The X-Files by Claudia Gray

Author:Claudia Gray [Gray, Claudia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hyperion Avenue
Published: 2024-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

I’m sorry, sir,” said Lyle Ragsdill for the eighth time. “Normally the security cameras catch everything. But just as this started happening—it’s like all our systems went haywire at once. I mean, we’ve had a few flickers lately, because we’re overdue to update some of our wiring, but I’ve never seen anything like that power surge. Half our display stock is fried. Regional’s not going to like this. They’re gonna call any minute. How am I supposed to explain?”

“Yeah, good luck with that.”

Mulder stood in the small manager’s office, amid piles of cartons and a brilliant banner from a sale that had ended long ago. Ragsdill’s Funko Pop! collection lined up along the edge of the desk, as though staring them down. The security footage on-screen had pixelated into so much incoherent digital confetti. He leaned past Ragsdill to back up the footage—but none of the cameras, at any angle, had caught the guy following Scully, at least not at any point when he could be identified. Go back a little further, and Mulder could spot about twenty men who fit the general description. One of them was Bright Eyes.

But the only way we’re going to be able to tell which is which, he thought, is by running that partial plate. My guess is that’s going to be enough to catch you, you son of a bitch.

In the meantime, he did what he could with what he had. Although most customers had run from the store during the power surge and its immediate aftermath, a few had remained; Mulder was able to eliminate two of the guys in the video from that alone. The images of the others, unfocused and distant though they were, he stored to check against the suspect they were no doubt about to nab.

Regional called. Lyle Ragsdill launched into the explanation that, all things considered, had to be one of the top-ten most amazing excuses for damaged merchandise Regional would ever hear. Mulder returned to the store floor.

Scully sat on the slightly raised platform that elevated a certain brand of tablet above the lowly competition. One of the other store patrons had turned out to be an off-duty EMT, and she was currently bandaging Scully’s leg. The EMT’s presence was the only reason Mulder had agreed not to summon an ambulance; he wished he’d insisted anyway. One of Scully’s arms curved around her abdomen, unconsciously protective. He wanted to sit down beside her, even to hold her, but he knew how that would go over. The best way to comfort Scully was to remind her of her strength; the best way to do that was to respect it.

“How’s the patient?” Mulder asked as he walked up.

“I’m fine,” said Scully. “I don’t even need stitches. My elbow’s going to bruise, but—that’s all.”

The EMT glanced from Scully to Mulder, then back again, before packing up to go. Perceptive, Mulder thought.

Scully made a preemptive bid to change the subject. “I’ve been going over and over this in my head, and I still don’t understand how he found me here.

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