X-Files Fan Fiction: Don't Look Now
I've just finished my latest X-Files fan fiction; Don't Look Now, a rear-window inspired one involving Skinner, and a vampire.
This follows on from the previous fic, My Struggle V in case you need a refresher on what happened, it confirmed Skinner as paralysed, and forced into retirement, and Monica Reyes as having survived Season 11, but with amnesia.
There are probably a few plot holes, but this is version 1 - I will probably clean it up at some point. I was procrastinating a lot over this one; it was a difficult birth, but at times the ideas just flowed and flowed.
Former Assistant Director Skinner was discharged from the hospital on Saturday evening; the hospital called a taxi for him, and they dropped him off at the motel room that he had booked up while his own apartment was being modified so that it would be wheelchair accessinle.
He had a lot to sort out; first off, he had to call a company to get a stair lift fitted, and he’d also need to make sure that he could use the kitchen and bathroom facilities; thank goodness the elevators in the building were quite reliable, and there were four of them - he was much less likely to end up stuck and unable to get back up. When he bought a two-floor apartment all those years ago, he had never imagined that he might end up paralysed from the waist down.
His first visitor was Holly, a former colleague from the F.B.I, who he’d had a good relationship with, aside from the time when she had attacked him. It was a long storey, but she had been under the hypnotic influence of Robert “Pusher” Modell, who had convinced her Skinner was a mugger. You couldn’t fire a member of staff on grounds of temporary insanity.
“I can get some things for you from your apartment” Holly offered.
“Thanks, Holly; several spare outfits first, I guess” he replied. “Flat 606, go up the stairs, and my bedroom is the first door on the right”.
“I imagine you’ll need a wash bag too” replied Holly.
“That too; the washroom is the first on the left at the top of the stairs; bring me a towel, flannel, toothbrush and toothpaste; that should be enough - oh, and deodorant”.
“Certainly, Sir”.
“Walter” he reminded her, “I’m no longer with the F.B.I.”
“Of course; Walter. This looks like a nice motel, anyway”.
Skinner had been surprised when he had no difficult getting himself an accessible room; at least the compensation package that he was receiving from the F.B.I would help to pay for the expense incurred from having booked a motel room for two weeks. Stewart Motel wasn’t too impressive, but it had all that he needed; besides, he had plenty of experience of staying in worse places back before his promotion to Assistant Director of the F.B.I.
Skinner handed over a set of keys to Holly, identifying the keys for the main entrance and his own front door.
“I’ll see you in about an hour then, Walter” replied Holly.
When she had left, Skinner wheeled his way over to the window at the back of the room, just next to the bathroom, and looked out of the window. There wasn’t much of a view, as there was another building close by. Because of the time of year, it was dark already, although it was only six in the evening.
He could see in some of the windows; there was a women’s fitness class taking place in one of the apartments; in another, he could see a couple who appeared to be bickering about something.
This was when he heard the scream; he could hardly believe for a second that he had heard correctly, but it appeared to be coming from one of the ground floor windows. He couldn’t see much there, except for a man with his back to the window. Skinner decided not to think about it too much, and turned away from the window, not seeing the large bat fluttering out of the open window of the building opposite and away into the evening sky.
XXXXX
Mulder and Scully came to visit Skinner the following afternoon.
“How are things going, Walter?” Scully asked, putting a four-pack of beer down on the table, evidently his former agents had felt the need to stop at Walmart to get him a present on their way.
“Fine, considering that I can’t live in my own home for the next week, Dana”.
Mulder thought, should he insist on being called Mulder; he had never been sure about being called Fox, but he was sure he could take it from his former supervisor.
“I bet it’s a nice view, though”.
“Hardly” replied Skinner, “I don’t think these places ever have a ‘nice view’”.
“Walter” added Scully, “I’ll get straight to it; I presume you heard that Special Agent Reyes woke from her coma”.
“Yes, I did”.
“Kersh started the hearing on possible misconduct today” replied Mulder, “and ended it”.
“That’s ludicrous, Agents. I was expecting to give evidence”.
“We spoke on your behalf, based on what you’d told us, Walter” Scully replied, “But Kersh said all of this was ridiculous, and Special Agent Reyes had generally been an upstanding F.B.I. agent”.
Mulder thought back to the hearing, which a number of F.B.I. Assistant and Deputy Directors had been in attendance of, as had Special Agent Reyes, who still looked a bit confused, accompanied by her attorney.
Kersh had asked the Agents to show them proof of this mysterious ‘Cancer Man’ who Reyes had supposedly been consorting with, before concluding that if Skinner were talking this kind of unfounded nonsense, it was another good reason to retire him from the F.B.I.
“There’s another thing, Walter” added Mulder, “Scully - Dana - is taking maternity leave, so will not be working on the X-Files for the foreseeable future”.
“So, you’ll be working on your own, Fox?” asked Skinner, “Like you used to”.
“Actually, Kersh has assigned me a new partner” replied Mulder, “I’m not too sure how to feel about this. Special Agent Monica Reyes has been assigned to the X-Files, and will start as soon as she feels ready”.
“I am not sure whether to trust her either” replied Scully, “You also need to know that Agent Reyes has no memory of how she ended up in her coma; her lawyer stated that she was incapable of answering any questions about the smoking man for this reason.”
“Do you suppose she is lying?”
“Her doctors seemed quite convinced” replied Mulder.
“Well, all I can say is, Deputy Director Kersh may be an enemy to the X-Files, but at least he’s assigned someone with a good track record. But, Fox - keep an eye on her; you never know when she might stab you in the back”.
“Duly noted, Walter” Mulder replied. “We’ll let you drink your beer”.
“If you’re free for the next hour, there’s a New York Knicks game on” replied Skinner, “The TV reception’s not great, but I’d love the company”.
Mulder and Scully stayed to watch the game, and then the three of them dialled room service to get two pizzas to share; it was a bit odd hanging out like this with their former boss, especially seeing how into the game Skinner got. This was a whole new side to him.
XXXXX
Skinner had another visitor the next day; Holly was a senior member of support services with the F.B.I., and was glad that she was still on good terms with the former Assistant Director.
There had been an incident several years ago when she had assaulted Skinner in the F.B.I. building; it had been Agent Mulder who stopped Holly from being disciplined, despite the outrage that Kersh, at the time still an Assistant Director, had expressed when he heard. Kersh had himself stated that “If it were up to me, she would have been sacked immediately”.
As it happened, Holly had been under the influence of a man named Robert Modell, who had the ability to make others do his will through what appeared to be a Jedi-type mind trick; even so, she was still embarrassed by the incident.
When she arrived, Skinner was looking out of the window, with the binoculars that he had intended for birdwatching, but she noticed that he was looking at the adjacent building instead.
“I don’t think they’ll appreciate you doing that, you know” she commented.
“Holly” said Skinner, “This isn’t what it looks like”.
Holly came over to the window to see what her former superior was looking at.
“There’s something going on in that house next door” Skinner commented, “It’s got my attention; take a look through the binoculars, see what you think”.
Holly looked through the binoculars; she could see police in the window; the place appeared to be a crime scene.
“Do you suppose something’s happened there?” asked Holly.
“Yes, wondering if there’s been a murder” replied Skinner. He turned away from the window. “I saw someone in that apartment just a few days ago; he was possibly talking to someone, but I wasn’t sure”.
“You sure have turned into a regular Jimmy Stewart” replied Holly; “Anyway, I thought I’d see how you were”.
Skinner wheeled himself across the room, “As I tell everyone, quite well for a man who has just lost the use of his legs, and also been forced into retirement”.
“I bought you a few magazines” replied Holly, “I’ll leave them by your bed”.
“Thanks” replied Skinner, “Presumably not Mulder’s cast-offs; I’m not that desperate”.
“No” replied Holly, “It’s mostly copies of Time magazine”.
“Thanks” replied Skinner, looking in the bag; one of them had Deputy Director Kersh on the cover, with the caption: THE FUTURE F.B.I. DIRECTOR? OUR VIEW ON WHY ALVIN KERSH WOULD BE IDEAL FOR THE JOB.
Skinner rolled his eyes; the last he wanted was to see a picture of his former boss on a magazine cover, but he thanked Holly.
“I’ll try and check up on you as often as I can” replied Holly.
After she had left, Skinner took his binoculars, and looked out of the window again; he had just missed the sunset, and it was getting dark. At this moment, he noticed someone familiar; he was fairly certain it was the man he had seen through the window of an apartment that was now a crime scene, but now he was in a different window, three floors up.
Could it really be the same man, Skinner wondered. He observed that the women’s fitness class was once again in progress, and then realised that he really did feel like a pervert watching them, so he put his binoculars away and picked up the come of Time magazine with Kersh on the front.
“Alvin Kersh’s promotion to Deputy Director of the F.B.I. in 2000 was a good boost to the Bureau’s image as an equal-opportunity employer, getting a person of colour promoted to one of the highest levels of power within their organisation. With the current Director approaching retirement, Time magazine believes that it is about time that the F.B.I. appointed him as their first overseer from a minority background.
However, some are arguing that Kersh himself is getting too old, and are predicting him to retire in the next five years…”
Skinner didn’t read the rest of the article, and decided to put on the TV instead, finding that they were showing a Simpsons marathon all night on one of the few channels with a decent reception.
XXXXX
A scream.
Skinner was sure he heard it; he woke up with a start, and switched the bedside lamp on.
Putting his glasses on, he pulled himself into his wheelchair and manoevred himself over to the window; peering out, he saw one light was on in the window of the adjacent building.
Wasn’t the window where that man was standing before? Skinner wondered.
Maybe he’d imagined the scream; maybe he had dreamed the whole thing.
Skinner was too tired to think of this; he returned to bed.
XXXXX
There was no doubt about it, there was a police car outside the building the next day; Skinner’s curiosity was piqued. He wheeled himself out of his motel room, and headed over to the building.
It was drizzling outside, with grey skies overhead but Skinner didn’t care too much; it was good to be out and about. There weren’t a lot of people outside the building, just a small group of police officers, one of whom was talking to a couple - presumably residents.
“Excuse me, officer” he said to a young cop who happened to be close by, “What’s been going on?”
“Police business, old man; this doesn’t concern you”.
“I’m staying in the motel next door” replied Skinner, “and don’t you Old Man me; I think the public have a right to know”.
“Take a hike” said another cop, walking towards Skinner, “I suggest you mind your own businesss in future”.
Skinner was getting nowhere; he doubted that they would listen to him now that he was a retired F.B.I. Agent, but he knew someone who they might give an answer to.
He pulled out his phone when he was back in his motel room, and dialled, “Agent Scully; I’ve got a job for you. Also, just this once, go alone; it’s probably best not to involve Mulder, yet”.
XXXXX
“So, Scully - you’re going behind my back now”.
Mulder greeted his partner as she arrived at Skinner’s room, having spoken to the cops.
“Mulder” replied Scully. “I think Skinner was worried what you might say to the cops; that you might try to turn the incident into an X-File”.
“Really?” asked Mulder, intrigued.
“Scully” Skinner interjected, “Thanks for responding so quickly; did they speak to you?”
“I flashed my F.B.I. badge” replied Scully, “They told me to keep this confidential, that some nosey guy in a wheelchair had been asking them questions. I think they’re a bit worried about this getting out.”
“So, there must be some sort of story” Skinner replied.
“Two deaths in the same building” replied Scully, “I know what Mulder will say; both seem to have been drained of their blood, and yes - both have two sets out puncture wounds on their necks. I’ll say it for you, Mulder, you think it’s a vampire, don’t you?”
“Possibly a vampire” replied Mulder, “Could be El Chupacabra on vacation; maybe he got fed up of dining on goats”.
“Now, you can see why I didn’t want you talking to those cops, Mulder” replied Skinner, “Both ideas are ridiculous; I think Agent Scully will agree when I suggest that there is a much more human cause of death”.
“Maybe we could get in to speak to the residents” Mulder replied, “Did you find out which apartment numbers the killings took place in at least, Scully”.
“Apartments 101 and 237” replied Scully, “If you’re suggesting we go in there, it might be difficult; they have a security door, and I don’t think you want to be trying to get in while the police are there. They told me that they have things under control, and that it definitely doesn’t need to be an F.B.I. matter”.
“I think what Scully is trying to say, Agent Mulder” added Skinner “Is that you agents probably have better things to occupy your time with”.
“Let’s go, Mulder” replied Scully, “Kersh wants to see us in half an hour”.
“Discussing the future of the X-Files” replied Mulder, “While Scully takes her maternity leave”.
Skinner could tell Mulder was trying to hide his disappointment; the two agents left together, and Skinner switched on the television.
XXXXX
Skinner didn’t leave the motel room for the rest of the day; he was starting to feel like a hermit by the time the day was over, there was one report on the incidents across the road.
He recognised one of the cops from the scene, not surprisingly they were quite reluctant to give out details; Skinner guessed they were trying to avoid too much panic.
“All we can say” the cop told the reporter “Is that there have been two deaths at this same building in the last few days”.
“Do you know whether there is a connecting between the two victims?” the reporter asked.
“There is no known connection” the officer replied, “The police department do not wish to give any more details at this time, but we would like to offer our condolences to the victims’ families”.
“Is there any reason for the public to be concerned?”
“Absolutely none; we would ask anyone in the area to, as ever, remain vigilant, and if they witnessed anything, that they should call the police department as soon as possible”.
Skinner reached for his phone; maybe he should say something about the man he had seen; he dialled 911.
“Hello, police department”.
Skinner hesitated; what was we going to say? He had possibly seen the same man appear in two different apartments across the street.
The person on the end would ask him to describe this man; he would reply that he was too far enough to give a possible description, they would tell him to stop wasting police time if he didn’t have anything more concrete.
“Hello, police department” came the woman’s voice again, “Is everything okay?”
Skinner hung up his phone; he decided he’d be best off not saying anything.
He wheeled himself over to the window again, though, and looked out through his binoculars.
There didn’t seem to be much activity; all he could see was one prostitute, overly made up and wearing a short skirt, arriving on the scene, but leaving very fast when she spotted a police car, evidently staking out the building to see if there was anyone suspicious around.
XXXXX
An elderly male janitor came to clean Skinner’s room the next day.
“Did you hear the news, señor?” he asked as he began to change the sheets on the bed.
“Is this about the building next door? I saw that was mentioned last night; two deaths so far” Skinner replied, reaching for his wallet and taking out a few dollar bills, “Here’s a tip” he added.
The man stuffed the dollar bills into the breast pocket of his overalls; “Señor” he replied, in slightly broken English, “Three deaths, now - it’s on the news right now; they were watching it in the next room, so I see”.
Skinner reached for the remote and switched on the TV.
“… had taken a break to get doughnuts; he returned to the car where they were staking out the building to find his partner, Kenny Hopkins, dead”.
A picture appeared on the screen; Skinner immediately recognised the man in the picture as the cop from the news report the night before, the same one he had spoken to at the crime scene.
“Kenny Hopkins was a family man, a father of two, and a well respected member of the Washington DC Police Department; his death has come as a great shock to many, and police are appealing once again for any witnesses to come forward”.
“Si, Señor” the janitor laughed nervously, “They killed Kenny”.
Skinner excused himself, and wheeled himself outside; it wasn’t ideal, but it was a better place for him to have a private conversation.
Picking up his phone, he dialled Scully’s number.
“Agent Scully” he said, “I know we thought that the F.B.I. should ignore this case, but there’s been a third death”.
“Mulder will be intrigued” Scully replied.
“A cop named Kenny Hopkins” Skinner replied, “Can you do me a favour and have a word with the county coroner? Find out what the autopsy report says?”
“I certainly can” replied Scully, “Is there anything else you need?”
Skinner paused, “If Agent Mulder is getting some more sunflower seeds” Skinner replied, “Could he get me some? I’m starting to wonder if I’m missing out on something”.
“Certainly” Scully replied.
Skinner hung up the phone; the case was getting interesting, but he was still unconvinced that this was vampires, or El Chupacabra, and he was determined to prove it.
XXXXX
Mulder and Scully came to Skinner’s room late that afternoon.
“Here are your sunflower seeds” Mulder said, as soon as he had walked in the door; he handed Skinner three packets of sunflower seeds.
“You’ll probably find them a bit moreish” he added.
“Thanks, Agent Mulder” replied Skinner, “Have you found anything out?”
“Agent Mulder is getting excited about this” replied Scully, “I’ve had to convince him to stay away from the scene for now; so, I spoke to the coroner, and was able to get the report; guess what?”
“Same cause of death as the other victims?” Skinner asked.
“Exsanguination” replied Scully; “Two puncture marks…”
“Bite marks” added Mulder.
“…On the unfortunate Mr. Hopkins’ throat” Scully continued, “The coroner agrees with me that the notion of vampire involvement is ludicrous, and apparently the police are searching the area for some kind of implement - like a skewer - that could have been used to perpetrate the attack”.
“So, you’re thinking it could be someone with an appetite for killing, who maybe wants to give people the jitters?” Skinner asked.
“What we’re missing is a motive” replied Mulder.
“We have yet to find out more about the backgrounds of the first two victims” replied Scully, “But I suspect that Mr. Hopkins was targeted because the killer realised the police were onto them”.
“So, you think the fact that these killings evidently took place after nightfall was just conincidence?” Mulder returned, “Someone going to great lengths to fake a vampire attack?”
“Agent Mulder, I doubt this person would be attempting to gain access to the building in broad daylight” replied Skinner, “The building is next to a main road, where there would be plenty of witnesses”.
“Have you seen anyone entering the building?” Scully asked.
“So far, no” replied Skinner, “But - and I couldn’t be certain, I think I saw a man appear in the building during two different nights, and in two different flats. I can’t be certain though, whether he was in the flats where the killings took place though, or if this was the same man”.
“Maybe he didn’t enter through the door” Mulder commented.
“You’re not suggesting he turned into a bat and flew through the window are you, Mulder?”
“I’ve met vampires before, or at least people who claimed to be vampires” replied Mulder “Just because I didn’t see them shape-shift into bats doesn’t mean that they can’t”.
“I knew I shouldn’t have let you read that Bram Stoker novel” Scully muttered. “A more rational explanation is that the victims left their window open, and the killer climbed in. If we can find whether this was easy to do so, like was their window within easy reach of a fire escape, we can test this theory”.
“I guess we’d need to ask if witnesses saw anyone climbing up the side of the building” Mulder grinned.
The three of them dropped the subject, particularly when Scully reminded Mulder that they had bought a deck of cards; they had a game of whist - not so easy when you don’t have a fourth person; Skinner wished he’d invited Holly to join in - then they shared a takeaway pizza; Mulder and Scully finally left at 9pm.
Skinner went back to watching out the window, but got bored after half an hour, and switched on the TV instead. The news did not report any more killings.
XXXXX
Holly came round the next day, bringing coffee and doughnuts.
“Come in” said Skinner, as she knocked.
He was sat by the window again, with his binoculars, looking intently at the building where two killings had taken place, and outside which a cop had been killed. There was no sun today; the sky was filled with dark clouds, and it looked like any moment the heavens would open.
“You’re a regular Ironside, aren’t you” Holly commented, “I recognised that building on the news reports”.
“Agent Mulder thinks vampires are involved” replied Skinner, not looking around; “Scully and I think it’s ludicrous”.
“More ridiculous than someone taking control of my mind and making me attack you?” Holly asked, “Didn’t all the killings take place at night?”
“Don’t tell me you’re believing all of this!”
“I’m not saying that” replied Holly, “But I do like to keep an open mind. I was speaking to Agent Reyes about this yesterday”.
Be careful around that woman, Skinner wanted to say, but instead he replied, “I suppose she thinks it’s Nosferatu as well?”
“No, actually, and I was quite surprised by this; I always thought she was a very spiritual person. She told me that the reason for this was probably something very human, and anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot”.
“You’re saying Reyes is being sceptical of something?” replied Skinner. It was becoming clearer now why Kersh had assigned her to the X-Files. The late Section Chief Blevins had originally assigned Scully to work with Mulder because of her scientific background to debunk the often wayward agent’s work.
He had heard of people undergoing complete personality changes as the result of brain trauma caused by bullet wounds to the head; Mulder had told him many years ago about a former F.B.I. agent called Duane Barry, who had suffered a similar injury to Reyes, who had ended up losing his job and in a psychiatric unit.
For the first time, Skinner felt guilty over his quick-thinking actions at the sugar factory; if the bullet he had put in Reyes’ head had forever changed her previously very spiritual mind, making her into someone very closed off to extreme possibilities. It was quite clear that Kersh realised she would become the counterbalance to Mulder’s wild ideas, someone who would find a rational explanation for all the cases they investigated. Maybe next time, I’ll put the bullet in Cancer Man’s brain, he thought; if he didn’t die, maybe he’d develop a conscience. All wishful thinking, of course; he had it on good authority that Mulder had killed Cancer Man.
“Have you noticed any other changes in Agent Reyes?”
“She seems angrier; I heard her snap at the post boy yesterday for apparently slacking”.
It certainly sounded very different from the always very approachable agent whom Skinner had supervised back when Special Agent John Doggett had asked her to work on the X-Files with him.
“Agents Mulder and Scully have been looking into this” replied Skinner, as he picked up his coffee, “But I suspect that the police need no help in this case”.
“Maybe I can find something out” replied Holly, dunking her doughnut into her coffee cup.
“What are you talking about?” asked Skinner.
“I’m sure I can find some way of getting a closer look at the scene” Holly replied, “I’ve known Agent Mulder long enough, and watched a few detective shows”.
She finished her doughnut and coffee; “I’d better be off now” she added.
“Holly, I hope you’re not about to do something reckless” Skinner replied.
“Make sure you have your cell phone to hand, Walter; I’ll speak to you soon”, Holly left the room.
“Holly…” Skinner called after her, but his shouts fell on deaf ears.
XXXXX
She phoned him half an hour later.
“Holly, where are you?”
“Look out the window; grab the binoculars”.
Skinner looked through his binoculars; was that Holly waving to him from the window of the building opposite.
“Holly, have you broken into a crime scene?”
“It’s easier to do than you think; I showed up with a bouquet of flowers, and told the officers I was visiting my sick mother.”
“How did you get in? I thought the building was security-locked”.
“I called a random flat; by luck they were in; I told them I was trying to deliver a parcel - they buzzed me right in. I was in luck with apartment 237; it seems that forensics aren’t around.”
“Holly, you’ll contaminate the crime scene - get out of there”.
“I’ll be very careful” replied Holly, “I’m looking around now; that’s odd”.
“What is it?”
“Every mirror in the apartment has been smashed; there’s glass all over the floor - I’m glad I didn’t go in with bare feet”.
“Anything else?”
“There’s not much sign that anything’s been stolen; everything is quite neat - either the killer knew what they were looking for, and didn’t have to ransack the place, or…”
“They weren’t after any of the victim’s possessions” Skinner finished her sentence, “A lot of killers only have murder as a motive; get out of there, Holly”.
He watched as Holly moved into the next room along; this was not good; Skinner could only watch in disbelief.
“This is interesting” Holly told Skinner, “There’s a crucifix on the floor - it’s just out of reach of the chalk outline the police put in the room - so this is where the murder took place”.
“Holly, I won’t tell you again”.
Skinner thought - a crucifix, broken mirrors - it all gave credit to Agent Mulder’s ridiculous vampire theory. There had to be a more sensible explanation.
Someone delusional, that had to be it.
“There are a few red blotches” added Holly, “They might be blood stains”.
Skinner was more concerned about something else he had seen; the front door of the apartment was visible, and Skinner could see someone walking in; was that the man who he’d seen the other night?
The man was looking around the apartment, seemingly unaware yet of Holly’s presence.
“Holly” Skinner hissed, “You’ve got company - hide”.
He could see Holly looking around frantically; the man was starting to walk towards the room that she was in.
“Is there a wardrobe, maybe?” he asked.
The man was about to walk in through the door; he looked like he was turning the door handle, but then he stopped.
Skinner saw a cop entering the room; there appeared to be a short conversation, then the cop escorted the man out, leaving Holly on her own. It looked like the cop was making sure that the man didn’t get back into the crime scene.
Skinner heaved a sigh of relief.
“I heard voices” came Holly’s voice, “I think one of the cops found him”.
A pause, then Holly added, “Did I hear a faint scream?”
“Holly, don’t take any more chances” replied Skinner, “Get out of there”.
XXXXX
Holly didn’t take any more chances; she hung up the phone, and left the apartment as quickly as she could, and headed to the lift; she pressed the call button.
This is lazy, she thought to herself, but she didn’t feel like taking the stairs.
The lift arrived promptly, and the doors opened; Holly had not expected the sight that met her eyes.
Lying on the floor of the lift was a cop; he was dead, and blood was gradually flowing out of two puncture wounds in his neck. At this moment, she passed out.
XXXXX
About an hour later, Skinner heard a knock on his door; about time Holly was back, he thought. He’d been repeatedly calling her after he saw her leave the crime scene; he was wondering if she’d gotten herself arrested.
Skinner opened the door to see Holly looking in a state of shock; a female cop was escorting her.
“Is everything okay, Officer?” he asked.
“Your friend was found unconscious at a crime scene” the cop said, “She asked to be taken to you”.
“Sir - Walter” Holly said, trembling, “It has to be a vampire; the dead cop - he had bite marks in his neck”.
“Holly, you’re in shock” replied Skinner, “I very much doubt it was a vampire”.
“I’m in agreement with you, Sir” replied the cop, “I’m taking your friend down to the station; as a witness, she needs questioning. However, you seem to fit the description given by some of my colleagues - both of whom are now dead - of a man who was seen asking questions at the crime scene. I must warn you that if interfering with police business is a very serious matter. What I’m saying is, leave it to the professionals”.
“Absolutely, Officer” replied Skinner, “I’ll mind my own business”.
“Good to hear” the cop replied; to Holly, she added, “Do you think you’ll be up for it?”
“Yes” Holly replied, “But I’m telling you - it was a vampire”.
Skinner watched the cop escort Holly to the car, and then closed the door; at this moment, his phone rang.
“Agent Mulder” Skinner answered; he could guess immediately what the agent was going to say.
“I’ve been watching the breaking news” replied Mulder, “Apparently very few details right now, but…”
“Another cop has been killed” Skinner finished, “Now, Agent Mulder - you’ve got Holly thinking vampires were involved, and just for the record, they weren’t”.
“You’re still not keeping an open mind?” Mulder asked.
“The police are speaking to her now” replied Skinner, “Hopefully she will tell them something rational. Now, I’m getting a little tired, so if you don’t mind, we’ll speak later”.
“Certainly” replied Mulder.
Skinner hung up; it was best that he didn’t tell his wild former employee about the reports of a crucifix on the floor, blood stains or broken windows that Holly had told him. Time to put on the television, and forget about this.
Skinner watched three hours of a Twin Peaks marathon, and then ordered another pizza; after he had eaten, he decided to have an early night.
XXXXX
Skinner woke up in the middle of the night; was someone in the room with him?
He switched his bedside light, on put on his glasses.
“Who the Hell are you?” he growled to the man standing in the corner of his room, “and more to the point, how did you get in here?”
“You’re really becoming quite the thorn in my side” the man said, advancing on Skinner, “I’ve noticed you watching me; you even sent your friend up to one of my crime scenes”.
“You’re the one who’s been doing all the murders?” Skinner asked; he was climbing out of his bed, attempting to get into his wheelchair. “I’ll call the police” he added.
“I don’t think you will” the man replied; he stared at Skinner mesmerizingly, “I think you’re getting sleepy”.
Skinner couldn’t take his gaze away from the man’s eyes; he felt himself getting drowsy; the man was getting closer to him.
“You won’t feel a thing” the man added, “Then it will all be over”.
As Skinner started to fall asleep, he fancied that he saw the door of his room being kicked open; was that Agent Mulder entering?
XXXXX
“Assistant Director Skinner”.
Skinner opened his eyes; he was in hospital; Agent Scully stood in front of him.
“How did I get here?” Skinner asked.
“Agent Mulder dialled 911” replied Scully, as Mulder entered the room carrying two coffees, “He said you’d been attacked”.
“I see you’re awake” Mulder said, “I’d have got three coffees if I’d known”.
“Agent Mulder” said Skinner “The last I remember was … a man was in my room”.
“Our vampire” replied Mulder, “I got him - I staked him, and he’s gone”.
“Mulder, we’ve gone through this before; there was no body; you did not stake anybody, and don’t forget you’ve over-reacted like this before”.
“He disintegrated into dust” Mulder protested, “just like on Buffy”.
“Mulder, the man most likely ran away. Anyway, I think Skinner probably needs to get more rest”.
As Mulder and Scully turned to leave, Skinner called after Mulder, “Thanks for saving me, Mulder. I don’t know exactly what happened, but it’s good to know you have my back”.
“You’ve had my back for many years” Mulder winked, “it felt good to return the favour”.
Skinner was released from hospital after a few days; soon after, he was able to return to his modified apartment, complete with accessible washroom, and stairlift. Switching on the news, he caught a bulleting; the reporter was in front of the building where the killings had taken place”.
“… no more killings in the last few days” the reporter said, “police are surprised, but relieved, after at one point it seemed that there was a murder every night. They are reminding residents to be extra vigilant, all the same, and be careful about who they let into the building…”.
Skinner switched off the TV; it was an odd coincidence, but he still wasn’t going to believe in vampires. For now, he would get on with his new life, until Agents Mulder and Scully asked for his help again.
The End
This follows on from the previous fic, My Struggle V in case you need a refresher on what happened, it confirmed Skinner as paralysed, and forced into retirement, and Monica Reyes as having survived Season 11, but with amnesia.
There are probably a few plot holes, but this is version 1 - I will probably clean it up at some point. I was procrastinating a lot over this one; it was a difficult birth, but at times the ideas just flowed and flowed.
Former Assistant Director Skinner was discharged from the hospital on Saturday evening; the hospital called a taxi for him, and they dropped him off at the motel room that he had booked up while his own apartment was being modified so that it would be wheelchair accessinle.
He had a lot to sort out; first off, he had to call a company to get a stair lift fitted, and he’d also need to make sure that he could use the kitchen and bathroom facilities; thank goodness the elevators in the building were quite reliable, and there were four of them - he was much less likely to end up stuck and unable to get back up. When he bought a two-floor apartment all those years ago, he had never imagined that he might end up paralysed from the waist down.
His first visitor was Holly, a former colleague from the F.B.I, who he’d had a good relationship with, aside from the time when she had attacked him. It was a long storey, but she had been under the hypnotic influence of Robert “Pusher” Modell, who had convinced her Skinner was a mugger. You couldn’t fire a member of staff on grounds of temporary insanity.
“I can get some things for you from your apartment” Holly offered.
“Thanks, Holly; several spare outfits first, I guess” he replied. “Flat 606, go up the stairs, and my bedroom is the first door on the right”.
“I imagine you’ll need a wash bag too” replied Holly.
“That too; the washroom is the first on the left at the top of the stairs; bring me a towel, flannel, toothbrush and toothpaste; that should be enough - oh, and deodorant”.
“Certainly, Sir”.
“Walter” he reminded her, “I’m no longer with the F.B.I.”
“Of course; Walter. This looks like a nice motel, anyway”.
Skinner had been surprised when he had no difficult getting himself an accessible room; at least the compensation package that he was receiving from the F.B.I would help to pay for the expense incurred from having booked a motel room for two weeks. Stewart Motel wasn’t too impressive, but it had all that he needed; besides, he had plenty of experience of staying in worse places back before his promotion to Assistant Director of the F.B.I.
Skinner handed over a set of keys to Holly, identifying the keys for the main entrance and his own front door.
“I’ll see you in about an hour then, Walter” replied Holly.
When she had left, Skinner wheeled his way over to the window at the back of the room, just next to the bathroom, and looked out of the window. There wasn’t much of a view, as there was another building close by. Because of the time of year, it was dark already, although it was only six in the evening.
He could see in some of the windows; there was a women’s fitness class taking place in one of the apartments; in another, he could see a couple who appeared to be bickering about something.
This was when he heard the scream; he could hardly believe for a second that he had heard correctly, but it appeared to be coming from one of the ground floor windows. He couldn’t see much there, except for a man with his back to the window. Skinner decided not to think about it too much, and turned away from the window, not seeing the large bat fluttering out of the open window of the building opposite and away into the evening sky.
XXXXX
Mulder and Scully came to visit Skinner the following afternoon.
“How are things going, Walter?” Scully asked, putting a four-pack of beer down on the table, evidently his former agents had felt the need to stop at Walmart to get him a present on their way.
“Fine, considering that I can’t live in my own home for the next week, Dana”.
Mulder thought, should he insist on being called Mulder; he had never been sure about being called Fox, but he was sure he could take it from his former supervisor.
“I bet it’s a nice view, though”.
“Hardly” replied Skinner, “I don’t think these places ever have a ‘nice view’”.
“Walter” added Scully, “I’ll get straight to it; I presume you heard that Special Agent Reyes woke from her coma”.
“Yes, I did”.
“Kersh started the hearing on possible misconduct today” replied Mulder, “and ended it”.
“That’s ludicrous, Agents. I was expecting to give evidence”.
“We spoke on your behalf, based on what you’d told us, Walter” Scully replied, “But Kersh said all of this was ridiculous, and Special Agent Reyes had generally been an upstanding F.B.I. agent”.
Mulder thought back to the hearing, which a number of F.B.I. Assistant and Deputy Directors had been in attendance of, as had Special Agent Reyes, who still looked a bit confused, accompanied by her attorney.
Kersh had asked the Agents to show them proof of this mysterious ‘Cancer Man’ who Reyes had supposedly been consorting with, before concluding that if Skinner were talking this kind of unfounded nonsense, it was another good reason to retire him from the F.B.I.
“There’s another thing, Walter” added Mulder, “Scully - Dana - is taking maternity leave, so will not be working on the X-Files for the foreseeable future”.
“So, you’ll be working on your own, Fox?” asked Skinner, “Like you used to”.
“Actually, Kersh has assigned me a new partner” replied Mulder, “I’m not too sure how to feel about this. Special Agent Monica Reyes has been assigned to the X-Files, and will start as soon as she feels ready”.
“I am not sure whether to trust her either” replied Scully, “You also need to know that Agent Reyes has no memory of how she ended up in her coma; her lawyer stated that she was incapable of answering any questions about the smoking man for this reason.”
“Do you suppose she is lying?”
“Her doctors seemed quite convinced” replied Mulder.
“Well, all I can say is, Deputy Director Kersh may be an enemy to the X-Files, but at least he’s assigned someone with a good track record. But, Fox - keep an eye on her; you never know when she might stab you in the back”.
“Duly noted, Walter” Mulder replied. “We’ll let you drink your beer”.
“If you’re free for the next hour, there’s a New York Knicks game on” replied Skinner, “The TV reception’s not great, but I’d love the company”.
Mulder and Scully stayed to watch the game, and then the three of them dialled room service to get two pizzas to share; it was a bit odd hanging out like this with their former boss, especially seeing how into the game Skinner got. This was a whole new side to him.
XXXXX
Skinner had another visitor the next day; Holly was a senior member of support services with the F.B.I., and was glad that she was still on good terms with the former Assistant Director.
There had been an incident several years ago when she had assaulted Skinner in the F.B.I. building; it had been Agent Mulder who stopped Holly from being disciplined, despite the outrage that Kersh, at the time still an Assistant Director, had expressed when he heard. Kersh had himself stated that “If it were up to me, she would have been sacked immediately”.
As it happened, Holly had been under the influence of a man named Robert Modell, who had the ability to make others do his will through what appeared to be a Jedi-type mind trick; even so, she was still embarrassed by the incident.
When she arrived, Skinner was looking out of the window, with the binoculars that he had intended for birdwatching, but she noticed that he was looking at the adjacent building instead.
“I don’t think they’ll appreciate you doing that, you know” she commented.
“Holly” said Skinner, “This isn’t what it looks like”.
Holly came over to the window to see what her former superior was looking at.
“There’s something going on in that house next door” Skinner commented, “It’s got my attention; take a look through the binoculars, see what you think”.
Holly looked through the binoculars; she could see police in the window; the place appeared to be a crime scene.
“Do you suppose something’s happened there?” asked Holly.
“Yes, wondering if there’s been a murder” replied Skinner. He turned away from the window. “I saw someone in that apartment just a few days ago; he was possibly talking to someone, but I wasn’t sure”.
“You sure have turned into a regular Jimmy Stewart” replied Holly; “Anyway, I thought I’d see how you were”.
Skinner wheeled himself across the room, “As I tell everyone, quite well for a man who has just lost the use of his legs, and also been forced into retirement”.
“I bought you a few magazines” replied Holly, “I’ll leave them by your bed”.
“Thanks” replied Skinner, “Presumably not Mulder’s cast-offs; I’m not that desperate”.
“No” replied Holly, “It’s mostly copies of Time magazine”.
“Thanks” replied Skinner, looking in the bag; one of them had Deputy Director Kersh on the cover, with the caption: THE FUTURE F.B.I. DIRECTOR? OUR VIEW ON WHY ALVIN KERSH WOULD BE IDEAL FOR THE JOB.
Skinner rolled his eyes; the last he wanted was to see a picture of his former boss on a magazine cover, but he thanked Holly.
“I’ll try and check up on you as often as I can” replied Holly.
After she had left, Skinner took his binoculars, and looked out of the window again; he had just missed the sunset, and it was getting dark. At this moment, he noticed someone familiar; he was fairly certain it was the man he had seen through the window of an apartment that was now a crime scene, but now he was in a different window, three floors up.
Could it really be the same man, Skinner wondered. He observed that the women’s fitness class was once again in progress, and then realised that he really did feel like a pervert watching them, so he put his binoculars away and picked up the come of Time magazine with Kersh on the front.
“Alvin Kersh’s promotion to Deputy Director of the F.B.I. in 2000 was a good boost to the Bureau’s image as an equal-opportunity employer, getting a person of colour promoted to one of the highest levels of power within their organisation. With the current Director approaching retirement, Time magazine believes that it is about time that the F.B.I. appointed him as their first overseer from a minority background.
However, some are arguing that Kersh himself is getting too old, and are predicting him to retire in the next five years…”
Skinner didn’t read the rest of the article, and decided to put on the TV instead, finding that they were showing a Simpsons marathon all night on one of the few channels with a decent reception.
XXXXX
A scream.
Skinner was sure he heard it; he woke up with a start, and switched the bedside lamp on.
Putting his glasses on, he pulled himself into his wheelchair and manoevred himself over to the window; peering out, he saw one light was on in the window of the adjacent building.
Wasn’t the window where that man was standing before? Skinner wondered.
Maybe he’d imagined the scream; maybe he had dreamed the whole thing.
Skinner was too tired to think of this; he returned to bed.
XXXXX
There was no doubt about it, there was a police car outside the building the next day; Skinner’s curiosity was piqued. He wheeled himself out of his motel room, and headed over to the building.
It was drizzling outside, with grey skies overhead but Skinner didn’t care too much; it was good to be out and about. There weren’t a lot of people outside the building, just a small group of police officers, one of whom was talking to a couple - presumably residents.
“Excuse me, officer” he said to a young cop who happened to be close by, “What’s been going on?”
“Police business, old man; this doesn’t concern you”.
“I’m staying in the motel next door” replied Skinner, “and don’t you Old Man me; I think the public have a right to know”.
“Take a hike” said another cop, walking towards Skinner, “I suggest you mind your own businesss in future”.
Skinner was getting nowhere; he doubted that they would listen to him now that he was a retired F.B.I. Agent, but he knew someone who they might give an answer to.
He pulled out his phone when he was back in his motel room, and dialled, “Agent Scully; I’ve got a job for you. Also, just this once, go alone; it’s probably best not to involve Mulder, yet”.
XXXXX
“So, Scully - you’re going behind my back now”.
Mulder greeted his partner as she arrived at Skinner’s room, having spoken to the cops.
“Mulder” replied Scully. “I think Skinner was worried what you might say to the cops; that you might try to turn the incident into an X-File”.
“Really?” asked Mulder, intrigued.
“Scully” Skinner interjected, “Thanks for responding so quickly; did they speak to you?”
“I flashed my F.B.I. badge” replied Scully, “They told me to keep this confidential, that some nosey guy in a wheelchair had been asking them questions. I think they’re a bit worried about this getting out.”
“So, there must be some sort of story” Skinner replied.
“Two deaths in the same building” replied Scully, “I know what Mulder will say; both seem to have been drained of their blood, and yes - both have two sets out puncture wounds on their necks. I’ll say it for you, Mulder, you think it’s a vampire, don’t you?”
“Possibly a vampire” replied Mulder, “Could be El Chupacabra on vacation; maybe he got fed up of dining on goats”.
“Now, you can see why I didn’t want you talking to those cops, Mulder” replied Skinner, “Both ideas are ridiculous; I think Agent Scully will agree when I suggest that there is a much more human cause of death”.
“Maybe we could get in to speak to the residents” Mulder replied, “Did you find out which apartment numbers the killings took place in at least, Scully”.
“Apartments 101 and 237” replied Scully, “If you’re suggesting we go in there, it might be difficult; they have a security door, and I don’t think you want to be trying to get in while the police are there. They told me that they have things under control, and that it definitely doesn’t need to be an F.B.I. matter”.
“I think what Scully is trying to say, Agent Mulder” added Skinner “Is that you agents probably have better things to occupy your time with”.
“Let’s go, Mulder” replied Scully, “Kersh wants to see us in half an hour”.
“Discussing the future of the X-Files” replied Mulder, “While Scully takes her maternity leave”.
Skinner could tell Mulder was trying to hide his disappointment; the two agents left together, and Skinner switched on the television.
XXXXX
Skinner didn’t leave the motel room for the rest of the day; he was starting to feel like a hermit by the time the day was over, there was one report on the incidents across the road.
He recognised one of the cops from the scene, not surprisingly they were quite reluctant to give out details; Skinner guessed they were trying to avoid too much panic.
“All we can say” the cop told the reporter “Is that there have been two deaths at this same building in the last few days”.
“Do you know whether there is a connecting between the two victims?” the reporter asked.
“There is no known connection” the officer replied, “The police department do not wish to give any more details at this time, but we would like to offer our condolences to the victims’ families”.
“Is there any reason for the public to be concerned?”
“Absolutely none; we would ask anyone in the area to, as ever, remain vigilant, and if they witnessed anything, that they should call the police department as soon as possible”.
Skinner reached for his phone; maybe he should say something about the man he had seen; he dialled 911.
“Hello, police department”.
Skinner hesitated; what was we going to say? He had possibly seen the same man appear in two different apartments across the street.
The person on the end would ask him to describe this man; he would reply that he was too far enough to give a possible description, they would tell him to stop wasting police time if he didn’t have anything more concrete.
“Hello, police department” came the woman’s voice again, “Is everything okay?”
Skinner hung up his phone; he decided he’d be best off not saying anything.
He wheeled himself over to the window again, though, and looked out through his binoculars.
There didn’t seem to be much activity; all he could see was one prostitute, overly made up and wearing a short skirt, arriving on the scene, but leaving very fast when she spotted a police car, evidently staking out the building to see if there was anyone suspicious around.
XXXXX
An elderly male janitor came to clean Skinner’s room the next day.
“Did you hear the news, señor?” he asked as he began to change the sheets on the bed.
“Is this about the building next door? I saw that was mentioned last night; two deaths so far” Skinner replied, reaching for his wallet and taking out a few dollar bills, “Here’s a tip” he added.
The man stuffed the dollar bills into the breast pocket of his overalls; “Señor” he replied, in slightly broken English, “Three deaths, now - it’s on the news right now; they were watching it in the next room, so I see”.
Skinner reached for the remote and switched on the TV.
“… had taken a break to get doughnuts; he returned to the car where they were staking out the building to find his partner, Kenny Hopkins, dead”.
A picture appeared on the screen; Skinner immediately recognised the man in the picture as the cop from the news report the night before, the same one he had spoken to at the crime scene.
“Kenny Hopkins was a family man, a father of two, and a well respected member of the Washington DC Police Department; his death has come as a great shock to many, and police are appealing once again for any witnesses to come forward”.
“Si, Señor” the janitor laughed nervously, “They killed Kenny”.
Skinner excused himself, and wheeled himself outside; it wasn’t ideal, but it was a better place for him to have a private conversation.
Picking up his phone, he dialled Scully’s number.
“Agent Scully” he said, “I know we thought that the F.B.I. should ignore this case, but there’s been a third death”.
“Mulder will be intrigued” Scully replied.
“A cop named Kenny Hopkins” Skinner replied, “Can you do me a favour and have a word with the county coroner? Find out what the autopsy report says?”
“I certainly can” replied Scully, “Is there anything else you need?”
Skinner paused, “If Agent Mulder is getting some more sunflower seeds” Skinner replied, “Could he get me some? I’m starting to wonder if I’m missing out on something”.
“Certainly” Scully replied.
Skinner hung up the phone; the case was getting interesting, but he was still unconvinced that this was vampires, or El Chupacabra, and he was determined to prove it.
XXXXX
Mulder and Scully came to Skinner’s room late that afternoon.
“Here are your sunflower seeds” Mulder said, as soon as he had walked in the door; he handed Skinner three packets of sunflower seeds.
“You’ll probably find them a bit moreish” he added.
“Thanks, Agent Mulder” replied Skinner, “Have you found anything out?”
“Agent Mulder is getting excited about this” replied Scully, “I’ve had to convince him to stay away from the scene for now; so, I spoke to the coroner, and was able to get the report; guess what?”
“Same cause of death as the other victims?” Skinner asked.
“Exsanguination” replied Scully; “Two puncture marks…”
“Bite marks” added Mulder.
“…On the unfortunate Mr. Hopkins’ throat” Scully continued, “The coroner agrees with me that the notion of vampire involvement is ludicrous, and apparently the police are searching the area for some kind of implement - like a skewer - that could have been used to perpetrate the attack”.
“So, you’re thinking it could be someone with an appetite for killing, who maybe wants to give people the jitters?” Skinner asked.
“What we’re missing is a motive” replied Mulder.
“We have yet to find out more about the backgrounds of the first two victims” replied Scully, “But I suspect that Mr. Hopkins was targeted because the killer realised the police were onto them”.
“So, you think the fact that these killings evidently took place after nightfall was just conincidence?” Mulder returned, “Someone going to great lengths to fake a vampire attack?”
“Agent Mulder, I doubt this person would be attempting to gain access to the building in broad daylight” replied Skinner, “The building is next to a main road, where there would be plenty of witnesses”.
“Have you seen anyone entering the building?” Scully asked.
“So far, no” replied Skinner, “But - and I couldn’t be certain, I think I saw a man appear in the building during two different nights, and in two different flats. I can’t be certain though, whether he was in the flats where the killings took place though, or if this was the same man”.
“Maybe he didn’t enter through the door” Mulder commented.
“You’re not suggesting he turned into a bat and flew through the window are you, Mulder?”
“I’ve met vampires before, or at least people who claimed to be vampires” replied Mulder “Just because I didn’t see them shape-shift into bats doesn’t mean that they can’t”.
“I knew I shouldn’t have let you read that Bram Stoker novel” Scully muttered. “A more rational explanation is that the victims left their window open, and the killer climbed in. If we can find whether this was easy to do so, like was their window within easy reach of a fire escape, we can test this theory”.
“I guess we’d need to ask if witnesses saw anyone climbing up the side of the building” Mulder grinned.
The three of them dropped the subject, particularly when Scully reminded Mulder that they had bought a deck of cards; they had a game of whist - not so easy when you don’t have a fourth person; Skinner wished he’d invited Holly to join in - then they shared a takeaway pizza; Mulder and Scully finally left at 9pm.
Skinner went back to watching out the window, but got bored after half an hour, and switched on the TV instead. The news did not report any more killings.
XXXXX
Holly came round the next day, bringing coffee and doughnuts.
“Come in” said Skinner, as she knocked.
He was sat by the window again, with his binoculars, looking intently at the building where two killings had taken place, and outside which a cop had been killed. There was no sun today; the sky was filled with dark clouds, and it looked like any moment the heavens would open.
“You’re a regular Ironside, aren’t you” Holly commented, “I recognised that building on the news reports”.
“Agent Mulder thinks vampires are involved” replied Skinner, not looking around; “Scully and I think it’s ludicrous”.
“More ridiculous than someone taking control of my mind and making me attack you?” Holly asked, “Didn’t all the killings take place at night?”
“Don’t tell me you’re believing all of this!”
“I’m not saying that” replied Holly, “But I do like to keep an open mind. I was speaking to Agent Reyes about this yesterday”.
Be careful around that woman, Skinner wanted to say, but instead he replied, “I suppose she thinks it’s Nosferatu as well?”
“No, actually, and I was quite surprised by this; I always thought she was a very spiritual person. She told me that the reason for this was probably something very human, and anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot”.
“You’re saying Reyes is being sceptical of something?” replied Skinner. It was becoming clearer now why Kersh had assigned her to the X-Files. The late Section Chief Blevins had originally assigned Scully to work with Mulder because of her scientific background to debunk the often wayward agent’s work.
He had heard of people undergoing complete personality changes as the result of brain trauma caused by bullet wounds to the head; Mulder had told him many years ago about a former F.B.I. agent called Duane Barry, who had suffered a similar injury to Reyes, who had ended up losing his job and in a psychiatric unit.
For the first time, Skinner felt guilty over his quick-thinking actions at the sugar factory; if the bullet he had put in Reyes’ head had forever changed her previously very spiritual mind, making her into someone very closed off to extreme possibilities. It was quite clear that Kersh realised she would become the counterbalance to Mulder’s wild ideas, someone who would find a rational explanation for all the cases they investigated. Maybe next time, I’ll put the bullet in Cancer Man’s brain, he thought; if he didn’t die, maybe he’d develop a conscience. All wishful thinking, of course; he had it on good authority that Mulder had killed Cancer Man.
“Have you noticed any other changes in Agent Reyes?”
“She seems angrier; I heard her snap at the post boy yesterday for apparently slacking”.
It certainly sounded very different from the always very approachable agent whom Skinner had supervised back when Special Agent John Doggett had asked her to work on the X-Files with him.
“Agents Mulder and Scully have been looking into this” replied Skinner, as he picked up his coffee, “But I suspect that the police need no help in this case”.
“Maybe I can find something out” replied Holly, dunking her doughnut into her coffee cup.
“What are you talking about?” asked Skinner.
“I’m sure I can find some way of getting a closer look at the scene” Holly replied, “I’ve known Agent Mulder long enough, and watched a few detective shows”.
She finished her doughnut and coffee; “I’d better be off now” she added.
“Holly, I hope you’re not about to do something reckless” Skinner replied.
“Make sure you have your cell phone to hand, Walter; I’ll speak to you soon”, Holly left the room.
“Holly…” Skinner called after her, but his shouts fell on deaf ears.
XXXXX
She phoned him half an hour later.
“Holly, where are you?”
“Look out the window; grab the binoculars”.
Skinner looked through his binoculars; was that Holly waving to him from the window of the building opposite.
“Holly, have you broken into a crime scene?”
“It’s easier to do than you think; I showed up with a bouquet of flowers, and told the officers I was visiting my sick mother.”
“How did you get in? I thought the building was security-locked”.
“I called a random flat; by luck they were in; I told them I was trying to deliver a parcel - they buzzed me right in. I was in luck with apartment 237; it seems that forensics aren’t around.”
“Holly, you’ll contaminate the crime scene - get out of there”.
“I’ll be very careful” replied Holly, “I’m looking around now; that’s odd”.
“What is it?”
“Every mirror in the apartment has been smashed; there’s glass all over the floor - I’m glad I didn’t go in with bare feet”.
“Anything else?”
“There’s not much sign that anything’s been stolen; everything is quite neat - either the killer knew what they were looking for, and didn’t have to ransack the place, or…”
“They weren’t after any of the victim’s possessions” Skinner finished her sentence, “A lot of killers only have murder as a motive; get out of there, Holly”.
He watched as Holly moved into the next room along; this was not good; Skinner could only watch in disbelief.
“This is interesting” Holly told Skinner, “There’s a crucifix on the floor - it’s just out of reach of the chalk outline the police put in the room - so this is where the murder took place”.
“Holly, I won’t tell you again”.
Skinner thought - a crucifix, broken mirrors - it all gave credit to Agent Mulder’s ridiculous vampire theory. There had to be a more sensible explanation.
Someone delusional, that had to be it.
“There are a few red blotches” added Holly, “They might be blood stains”.
Skinner was more concerned about something else he had seen; the front door of the apartment was visible, and Skinner could see someone walking in; was that the man who he’d seen the other night?
The man was looking around the apartment, seemingly unaware yet of Holly’s presence.
“Holly” Skinner hissed, “You’ve got company - hide”.
He could see Holly looking around frantically; the man was starting to walk towards the room that she was in.
“Is there a wardrobe, maybe?” he asked.
The man was about to walk in through the door; he looked like he was turning the door handle, but then he stopped.
Skinner saw a cop entering the room; there appeared to be a short conversation, then the cop escorted the man out, leaving Holly on her own. It looked like the cop was making sure that the man didn’t get back into the crime scene.
Skinner heaved a sigh of relief.
“I heard voices” came Holly’s voice, “I think one of the cops found him”.
A pause, then Holly added, “Did I hear a faint scream?”
“Holly, don’t take any more chances” replied Skinner, “Get out of there”.
XXXXX
Holly didn’t take any more chances; she hung up the phone, and left the apartment as quickly as she could, and headed to the lift; she pressed the call button.
This is lazy, she thought to herself, but she didn’t feel like taking the stairs.
The lift arrived promptly, and the doors opened; Holly had not expected the sight that met her eyes.
Lying on the floor of the lift was a cop; he was dead, and blood was gradually flowing out of two puncture wounds in his neck. At this moment, she passed out.
XXXXX
About an hour later, Skinner heard a knock on his door; about time Holly was back, he thought. He’d been repeatedly calling her after he saw her leave the crime scene; he was wondering if she’d gotten herself arrested.
Skinner opened the door to see Holly looking in a state of shock; a female cop was escorting her.
“Is everything okay, Officer?” he asked.
“Your friend was found unconscious at a crime scene” the cop said, “She asked to be taken to you”.
“Sir - Walter” Holly said, trembling, “It has to be a vampire; the dead cop - he had bite marks in his neck”.
“Holly, you’re in shock” replied Skinner, “I very much doubt it was a vampire”.
“I’m in agreement with you, Sir” replied the cop, “I’m taking your friend down to the station; as a witness, she needs questioning. However, you seem to fit the description given by some of my colleagues - both of whom are now dead - of a man who was seen asking questions at the crime scene. I must warn you that if interfering with police business is a very serious matter. What I’m saying is, leave it to the professionals”.
“Absolutely, Officer” replied Skinner, “I’ll mind my own business”.
“Good to hear” the cop replied; to Holly, she added, “Do you think you’ll be up for it?”
“Yes” Holly replied, “But I’m telling you - it was a vampire”.
Skinner watched the cop escort Holly to the car, and then closed the door; at this moment, his phone rang.
“Agent Mulder” Skinner answered; he could guess immediately what the agent was going to say.
“I’ve been watching the breaking news” replied Mulder, “Apparently very few details right now, but…”
“Another cop has been killed” Skinner finished, “Now, Agent Mulder - you’ve got Holly thinking vampires were involved, and just for the record, they weren’t”.
“You’re still not keeping an open mind?” Mulder asked.
“The police are speaking to her now” replied Skinner, “Hopefully she will tell them something rational. Now, I’m getting a little tired, so if you don’t mind, we’ll speak later”.
“Certainly” replied Mulder.
Skinner hung up; it was best that he didn’t tell his wild former employee about the reports of a crucifix on the floor, blood stains or broken windows that Holly had told him. Time to put on the television, and forget about this.
Skinner watched three hours of a Twin Peaks marathon, and then ordered another pizza; after he had eaten, he decided to have an early night.
XXXXX
Skinner woke up in the middle of the night; was someone in the room with him?
He switched his bedside light, on put on his glasses.
“Who the Hell are you?” he growled to the man standing in the corner of his room, “and more to the point, how did you get in here?”
“You’re really becoming quite the thorn in my side” the man said, advancing on Skinner, “I’ve noticed you watching me; you even sent your friend up to one of my crime scenes”.
“You’re the one who’s been doing all the murders?” Skinner asked; he was climbing out of his bed, attempting to get into his wheelchair. “I’ll call the police” he added.
“I don’t think you will” the man replied; he stared at Skinner mesmerizingly, “I think you’re getting sleepy”.
Skinner couldn’t take his gaze away from the man’s eyes; he felt himself getting drowsy; the man was getting closer to him.
“You won’t feel a thing” the man added, “Then it will all be over”.
As Skinner started to fall asleep, he fancied that he saw the door of his room being kicked open; was that Agent Mulder entering?
XXXXX
“Assistant Director Skinner”.
Skinner opened his eyes; he was in hospital; Agent Scully stood in front of him.
“How did I get here?” Skinner asked.
“Agent Mulder dialled 911” replied Scully, as Mulder entered the room carrying two coffees, “He said you’d been attacked”.
“I see you’re awake” Mulder said, “I’d have got three coffees if I’d known”.
“Agent Mulder” said Skinner “The last I remember was … a man was in my room”.
“Our vampire” replied Mulder, “I got him - I staked him, and he’s gone”.
“Mulder, we’ve gone through this before; there was no body; you did not stake anybody, and don’t forget you’ve over-reacted like this before”.
“He disintegrated into dust” Mulder protested, “just like on Buffy”.
“Mulder, the man most likely ran away. Anyway, I think Skinner probably needs to get more rest”.
As Mulder and Scully turned to leave, Skinner called after Mulder, “Thanks for saving me, Mulder. I don’t know exactly what happened, but it’s good to know you have my back”.
“You’ve had my back for many years” Mulder winked, “it felt good to return the favour”.
Skinner was released from hospital after a few days; soon after, he was able to return to his modified apartment, complete with accessible washroom, and stairlift. Switching on the news, he caught a bulleting; the reporter was in front of the building where the killings had taken place”.
“… no more killings in the last few days” the reporter said, “police are surprised, but relieved, after at one point it seemed that there was a murder every night. They are reminding residents to be extra vigilant, all the same, and be careful about who they let into the building…”.
Skinner switched off the TV; it was an odd coincidence, but he still wasn’t going to believe in vampires. For now, he would get on with his new life, until Agents Mulder and Scully asked for his help again.
The End