The Inquiries Begin

"This is not good," Richie said.

"Ya think?"  Reina asked sarcastically.

"Maybe we can just duck out the back."

"Impossible."

"How can you not have a back exit?"

"We can go out the back," Reina told him.  "But then we'd have to climb the fence.  I just as soon not do that in broad daylight."

Richie looked at the fence in question.  "It's not that bad a climb."

"I didn't say it was," Reina said.  Richie gave Reina a baleful look.  "Don't look at me like that.  I didn't buy this house.  Besides, there are easier ways to avoid Samantha."

"How?"

"I just ignore her."

"That's a big help."

"You can outrun her.  Believe me she hasn't jogged since high school.  Even then she was huffing and puffing pretty badly."

"You're funny."

"I was being serious," Reina informed Richie.  "I can't believe you're afraid of her.  Granted if she sits on you it'll hurt but you'll heal."

"Great."

"Not for nothing, but this is your own fault."

"My fault?"  Richie asked incredulously.

"You talked to her," Reina said.  "That only encourages her."

"I didn't talk to her.  Mac did," Richie said.  "I was just standing there.  Besides, I think that even if I was rude to her as you are she'd still act like this."

Reina shrugged and smiled sheepishly.

"I'm right aren't I?"

Reina bit her lip.  "I have to get more tape and boxes.  We have two choices, blow past her or walk around the block like cowards.  I say we just blow past her."

"You're the one who lives here.  I'll follow you. Lead on fearless leader."

"Detectives, it would appear that the FBI has taken an interest in this case," Lt. Van Buren said as Detectives, Briscoe and Curtis entered her office.

"We didn't ask for help on this case," Detective Briscoe said.

"It would appear that we're getting it anyway," the Lieutenant said.  "Apparently, the first victim was involved with someone who has connections to one of our congressmen.  We're to give the agents our full cooperation."

"Well it's nice to see our tax dollars aren't being wasted," Briscoe grumbled sarcastically.

"There have been several murders across the country of a similar nature," Mulder said.  "We're hoping that someone could give us a clue as to what we're up against.  I understand that you have a witness who saw the victim leave with someone."

"Yes, but we didn't have a chance to question her," Briscoe said.  "We were planning to go out to Brooklyn to talk to her."

"I didn't realize you had such a large precinct," Scully said.

"The first killing occurred in our area.  We're working with the 69 on this one.  We believe that both murders were committed by the same person."

"What about the older cases?"  Mulder said.

"The older cases?"  Lt. Van Buren asked.

"There was a similar case a couple of years ago.  A man was shot and then beheaded in a parking garage.  Ten years ago there were several beheadings in the area.  They all had evidence of electrical activity," Detective Curtis said.  "I just pulled them from the computer."

"I knew there was something similar about this case," Briscoe said.

"Do you know who investigated those cases?"  Mulder asked.

"The investigating officers were Frank Moran and Walter Bedsoe," Curtis said.

"Do you know where they live?"  Mulder asked.  "I'd like to talk to them."

"I knew Moran," Briscoe said.  "He died about two years ago.  Bedsoe retired last year.  I think he lives in Long Island."

"What can you tell me about the latest cases?"

"The first victim was Angela Smith.  She was found by a jogger.  She'd been dead at least eight hours when she was found," Briscoe said.

"What about the electrical activity?"

"There were some lights which were blown out but it could have been caused by a power surge."

"No one checked it out?"

"There's no reason to believe that the damage was caused by a person."

"What about the body you found yesterday?"  Mulder asked.

"Where do you get your information Agent Mulder?"  Lt. Van Buren asked. "The papers haven't even gotten the story yet.  The body was found last night."

"I have my sources."

Scully raised an eyebrow at her partner.

"Last night's victim was Reynaldo Montoya.  According to a witness a man approached the victim and the young woman who lives with him as they were leaving.  The woman drove off and the two men left together."

"I'd like to go with you to talk to her," Mulder said.

"Fine," Van Buren said.

"I'd like to perform the autopsy.  I am a pathologist," Scully said.

"I'll talk to the coroner."

"I have one more question," Mulder said.  "Did either of the two latest victims have a sword among their personal effects?"

Briscoe looked startled.  "They both did.  How did you know?"

"The police refuse to release Reynaldo's body until an autopsy is done," Reina told MacLeod.

"There's nothing you can do about it."

"They can't do an autopsy," she wailed.  "What if they find something?"

"They won't," MacLeod said.

"How do you know?"

"There's nothing to find.  We're as human as any mortal."

"Except for that whole not dying unless someone takes our head thing," Reina said sardonically.

"There is that."

"I just as soon bury him as soon as possible.  I want this over with."

The doorbell rang.  Reina went down the stairs to answer it.

"Ms. Molestador," Curtis said.

"You're back," Reina said.  She raised an eyebrow as she looked at the two agents behind the detectives.  "And you've brought company."

"I'm Special Agent Fox Mulder, this is Agent Scully."

FBI. Oh great more bad news. Reina thought.  "Your name is really Fox?" Reina asked aloud.  How's that for tact Reina?  She asked herself.

"Yes."

Reina shrugged.  "What can I do for you?"

"We're working on your…," Mulder let the sentence hang.

"Godfather," Reina supplied the word for him.

"We're working on your Godfather's case as well," Mulder said.  "We'd like to ask you a few questions."

It's not like I have a choice.  Reina said to herself.  "Come on in," she said.  Mulder.  Mulder.  Why does that name sound familiar?

Reina led the detectives and the FBI agents into her apartment.  "Duncan, Richie, this is Special Agents Mulder and Scully and the two detectives from last night.  They're investigating Reynaldo's death."

The three immortals scrutinized the law enforcement personnel in front of them.  Their scrutiny was most intense on the newcomers Mulder and Scully.

"How can I help you?" Reina asked.

"According to your neighbor.  A man approached you as you were leaving last night."

"Yeah," Reina said shrugging.

"Was this the man who approached you?" Mulder handed Reina a picture.

Reina peered at the photograph.  "No that wasn't him."

"Have you ever seen that man before?"

"No."

MacLeod nearly did a double take when he saw the picture.  He kept his face neutral as he surreptitiously eyed the photo.  It was a picture of Connor taken about ten years ago. There was no mistaking Connor.  Even with the 80's haircut.

"Are you sure?" Mulder asked.

"Quite."

"The man who approached you last night, did you catch his name?"

Reina looked at MacLeod uncomfortably before answering.  She considered lying.  Then she remembered her nosy neighbor.

"We weren't formally introduced," Reina said.  "But Reynaldo called him Mark Tuttle."

"Mr. Montoya knew him?"

"I assume so," Reina said.  "I've never met him."

"So they were friends," Briscoe said.

"I wouldn't say that," Reina said.  "They knew each other."

"Did he say where he knew this Mark Tuttle," Curtis asked.

"No. We were on our way to the airport," Reina said.  "This guy shows up.  Reynaldo tells me to go.  I went.  End of story."

"You know nothing about this guy?" Briscoe asked.

"Not a thing.  Sorry."

"Can you think of any reason as to why anyone would want to kill your godfather?"

"No."

The detectives headed for the door.  "If you think of anything call," Curtis said handing Reina his card.

"I'd like to ask a few more questions," Mulder said.

The detectives shrugged.  Scully looked at Mulder quizzically.  "I'm going to the hospital," she said. "I'll meet you at the hotel later."

Why the hell is his name so bloody familiar?  Reina thought.

"Okay Scully," Mulder said.  He turned to the immortal woman.  "You said Reynaldo was your Godfather?"

"Yes."

"How old was he?"

Brooklyn 1993 Thanksgiving

"Ms. Molestador?"

Reina jumped, startled.  "Reina."

"Reina."

"I'm sorry what was the question again?"

"How old was your Godfather?"

Reina scowled at the FBI agent.  "I don't really know," she lied.  Oh about 800 give or take a couple of decades.  "What does this have to do with UFOs?" Reina asked Mulder.

MacLeod and Richie turned to the female immortal in disbelief.  Mulder looked surprised.

"Actually, my partner and I investigate cases which involve unexplained phenomena.  But how would you know that?"  He asked.

"It's not exactly a secret," Reina told him.  "If you know the right people."

"Well, you must admit that bodies turning up without heads accompanied by evidence of electrical activity certainly qualifies as unexplained phenomena."

"I guess that would depend on whether or not the electricity came from the body or not. Seems rather unlikely to me.  You've probably stumbled onto bodies which were near lighting strikes."  How do you say these things with a straight face? She thought.

Now that sounds exactly like Scully.  Mulder thought.  "That's what I'm here to find out," he said.  He smiled as he noticed one of the photographs on the wall.  "You must be related to Special Agent Molestador."

"He's my brother.  I hope you won't hold that against me.  The fact that we're both Molestadors is nothing more than happenstance.  We are nothing alike."

"I'll take that into consideration."

"How can I help you?"

"I'd like to see your godfather's apartment," Mulder said taking advantage in the change of subject.  "Would it be all right if I looked around."

Not really.  Reina said to herself.  What she said out loud was: "I guess so."  Especially since I can't refuse you without looking suspicious.  She added mentally.  "This way," Reina grabbed the spare keys from the pegboard in the kitchen and started up the stairs.

"So what else did your brother say?"  Mulder asked as he followed Reina up the stairs.

Unfortunately he's a goddamn flake.  I guess it's true what they say about the line between genius and madness.  Jonathan's voice rang in her head.

"Something about genius.  You were mentioned in passing.  I wasn't really listening."

"Really?" Mulder raised an eyebrow in surprise.  "I would have thought the words 'goddamn flake' were used."

Reina paused at the door and looked at Mulder.  What are you a mind reader?  I wonder if that's why they call you 'Spooky.'  "Then you know my brother," she said raising an eyebrow at Mulder in amusement momentarily.  "But I'm sure you didn't come up here to discuss my siblings," she said becoming solemn once again.

"Right," Mulder walked into the apartment.  He was amazed how two spaces with the exact same design could look completely different.  While the lower apartment was definitely modern this apartment had antiques all over the place.  Including several swords adorning the walls.

"Your godfather collected swords?"

"He had an extensive knowledge of antiques," Reina said evading the question.  "I believe swords fell into that category."

"That doesn't exactly answer my question."

"Didn't it?"

"I asked if your godfather collected swords."

Damn.  So much for that tact.  "Yes Reynaldo collected swords.  As you can see from the ones hanging on the wall.  So what?"

"Do you know that you Godfather had a sword on his person when he was killed."

"Really?" Reina forced a blank look on her face.  "I was not aware of that.  Is that a problem?  I can assure you that he had all the paperwork in order."

Mulder flipped through a journal.  "Your Godfather was an antiques dealer?"

Amongst other things.  "Yeah."

"What do you know about his business?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"He didn't tell me," Reina said.  "Reynaldo was somewhat sexist.  He didn't want me cluttering my mind with the details of his work.  He wouldn't even let me look at his books.  I'm an accountant.  I could've handled it."

Mulder looked at several pictures.  "Cute kid," he said dryly.  "Who is it?"

Reina scowled at the picture.  It was a picture of her and Reynaldo from when she made her first communion.  "I don't know."

Bullshit!  You know exactly who it is.  It's you.  "Are you sure?"

"Quite," Reina insisted.  "Is there anything else?"

"Not at the moment.  I may have questions for you later," Mulder told her. "I'll see my way out."

Reina stayed in the apartment, standing on the balcony as she watched the rental car drive away.  Once the car was out of sight she returned to her own apartment.

"What was all that UFO stuff about Reina?" Richie asked.

"Trouble.  And lots of it."

"What do you mean?"

"It's Agent Mulder isn't it?"  MacLeod asked.  "What do you know about him?  He doesn't look like someone who will be easily put off."

What are you hiding MacLeod?  Come on give.  Randi's voice echoed in MacLeod's head.  It had been years since he'd last seen her and her prying still stood out in his mind.

"Agent Mulder works in a division they call the X-files, cases dealing with unexplained phenomena.  Among FBI agents he's known as 'Spooky' Mulder," Reina said.  "Although I don't think it's used as a term of endearment.  Jonathan says that Agent Mulder is a flake who's wasting the bureau's time and money chasing UFOs.  But apparently he must get results because he's still working on them."

"You think that he'd believe in the existence of people who can live forever unless someone takes their head?"  Richie asked.

MacLeod raised an eyebrow at Richie who shrugged sheepishly.  Reina missed the significance of the looks the male immortals exchanged.

"It's possible," Reina said.  "Do you really want to find out?"

"I told you to be discreet."

"Murder is rarely discreet."

"Beheading someone certainly isn't discreet.  And killing a second person was not part of the plan."

"That was personal.  What I do when I'm not working for you is my business."

"Not when it jeopardizes me."

"Nothing that I did will get back to you.  You can breathe easy.  Besides, it's not like you've never killed anyone before.  You're more slippery than a greased pig."

"Any screw up comes back to me.  I won't allow it."

"Look, the girl knows me by a different name.  The police will come up blank."

"Well you've peaked the interest of Agents Mulder and Scully.  They will be more difficult to get rid of."

"That's not my problem"

"No.  My guess is the girl will be."

"If she manages to track me down, I'll take care of her."

"No. Her brother is an FBI agent.  We don't need more attention than you've already attracted.  Leave her alone."

Been doing our homework have we?  "If I have to I'll kill her."

"You will do as you're told.  I say whether or not she dies.  Don't forget that."

"Whatever you say."  Bloody mortals.