"So, what did the autopsy reveal?" asked Agent Mulder as they walked out of the morgue.
"That he's dead," replied Scully, her cool good looks unruffled by just having sliced another human being up into pieces and catalogued them.
Well, yes, we knew that, Mulder's look said as he glanced at her impatiently. "Any cause?" he said mildly as they reached the car.
"Mulder, he was a middle aged man with all the usual health problems, found dead near his car in the park. Not a mark on him, inside or outside. Looks like natural causes."
"With his pants down around his ankles?"
"Maybe he had to answer a call of nature. Or maybe he wasn't alone..... it happens. Remember the congressman in Fort Worth last year?"
"Mmmmmm, maybe. But I've done some research and......"
"Oh no! Mulder......"
"Just listen, Scully. A sort of succubus called the J'Zreel was said in the middle ages to prey on lone men and lure them into a deadly embrace. The men would think they were on their way to a romantic rendezvous and the next time anyone saw them they were dead, apparently from your 'natural causes'! The only thing that could ward off the creature was the rising of the sun, according to the few targets who survived."
The other agent rolled her eyes. "Mulder, this comes out of some medieval horror comic! You can't blame every middle aged man's death on some evil spirit out of the dawn of time."
Mulder produced a map and began circling an area. "Maybe not, but when I see a pattern emerging like this, I get suspicious. All the deaths occurred not at random locations but around the edges of this park. I think it's worth looking into."
Scully sighed. She knew that when Mulder had the bit between his teeth, it was nearly impossible to dissuade him. It seemed they would have to at least make a cursory investigation or he would sulk for days.
There are certain maxims which experienced agents have absorbed over years of field work. One of these was that the discomfort of a stake-out was always in inverse proportion to the quality of the coffee from the nearest store. Mulder pondered gloomily on this as he waited for Scully to return to the car. She gave her usual tap on the glass and slipped into the passenger seat holding a cardboard box.
"Coffee, but not good coffee. And the doughnuts don't look fresh either." She passed him a styrofoam cup. Mulder took a sip and grimaced. It was even worse than the stuff he'd bought the previous night. "Anything yet?" she asked.
"No sign of anything suspicious. A couple of cars, but all young couples going to or from the local Lovers' Lane. I think our target would be working on somebody a little more desperate for affection." He sighed. "Maybe we're wasting our time. The creature might have moved on before we even got here."
Scully shrugged. "Well, it's a pity to have to come all the way out here for nothing." She turned to face Mulder, her eyes gleaming in the semi-darkness. "Or maybe not."
