"Good morning Dr. Brennan", Cam said as Temperance walked by her in the lab. She had just come back from a conference in Los Angeles. Booth and Brennan had been busy with a multiple homicide for nearly a week now. They had not had any luck in uncovering any suspects or evidence.
From the way things were looking, it was looking like the murders straight out of the pages of the grave digger cases. Heather Taffet had been in jail since the day she was found guilty of murder in court.
The prosecution caught her off guard when they introduced evidence she didn't know existed. When Booth and Bones confronted her in court with it, she had tried to dismiss it because it had to be destroyed to be used. Booth had just walked in the lab when Cam stopped him and inquired about what she had missed since she had been gone for a week. Booth filled her in on the case. Before she was on her way, Booth told her that she had been greatly missed.
Dr. Brennan walked into her office to see Booth sitting on the couch.
"Would you have any plans today?" Bones asked Booth.
"With the exception of solving the current murders, not really." Booth replied wondering what it was she had in mind.
He was waiting on Bones' analysis of the bodies that came in the previous day. Bones indicated in scientific terms that all the injuries pointed to a beating. After her beating she had been basically bounced around before she died.
"If you are asking what she died from, the tones have not told me anything yet. I was hoping that the other tests would give me a better idea." Bones said half agitated and half annoyed.
"Maybe Cam can find something you could not in the bones. There has to be some kind of clue there." Booth said trying to reassure her without insulting her intelligence.
Dr. Jack Hodgins was not any happier about how his end of the investigation was going. He had been hoping to find some kind of bug that could tell a tale of the body recovered. There was not even one maggot. Whoever did this made damn sure that they cleaned the scene well. It was as if they were looking for another coroner or forensic scientist. It had to be someone who can basically kill someone and get away with it. It had to be someone with great expertise in this area of study. Bones and Booth came up with the idea of going to the prison to see Taffet. Maybe they could get some insight into the murders.
The way the crimes were committed stayed on both their minds as they entered the prison. They were met by really big guys with all sorts of toys on their side. The guards carried night sticks, flashlights, and 9 mm pistols. They escorted them to a room where Heather Taffet was sitting; smirking as if she knew that she had won. As they walked in, they didn't even get a word out when Taffet spoke.
"I told you this wasn't over. Dr. Brennan. You may have put me behind bars but someone else continues the word." Taffet bragged, knowing full well that she was getting to Dr. Brennan.
Dr. Brennan looked very annoyed at her and was desperately seeking answers.
"Do you know who is doing this and why they are the committing the crimes?" Dr. Brennan asked
Taffet didn't say a word. Booth, seeing that his partner could not get her to talk.
"If you talk and we get what we want, I might be persuaded to have the sentence shortened. It would not be much but it is still time cut out."Booth said forcing a smile. He detested the woman considering that she tried to kill him, Dr. Brennan, and Dr. Hodgins. She still wouldn't say a word. Her silent treatment said was not going to cooperate no matter how sweet the deal.
"Come on Booth, Taffet is not going to talk. I guess she is content to let people die, while her rotten carcass sits comfortably here in prison." Dr. Brennan said as she tugged on Booth's arm.
"Taffet, if I hear or find out you had your hands in these murders. I will make damn sure you fry for every single one of them." Booth said as they were leaving.
"Gravedigger one, Dr. Brennan zero." Taffet called confidently.
On the drive back to the Jeffersonian, they talked about the murders. Dr. Brennan and Booth evaluated the evidence they did have. Then Dr. Brennan had an epiphany.
"Booth, what if the murderer was related to Taffet." Dr. Brenna asked.
"Always a possibility, tell me more."Booth said.
"Last time she and I were in a room together she mentioned she had a sister and brother. Maybe one of them is killing to take the eyes off their sister. Tomorrow we will find out something. At least I hope we do." Dr. Brennan said.
"For now how about the café? Sound good to you Booth?" she asked as she heard her stomach rumble in subtle reminder.
"Sure I'm hungry." Booth said as. they walked down the street to the diner. As they were entering, Sweets was getting ready to leave.
"Hey Dr. Brennan, Booth, have you found any new leads in the case?" Sweets asked.
"No, we are still looking. Taffet is not talking and the forensic evidence is not helping us much" replied Bones
"Since you asked about how thing were going for us, how has your day been?" Dr. Brenna asked.
"Daisy and I have been looking for wedding items. It has been rather tiring." Sweets answered showing his exhaustion.
Daisy cheerfully waved from the street outside to let him know she was ready to go.
"Daisy is waiting and it gets a little embarrassing when she waits too long." Sweets said resignedly.
"Poor sweets I remember those days. I can still remember being young and foolish." Booth sighed.
"You're not that way anymore are you?" Bones answered.
"No I guess I'm not."Booth responded.
He wanted to say something else but then decided not to. After the dinner at the diner, they made their way back to the Jeffersonian. Dr. Saroyan called to inform them that another murder had been committed. It was in the same style as the rest. It had been almost a month now since the last murder. Bones and Booth were almost on edge because they had yet to make any head way on the previous cases .As they made their way from the Jeffersonian to the crime scene.
"I want to understand why you turned me down that night. The words you said made no sense to me." Booth said treading carefully on a tender subject.
Bones remained silent as a way to avoid an awkward position. They drove up the driveway of one most prominent lawyer Shawn Allan Greer. His wife came home and found him slumped over his desk with a carving in his back of a spade. Whoever it was imitating the gravedigger had stepped up the brutality. Taffet was keen on letting people suffocate. This killer was getting away from the MO by a long shot. Ever since Taffet was sentenced, the new killer got worse. Booth walked in the house where the body was found. Booth said nothing as he looked at the sign on the guys back. He then looked at Bones sensing the fear that was welling up. She had never felt more fear for them both than that moment.
When they saw the spade carved in the man's back, Brennan lost control of the emotions that she tried so hard to hide. She had run out of the house in tears because in her mind the whole grave digger memories had started all over again. Booth ran out after her and held her in his arms out a need to comfort her.
"I will not let this be a repeat of history for you or any other person that Taffet has scared, killed, or tried to kill." Booth said reassuringly as Bones let her fear show.
As they were wrapping up the body and getting everything ready to transfer back to the Jeffersonian, Booth sat down with the lawyer's wife and asked her a few questions. She had no idea who would do this to him or why. Her name was Joanna Greer wife of a lawyer and a rich woman in her own right. She was the owner of a magazine where she was also editor.
On the ride back to the Jeffersonian, neither one said a word because they both knew where this was heading. They were not looking forward to seeing Taffet again. She would undoubtedly gloat and rub it in more that she had continued on with her reign of terror after all. As they rounded a corner, a black truck came out of nowhere and sideswiped Booths SUV and sent them in the water. The force of the wreck knocked both of them out but were lucky that both windows were closed at the time of the the truck went sank in the water, the two passengers inside regained consciousness. They realized just how bad it would get.
Oh crap, here we go again, Booth thought to himself.
Then he looked at Bones. He was scared that she would be badly hurt. He felt a surge of relief when he saw her very groggy but alert. She was visibly shaken and very scared. He held her hand and told her not to worry. He said that everything is fine.
As the truck hit bottom, he told her to brace herself. He squeezed off two rounds into the windows. As the water rushed in, they swam to the top. As they surfaced the assailant was standing there. The male voice hollered warned them to back off or they will die next time. In Booth's mind, he doubted the communicated threat.
"When I find out who you are, I will be the one using the spade, not you. I have your number pal and it will be up soon." Booth yelled as the assailant drove away.
They got back to the Jeffersonian. Dr. Hodgins did a double take when Booth and Bones came in soaked.
"What the hell happened to you two? Did you decide to a swim in the Potomac?"Hodgins asked with a hint of humor.
"Try being sideswiped and the SUV was sent for a swim. I could not make out much about the person other than they sounded like a man and he was in black truck." Booth answered sounding testy.
Hodgins remained silent for a second to process their response.
"What did the guy say?" Hodgins asked showing fear.
"He told us to back off or next time we would not be so lucky." Bones answered visibly frightened by the experience.
Dr. Saroyan entered with a surprised look on her face. In front of her were two soaked individuals. She wanted to ask how that happened but the expressions on Bones and Booth, she decided not to. Dr. Brennan appeared to be shivering in her wet clothes. Booth looked worried and wet.
"Go on home and get some dry clothes. You look like you have had better days. Good night and see you tomorrow." Cam said as she waved them off.