Whirlwind Read Online Free PDF

himself knew existed in the X-Files.
    It wasn’t paranoia.
    On more than one occasion, they had tried to discredit him, and thus have him fired.
    On more than one occasion, they had tried to kill him.
    And Scully.
    Only the fact that he had somehow attractedfriends in that same gray land of shifting shadows kept him alive and functioning, and he knew it.
    Now it was possible They were at it again. Nibbling at him this time. Distracting him. Possibly hoping to force him into a careless mistake on one of the cases he needed to study. He had learned the hard way that there was only so much Skinner and the unknowns could do to protect him.
    â€œI should have told them it was Russian,” he whispered to the floor.
    And laughed.
    Suddenly the door slammed open, nearly spilling him out of the chair. Bournell stood on the threshold, pointing at him.
    â€œMulder, who knows old Greek?” the agent demanded hoarsely.
    Mulder shrugged. “I don’t know. Old Greeks?”
    Bournell blinked slowly, took a step into the office just as a hush of cold air spilled out of the vents. He made as if to close the door behind them, and changed his mind. Instead, he slipped one hand into a pocket.
    â€œPriests, Mulder. Seminarians. Teachers in a seminary. Preachers, Mulder. Ministers.” His free hand took a slow swipe of his tie. “People, Mulder, who study the Bible.”
    Mulder waited patiently, unmoving. He suspected it wouldn’t exactly do to mention that thelist might also include professors of ancient languages, archaeology, and who knew what else. Not to mention immigrants who had been schooled in Greece. Or nonacademic scholars of at least a dozen different disciplines, both scientific and otherwise. The man was excited about something, and he didn’t want to throw him off.
    â€œI got to thinking,” the agent continued, a finger tapping the face of the closest filing cabinet. “You were right about the Greek part, and I’ve kicked myself a dozen times for not noticing it before. But I have to tell you I think you’re wrong about the name.”
    Mulder sat up slowly, drawing in his legs, tilting his head, eyes slightly narrowed. “How?”
    â€œI was in a fraternity in college.”
    â€œA sorority would have been more fun.”
    Bournell glared at him in faint disgust until he lifted a hand in apology.
    â€œOkay. So you were in a fraternity. What does that have to do with—”
    â€œAlpha Chi Rho, it was.” He held out his right hand; on it was an impressive signet ring, a faceted dark ruby centered in gold. He took a step closer so Mulder could see it more clearly. “On the rim, Mulder. Check out the rim.”
    He did, saw the three raised letters, and held his breath.
    The hand dropped away. “Chi Rho. The symbol for Christ, Mulder.” There was glee in hisvoice, in the way his hand danced at his side. “That’s what he carved: Chi Rho.” A sharp nod, a slap of the hand against his thigh. “Those women aren’t hookers, that would be too easy. But I’ll bet the farm and farmhouse there’s something about them, a connection, that a religious fanatic might find to be…I don’t know, sinful.”
    Mulder sat back, admiration clear. “I’ll be damned.”
    Bournell smiled, rubbed his palms together, and glanced toward the vent. “Man, it’s like an icebox in here. Your thermostat busted or what?” He headed for the door, grabbed the knob, and paused before leaving.
    Mulder watched his shoulders tense, and relax.
    â€œHey, thanks, Mulder. No kidding. To be honest, I don’t know if I really ever would have seen that Greek stuff. I’ve had this ring forever and hardly ever looked at it. But I just had it cleaned, and when I was putting it on this morning…well, it got me thinking, you know? And the next thing I knew I was looking at it like I’d never seen it before.”
    He