodded. "Too bad. I would love an excuse to shoot that SOB."
+++ end of part one +++