Disclaimer : Bones and it's characters are not mine. But they are an absolute joy to work with!

Chapter 1

I had been watching, and waiting. I knew that it would take years for them to finally let down their guard. Even though she was dead, I knew better than to strike immediately. I lived and let live for a time; let them fall into a false sense of security and then when their guard was down I would strike and strike hard. What I hadn't expected was for them to make it so easy. Granted their newest case had caused their home to become a guarded castle now, but they would not be an issue. I had dealt with their type before. I knew the house, it had been so simple to replace their AC repair man, and they and their security had never been the wiser. I smiled knowing my plan was fool proof. They would feel my pain. They would know what they had done to me when they took her away from me. She had told me to be brave. She had taught me how to exact my revenge on them for their crime.

A rustle in the back of my car informed me my first query was coming too. I smothered his face with a chloroform soaked cloth until he stopped moving. I enjoyed the silence again for a moment before climbing out of the car and locking it. I had a few hours before the boy would be found missing, and I needed to be far from here when that happened.

OoOoO

I glanced at my watch and grunted. Bones would not be happy I had missed dinner…again. I took a sip of coffee, wincing. I had forgotten it was hours old and stone cold. Turning to set the coffee mug on the recess behind me, so as not to absent mindedly repeat the process and taking another god awful swig, my 10 year old's newest piece of artwork caught my attention. The piles of case work files forgotten momentarily I picked up the clay representation of a skeleton. She had dutifully labeled each bone. I shook my head replacing it on the recess and turning back to my desk.

I really should call it quits for the night. I thought yawning.

"Agent Booth?" the voice floated over the mountains of papers on my desk. I waved over the top of chaos. I recognized the voice, one of the newer security guards.

"Oh good you are still here." He continued, as I felt more than saw him step up to my desk. "This was left for you at the front desk sir."

I stood up then, reaching over the piles taking the small letter size envelope from his hand, and thanking him. He left as quickly as he'd come. I sat down at my desk again, staring at the envelope. There was no return address, not postage, only my name and title written neatly on the front: Special Agent Seeley Booth. Something tugged at the back of my mind. I'd seen this hand writing before. Curiosity got the better of me and I tugged the envelope open, my stomach sinking a second later.

Special Agent Booth,

I can only imagine what it was like to believe you are going too drowned, or that you are buried alive slowly running out of air, because you were unwilling to leave your friend behind. The good doctor was told it was not over. And it isn't. This game will be played by my rules Agent Booth.

After your futile race home in an attempt to stop me, visit this location for your first clue.

Latitude:N 38° 55' 29.6226"
Longitude:W 76° 55' 51.8738"-

Tick tock Agent Booth…tick tock.

My mind raced as a pressed speed dial on my phone. It rang repeatedly no one picking up. I cursed colorfully barreling down the hallway dashing through the closing elevator doors. It seemed to take years for it to arrive at ground level, as a hit another speed dial on my phone. The second line also rang repeatedly no one answering. I cursed again running through empty front lobby and out the door to my car.

I switched on my sirens and sped through the streets of DC. How could it not have been over? Heather Taffet was dead. There was no questioning that. There had never been any evidence that she had an accomplice. Had we missed something? Why hadn't Bones told me about the threat issued to her? This was completely impossible, but my gut was telling me otherwise. I swerved around pulled over vehicles right and left. I had radioed in for back up three blocks ago. They would be there mere minutes after me. I made the last sharp turn into our neighborhood and screeched to a hault in front of our home. I jumped out racing up the driveway, my stomach fell further. The front door was ajar. I drew my side arm and set forward toeing open the door.

Nothing was out of place. No over turned lamps no signs of a struggle of any kind. I moved forward through the foyer checking each room. The dining room, the kitchen, the living room; all empty. I moved silently up the stairs and found the first sign of trouble. I recognized the hand lying just short of the stairs and rushed around the corner without thinking. The hallway was a war zone. Three agents were lying motionless a little ways away, another one resting lifeless on top of her. My stomach knotted at the thought of what he had shielded her from. I pushed him aside as respectfully as I could, checking her for wounds. Suddenly my cheek lit on fire and I was dazed momentarily. I looked back and a wave of relief spread through me. It had been her that hit me. Her face proved she hadn't realized it was me.

"Booth…" she gasped, tears streaming down her face, as she grabbed at my coat, shaking me hysterically. "She's gone! He took her! I went in to check on her, to turn off her …her light. I didn't see him until he knocked me to the floor. I think my tibias are both broken I couldn't get up to stop him…he killed all of them… He took my baby Booth! HE TOOK MY BABY!"