Appalachian Idyll
by
Steven M. Wagner
wagnersm@mindspring.com
This story started life, two years ago, as a threat back when Goo
was posting her story, Corpse. Some of the comments sent to her
about the story were humorous threats. Well, one that I thought
of and e-mailed, was to make Goo be an prosecuting attorney and
Mulder & Scully be the chief witnesses. I even included a
vignette of her meeting the two. She loved it. I asked
permission to make it into a full scale story. She agreed. Here
it is.
Several of the characters in this tale are based on various
people that I have corresponded with on the net. I also make use
of many places and things I remember from my days growing up in
St Petersburg, Florida.
Also, this story makes use of a fictional setting. The actual
Aurora is an Atlantic coastal community. My Aurora is set in the
Appalachian mountains and has nothing to do with the original.
Also, there is no Goff County, North Carolina.
Many thanks must be given to Carrie Lane for her proofreading of
the entire thing. Her comments were most helpful preparing this
thing for publication.
FIRST DISCLAIMER:
DISCLAIMER: This is a fiction story based on the characters
created by Chris Carter. No infringement of copyrights held by
10/13 Productions, Twentieth Century Productions, or Fox
Broadcasting is intended. All unrecognized characters and plot-
lines belong to me. Names, characters, and places exist solely
within my imagination, or are used fictitiously. No connection
to any person, living or dead, is intended, and any resemblance
is entirely coincidental or is done with permission. Feel free
to distribute, but please keep me as the author.
SECOND DISCLAIMER:
This story makes use of several characters who should be
copyrighted and/or committed, your call. Their copyrights are as
below:
Character / Item Copyright/Trademark Owner
Goo aka J. Hyacinthmae Livengoo livengoo@tiac.com
Jer aka Gerald Riggens livengoo@tiac.com
Emma livengoo@tiac.com
Char Hall drakkar@bconnex.net
Kylie Loxton s337861@student.uq.edu.au
Carrie Lane issccml@lux.latrobe.edu.au
Ra Enright RaEnright@aol.com,
ralgw@wco.com
Rodent YouKneek@aol.com
Michelle fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk
Monkey Boy aka Sean Smith ez042725@dale.ucdavis.edu
Tammy & Winky, Carmine MsBrookyn@aol.com
Other copyrights and trademarks belong to their original owners.
Please don't sue me.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Appalachian Idyll Part 1 of 19
by
Steven M. Wagner
wagnersm@mindspring.com
7:30 AM
February 12
Goff County, North Carolina
"Where Goo get stuck with a job she doesn't want."
-------
The intruding sound of the telephone woke the trim blond up from
a nice deep sleep. A groping hand reached for the receiver as
disgusted eyes noted the time. 7:30AM. <Merry Bloody Christmas,
this had better be important.> "Goo," she mumbled.
"Ah, Hyacinthmae. I'm so glad to find you home. This is your
uncle Freddy," said the baritone voice on the line.
She sat up. She hated the name, her name. Had hated it since
childhood. There was only 4 four people left in Goof County that
would dare call her that to her face. But this was one of them,
Judge Frederick "Freddy" Fitzpatrick, North Carolina Superior
Court Judge for Goff county. And 5 of the surrounding counties
in the northwest corner of the state. And as she, Goo is the
lowly Assistant District Attorney, she knew better not to pay
attention. Even if he was her mother's brother, and she was his
favourite niece. "Sir?", she questioned.
"Be up to the Courthouse by 9AM, Hyacinthmae," the baritone voice
said. "And dress for court. Good Day". Click.
"This had better be bloody important," she mumbled swinging her
lithe five foot 8 inch frame out of bed. First a quick shower.
<"Dress for Court" Freddy said . . . conservative it is>. Within
an hour, Goo said goodbye to the pets, and was heading into
town, garbed in grey linen and beige silk. Winter was changing
to Spring in the North Carolina mountains and the warm air felt
good with the convertible's top down. The tangerine Karmann Ghia
Cabriolet served it's mistress well on the 15 mile trip into
town. A quick run down Charlotte Street and a right turn into
the courthouse parking lot finished the trip. Release the seat
belt, stuff the driving gloves and Ray-Bans into the briefcase,
and off to the back entrance of the Civil War era building.
Goo noticed with sadness the county workers putting a coat of
paint over the sign at George Walter's parking place. George
Walter still was the DA, his heart attack while on honeymoon in
Las Vegas didn't remove him from office, he would be back. "He
would be back," had become a mantra from the recent member of the
North Carolina Bar. She didn't want to be District Attorney, she
really didn't want to be Asst. DA, but the money was too good and
there just wasn't that many jobs for a new lawyer in the county.
The sheriff's deputy at the rear entrance yelled that Goo was
wanted on the front steps of the building. As she shouted her
thanks, she left her purse and briefcase with the receptionist.
<What the ....,> came to Goo's mind as she stepped out of the
front doors of the Court House. She stopped for a moment
absorbing the scene in front of her. The steps in front of a
building that had been erected before the 'War of Northern
Aggression' had become a media circus. There were reporters and
cameramen, and other people that Goo didn't have a guess what
they were doing there. And it was worse on the street. There
were vans from a couple of the major Asheville television
stations, satellite dishes pointed up to the sky. A Bronco from
UPI. Even a econo-box with a "PRESS" sign in the front
windshield and "NC Public Television" on the driver's door.
<Ain't had this much press activity since that New York author
married the town sweetheart.> Seeing County Commissioner Peter
Lazenby talking with some reporters she headed over to them.
Peter's face opened up into one of his "Election Smiles" as he
saw the blond walk up to him. <She will hate me . . .> He
steeled himself for the fun that was sure to follow *this* press
conference. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Fourth Estate, we are
ready." Motioning Goo to his side, he started speaking, "We are
all saddened by the recent heart attack and hospitalization of
our friend George Walter. The District Attorney. He will be
missed during his convalescence. But we must keep moving forward
and find somebody to fill his shoes until he will be back to the
courthouse."
Goo knew that at least part of George's "hospital" stay was a
doctor enforced vacation. The man had worked hard for several
years. As the Asst. DA, Goo helped out all she could, but . . .
Her mind came back for Peter's big statement.
"The County Commission met late yesterday to discuss this matter.
I have also discussed this over the phone with George and the
State's Attorney's office in Raleigh. All agree on one choice to
fill in for George until his return. That person is J.
Hyacinthmae Livengoo, our current Assistant District Attorney."
As the clapping started, Goo started, and started to turn towards
George. <What the . . . > was the first thought, killing Peter,
Freddy, the county board, and the SA was the second.
"Smile for the cameras now, Goo," Peter whispered.
"I'll get you and Freddy for this, Peter," was her response
through gritted teeth as she smiled and started to answer
reporter's questions.
Fifteen minutes later, Goo walked through the door of Uncle
Freddy's office on the second floor of the courthouse. Doris,
his secretary was standing at her desk. "Good Morning, dear.
Your go right on in now. The Judge is expecting you." Fighting
a dozen angry moonshiners seemed safer than facing this
Appalachian Valkyrie. She left for a cup of out-of-hearing-range
coffee.
Nervously walking off tension, Goo started, "You son-of . . .,
how could you, . . . God . . ."
Freddy mused, <How much she is like her mother when she was her
age. Sis sure has calmed down since she married John.> He knew
the best way to handle this was to let her blow off steam, and
then talk rationally. "Hyacinthmae, sit down." Freddy's voice
of command cut through her panic and confusion. She sat.
"You pushed this through didn't you." The sentence was as much
accusation as it was question.
"Yes. This is in a bad situation. George was a great DA, but
his heart attack means he is out of office until after Labor Day.
We told him he shouldn't have married that cheerleader. She just
graduated high school last year and he's in his sixties. But the
county needs somebody for that office now."
"Somebody from Raleigh?"
"No. We need to have somebody local. We don't want some Capital
City bozo to come in who doesn't know how we do things in Goff
County," said Freddy. "Anyway, you know the cases that are
pending, you know the routine, you know the people. You can sit
in his chair and get right to work."
She thought over his statement. "Shit, you are right." A pause.
"Dammit, Freddy, you know that I'm a dirt lawyer. I know real
estate law, but don't know squat about criminal law. I haven't
studied it since college."
"What is there to worry about, HyacinthMae? We don't have that
much in the way of criminal activity here in Goff County. You'll
do well."
A look at her uncle. "You owe me big time for this one. *Big
Time*.
Section 2 follows.
Appalachian Idyll - Part 2 of 19
by
Steven M. Wagner
wagnersm@mindspring.com
Disclaimers and other information included as in part 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------
4:34PM
Sunday, 5 March
The Livengoo Residence
"Where the FBI gets "Gooed" and Mulder gets to chew his
wingtips."
-------
The rare early spring sun was warm on Goo's back as she waxed the
tangerine Karmann Ghia. The previous Wednesday morning, Uncle
Freddy gave her his keys to his Cape Hatteras beach house and
told her to get lost. When a Circuit Court Judge tells her
something, Goo does. She called a friend to take care of the
pets, packed some clothes, and headed for the coast. It had been
a great two days on the beach, eating seafood, and dancing the
shag. She returned with sand in the car's carpet and salt on the
coachwork.
FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully had been on the
road since before New Years. They had been up and down the
eastern seaboard of the United States chasing a serial killer
that had a thing for federal and state employees. When they had
finally tracked her down that morning, she claimed that she was
trying to help balance the budget by reducing the government
payroll.
They had been put on the case months after she had started
operating. So they had enjoyed two months of living in backwater
motor courts, eating in greasy spoons. <Just the sort of places
that Mulder seems to love to eat in. Maybe a couple of nights
staying in the Aberdeen might be just the ticket,> Scully thought
thinking of the classy Aurora hotel they had registered just
after locking up the 'perp' in the local jail. Glancing over at
her partner, <Too many bodies, too much horror. The profiling
had given him a new subject for his nightmares,> she thought.
<Not that my sleep has been the best. But Skinner said stay in
town until after the arraignment. Maybe a few nights in decent
beds with some good food will improve both of our points of view.
And now we get to meet the local DA to ruin his Sunday afternoon
by dropping this load of shit in his lap.> They had been told to
go out New Hope Church Road until they got to 'Brick House." The
DA lived there.
"Eleven twenty-one, this is it," Scully said, seeing the bronze
plaque on the brick gatepost. Mulder just grunted, turning onto
a gravel driveway. At the end of the long gravel lane, past
winter-bare apple trees to either side, they could see a
building. 'Brick House' was a Antebellum two story brick mansion
with the traditional large veranda in front. And an added
enticement... "Good Lord . . ", mumbled Mulder.
Scully had to agree that it was a picture to warm a male heart.
In front of the home was a tall blond with a long pony tail and a
body to die for waxing a cherry '75 Ghia convertible. The
movements were doing nothing to hide her body inside the wet crop
top and bicycle shorts. Neither did her bending over the fender
rubbing the last bit of wax. "Get you tongue in, Mulder, " she
said good naturally, "We are here to talk to the DA, not ogle his
daughter." <Men,> she thought.
The figure standing up and stretching opened his mouth again.
Goo stood up and stretched to ease the kink in her back. The
sound of a car crunching up the gravel drive told her she was not
alone. <Blast it. I'm in no shape to greet anybody,> looking
down at her wet clothes and bare feet. She hadn't expected
anybody this afternoon and thought it a good time to wash and wax
the Ghia. It was her baby, a rather loud baby with an engine
from a Porsche and a competition suspension. It was fun to
drive.
Two people got out of the white Ford Taurus. One was Mr. GQ,
tall and slightly boyish looking. The other was a 5 foot Vargis
Girl in a frumpy suit. Goo's eyes widened slightly at the
unladylike bulge at her right hip. <She's packing, a Vargis Girl
with an attitude>, she thought as she stood a little taller in
response.
As they got closer, they started to look more like real people
than Vogue models. GQ was wearing dusty shoes and looked like he
hadn't slept in weeks. The Vargis munchkin was walking stiffly
like she had been sitting in a car seat way too long. The
sparkle dimmed a bit.
"We are FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully," GQ said
while they presented their IDs. "We would like to talk with Mr.
Livengoo, the District Attorney."
<MR. LIVENGOO!!, G-MAN YOU BLEW THIS ONE!,> was her first
thought. <This is going to be fun,> was her second. "How may I
help ya'll," Goo said in her best "Gone With the Wind" drawl.
"I'm Hyacinthmae. Would you like to come up to the verandah and
have some iced tea?"
A quick look between the two, and both of their faces lit up.
"Thank you very much." said the female agent. As Goo led them up
to the house, Mulder was able to get a better look at their
hostess. Her buttocks moving under the skin tight shorts was not
helping him feel cooler.
<Gawd, I would hate to be her father when she's dating.> he
thought.
After settling them in wicker seats on the verandah, Goo went
inside and got iced tea and cookies. Nothing of consequence was
spoken at first. "Allow them peace while drinking the first
glass", Goo's mother always said. Goo took the time to look them
over a bit more. Dana Scully, the woman agent, was maybe 5 feet
or a little over. Her eyes had the slightly unfocused look that
came from mind numbing fatigue. Fox Mulder, her partner, was
taller, a little over 6 ft. His eyes looked haunted, as if he
was beyond his partner's fatigue. He had come to that place
where everything was a dream, or Goo thought, a nightmare.
Scully looked over at her partner, concern in her eyes. She
didn't like him looking this fatigued. But tracking serial
killers required him to get inside their heads and when he did,
the cost to both his body and mind were severe. She looked to
her hostess, "Hyacinthmae, We are looking for District Attorney
Livengoo. Agent Mulder and I captured Cathy Anders, a serial
killer, this morning. She is residing in the Goff county jail.
We understand she will be arraigned here in Goff County and wish
to coordinate this with him."
Goo looked over at Mulder for comment. She got a brief nod.
Mulder was willing to let somebody else carry the ball.
"My daddy isn't home right now," Goo said, enjoying herself. <I
know that I will have to pay for this, but its fun,> she thought.
<And my father, MR. Livengoo, is not here.> "The DA's office is
in the County Courthouse in Aurora, the county seat. Check there
tomorrow morning."
"We will," Mulder said, apparently revived by the stop. "Thank
you for your hospitality, ma'am. We are staying at the Aberdeen.
We'll be on our way." Mulder stood and reached out to gently
shake her hand. Goo was not quite that gentle. Mulder froze for
a moment, the handshake was rather harder than he had expected.
Scully rose, "That was very good iced tea. Something special?"
she asked, shaking their hostess's hand.
"An old Southern tradition. Just a little mint added to the tea
leaves," Goo responded.
A Siamese yowl caused Mulder and Scully to freeze for a moment.
The sight of a Siamese chasing a Rottweiler caused both agents to
stop in their tracks. "Angus, Sit! Kiss, Sit!," was Goo's loud
command to the two animals. Mulder and Scully were shocked when
both animals stopped running and sat right down, the cat with its
tail wrapped around itself. "Kiss, bad kitty. Don't chase the
dog," Goo chided, walking up to a small sealpoint Siamese cat.
She turned and walked over to the Rottie, stoking its head before
grabbing its collar. "It's OK, agents. The cat just enjoys
chasing the dog." A shrug, and she continued, "And since Angus
enjoys it, why should I stop it. You needn't worry, he'll not
attack you." Scully wasn't so sure. Angus looked much bigger
than she was, and all muscle to boot.
A wave from Scully and GQ and Vargis were on their way.
"Tomorrow will be fun," Goo said to herself as she collected the
glasses and went in.
7:03PM
Sunday, 5 March
Dining Room, The Aberdeen Hotel
"This way please."
-------
"This way please," the hostess said leading the two back to a
table. Scully instantly liked the place. The crystal
chandeliers and moire silk wall coverings made her think of a few
of the nicer places she had been eaten at in Washington and
Baltimore. She was just glad she hadn't given into her
inclination to change to casual jeans before dinner.
"We're not on a date, Mulder," she told her partner.
<Huh! Whazatt??,> Mulder thought before replaying her comment.
<Date, she thinks that I think that this has become a date?> He
slowly shook his head as he pulled her chair out for her.
"This is the first nice place you've taken me."
He looked up from the menu at her face and saw the humour in her
eyes. "You mean you didn't like Bubba's Bar-B-Que Pit and Truck
Stop in Yeehaw Junction," he chuckled.
A raised eyebrow told him told him, 'You've got to be kidding
me.' "It's so nice to stay somewhere with some place nice to go
to," she commented.
The arrival of the waitress derailed that train of thought.
"Good evening," she said, setting down a covered basket.
"Tonight we have . . .," starting a monologue of the evening
specials.
Scully could see the waitress taking quick little looks at her
partner. Not that she, Scully, hadn't taken the same looks
herself. <He's a studmuffin, why shouldn't they look,> she asked
herself. And she didn't miss the hint of jealousy in the quick
look that the waitress gave her. So Scully did the only thing
she could do, smile.
"I'll have the broiled perch," Scully ordered, handing the dark
blond haired waitress her menu.
Mulder glanced up at the waitress's name tag. "Michelle, what
you recommend," he asked, giving her a smile.
"My personal favourite is the Bar-B-Que ribs," she answered.
Scully couldn't help but notice the waitress's emphasis on
'personal.' She leaned back to watch Mulder flirt with one of
the local ladies, again.
Before Michelle left, Mulder asked a question, "Yorkshire?"
Scully had picked up on the English accent, but couldn't pick out
where in England.
Michelle's face brightened before she responded, "Why, yes. I'm
from Yorkshire, Sheffield in fact."
Scully watched the two talk. The waitress, about growing up in
England, Mulder, of his time at Oxford. Mulder was a natural
profiler, she had been told once by somebody in BSU. He notices
things, looks at people. Looks at them as individuals, pays
attention to them. And here he was doing it again, not really
for any gain, just because that's what he is.
"Keep this up, and I'll have to get you a bib," Scully chided,
watching Mulder's eyes follow Michelle as she walked away from
the table.
Mulder looked over at his partner, and her gave one of his best
wounded looks.
She laughed.
The food was all the decor claimed it would be, fresh, well
prepared, and tasty. And the waitress made several trips to
their table, always topping off their glasses, keeping the bread
basket filed. Scully had to admit that Mulder was being his most
charming tonight. While waiting for desert, Scully excused
herself and visited the lady's lounge. She was about to refresh
her lipstick when their waitress walked up to the sinks.
"Your husband is dreamy," Michelle said washing her hands.
Scully barely kept herself from extending her lipstick to her
ear. <Husband?!?!? Mulder?!?!?> She turned to the younger
woman and extended her left hand.
Michelle could see no wedding band, and no cheating mark.
<Oops!!> "Boyfriend," she hazarded.
Scully laughed. "No. Nope. Nadda. He is my partner. We are
not involved. We're FBI agents here on a case. Nothing more.
We just work together."
Michelle stood there and processed that for a second. A gleam
came to her eyes and a smile appeared on her face. "Thanks," she
called out as she headed for the door.
Scully shook her head in amusement and finished her repairs.
Michelle was delivering the deserts when the agent walked up to
the table. Scully could see the change in Michelle with the
discovery that Mulder was not taken. Now she openly flirted with
him, moistening her lips with her tongue, fiddling with her hair,
leaning in close to the man. And Mulder was responding. He
leaned back slightly, was attentive to every word she said.
Scully smiled at this side of her partner.
Soon desert was over and the partners parted ways, each heading
to their own rooms.
9:45PM
Sunday, 5 March
Scully's Room, The Aberdeen Hotel
"Mulder's Luck"
------
<It was going to be a quiet night for a change,> Scully thought,
leafing through the local newspaper. No redeye flights. No
phone calls at three in the morning telling them that somebody
else had disappeared. <And now for a movie,> she decided finding
the TV listings. <And 'Independence Day' is showing on pay-per-
view,> she thought smiling, remembering Mulder's wanting to see
the movie. She called room service for soft drinks and a bowl of
popcorn.
The knock on the door, a quarter hour later, caught Scully's
attention and she went and opened it. And found a smiling
Michelle, handing her a tray with a jumbo tub of hot buttered
popcorn and a chilled quart bottle of I.B.C. root beer. "Thank
you," Scully told her, taking the tray and setting it down. A
quick check over the bill and she handed it back, signed, with a
tip.
"Thank you, ma'am," Michelle responded as the door closed and she
continued down the hall with another food service tray.
<Great popcorn. Real butter,> Scully thought, lifting the lid
off the tub and idly nibbling on a couple of kernels. <Kinda
odd, a waitress doing room service. Maybe just short of staff.
This isn't the tourist season,> she thought, going for a bucket
of ice. Returning, she went to the connecting door, preparing to
invite Mulder in.
And heard a giggle. A giggle that was low, throaty, and in a
English accent. "Sorry. I couldn't get Devonshire cream for the
strawberries, but the heavy cream should taste just as good."
Scully pulled back. She didn't know if she was hurt because
Mulder wouldn't be coming over for the movie, or that he had
gotten 'lucky' and she was alone. She walked away from the door
and started to chuckle, wondering if all the stories she had been
told about Mulder were true. She sat down, poured herself a cold
one, and changed the channel to HBO and "The First Wives' Club."
It should be a good night.
Section 3 follows.
Appalachian Idyll - Part 3 of 19
by
Steven M. Wagner
wagnersm@mindspring.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
7:30AM
Monday, 6 March
Dining Room, The Aberdeen Hotel
"The truth be known."
------
Scully was still smiling when she sat down at breakfast. A smile
she had gotten from the room service tray by Mulder's door.
<Strawberries, cream, chocolate syrup, and a split of champagne.
Nice bedtime snack. And all I get are stale peanut butter
crackers from the machine.> The sound of a chair being pulled
back caught her attention. Her partner was there, looking quite
relaxed, maybe not too well rested, but well relaxed. She waited
until he got his coffee to his mouth. "Sleep well," she asked
innocently.
He almost, but not quite choked on the coffee. "Quite well,
thanks," he finally choked out, his eyes on her.
"Ah, our waitress," Scully murmured, saved from any response from
her partner. And it was Michelle, the young lady stuck with both
late dinner and breakfast shifts. Michelle moved in close to
Mulder and hung on his every word. She had made her claim.
Scully didn't feel threatened by the situation. Mulder had came
here with her, he was going to leave with her. <Gawd, sounds like
I'm talking about a date,> she thought.
When Michelle came out with the food, Scully was certain that
there had been a mistake. She had ordered a Belgian Waffle and
fruit. What she got two waffles and half a melon. But when she
started to ask Michelle, the waitress just winked. Mulder's
"Heart Attack Special" was oversized as well. Scully counted 4
fried eggs and what looked like a pound of country ham. As
Michelle put down the platter in front of Mulder, Scully could
hear her murmur, "You have to keep up your strength."
9:00AM
Monday, 6 March
Goff County Court House
"Goo learns the truth"
-------
The pleasure of fooling the FBI agents the previous afternoon had
faded with the light of day. Getting to the office unusually
early, Goo called down to the Sheriff for an update. Mulder
hadn't told the half of it. Cathy Anders was wanted in several
states for killing people with poison and then hiding the bodies
in old wells and mine shafts. She had been caught Sunday morning
with a dead body in her car, presumably to hide it somewhere.
Freddy was going to hold the arraignment Tuesday.
Goo crouched down to pull some papers from a bottom drawer in a
filling cabinet when she heard knocking at her door. "Come in."
The door opened. Steps were heard. "Just let me finish getting
these papers out."
<A great way to start the day,> Mulder mused. Before Scully and
him was a blue clad women taking papers from a filing cabinet.
And the woman, not the filling cabinet, was the center
attraction. Her hair was blond, and up, showing tasteful
earrings and a slender neck. The power suit she was wearing was
as tailored as Mulder's Armani and showed off her trim body. A
hint of ecue lace was seen at collar and cuff. As she stood up,
the skirt rested mid-thigh and showed off her long gunmetal
nyloned legs, an old fashioned seam running down the middle of
each leg. She turned around.
A smile came to Goo's lips as she beheld Mr. GQ and the Vargis
Munchkin. "Good Morning, what may I do for you," her opening.
Scully and Mulder missed a beat. Was the elegantly clad woman
the same person as the half clad tomboy that had served them
refreshments, was Scully's thought. "We are looking for District
Attorney Livengoo," Scully said, thinking like her partner, that
maybe this was his secretary.
"Well," said the blond, turning and sitting behind the desk. "You
have found her." She motioned them to sit down.
Sitting, Scully and Mulder paled. <We blew this one bad,> they
thought, almost in unison. They looked at each other, swallowed,
and turned to the DA. "I am very sorry for the
misunderstanding," said Scully. "We meant no disrespect to you
or your office." <Help me with this, Mulder,> thought Scully.
A veteran of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for over 10
years, a doctorate in abnormal psychology from Oxford, and over 5
years in Violent Crimes had not prepared Special Agent Fox
Mulder, Supervisor, X-Files Section, for this situation. He
always felt that he tried to maintain good relations with the
local law enforcement. <Screwed this up, dipshit,> he thought to
himself. A wan smile, "I have to echo my partner, Ms. Livengoo,
we made a foolish assumption and apologize for it."
Goo did not mind watching the two agents squirm, but enough was
enough. She wasn't angry. A big wide smile. "No insult taken.
And its 'Miss Livengoo." But please call me 'Goo'. Everybody
else does. Nobody will know who you are talking about if you say
'Livengoo'. Now what can 'little ole me' do for the FBI."
Scully and Mulder visibly relaxed. Mulder started, "As we
mentioned last afternoon, we are in town due to the apprehension
of Cathy Anders, a serial killer. We caught her . . . Sunday
morning in the Patterson Township with a victim in the trunk of
her car. We are here for two reasons. The first is for her
arraignment."
Goo nodded.
"The second to try to recover as many of the victim's bodies as
we can. She generally disposed of the remains in old disused
wells and mining shafts. We would like to coordinate our search
with your and the sheriff's offices."
A quick look at Scully for any comment, and Goo said, "Okay. I'll
contact Sheriff Grimes and arrange a meeting between him, the two
of you, and myself. Okay?"
A nod from the agents. Scully was glad that they hadn't bungled
it up too bad with Goo. It would have been hell to work with her
if she was going to hold a grudge about their mistake.
"I noted in our file on Anders that she hasn't selected a defense
attorney yet," said Goo. "I'll be contacting one of our local
lawyers to handle her case."
Scully started, <She mustn't know WHO the perp is.> "Goo, do you
know anything about Cathy Anders background and family?"
Goo quickly looked through the file and found nothing about
Anders's background. "No, with her only phone call being one
to," fiddling with the file, "her father in California, I figured
that she didn't have a local lawyer and needed a Public Defender.
We don't have a formal Public Defender's office here in Goff
County, but rotate the work among the lawyers of the county. One
of the costs of practicing law here." A chuckle.
"Goo," Mulder began gently. "Cathy Anders is one of the
Hollywood Anders."
An unknowing nod from Goo. A panicked look was developing on her
face. Something had been missed and she was going to get stepped
on.
"'The Hollywood Anders' used to dictate to Samuel Goldwyn and the
other major players in the film industry. Today they may be
behind the scenes in Hollywood, but they still lord it over Lucas
and Spielburg. Not to insult the lawyers of Goff County, but she
will not need them. She'll have a 'Dream Team' that will make
O.J.'s look like a bunch of law school dropouts. I am sorry."
Goo's head slowly dropped to her desk. She was a dirt lawyer,
she handled leases, sales contracts, disputes about boundaries.
She was DA only because she was suckered into it by Uncle Freddy.
She had been 'Peter Principled' way over her head. Despair
wrapped it's cold embrace around her heart. She cradled her head
in her hands. "Oh my God, I'm royally screwed" she said.
She looked up from her hands, her face a picture of despair. "Ok,
guys, fill me in what you know about Anders and her family." The
rest of the morning was spent going over the investigation and
arrest.
They broke for lunch at noon, leaving for "The Aurora Inn."
Mulder looked around. The 'Inn' was a small place paneled in
dark wood, a dozen booths, and maybe, the same number of tables.
The lunch menu was mostly salads and sandwiches. Scully and Goo,
each ordered salads, Mulder a 'pore boy' sandwich.
Lunch was a peaceful affair, discussing differences between
Aurora and Washington. Until they were joined at their table.
"Mind if I join you," asked a woman walking up.
It was lunchtime in the crowded diner. There were no empty
tables and only a few unused chairs. Scully and Goo looked up
and nodded their approval. Mulder dropped his sandwich as he
felt the quick press of lips on his cheek. He looked up.
"Priscilla," he whispered, his face a mixture of amazement and
fear.
"Foxy!," the suave brunette said, planting a possessive kiss on
his cheek. Mulder immediately started to sink into his seat,
knowing that there was no way he was going to survive this with
dignity. Scully looked over at him and honoured him with her
patented arched eyebrow. Her eyes asked, "What is going on
here?!? Who is this woman? Why didn't you tell me about this?
Foxy?!"
"It's a small world, isn't it," the brunette asked. She noted
the look of distress on Mulder's face, the redhead's questioning
look.
Goo didn't quite know what to make of this . . . woman. She was
dressed in a Hollywood version of a Power Suit, her perfume was
too strong, and she was being pushy. She watched this person
with the same repulsed fascination you would give a rattler.
She sat down between Mulder and Scully. Ignoring the women,
"Don't tell me you are the FBI agent in charge of the Anders
case? And aren't you going to introduce me to your delightful
friends?"
What Mulder was doing was trying to determine what he had done to
deserve this. And how best to sink into the floor.
"This is Hyacinthmae Livengoo, the District Attorney and my
partner, Special Agent Doctor Dana Scully", Mulder finally
croaked out.
"And you are . . .." Scully asked in a pointedly sweet tone. A
tone that sent shivers down Mulder's spine.
"Priscilla Standish," the brunette said, "I am with the defense
council." Smiling openly, she reached out to shake Goo's and
Scully's hands.
Mulder knew that the Furies had finally tracked him down and were
going to Veg-a-matic him. He was going to die a Julienne death.
And he was hopefully going to die, death by a thousand slices was
preferable to being stuck in the middle between Scully and
Priscilla "politely" sniping at each other.
Looking over at the resigned agent, "Foxy, I've left some
lipstick on your cheek." Priscilla said. Reaching over, she
caressed his cheek with a napkin, removing the lipstick from his
cheek, while driving up the blood pressure of every OTHER man in
the diner.
Scully felt irritation at this scene. If it was any other man
than Mulder, she would be amused, but to see her partner in this
situation irritated her. She cleared her throat. If anybody was
going to jerk her partner around, it was going to be her.
"You'll have to forgive me, " she said, turning her attention to
Goo and Scully. "We are such old friends. We practically grew
up together on the Vineyard. When I was living in Washington,
four years ago, they offered me a position in LA. I nearly
turned it down so I could stay close to Foxy."
And Mulder sits there looking forlorn, holding fast to the hope
that rescue will come from some quarter.
Feeling like the poor man had suffered enough, Goo pushed back
her chair for attention. "You will have to excuse us,
Counsellor. Dr Scully, Agent Mulder, we must get back to work."
"Would it be convenient for me and my associates to come by your
office at 3PM to discuss the case, District Attorney," Priscilla
asked.
A nod from Goo.
"It was nice to meet you Dr Scully." A moment break. "And Fox,
I am staying in room 1121 at the Aberdeen, why don't we get
together this evening to relive old times. Perhaps we can have
breakfast together tomorrow morning." She got up and wrapped her
arms around Mulder's arm, staking her claim on him. She leads
him towards the door, leaving Goo and Scully at the table.
"Your partner knows some interesting woman, Agent Scully," Goo
asked as the intertwined pair got to the door.
"He sure does," Scully replied, thinking of Phoebe Green, "he
sure does."
"And this one has my chief witness", Goo exclaimed, remembering
that Mulder and Scully had found Anders in her car with the last
victim.
Goo and Scully dashed out of the diner, searching for the pair on
the sidewalk. Scully found them first, Standish was walking
Mulder across the treed Town Square, leading him towards the
Aberdeen. Scully took off after the pair. Scully may have had
the head start, but Goo's longer legs allowed her to catch up to
Scully allowing both to greet Standish at the "Memorial to Our
Confederate Dead." Goo gave a reverent nod to the statue before
verbally accosting Standish. "Counsellor, unhand that man."
Priscilla Standish was never talked to that way. She was a scion
of a old Boston Family, valedictorian of her high school class,
graduated top of her class at Harvard. She turned to give this
backwoods law clerk a piece of her mind. But, the two facing her
were not the calm sweet ladies at the luncheon table. The
shorter of the two had unbuttoned her jacket, allowing better
access to the 9mm pistol at her belt. The slight smile on her
face did not reach her eyes. Her eyes were cold dark sapphires,
no humour, no humanity. They were saying one thing, "Let my
partner go."
The taller of her lunchmates was not making even the show of
smiling, the mouth was set in a straight line, the weight was
forward on the balls of her feet. She was ready for any conflict
the LA lawyer would want. "Tampering with a witness is a serious
crime in the great State of North Carolina, and being arrested
for same will prevent you from representing your client," she
quietly said.
Standish wasn't stupid, she quickly backed away from Mulder, she
knew she was staring at worse then death, disbarment. Mulder
backed away and almost fell onto a park bench. Standish looked
at each before she turned and walked off, giving her hair an
angry shake.
"Talk to me guys," Goo interrupted, "What the hell is going on
here." Her voice never raised, but both Mulder and Scully could
tell that answers were going to have to be forthcoming.
"Goo, can this wait for your office," whispered the still shaken
Mulder.
A quick nod, and Goo led them back to her office in the
Courthouse. Once there, she told the secretary to hold all calls
and sat the agents down. Standing in front of them, leaning on
her desk. "Ok, what gives. I don't care what you two do in your
spare time, but if it effects this case, I need to know about it
ASAP."
Mulder sighed. "I knew Priscilla Standish 6 years ago when I was
still in the Violent Crimes section. We lived together for a
while. But it didn't work out when she started to resent my
travelling, and I didn't like her clients. So when she got the
job offer in LA, it was a nice clean break." Mulder still
remembered the nasty fights over what each did. And when the LA
job offer came, she took it without talking with him, expecting
him to follow her. And when he couldn't, wouldn't, it ended a
relationship that was already dying.
"Agent Mulder, I am sorry for any trouble that telling me may
have caused you. But as the Prosecuting Attorney for this case,
I need to know anything that may jeopardise the case. If you
remember or discover anything that you feel might jeopardise this
case, please tell me. I will hold anything you tell me in the
strictest of confidences."
He shook his head.
The ringing of the telephone stopped the discussion. "Goo." A
couple of "Ah-huhs" and "Okays" later, Goo hung up the phone.
"That was Doris, Judge Fitzpatrick's secretary. The Judge wants
to meet with Thomas Bullfinch, the head of the defense team, and
myself to discuss the arraignment. The meeting will be at 3pm
and he wants the two of you to attend at least the beginning of
the meeting to answer questions about the evidence that has been
collected. And by the way, you will hear me use the term 'Uncle
Freddy' when referring to Judge Fitzpatrick, he is my mother's
older brother. But, it will not effect the case."
Scully and Mulder nodded to show understanding. They gave Goo a
quick briefing of the important points of the case. All too
soon, they left for the Judge's Chambers.
Goo opened the frosted door, and waved the two agents in ahead of
her. As soon as she entered the anteroom, she noticed that
'Priscilla' was sitting in one of the office chairs along the
corridor wall of the room. Being intentionally rude, she walked
past the LA attorney right up to the secretary. "Doris, may I
introduce FBI Agents Scully and Mulder. They are the arresting
officers in this case. Agents, Doris Chapman. She is the
Judge's office factotum and knows more about the court system in
Goff county than anybody alive."
"Glad to make your acquaintance, Agents," Doris said while
shaking their hands. "Goo, Mr. Bullfinch, the Head Defense
Counsel, is in talking with the Judge. I'll let him know you are
here. Agents, please have a seat. The Judge will want to talk
with you shortly."
Scully and Mulder sat down in chairs catty-cornered from
Standish. Mulder tried to sit in the chair farthest from his
exlover, but Scully took that one with a smile. Mulder gave a
cold smile back and sat down between the two beautiful but deadly
women.
It was plain by her tapping hi-heeled foot, that Priscilla was
not a happy camper. "I should be in there," Priscilla said out
loud.
Scully leafed through an old magazine, barely looking at the
pictures. She was rather thinking about this 'Priscilla
Standish', <How could Mulder get hooked up with bozos like this
one, but then Priscilla and Phoebe could be sisters.> She looked
up at the brunette and smiled. She went back to the magazine.
"I did the research, I did the briefs, why am I sitting out
here?" <Stupid hicks, dumbass agents. They don't understand
that it don't make a rat's ass difference whether Anders is
guilty or innocent, it's just the quality of the defense team
that makes the difference,> Standish thought. Smiling at Scully,
she asked, "Is he still messy, Dana."
Scully favoured Priscilla with a big smile, a smile that did not
reach the eyes. "No, my dear, he is very neat. When he spends
the night at my place, he does not make a mess in the bathroom,
and helps with the breakfast dishes," the redhead sweetly said.
<Bullshit,> Mulder thought. <If we are working late, I curl up
on her couch. And breakfast is take out from the diner down the
block.>
"He still take up all of the bed," Standish asked, perhaps not
quite so nicely as before.
Scully sighed, "No problem there either. He lets me have all the
bed I need, whether at his or my place."
Mulder could see Priscilla seethe, but before he could help calm
things down, Doris interrupted. "Agent Mulder, Judge
Fitzpatrick wishes you to join them." He sighed his relief and
followed the secretary into the inner sanctum.
He was impressed, the walls were of walnut, the floors oak. And
the man standing behind the desk was even more impressive. He
stood a tall 6 foot 3 inches, still as straight as a ramrod. His
hair was white and short-cropped. He looked still the hale and
hearty man. He stuck out his hand and gave the FBI agent a firm
handshake. "You have met Miss Livengoo, the DA. Agent Mulder,
this is Thomas Bullfinch, the Chief Defense Counsel. Mr.
Bullfinch, FBI Agent Fox Mulder." Fitzpatrick quizzed Mulder why
they stopped the Anders car and what they found in the car. "Let
me remind everybody that this will strictly be an arraignment
hearing, not the trial itself. I expect that everybody will keep
that in mind when writing and filing briefs." Standing up, "That
is it. Thank you for coming to this meeting. I am certain that
we will see each other more than we will wish. Good Day."
<Well, no bloodshed,> Goo thought. Scully and Standish reminded
her of a couple of cats that were itching for a fight. <Better
herd these kids back to the office.> "I'll see you latter,
Doris. Let's go back to the office, gang," she said looking at
Scully & Mulder. The walk back to the office was quiet and
uneventful. Once they got back to the DA's office and the door
was closed, Goo started, "Don't worry about Judge Fitzpatrick.
He is hardnosed, but pretty fair."
"That is good news," Scully said. They discussed how best to
build a case against Anders.
"We can't count on that diary you found in the car," Goo told the
agents, "According to your arrest report. It was still 'locked',
and if they can make a big stink about 'self-incrimination' that
diary becomes 'poisoned fruit' and any subsequent evidence
becomes worthless no matter how damning it might otherwise be."
How to get around that problem was the thought on everybody's
mind. They had a good case against her with finding the dead
body in her car, but the more dead bodies the better. "People
who keep diaries tend to write things in them," Mulder advised.
Both Goo and Scully gave him a 'No Shit' look. "FBI psych
studies have shown that serial killers often record their
exploits. And if we can independently find other deaths that
match her MO, we should be able to get Fitzpatrick to give us a
warrant to 'search' her diary. The only problem is to find a map
of the abandoned mines and wells in this area."
Both Scully and Mulder caught Goo's slow smile. "You have came
to the right place. While 'Mr. Livengoo' is not a DA, he is a
surveyor who had the pleasure of surveying much of Goff and the
surrounding counties. And my mother did the cartography and she
kept copies of all of her maps at their home office. I can pull
one of their county maps and select some areas to start checking
in." She checked the wall clock. "It's getting late, how about
we meet tomorrow morning at the Aberdeen dining room for
breakfast at say, 8:30, and then come back here and review my
selections. I'll bring some detail maps and one of the sheriff's
deputies can guide you. Sounds good?"
Mulder and Scully voiced their approval. "We'll check in on
Ander's at the Jail, then call it a night ourselves," Mulder
said.
<It will be an interesting case,> Goo thought, turning off the
lights and locking up the office. <Very interesting.>
Section 4 follows.
Appalachian Idyll Part 4 of 19
by
Steven M. Wagner
wagnersm@mindspring.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
6:30PM
Monday, 6 March
Courthouse Steps, Aurora North Carolina
"Scully and Mulder find out what it is to be wanted"
------
Exiting the bronze doors of the Courthouse, Scully and Mulder
were met by a scene that Dante would have struck from his
"Inferno." Illuminated by picturesque hissing gas lights, the
streets around the Aberdeen, their hotel, were jammed with myriad
reporter's cars, TV station vans, and even a tractor-trailer
emblazoned with the CNN logo. Scully noted with amusement that
one of the best spots was filled by a Omni with a 'North Carolina
Public Broadcasting' decal. Mulder noted the same Omni, but that
it was blocking their motorpool Taurus. But the media interest
in their prisoner was not remarkable knowing her family's
importance in Hollywood.
When they got to the jail, Anders was not happy. She had
problems getting the fingerprinting ink off of her skin. The
food was not tasteful. Mulder and Scully stuck their heads into
the cell block and got an earful of her billingsgate. But a
check with the jailer told them that she was getting quality
care. Now they could sit down at dinner without worry.
They were waiting at the traffic light about a block from the
hotel when Sheriff Steve Grimes walked up beside them and
surveyed the scene at the hotel for a second. "Evening, Agents.
Eaten yet," he asked with a smile on his face.
"Hope to," said Scully. "But with the activity around the
Aberdeen, I don't know if there will be seating available."
"I wouldn't worry too much about seating. You can always order
room service. But there may be other problems. Your two have
gotten very popular all of a sudden." Enjoying their confused
looks, he continued. "I got a call from my niece Gail, the night
manager. She told me that there were some bigwig Hollywood
lawyers there who had registered this morning. And they were
asking to be put on the same floor as ya'll. Wasn't that right
friendly of them?"
"Yeah, 'right friendly'," Scully replied. "It will be a madhouse
going through the lobby, with the fourth estate wanting
interviews. Any suggestions, Sheriff?"
"Mind sneaking through the kitchen," he asked. At their nod of
agreement, "I didn't think so. We can go in the kitchen door and
then up the service elevator to your floor. Any questions?"
There were no questions. Grimes led them through the alleys of
downtown Aurora until they got to the kitchen door. He was about
to open the door when he heard a movement behind him. He turned
and saw a man standing there in fedora and trenchcoat.
"They got the other entrances covered. And there are people
waiting outside your rooms as well. Darlings of the media again,
Scully and Spooky," the mysterious figure spoke.
"This is Sheriff Steven Grimes, identify yourself," Grimes told
the trenchcoated figure.
"Jerry Riggins of the Tattler-Tribune. If you allow me, I will
pull out my press pass," came the identification.
Mulder did not know if he should be happy or shoot the person.
"Riggs," he asked.
"Yes, Spooky, it is I," he responded.
Sheriff Steve Grimes had seen a wide variety of things occurring
in his years of police work, but this was the worst. "What are
you doing here, Mr. Riggs," he asked.
"Waiting for Mutt and Jeff here," he said. "I knew that if they
tried to go through the lobby, they would be mobbed. Knowing
that they are too intelligent to allow that to happen to
themselves, I asked myself, what would be the best alternate
route. I looked around the building, noticed that the main
service entrance was already manned by one of my colleagues. I
then decided to make use of a little known exterior door."
"And you are now . . .," asked Scully.
"As my fellows are doing, searching for quotes and interviews,"
Jerry told her.
"How do you know this man," asked the sheriff, a bit of edginess
getting into his voice.
A sigh of resignation. Mulder decided to explain, "We met Jerry
Riggs while on a case in the Midwest. It was a rather nasty one,
and I must admit, Riggs did a good job as a journalist that time,
he informed his readers without blowing everything out of
proportion and without violating confidences. Scully and I can't
say anything now, Riggs. When we can start talking about the
case, I will look you up."
"OK. But I will try to interview other people in the community."
"Sheriff, with Rigg's mention of people on the floor where Mulder
and my rooms are, I do not think that even if we got to the room,
we would be able to sleep well. They would be knocking on the
door all the time," said Scully.
"Not to mention, that having the lovely Priscilla Standish
staying in the room next to Mulder's would raise some questions,"
Riggs quipped.
<Shit, shit, shit, shit,> thought Mulder.
<This is just great,> Scully thought, <The first time we get to
stay in a decent hotel. . .> "Any alternate hotels in town,
Sheriff."
"'Cept for the Aberdeen, there's a couple next to the main
highway, but last I checked, one had been closed down for health
violations, it was so bad the hookers wouldn't go there. And we
raided and closed down the second because the manager was
running it as a whore house." The sheriff remembering who was
with him said, "Pardon me, ma'am." A couple of seconds pause,
"Let me make a phone call." He walked into the kitchen's office.
When Jerry tried to follow him, a hard glance from Scully stopped
him. He raised his shoulders as if to say, "Can't blame me for
trying."
A quick dialling of a number and ... "Goo here," was the gentle
answer to the phone.
"Sheriff Grimes here, Goo. We got a problem with those FBI
agents."
<Great,> thought Goo, <If it ain't one thing it's another.>
"What's your words of joy, Steve?"
"The agents were staying at the Aberdeen. And it's crawling with
reporters. And the defense team is also staying there."
"Thanks, I think," responded the blond DA.
"We could reopen the Vinoy. There's a couple of rooms that are
still usable. Put Scully in the old 'Nuns' room. And put Mulder
in the 'Little Girl's' room with all that lace. What do you
think, Goo?"
She heard the laughter in his voice. Picturing the straight-
laced federal agents spending the night in what had been the
local bordello, she could but respond with a "Right. Sure.
Great idea, Steve." <Dumbass joker. Where can they stay? The
Aberdeen is out, and I can't wish that US Highway roach hotel on
anybody but the defense team>. A idea came to light.
"Have you or they eaten yet?," was her question.
"Nope"
"Bring them up here. I'll fix supper, and they can stay here the
night. I've got the rooms. Think you can get somebody to get
their stuff out here tomorrow morning?"
"Yup. I'll drive them up, their car is blocked. I'll have Gail
get their stuff out, and have one of the officers drive it up".
"Sounds like a plan to me," said Goo," I'll expect you soon."
Riggs stepped up to the redheaded agent. "How is he doing,
Dana." he asked lowering his voice.
"Ok up to now, Jerry," Scully replied. "We've been on the case
now since before New Years and he still hasn't hurt himself yet.
A minor X-File there."
Riggs responded with a whistle and a "Good job, Spooky."
"I don't hurt myself that much," Mulder said, following the
conversation. He leaned against the brick wall of the hotel.
His hazel eyes were closed, body relaxed.
Scully looked at her partner and lifted an eyebrow. "Tell that
to the insurance department sometime. I'll want to watch that."
A moments pause, "Mulder."
"Yes."
"How many rounds are you carrying," she asked.
Riggs eyes got wide, <What is she thinking of,> the olive-skinned
reporter thought.
"I donno. I've a clip in the Glock, and two spare clips," he
answered, eyes still closed. Anybody looking at their relaxed
bodies and not hearing the words would think that they were
discussing sports, or perhaps the weather.
"That, my Glock, and your ankle gun, should get use about 40
rounds. Let's go hunt us some defense attorneys," the redhead
joyfully said. "They're causing us to lose sleep, let's return
the compliment. And by the way . . ."
"What Scully?"
"I get Standish."
"You can have her. But, Scully, let me remind you that two of
the witnesses for the prosecution shooting the defense team,
would probably prejudice the case against the prosecution," he
informed his partner.
"Spoilsport." A moments pause. "I've got an idea. Let's go bag
us some reporters."
Mulder shrugged. "Riggs," he said, his eyes still closed.
"You're in trouble now, she's a good shot. Better than I am."
"Now that ain't saying much, Mulder. My mother is better than
you are. How's this Riggs, we'll give you a 30 second lead.
Just run for your car," Scully said.
Riggs was uncertain about this. Mulder and Scully were not known
to be violent, but . . .
"Scully, I hate to break your bubble, but shooting the reporters
will not help us sleep."
"Why not, O partner of mine," she responded. Riggs was getting
nervous. She had pulled her Glock out, and was checking the
clip.
"While Skinner wouldn't give a damn, you know FBI regs as well as
I do. We'd have to fill out a form for each bullet expended, a
form for each bullet that missed the target, and two forms for
each person we hit. That would keep use up until about the
middle of next week. Don't think it's gonna work. And on top of
it, Skinner would expect me to at least try to stop you. And
then you would have to shoot me. Think of the paperwork then. I
have an idea."
"Come out with it."
"We could always stay at the bordello, you get your choice of
rooms," Mulder said.
"Mulder."
"Yes, Scully."
"That was the dumbest thing I have ever heard coming out of your
mouth. First you have to be a killjoy, ruining all of my fun,
then you come up with stupid ideas. Next thing you will suggest
is to get us arrested for loitering."
Riggs was never so happy to see an officer walk up.
"Mulder . . . Scully, I have found you room and board for the
night," Grimes said coming through the doorway.
Mulder turned his eyes to Scully. Seeing her faint nod, he said,
"As long as it isn't the Goff County jail, we'll bite. Sorry,
Riggs, we have to go."
Jerry sketched a wave as good-by. The sheriff led them out of
the kitchen and half a block away. "Goo has a couple of spare
rooms at her place. I doubt that anybody will have a problem
with the chief investigators staying with the DA."
Mulder and Scully exchanged glances and nods. "Lead on Sheriff
Grimes, we'll try it tonight, " was Scully's reply.
8:00PM
Monday, March 6
The Livengoo Residence
"Where Scully is glad that there was no room at the inn"
------
Goo was her mother's child. Daughter of one of the best
hostesses in Goff County, she went to work. Chicken and
Dumplings started cooking in the Dutch oven using scratch
biscuits and some chicken she had cooked and frozen. Home canned
green beans was the vegetable and the frozen apple pie she had
made during the harvest, would go in the oven to be baked for
desert. A quick run by the linen closet and the guest bedrooms
were set to rights.
<What are we getting ourselves into?> was Mulder's thought.
Happy for the hospitality, but uneasy about staying in somebody's
house. He hoped the nightmares that was his lot after a case
like this one wouldn't keep everybody up.
Scully was uneasy about staying in somebody's home. Mulder had
his nightmares and Scully was uncertain about staying in people's
homes. Too many weird visitors with guns. And that's just
Mulder's friends. As they drove up the gravel driveway, she
could see Goo standing in the open door, beside her a mastiff-
looking dog. She heard Mulder humming some song which she
couldn't quite place.
At Scully's questioning look, "Hotel California, The Eagles," he
quipped. Scully's fatal glare made him smile wider.
Gone was the polished barrister, meeting them was the tomboy that
had been waxing her car, now dressed to greet callers. She had
changed to a robin's egg blue Oxford cloth blouse, and a pair of
gaberdine slacks, and replaced her heels with loafers. The
agents recognised Angus and Kiss, a Rottie and Siamese Cat that
they had seen playing the prior afternoon.
"Welcome to Brick House, please come in," she said, inviting
everybody in. "Dinner will be served in about half an hour. If
you would like to freshen up first, I can show you to your rooms
now."
Grimes said wanted a cup of coffee, so he headed to the kitchen.
Angus had the idea that he needed to inspect the guests. "Please
stand still for a moment. Angus takes his job as chief of
security very seriously and just wants to smell who are. See,
there, he likes you Scully," Goo said, watching Angus nuzzle her
hand to scratch him.
Scully favoured Goo with a faint grin. She did not mind dogs,
liked them even, but this one was bigger than she was. But he
seemed very happy to let her scratch his head without trying to
jump up on her.
"Your rooms," a question. At their nods, Goo led Scully and
Mulder up to their bedrooms, pets following. Mulder had the
front bedroom across from their hostess's. Scully's occupied the
opposite corner of the second floor sharing a bathroom with Goo.
"When you are done, please come down the stairs, and head towards
the back of the building, we will be eating in the kitchen," was
Goo's request.
Grimes was just finishing his cup of coffee when Goo walked into
the kitchen. "Thank you for taking them in, Goo. You would not
believe the media circus over at the Aberdeen. Everybody wants
an interview with the FBI wiz kids."
"Makes sense to me. And I've got the spare bedrooms here," Goo
said. "And it is nice to have somebody else sitting at the dinner
table for a change."
"Ah Goo, I've got to scoot, Martha's been keeping dinner warm
waiting for me."
"Of course," she laughed. "Well when you get home, say hi for
me." She saw Grimes to the door and went back to the kitchen.
<One more, one less, it really didn't make a difference.>
Everything was doing well on the stove, so Goo started setting
the table.
Mulder had the pleasure of a top of the line telephone in his
apartment. The first autodial button dialled Scully's home
phone, the second, her cell phone. The third was the Lone
Gunman. He never did set up a button for the FBI building, and
the remaining 17 were a variety of takeout and delivery places
close to his apartment. Scully often chided him on his inability
to cook, but still asked him where the best Thai take out was in
DC. So to come into a kitchen and smell cooking food and see
china on the table as a shock. He had expected cold sandwiches,
he hadn't expected a full cooked meal out of the deal. He rapped
on the doorframe with his knuckles to let her know he was there.
She had heard him walk through the dining room on his way to the
kitchen, so the rap did not surprise her. "Good evening, Agent
Mulder," she said wiping her hands on her apron. "I hope you
like chicken and dumplings."
"Yes, I do, thank you. I seem to have gained a shadow here," he
said looking down at the sealpoint Siamese that had followed him
into the kitchen. The same cat that was now looking around the
room, sniffing the air as it did.
"Good," she replied. "It's a bit strange. Kiss generally does
not like men, and she seems quite taken by you." Both smiled as
the cat arched up and rubbed its muzzle against Mulder's pants
leg. "The food is ready. As soon as your partner joins us, we
can start eating. By the way, is there a nickname or first name
I can use when we are away from the office, I feel a little odd
calling you by 'Agent Mulder' all the time." She saw his slight
smile, a smile that told her that this was not a good subject,
and that after tonight, drop it.
"No nicknames I approve of, and I do not like my first name, I
even made my parents call me 'Mulder'."
As a woman with a nickname based on the last syllable of her last
name, she could appreciate it. "Then Mulder it is. Do you think
your partner would like some iced tea?"
"Yes, thank you," they both turned, hearing Scully's voice.
"Those are delicious smells. Chicken . . .," a quick, almost
cat-like sniff, "an apple pie, maybe," Scully finished with a
quick grin on her face.
Goo quickly decided that she liked the carrot-top agent.
"Chicken and dumplings with an apple pie for desert," she
laughed. "It is ready and we can start eating. And please sit
down, I'll handle the food." The food appeared on the table
almost like magic. The Dutch oven took it's place of honour in
the middle of the table, flanked by the green beans and a basket
of bread.
Scully expected to be disappointed. The smells had been good,
but she had ran into too many 'amateur' cooks that had much
greater opinions of their cooking than it deserved. This was not
the case here. This food was not pretentious, but was well done.
The dumplings were light, the chicken well seasoned, and the
green beans were not the typical factory canned. What totally
emphasized the quality of the food is when Mulder, one who had
told her on several occasions that ketchup on a hamburger counted
as one of your vegetable requirements for the day, finished off
the green beans. And Scully herself broke a longstanding rule
and had a slice of apple pie with her coffee.
"Thank you very much for dinner, Goo," said Scully, "This is the
first good meal we have had since we were put on this case."
"Yes, Goo, I must second my partner's comments. This was a very
good meal," Mulder said while getting up. "Here let me help with
the dishes."
"No need for that, I can take of things easily enough. Please
sit for a moment and I'll have things cleared off," Goo said.
And it was but a few minutes and they were looking at some large
scale county maps. They were looking for areas where Anders
seemed to like to dump the bodies. Mulder started to doze off
fairly early so Scully led him off to bed.
Scully was worried. Mulder and her had been under a lot of
tension with this case. Tension that would cause Mulder
nightmares. And she did not want problems with the DA because
the AIC had the screaming-meemies. She walked with him to his
room. Goo was waiting in the hall when she closed his bedroom
door. She couldn't keep the surprise from her face.
Goo chuckled as she handed Scully a tray. "A little something to
help him sleep, chamomile tea and cookies. I'll meet you
downstairs." Scully could but watch the blond go down the stairs
and out of sight. She looked the tray over, a small teapot under
a cozy, a cup, and a saucer of cookies. She pushed the door open
and looked in at her partner. Mulder was still awake, still
looking tense.
"Goo dropped off a midnight snack for you," she said setting the
tray down on the dresser. She poured the tea and took a sip.
<Not Lipton's, that's for sure,> she thought. She added a couple
of spoonfuls of honey, stirred and took it over to her partner.
"Drink," she told him.
"Scully," he sighed tiredly, "This is nice of Goo, but I don't
want tea right now. Nothing with the slightest touch of
caffeine."
Scully had brought over the cookies and sat down on the bed.
"She told me it was 'A little something to help him sleep.'" She
tried one of the cookies. <A thin spice cookie of some sort,>
she thought. "Enjoy."
He made a face at her and drank down the tea and ate a couple of
the cookies. "Good cookies," was his only comment. He was
asleep in 3 minutes.
Both of Scully's eyebrows did their arch trick. <Mulder asleep,>
she thought. <Will wonders never cease.> She checked his pulse
and respiration. Both were fine. She collected the tray and
went back to the kitchen.
"How did it work," Goo asked the redhead.
Scully looked at the blond for a second and set down the tray.
"It worked great. He went to sleep in about 3 minutes. What was
that tea and where can I get some?"
Goo laughed. It was a warm, hearty laugh, one that a person
would erupt with when the work is done, and it is soon time for
bed. "It is an herbal tea called 'Nighty Night' that I buy at
Ra's Herb Shop on the square. It includes chamomile, catnip, and
hops."
"I'll have to get some to take home. It is hard to get him to
sleep at times. Especially when he has been dealing with a
stressful case like this one."
"And after you return home, they do mail orders and orders via
the Internet." At Scully's questioning look, she continued,
"Even holistic herb shops have entered the electronic age."
Goo's face got a bit solemn look on it. "Scully," she started.
"Go ahead and call me 'Dana'," Scully said.
Goo smiled, "Dana, you indicated that your partner sometimes has
sleeping problems when he is dealing with stressful cases. What
kind of cases do you normally deal with?"
Scully looked forward, not really seeing anything for a moment.
"Mulder and I normally work on what is called the 'X-Files.'
These are odd FBI cases that resist solution. We review and
research them trying to find solutions. We are sometimes
successful. Before the X-Files, Mulder was assigned to Violent
Crimes where he did psych profiles on serial killers. And like
with the Anders case, they still occasionally call him in on the
cases that nobody else can get an handle on. Part of what makes
him so good, is that he can get inside the perps head. The
downside is that sometimes it is hard for him to get back out.
And that is when the nightmares start coming. Cases that involve
children seem to bother him the most."
"What has made this case especially hard is that we got called in
about 3 months ago. The trail was already ice cold. And the
perp especially good at not getting caught. Women are not
normally pegged for being serial killers. So Mulder and I have
spent the last 3 months solid living in backwater motels, eating
diner food. The only break we have had is once going back to
Washington for more clothes."
Goo sat sipping a cup of tea, thinking for a moment. "What are
your demons then, Agent Dana Scully?"
Scully jerked like she had just been shot. "Mine," she gave a
quick, humourless laugh, "are dealing with the dead and their
family. I crack open the victims, try to determine how they were
killed. That would be bad enough, but I also get to deal with
the families of the victims. I don't have the nightmares, but I
loose my share of sleep.
"It really isn't always that bad. The work in challenging and it
feels good when we close the file or bring in the perp. We are
both pretty much workaholics, so the long hours isn't that bad."
Goo sat for a moment shaken by the FBI agents revelation. "At
least this one is in jail," said Goo.
"Yea, but Mulder is saying that Anders has two accomplices that
are still on the loose. They may not be as dangerous as Anders,
but they are still in the woodwork," replied Scully. "Got
anymore of that 'Nighty Night' tea.
Goo quietly made two more cups of the sleeping draught and handed
one to Scully. They saluted each other, tossed down their
chamomile tea and went to bed.
Section 5 follows.
Appalachian Idyll Part 5 of 19
by
Steven M. Wagner
wagnersm@mindspring.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
>From Smalltown, USA
A series by Jerry Riggens
This is your columnist Jer Riggins with another column as I
tour through American Smalltowns. Today finds me in the
pleasant town of Aurora, North Carolina. It is a small
town. A town that is prosperous, a town of little crime.
It makes me think of Andy Griffith's Mayberry. Someplace
that you would like to live and grow old in.
That image was shattered scarcely 48 hours ago by the arrest
of one Cathy Anders, a serial killer. She was captured
driving down the highway with the latest of her dead victims
in her automobile. How can this be, you ask. Crime this
violent, this cruel, in the Heartland.
But it happens, and we have people sworn to protect us from
it. And two of the finest we have, found Cathy Anders, and
brought her to account for her crimes.
The two I refer to are Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana
Scully. They have devoted their lives to the capture of
those that would prey upon use. And their lives for the
past two months have had but one purpose, catch the person
responsible for the heinous killings of our state and
federal employees. Let me describe these two heroes.
Fox Mulder is a handsome man, slight of build, a little over
6 feet tall. He makes use of his Oxford Doctorate in
Psychology to figure out how serial killers think and how to
stop them. He calls it 'doing profiles', others call it a
'minor miracle."
Dana Scully is the daughter of a US Navy Commander. She
selflessly applies her skills as a forensic pathologist to
discover how the criminal killed there victims. She helps
collect the evidence needed to convict the criminal
If it wasn't for the selfless devotion to justice these two
have exhibited, Cathy Anders might still be out there
killing us. We need to salute FBI Special Agents Dana
Scully and Fox Mulder for capturing Anders. We also need to
salute unsung heroes in our cities, our towns, our hamlets
that also selflessly search out those that would hurt us.
This is Jerry Riggins, signing off from another one of
America's Smalltowns. Aurora, North Carolina.
5:00 AM
March, 7
The Livengoo Residence
"The fate of those who rise before the sun"
-------
Mulder put the handset back in its cradle. He had gotten up at
his normal time, his body telling him that it was time to run, to
forget the world as he pounded the pavement for 4 miles. But his
running shoes were at the hotel, and he didn't think his wingtips
would do the job right. Then the night dispatcher at the
sheriff's office had called to tell him that a deputy would be
out shortly to drop off their clothes. A pleasant bit of news.
Might as well wait by the front door.
It was still dark when the halogen beams of the Crown Vic's
headlamps cut through the gloom of the early morning as it pulled
to a stop in front of the house. Mulder walked down to the
gravel of the driveway to greet the deputy. "Fox Mulder," the
deputy asked as he got out of the car.
"Yes."
"Then these are your and Scully's clothes," the deputy said
opening the Ford's trunk. Mulder looked over the bags in the
trunk. Scully and him had travelled so much together that he
knew her bags as well as she did, and they were all there.
"Thanks officer," Mulder said as he reached for a bag.
"Sorry sir, some identification first," the officer interrupted.
"With some of this being crime investigation notes, I would like
some proof of identity before turning it over."
Mulder was taken aback for a moment, <Prove my identity so I can
get my clothes,> he thought for a moment. Noting the name tag on
the deputy's shirt, "Fine, Deputy Green." He pulled out his FBI
badge and handed it to Green.
"Thank you sir. Let me help you with some of this," Green said
handing the badge back and picking up several suit cases.
"Harry Green, is that you," Goo's alto intruded into the
conversation.
Green grinned and looked up to the woman standing on the veranda.
"Yes, ma'am. Just bringing out the FBI agents' clothing and
effects.
"Good for you, when you get done, gentlemen, please come back to
the kitchen for some coffee." She turned and went back into the
house, leaving the front door open. It did not surprise him that
'Security Chief' Angus was watching the proceedings.
It took but one trip for Mulder and Green to carry the bags back
into the foyer. When they got back to the kitchen, Green set
down a box he had brought in from the car. Nodding her thanks
for the cup of coffee Goo handed him, he opened the box, and
pulled out a folder and several bags.
<Evidence bags,> Mulder thought recognizing the official police
bags that various stacks of papers were packaged in. Including
his jogging shoes, <What the hell, evidence bags,> All of the
evidence that he and Scully had collected was safely packed in
the vault at the "Merchants and Growers Bank" in town.
Taking a swig of the hot joe, Green opened up the folder. "I had
Gail go and collect Dana Scully's things, just seemed the right
thing to do sir." The young man swallowed, "We had some
problems collecting what was in your room, sir. The papers and
other effects were quite scattered, very unlike your
partner's..." He swallowed, looking quite embarrassed. "So I
made use of training I received in a recent seminar in evidence
collection the county sent me to and 'collected' the contents of
your room." He handed Mulder the folder.
Mulder read over the contents of the folder. He was impressed.
the kid had done a very good job noting where each pile of
papers were, and the bag they were in. He was slightly
embarrassed that a couple of the notations were for his effects,
'British Knight Running Shoes, men's, white, size 11 1/2' was on
one of the lines. "You did a very good job here, Green," he said
looking over the folder at the deputy. "This is an FBI quality
job."
Green's face opened with a big smile. It was no small praise for
a small town cop to be told that he had done a job equal to that
done by the FBI. He stood a little straighter before responding.
"Thank you, sir." He swallowed, then continued, "This may look
like Mayberry, And sometimes, we act like a bunch of hicks, but
the problems we are dealing with are a little harsher than Andy
dealt with. Sheriff Grimes believes that the crime traditionally
associated with urban areas will start filtering to the small
towns. And that the department needs to know the tools used by
the urban police departments to combat crime. Thus I was sent to
a evidence collecting seminar held by the State Bureau of
Investigation. Techniques used in your room at the Aberdeen."
Mulder stood there for a second. He hadn't thought of the locals
as 'hicks', but he had used the Mayberry label. "I think Grimes
is being a wise man, preparing for the future. And I think you
will be valued member of the department if you continue doing
work this good."
Green was beaming by now. "Thank you, Agent Mulder. And thank
you, Goo, for the coffee." He shook Mulder's hand and left.
Goo took a quick look up at the wall clock. It was showing 7
o'clock. "Mulder, would you and Dana prefer eating then getting
dressed for the day, or getting dressed first."
He took a second to look at his hostess. He felt suddenly
totally grungy next to her. She was already dressed in a pressed
blouse and fitted skirt. And he was wearing clothes he had put
on over 24 hours ago.
"Changing, then food. Scully and I have been wearing these
clothes for the past 24 hours, and I know that I would like to
change before doing much more."
"Suits me. See you and Scully back here at 8 o'clock."
A quick nod, and Mulder headed up the stairs. A quick knock on
Scully's bedroom door and Mulder passed in her suitcases. He
carried his back to his room, and cleaned up.
Precisely at 8, Scully and Mulder showed up in the kitchen.
"Good morning," Goo said, "Breakfast?"
Scully was amazed at the spread of food on the table.
"How would you like your eggs," Goo asked. "Scrambled, over-
easy, sunnyside-up," was suggested.
Scully, amazed at what was spread before her, was now overwhelmed
by a choice of how she wanted her eggs. She glanced at her
partner, "Scrambled?" At his nod, "Scrambled please."
"Fine, sit down then and start. I'll be there in a minute," she
said, whipping half-dozen eggs and pouring them in the pan.
Scully knew that she normally did not eat much breakfast, when
she sat down and Mulder passed her the sausage. But also knowing
that it would be rude not to eat, took a couple of pieces along
with a small bowlful of grits. Before she could get her coffee
poured, Goo was serving the eggs and sitting down herself.
<Funny looking farina,> Mulder thought, adding milk and sugar to
the yellow gruel that Goo had served. <Not bad,> taking a bite,
<but I think I'll stay with Quaker Oats.>
"Dana, I think we got ourselves a Yankee, here," Goo drawled.
Scully looked up from her plate to see Mulder putting some sugar
on his grits before eating more. "Yup, He sure is," Scully
drawled back. "Mulder, what are you doing to your grits," she
asked.
"Grits??"
"Yes, grits. Boiled, ground corn. As long as you have lived in
DC, you never had any." his partner asked.
Looking from Scully to Goo, "No. Breakfast is generally a muffin
or bagel, you know that Scully."
The ladies laughed, and Mulder soon joined in. Breakfast
continued quietly. By the time half after 8 had rolled around,
the table was bare of food and the last of the coffee had been
poured into the cups. "Goo," Mulder started, "Scully and I would
like to thank you for your hospitality. With the problems at the
Aberdeen, I was uncertain where we would be able to sleep. And
serving us this wonderful breakfast was surely more than
necessary."
"You and Dana are more than welcome. If I hadn't shown you
proper hospitality, they would have drummed me out of the
'Daughters of the Confederacy'," she replied in mock seriousness.
The ringing of the telephone interrupted the discussion. Goo got
up and picked it up in the kitchen, "Goo."
"This is Harold Stephens of the State's Attorney's office.
George Sherman and myself have been sent from Raleigh to help you
with the Anders prosecution," said the scratchy voice on the
line.
"Fine, I will need the help. Shall we meet at my office at the
Courthouse. Say at 10 o'clock."
"We will be there at 10. Can you tell us where the FBI agents
that did the arrest? We would like to talk with them."
"I'll have them there at 10 as well," Goo answered.
"Good, we'll meet you at 10 at your office. Goodbye."
"Goodbye," she responded and hung up. She gave Scully and Mulder
a synopsis of the conversation. "One question, if I may. How
long to you expect to stay here in Aurora?"
"Skinner, our boss, wants us to stay in town for another week.
That will put us here through the arraignment and allow the
defense team to ask us any questions it wants. This is a
righteous bust, and he doesn't want to lost due to some
technicality," Mulder responded.
"Then why don't you stay here. I've got the room, and it will be
nice to have somebody here for awhile."
Scully and Mulder gave each other a quick look. Scully turned
to Goo and said, "Thank you very much for your kind offer. We
will accept." Any place where Mulder slept the night away, is a
great place.
Goo smiled her response. The next several minutes were spent
discussing the habits of the house. Goo was excited about the
prospect of having roommates for a while. She liked the old
house, But with her retired parents working with Habitat for
Humanity in Ohio, she got lonely living by herself.
They soon found themselves by Goo's Karmann. Mulder was looking
down at the sports car with a bit of trepidation. He wasn't sure
he would fit in this car. Goo could see the worry build on his
face, then decided the cure. "Follow me," she called over her
shoulder as she walked back to a 4 stall garage. Scully and
Mulder looked around in amazement as they looked at the selection
of vehicles inside. The first bay held an Jeepster, the second a
Humvee, the third was empty, and the fourth was obviously for the
Karmann. "Mom and Dad have the Cherokee, lets take the
Jeepster." She started the red touring car and while it was
warming up, opened the garage door. After she pulled the car
out, Mulder lowered the garage door and jumped in himself.
"It's a bit cool for leaving the top down," Goo said. "It was
originally my father's. He needed something a little bigger than
a Jeep, but with 4-wheel drive. When my older brother, Thomas,
got a hold of it, he upgraded the engine and running gear from a
CJ-5."
Scully found the Jeepster to be comfortable enough, a lot more
comfortable than the M151's her father had buzzed around while on
Navy bases. She enjoyed looking out the windows as they drove
into town. The signs of spring were everywhere. The grass was
starting to turn green, the swings were back up at the
playgrounds (and being used), and shopkeepers were putting out
tubs of flowers in front of their stores. Definitely a change
from the often miserable weather they had gone through tracking
Anders. By the time they were parked behind the courthouse,
Scully was feeling nice and warm and at peace with the world.
10:00 AM
Tuesday, March, 7
District Attorney's Office
"Revelations"
Goo had met with her staff, a secretary and a single law clerk,
right after getting in. She had introduced the FBI agents and
brought them up to date with the current case load. And now it
was 10AM and the gentlemen from Raleigh were 'big city' right on
time. Goo resisted asking them if they set their watches by the
federal time standard in Boulder. She made the introductions.
The gentlemen from Raleigh also got right down to business.
Herald Stephens started, "Ms. Livengoo, this is a big case, one
that is surely as big or bigger than the O.J. Simpson case. We
are here to help you with the extra work that prosecuting this
case will create. We suspect that the defence team will try to
avalanche your office with briefs, requests for discovery, and
other paperwork. This is done in the hopes that your office will
be overwhelmed and make mistakes. We are here to try to prevent
it from occurring."
Goo mulled it over for a bit. She knew that Harold was correct,
She and her team were not ready for this sort of case. "Ok, I'll
buy into this. I can get you office space here in the
courthouse. And I know of two hotel rooms at the Aberdeen that
you can use."
Scully and Mulder shared a smile at that one. <Let the poor
slobs deal with the defence team down the hall,> Mulder thought.
The rest of the morning discussion went well.
Harold and George seemed to know what they were talking about.
The idea of trying to find as many bodies made sense to them too.
"Goo," George said, "Why don't you work with Scully and Mulder
finding the bodies. Harold and I can handle responding to their
paperwork, generating responses for you to review and sign. This
also gives us the advantage of not being able to give them
immediate replies if they ask for one. If you are out of the
office, they will have to wait until we discuss our options
before replying."
Everybody said it sounded like a good plan. As it was lunchtime,
Harold and George were going to check in at the hotel and with
Raleigh. Goo, Scully, and Mulder agreed to pick up sandwiches at
'Chicago Pizza and Pasta,' a pizzeria on the square, and eat them
sitting on a park bench. It seemed a waste to sit inside on such
a beautiful day.
"A moment Goo," Harold asked.
"Mulder, please pick me up a 6 inch number 4, hold the oil, and a
bag of BBQ chips," Goo asked, passing him a bill. "I'll meet you
in the park. I'll be able to pick the two of you out."
Mulder and Scully nodded and left for the pizzeria.
"Ok, Harold."
"Goo, I don't know how to bring this up," Harold started.
"I've always found that beating around the bush just tires
everybody out," said Goo.
"We checked out Mulder and Scully with the FBI offices in Raleigh
and Charlotte. They are a odd pair." At Goo's puzzled look, he
continued, "Mulder has the nickname of 'Spooky Mulder' around the
FBI. He was one of the up and coming young turks doing psych
profiles on serial killers. Psych profiles that were almost
biographies of the killers. Then one day, he switched from being
a hotshot to holing up in the FBI basement working on unsolvable
cases. The rumour around the bureau is that he is not stable.
"Scully has been assigned to him for almost 3 years now. She is
a well respected pathologist. She disappeared for about 3 months
two years ago. The official word is that she got kidnapped. The
unofficial word is that nobody, including herself, really knows
what happened those 3 months.
"On the positive side, they work exceedingly well together and
have one of the best success records in the bureau at this time,"
he concluded.
"Why tell me this? It's rumour and innuendo at best," Goo asked.
Her voice was cool. She did not like rumours and half truths
being spread around.
"Because these two are our best witnesses. It was his profile
that made them look for somebody like her.. She will be doing
many of the autopsies of the victims. Would you rather have me
bring up this BS now, or have Standish or one of the defense team
bring it up and discredit a witness?"
"Good point, I'll think on it. Now if you will excuse me, lunch
is calling." Goo walked out of the Courthouse and across the
street. The park was a nice double block, but not so big that
two people as distinctive as Scully and Mulder would not be
noticed. <How big a pinch of salt do I take with Harold's
comments,> she thought. <Mulder has been nothing but gracious
since we met. But every rumour has some sort of grain of truth
to it. So the odds are that something is odd with Mulder, just
what is it? Now that's the 64 thousand dollar question.> A
shouted "Goo" broke her reverie. Looking over her shoulder, she
noticed that she had walked past the two agents sitting on a
parkbench.
"Goo," Mulder shouted again.
"Alright already," Goo shouted back, turned around and sat down
beside Mulder. He passed over the waxed paper wrapped sandwich
and paper cup of iced tea. She unwrapped the sandwich and
started eating.
The three passed the time comfortably. The sun was warm. The
air was cool but comfortable. The young mothers were out with
their babies pushing them around in perambulators. Goo could
hear songbirds starting to practice their songs. It was a nice
warm day, a day to feel safe in. But with a serial killer in a
jail that was normally empty, and warnings about your house
guests, it was hard to feel totally warm and safe. She shivered.
When Mulder turned and asked, "Cold". She gave him a weak smile.
"Got some bad news. Doris called just after you left. The
arraignment has been moved up to today at 2:30. You two should
plan to be there."
Mulder looked at Scully, Scully looked at Mulder. "Cool. No big
deal. We'll be there. Then tomorrow morning we can start
looking for remains," Scully said.
"Mulder," Goo said, turning to the Agent.. "A question, if I
may."
"Sure, Goo."
"Why were you there at the exact place to capture Anders. There
was over 100 officers involved, with over 30 checkpoints and
roadblocks. It is amazing that the two of you were at the exact
place to arrest her," she asked.
Mulder sat for a second deep in thought, "Based on the past
behaviour of the suspect, coupled with the MO of the disposing of
the bodies in rural areas off the main roads. And based on the
point of abduction, the county is rural enough, it seemed a
logical conclusion that this would be her target area. North
Carolina 19 goes through the least populated part of the county.
Therefore, that's where we were."
Scully broke in, "He had a hunch. By the way, that is not of
public consumption. The FBI is a scientific crimefighting
organisation. We do not play hunches, we analyse data and draw
conclusions."
Everybody laughed. It was time to leave the park and re-enter
the world of law. Goo walked back to her office to coordinate
things with Doris. Mulder and Scully walked to the Jail to check
in on the prisoner.
Two o'clock rolled around and the procession started. It
appeared a burlesque, 6 people escorting a lone woman to the
courthouse. A sheriff's deputy led the way as drum major, a
Remington automatic shotgun as baton. The prisoner, clad in
bright orange coveralls, manacled and fettered, was between a
burly state trouper, and a prison matron who looked like Hulk
Hogan's twin sister, the one that still beats him up regularly.
Following behind was the grand marshal and his entourage, Sheriff
Grimes with Scully and Mulder. It was quite an impressive sight.
Mulder whispered to Scully, "There are still two out there. I
know there is. She is just too small to manhandle some of those
victims. And she does not match the description in some of the
cases."
"Mulder, you may be right, but as of Monday, we are off this
case. Let's go home, talk with Skinner and see what we can get
moving."
"I just hope that there isn't any other killings. Get rid of the
head wolf in a pack, the other wolves still keep killing."
The arraignment was a formality, but a formality that had be
fulfilled. Goo stood up and read off the charge, Murder in the
First Degree. The defendant tried to enter a guilty plea, but
was quieted by Bullfinch, the Chief Defense Attorney. Goo
requested that there be no bail, that she was a significant
flight risk, and that she should be hold for possible extradition
to other states or the federal government. Bullfinch tried to
request a high bail amount. Judge Fitzpatrick decreed no bail
due to no ties to the community. Bang! Bang! Court was no
longer in session, take the prisoner back to their cell.
Section 6 follows.
Appalachian Idyll - Part 6 of 19
by
Steven M. Wagner
wagnersm@mindspring.com
Disclaimers and other information included as in part 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------
5:30 PM
Tuesday, March, 7
Courthouse Square
Aurora, North Carolina
"Parade"
------
Mulder and Scully again joined the parade back to the jail. It
was a not a quiet walk. The route thronged by journalists and
cameras. Many of the high powered journalists stayed at the
courthouse to interview Bullfinch and Goo. Or at least until
after Anders was locked back up. When exiting the jail, both
Mulder and Scully were jumped by the media. They tried to stay
together, but all too soon, Scully was being interviewed by 'E!',
and Mulder by the BBC. It was almost dark by the time both were
done with the fourth estate.
The peace and quiet of twilight was a counterpoint to the noise
and bustle of the day. Scully could hear the crickets in the
grass, the sounds of birds chattering. Mulder was amazed by the
greetings of the people on the street. The two agents received
several offers of home-cooked meals. And graciously turned them
all down. By the time they got back to the Courthouse, the
purple twilight had faded and the velvet night had fallen.
The deputy guarding the front door, let them into the building.
Once inside they quickly made their way to Goo's office. She was
ready to head for home too. The day had taken its toll on the
blond. Her clothes had lost their crispness, the energy gone.
"Harold and George headed for the Aberdeen dining room. You two
like 'gumbo'?" At their nods, "Good, I've got some cooking in
the crockpot at home. I need to pick up a few things before
heading home, would you like to wait here or tag along."
Scully decided to tag along, Mulder was going to settle the bill
at the Aberdeen. "Got your cel phone, Mulder," Scully asked.
Mulder smiled and pulled out his Nokia, "Never leave home without
it."
"Fine, I'll call you when we are done, you can meet us at parking
lot," Scully finished.
Scully discovered that she enjoyed the shopping trip with Goo.
When she and her partner had left Washington, it was a cold and
snowy 3 days after Christmas. And the Appalachian mountain
weather had been horrible most of the time since then. She
remembered times when it seemed they were more at risk from
driving off some snow or ice slick road, then from the serial
killer. But here in Aurora, it was comfortable, the people were
pleasant, and both the Aberdeen and Goo's home were comfortable
places to rest your head. And as important, her partner was
getting reasonably good night's sleeps, something he did not
always get at home.
Goo stopped at a store on the north side of the square. The
gold-leafed sign on the window said "Ra's Herbs and Spices."
Scully got a feeling of claustrophobia just walking through the
front door. As she followed Goo to the back of the store, she
winded her way between and around numerous old bookcases and
cabinets pressed into duty as display cases. There were handmade
soaps, bags of herbs promising to protect your clothes from
moths, and bunches of herbs and spices hanging down on threads
from the rafters. The smells of lavender, bay, and clove filled
the air.
The woman in the back of the store was just a little taller than
the FBI agent, still wearing the 3 inch pumps she had worn for
the arraignment. <I remember having hair that long,> she thought
enviously seeing the freckled woman's midback long brown hair.
She was perched on top of a stool behind a counter and the cash
register. "Hello," Scully opened.
"Hello. Welcome to my herb shop," the woman responded. "Care
for some tea?"
Remembering some of the medicinal teas she had bought from Ra in
the past, Goo's eyebrows went up.
Noting the question of the guest's faces, Ra put their questions
to rest. "Goo, it's Earl Grey."
Everybody had a laugh, and Goo made the introductions. The woman
was Ra Enright, owner and shopkeeper of "Ra's Herbs and Spices".
"Goo, what brings you out on such a pleasant evening?"
"Coffee. Do you have any chicory coffee in stock." Goo asked.
Scully suddenly remembered the different taste to the coffee Goo
had served that morning. She had thought it was due to the local
water, but tastes matched.
"Yes. I just got a shipment in from Grandma's," Ra replied.
Noting the quizzical look on the redhead's face, "A coffee
roaster in the French Quarter of New Orleans."
"Three pounds then. Ground, please," asked Goo.
During a second cup, Scully made arrangements to 'Internet-order'
some teas and spices in the future. She suspected that Ra's
"Nighty-Night" was going to be a standard item in her medical bag
in the future.
"So you like your coffee with chicory," Scully asked as they
walked down the sidewalk towards the courthouse.
"Yes. One of my uncles had . . . shall we say . . . an
attraction for the French Quarter of New Orleans. So the family
got into the habit of drinking coffee with chicory. And we have
continued to do so for almost a hundred years."
<This is the South,> Scully reminded herself. <Folkways and
traditions are VERY big here.> In many ways, it was all too soon
they found Mulder at the parking lot. It was just that nice an
evening. They piled into the Jeepster and headed back to Goo's.
8:00 PM
Tuesday, March, 7
The Livengoo Residence
"Frontsteps and Rottweilers"
-------
Goo was lost in thought as she drove back to 'Brick House.'
<Serial Killers and federal agents, what is my county coming to.
The first Feds we've had here since the repeal of Prohibition,
and they capture a serial killer>, Goo thought. <And there is
that blasted a memo about 'crack' cocaine being found in a locker
at the High School. Hellfire and damnation, what other changes
am I going to see in Goff county. Maybe Grimes is right, the
city is coming here to meet us.> Pulling into the gravel driveway
ended the reflection. Seeing a parked car and two shapes on the
porch, put all three at alert. Goo parked the roadster so that
the headlights illuminated the veranda where the two shapes
where. The first everybody quickly recognised as Angus,
conscientiously guarding HIS house. The second unfolding itself
to be a olive skinned man dressed in suit and trenchcoat, fedora
coming off and held in his hands. Goo vaguely remembered seeing
him at the Courthouse after the arraignment. She cut the lights
and the three walked to the steps.
"Gerald Riggens, at your service," he said by way of
introduction. Goo looked him over for a few seconds. He was an
olive-skinned man, black haired, with perfect teeth, and a broad
smile. He was dapperly dressed, a Savile row suit, a shirt that
looked custom, and he even had a small rose in his buttonhole.
"And, you, madam, are Miss Hyacinthmae Livengoo, Esquire, the
District Attorney," he asked in a smooth baritone.
"Your business, Mr. Riggens," she asked in a formal alto.
"To meet you. To have a bit of conversation with Agents Scully
and Mulder."
She thought for a moment, <I don't know this person from Adam.
Does Scully or Mulder.> "Scully, Mulder. Do you know this
gentleman," she asked without turning her face from him.
Riggs knew that he was not facing some country bumpkin. His
research told him that she had gotten her J.D. at NCSU in
Raleigh. That her speciality was land law, a 'Dirt Lawyer' like
his friend, Emma Courtland. That she had been tricked into being
the local DA. That she was smart, able, and could shoot
straighter than he could. He was in many ways, on trial.
Scully spoke up first. "Riggs is all right, for a member of the
fourth estate. We met him during a serial killer investigation."
"For an investigative reporter, he actually did not get in the
way of the investigation. Scully and I can talk with him in town
in the morning," Mulder finished.
"You have a presspass, sir," Goo asked. Riggs knew that he had
lost a point by not mentioning his choice of careers. He pulled
out the little leather folder with his Chicago Herald-Tattler and
Parade presspasses in it.
<Things look in order here,> she thought. "I am afraid that a
press pass issued in Chicago or New York is not worth the paper
it's printed on here in North Carolina," she said handing the
folder back. "Have you dined, Mr. Riggens?"
The question took him aback, "No 'mam."
"Then please come in. If you can resist interviewing the Agents
or myself, you are welcome to join us," she told him.
"Thank you, Miss Livengoo. you have my word of honour," he
responded. He was not amused by Mulder's snicker.
"Very, well. And please call me 'Goo'. Only salesmen and people
trying to get something from me call me 'Miss Livengoo'. Let
Angus here smell you. That will help him understand that you are
a guest, and not an intruder." That act done, the three followed
their hostess in. "Dinner will be served in about 30 minutes in
the dining room. Mr. Riggens, there is a bathroom on this floor
if you would like to freshen up before dinner. Will everybody
please meet me in the dining room when they are ready."
While Goo walked down the hall to the dining room doorway, and
from there, the kitchen, and Scully walked up to her room to
change, Mulder and Riggens looked at each other, not totally
comfortable in each other's presence. Riggens knew too much
about him, to have Mulder entirely comfortable in his presence
and Riggens knew of the mortality rate of those around Mulder.
Kiss, wise in the things that only cats know, could feel the
unease that the new human felt towards her friend. She walked
over to the new human, meowed to get his attention. Riggens
reached down to the cat, smile on his face, saying, "Pretty
kitty." Kiss lifted his head and sniffed at the hand, and
swatted him in the leg. Claws out. When Riggens yiped and
pulled back, Kiss walked away and up the stairs, wondering what
sort of trouble she could get that stupid Rottie into that
evening. Riggens looked up and saw the agent looking down at
him, a smug 'shit eating' grin on his face. Riggens also saw the
Siamese rub against the agent's leg, and the hand slowly reach
down to scratch its head. A loud purr told everybody whose side
the 'kitty' was on.
Goo met Scully in the dining room, a scarce quarter hour later.
"Please be frank, Dana. How trustworthy is Riggens," she asked
the agent.
"Actually not bad. Mulder is fonder of him than he is of most
reports. And, by and large, he's fair. And he showed that he
can keep his mouth shut during that prior investigation" the
titian-haired agent replied, helping Goo set the table.
"Good," she replied, looking over the polished oak table. It was
set for four people, silverware and china, napkin and waterglass.
She heard a throat being cleared in the doorway to the hall. It
was Gerald Riggens. <I was right, the man is a dandy,> she
thought to herself, seeing him in the light. Not that she had
anything against those who dressed well. She had changed from a
pinstripe business suit to a silk tee and a pair of fitted
slacks, herself. 'Clothes don't make the man, Hyacinthmae,' her
Uncle Freddy once had said, 'But they give you a damn good idea
of what he is made of.' Savile Row suit, handkerchief, silk
shirt, spit-polished tasselled-loafers, even a rose in the lapel.
"I hope you enjoy Cajun cooking Mr. Riggens. This evening, we
are having seafood gumbo and rice."
"That sounds wonderful, Miss . . . Goo. And you must call me
'Jer', everybody else does."
"Everybody except me, Riggs," Mulder interrupted.
"And everybody knows that you, Mulder, must do things your way,"
Jer responded.
Scully laughed at that.
Dinner was a simple affair of seafood gumbo, steamed rice, and
iced tea. Jer turned out to have both the good manners and
amusing stories of a good dinner companion. His stories of the
shenanigans of the Chicago politicos had everybody in tears.
That reminded Scully of some of the antics that the residents
pulled while she did her residency. Goo related some of the
silliness of NCSU campus life. Mulder related some of the more
humorous things he had seen at the FBI.
Coffee and cake was enjoyed in the living room. Conversation was
quiet, humorous, and had nothing to do with the case. When the
'Grandfather' clock in the hall started to strike 9PM, Jer
started to rise to his feet. Goo followed his example. "I am
happy that you came by. You amazed me by not mentioning the case
at all. Please come again some time."
"Thank you for your invitation. May I call upon you tomorrow at
your office," Jer asked.
"Please do. And good night," she responded.
Mulder walked Jer out to his car while Scully and Goo cleaned up
after desert. "Frankly, Mulder, how is the case going," asked
the Chicago reporter.
Half surprised to hear Riggs not tease him with 'Spooky', Mulder
decided to be straight with him. "Fairly well. The bust was by
the book. Finding a dead body in Ander's car helped a lot. We
should get a conviction," the hazel-eyed agent answered. The two
men looked up into the clear night sky. They stood quietly,
neither wanting to break the quiet. They might not totally trust
each other, but they trusted each other more than they trusted
most people. "You surprised me Riggs," Mulder said. Watching
Riggs' eyes look at him, he continued. "I expected you to pump
Goo for information over dinner."
"You cut me to the quick, Mulder. Do you think that the only
thing I think of is to get the news." Seeing the look of
amusement on the agent's face, Riggs continued, "I will not abuse
hospitality by questioning my hostess or her guests over dinner.
Tomorrow at the Courthouse . . ." He shrugged, both knowing that
the rules would be different.
They both let at go at that. Jer got in his beamer and headed
back to town. Mulder watched as the car hit the street and
disappeared into the night. He walked back into the house and
closed the door. He heard the noises of china and talking from
the open doors to the living room. Looking into the living room,
he caught the tranquil scene in front of him. A fire was burning
merrily. Goo was sitting curled up in a overstuffed chair,
reading a file. Scully was sitting, legs tucked underneath her,
reading one of those professional journals she always seemed to
have with her. Remembering the copy of the Raleigh 'News &
Observer' in his bedroom, he decided to join the ladies in
enjoying the printed word.
"Meow," Kiss was happy seeing his friend come in the bedroom.
His first name was 'Fox', the cat had been told. <This biped is
a hunter,> the Siamese cat thought. <Dumb, *Canine*, name. No
wonder he wouldn't let Mommy use it. And his shorter, red furred
friend hunted with him. 'Dana,' sounds like the sort of silly
name a primate would give a Persian. Suits her though. The two
of them may be a small pride, but I, a descendent of Temple
guardians, would not want to go against them. He scratches the
tops of heads too well.> Arching his back, he rubbed his muzzle
against his hand and arm. This, in typical cat
efficiency/laziness, both told the silly biped that he wanted to
be scratched as well as marking the hand with the cat's scent.
Mulder got the message and started to scratch the cat's head
while looking for, and finding the newspaper.
<Newspaper,> the cat thought excitedly. <Like reading
newspapers, like ripping out stupid canine names,> Kiss continued
while following Mulder down the hall and stairs. Finding no easy
place to spread the sports section, Mulder sat on the floor,
spreading the pages on the well polished hardwood. <ACC
tournament coming up, not much else on the first page.> Opening
the section up, he started to read an article about the upcoming
tournament when he heard the sound of ripping newsprint.
All eyes were on the cat as he very carefully removed the words,
'Wolfpack,' from the basketball ratings column. "Wolfpack," Goo
asked. Mulder looked up and nodded. "Thought so. She has never
been fond of 'doggie' named sports teams. She does love the
Carolina Panthers, though." she finished. Mulder nodded his
head, <Crazy cat,> as he finished reading the sports section with
the destructive cat.
The grandfather clock stuck eleven o'clock as the two agents eyes
met. Goo could never figure out how they communicated, but
decisions seemed to be made. Mulder stifled a yawn, "Anybody
else for bed," he asked. Scully looked up and nodded her
agreement.
"Why don't you two bathe, while I finish up this file," Goo
suggested, trying to be the good hostess.
"And you first, Mulder, I'm finishing up this article and will be
a few more minutes," Scully suggested.
Mulder nodded his agreement, folded his newspaper, and started up
the stairs. A minute or two later, Scully yawned, and made her
excuse, she would go upstairs and wait for Mulder to finish. Goo
nodded her concurrence and went back to her peaceful reading.
Goo's head shot up when she heard the yell from the floor above.
It was Mulder's tenor that broke the peace. "Goddamn it. I'm
going to kill you, you little bastard. Yow, it hurts." Angus
ran up the stairs. Goo followed, her files and briefs forgotten.
Scully was at the door, gun in hand, listening. "Stay back," the
Federal agent hissed. Goo stayed back as Scully opened the door
and slipped in. Angus understood 'Stay', but he did give a quick
look up to make sure what Mommy wanted. She was 'staying', so
Angus stood, weight on his forepaws, muzzle up sniffing the air.
A slightly wet Kiss, came out of the room just after the agent
slipped in. Angus nuzzled the cat, inspecting it, trying to find
out if anything was amiss. Goo looked down at the cat as she
started to clean her paws. And Scully burst out laughing.
<Wha?!?!?,> Goo thought. <Might as well go in, can't be too
dangerous if Dana's laughing.> She pushed open the door and the
three walked inside. Scully was leaning against the bathroom
doorframe, laughing. "Everything is OK, Goo, Angus" she
snickered.
"That's easy for you to say, Scully. You didn't have a cat try to
flay your back," Mulder said between gritted teeth.
Remembering her cat's habit of sitting on the edge of the bathtub
complaining when Goo showered, she asked, "Did Kiss fall in the
tub?"
"Yes," Mulder grunted.
"She tried to climb up you to get out of the water, didn't she,"
Goo asked.
"Yes, she did."
Scully burst out laughing again, arms over stomach, leaning
against the doorframe. "Please . . get me . . my . . doctor's
bag, . . . Goo," Scully asked between laughs.
"Waitaminute," Mulder got out, "There's nothing wrong, they're
just scratches, everything is OK."
"Mulder, If I don't look at them now, they'll get infected,
you'll end up in the hospital in one of those silly gowns you
just love. And I'll have to tell Skinner what happened. Won't
the guys in Violent Crimes love hearing this tale."
Mulder groaned. "Um, Scully, I'm in the shower."
"So."
"I'm not in the habit of wearing clothes while taking a shower."
"So. I've seen your butt before, isn't anything that I didn't
see in anatomy class, or cut up last week during an autopsy.
Don't worry, I'll send Goo out of the room first to preserve your
modesty. But then," Scully continued, "Goo has brothers. I
doubt that you have anything they don't have."
"Funny, Scully. Funny."
Goo handed her the bag. She couldn't help the smile on her face
from the byplay. "Dana, please tell me how things end up. I
feel a bit responsible, being that it is my cat and all."
"I'll fill you in, Goo. I doubt that there is anything I can't
handle.."
"Thanks. I'll be downstairs in the kitchen making tea. Do you
want me to boil some water," she asked, not able to help but to
continue the joke.
Mulder groaned.
"No need for boiled water, I've got iodine in my bag." Another
tenor groan. "But when you make the tea, make Mulder's catnip."
"I'll get you Scully. I swear, I'll get you." Both heard the
muttering from behind the shower curtain.
Goo left the bedroom, Angus in tow. She got to the head of the
stairs when she heard a shout, "Keep that damned cat away from
me. It's injured me enough." She heard Scully crack up again.
She smiled all the way down the stairs.
Half an hour later, Scully walks into the kitchen. Goo hands her
a cup of hot tea. Scully sips, gives Goo one of those 'What's
this' looks.
"Catnip tea. Its good for the digestion. Honey," Goo asks,
handing Scully the honey pot.
Scully shakes her head no. Goo can see the fatigue in the droop
of the petite agent's shoulders. "Did you have to do much
reconstructive surgery," Goo asks.
Scully holds still for a moment, obviously thinking about what
Goo asked, then her face brightens with a smile, "Very little.
Only about 3 stitches and 6 feet of first aid tape. Patient is
laying on his side reading a magazine, perp is curled up on a
pillow purring."
Goo smiles her joy at the news of little damage. Hands Scully a
plate of cookies. They companionably stand, sipping their tea,
eating a cookie each. Or at least eating what Angus doesn't
mooch.
Section 7 follows.
-----------------------------------
Onward to Appalachian Idyll(2/3)