"Bones, you're not going to believe this. I just got a call that Howard Epps blew himself up", Special Agent Seeley Booth walked right up to the platform interrupting the Forensic Anthropologists current assignment of a War Veteran.
She put down the skull she was currently trying to piece together and looked at him in shock.
"You're kidding!"
"Would I really joke about something like that? C'mon we gotta go to the prison", he stated hands on hips ready to roll.
Ten minutes later the duo was in Booth's job issued SUV.
"This doesn't make sense, Booth. After everything he put us through to get a stay of execution to have it all end by blowing himself up", Brennan was completely flabbergasted.
"Is there a question in there somewhere?" The agent smirked at her from the driver's seat, to which she merely rolled her eyes.
"It doesn't have to make sense Bones. He's a certified sociopath."
"Even so, why would he do that?"
"Do I hear you actually talking psychology?"
"You know I don't believe in that. I'm just trying to point out that it is not a rational thing for him to do."
"We'll soon find out. We're here", Booth stated pulling up to the security gate, showing his badge and getting buzzed through. He found a spot near the staff entrance and he and Temperance made their way into the building.
The Warden was waiting at the door to escort them to Epps's cell.
"Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan, this way please", he said curtly in acknowledgement, leading them down the hall. Four locked doors and about 25 guards later they were buzzed into death row. They could tell right away which cell was Epps's based on the charred marks on the wall surrounding his cell.
Bones was already pulling on a pair of gloves as they arrived at the cell, a burnt corpse resting on the charred metal cot, with a flimsy 1-inch mattress. There was water on the floor from where the fire department had obviously doused the flames down. Brennan passed her bag to Booth as she entered the cell not wanting to set it on the ground. As Temp walked closer she already knew something was wrong.
"Hey Booth? This isn't Epps".
"What? Of course it is!" the warden was upset.
"What do you mean?" Booth asked trying to stay calm.
Bones stood up, pulling her gloves off.
"Last time we saw him, I broke his hand. I see no evidence of that injury here. This person is older and shorter that Epps is and has a crushed larynx, which would not have happened from being blown up. That injury is more consistent with being strangled. I'll have the bones sent to the lab for analysis but I can tell you with 100 certainty that this victim is not him."
"Warden?" A deputy came rushing to the trio. "We did a full count of staff and inmates and can't locate Evans".
"Who's Evans?" Bones interjected.
"He's a rookie, been on the job just a few weeks", the Warden answered her.
"I think we may have found him", Booth stated referring to the body in Epps's cell. He pulled out his phone and hit a speed dial number, then started walking briskly out of the prison. Bones struggled to keep up since he was going so fast. Once they were outside, Booth started talking on the phone.
"This is Booth. We need a 50-mile perimeter with full roadblocks set up NOW! The person you're looking for his Howard Epps. Look him up in the database for a full bio and description. I want search dogs, helicopters, the whole thing. We have to get this guy before he starts killing again. He's probably wearing a guards uniform as well."
Booth shut his phone and tossed it carelessly onto the dashboard.
"Damn it!" he exclaimed, smacking the steering wheel in frustration.
"Relax Booth, we'll catch him", Brennan tried to reassure from the passenger side.
"I never should have gotten his execution stayed. If I had just not looked into the case…"
"Then you would have two families with no closure and a weight on your shoulders wondering "what if". You can't blame your self Seeley", Bones cut him off mid sentence.
Booth was taken aback. "Since when do you use my first name?"
"When I'm trying to be more understanding, or more feeling, I'm not sure how to describe it. Angela said I should be more personal with people when they need comfort. That's the word. I'm trying to be more comforting."
"Thank you Bones. Really. I know it's not in your nature, but I feel better just knowing what you are trying to do". He smiled at her, pulling the car in front of the Jeffersonian.
"Are you coming in?" she asked, grabbing her stuff.
"No. I'm going to go help with the search. I'd take you, but I'm sure you'd just be bored. All we'll be doing is looking."
"Okay. Booth…be careful", Temperance shut the door to the SUV and walked into the building. She could feel Booth's eyes on her the whole time until she was safe inside.