Disclaimer: again I own nothing!
I would like to tank my beta reader jMIXjaded from Wattpad for her ideas on how to move forward with this chapter and putting up with my horrible spelling and grammar.
An elaborate sign on a elegant building reads Arab-American Friendship League… Established in 1971. A man comes out of doors behind this sign on the building wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. This gentleman, who has blisters all over his face, and is looking quite upset, gets into his Jeep , revs the engine a few times, then takes off, squealing his tires. A cell phone rings and when he checks the display, it reads Sahar. He yells into the phone, agitated, ending the call abruptly while he continues to drive recklessly. As the phone starts to ring again, he slows to a stop outside a café and all of a sudden, the Jeep explodes.
"Bones! Bones! Over here." Booth yells as he exits the ruins of the café later that same day.
"Where have you been? You said you would meet us on the corner." Dr. Brennan states.
"There is a lot going on here in case you haven't noticed." Booth turns to security guard. "These girls they're with me Dr. Temperance Brennan and Angela Montenegro from the Jeffersonian."
"I need ID." The Security Guard demands.
"Okay, check the RI5 list, homeland security. She's the forensic anthropologist." Booth points out.
"They're clear." The Security Guard nods.
"Thanks." Booth tells the guard then turning to Dr. Brennan. "C'mon."
"God, What's that smell?" Angela exclaims.
"Burnt flesh." Notes Dr. Brennan. "Are there a lot of injuries?"
"Four known dead. Fifteen injured." Booth replies.
"Oh my God." Angela gasps, looking ill at the bodies laid under tarps.
"Details, whatever you have." Dr. Brennan softly demands.
"Not much. Witnesses said they saw a Middle Eastern man, mid thirties pull up to the café and the car just blew. The vehicle is registered to a Hamid Masruk, head of the American-Arab friendship league." Booth responded.
"If you know who it is, why do you need me?" Dr. Brennan says, stepping up to the burned out Jeep.
"Because we're hoping we're wrong. Masruk is a White House consultant for Arab relations. Had lunch with the President just last week." Agent Gibson replied.
"Remember Agent Gibson, Homeland Security." Booth points to Brennan. "Dr. Temperance Brennan." then he points to Angela "Angela Montenegro. If Masruk was involved in a terrorist attack it means we have a huge national security problem."
"Not to mention a very humiliated president." Agent Gibson comments. "The press is already running with this."
"If you think I'm going to alter my findings…" Dr. Brennan accuses.
"Look, not at all but maybe it's not Masruk." Agent Gibsons states. "We need to be sure. Booth says you're the best."
A large van belonging to the Jeffersonian Medico-Legal Lab arrives, out of which climbs Zach and Hodgins. Dr. Brennan turned to Booth. "I need surgical gloves and masks for the retrieval team. Sterile medical bags and vegetable oil."
"Vegetable oil?" Booth asks.
"The oil will loosen the seared body parts stuck to the metal. It's no different then steak on a grill that sticks." Dr. Brennan responds.
"It's okay, I trust you." Booth stated.
Zach joins the group with Dr. Brennan's requested items. "Should I photograph the scene?"
"Focus on a 30 meter radius from the blast." Dr. Brennan commanded.
"Okay to pick up?" Dr. Brennan asks to Booth.
Booth turns to Dr. Brennan. "You know, it's okay to be upset."
"I wish this is the worst thing I'd seen." Dr. Brennan responds.
Angela hands the red retrieval bag to Booth. "You know…uh… I don't think I can…Sorry."
Brennan looks at Booth. "Well, if you can't either…"
"No, I'm cool." Booth says calmly.
"Zach, I need two more evidence bags." Dr. Brennan calls out to her assistant.
Dr. Black approaches with said bags under his arm as he zips up a forensic jumpsuit. "Here you are, Dr. Brennan. I was in the area and though you might need additional assistance."
"Thank you, Dr. Black." Dr. Brennan says, taken aback. "Any assistance would be welcome."
"What were you doing in the area of a crime scene on what, if I recall correctly, is your day off?" Booth asks eyeing him suspiciously. If Dr. Black is bothered or offended by Booth's question, he shows no sign of it.
"I was looking for a book, at a local shop just over there when I saw the Jeffersonian lorry go by and thought to offer my assistance in any way I could. I have prior experience dealing with terrorist and bombings ." Dr. Black states evenly. Booth narrows his eyes at Dr. Black but nods in acceptence.
Medico-Legal Lab at the Jeffersonian
"Facial epidermis and the fingertips are completely decimated. We're not going to be able to ID anything from the flesh. It's basically carbon." Dr. Brennan comments looking over the remains.
"We are missing the lower left leg and the lumbar spine." Zach notes.
"Here's the C2 and the right ischium." Dr. Brennan saya examining the bones closely.
"Smokey here had access to the President. Why would he attack a café?" Zach queries.
"Smokey?" Dr. Brennan questions, a strong tone of displeasure in her voice.
"It's how I deal with the stress." Zach replies.
"Targeting everyday places causes panic. People stay home. The economy is crippled. It's Terrorism 101, man." Hodgins answers.
"Take samples from the clothes. See whatever you can find. Traces of cologne, laundry detergent, anything that we can link to Masruk's home." Dr. Brennan directs Hodgins.
"I will grab any particulates that I can identify as the type of bomb." He acknowledges.
"Isn't that the FBI's job?" Zach queries.
"What, you trust the FBI? You realize those guys are going to suppress whatever they need to cover their asses." Hodgins states passionately.
"I found a portion of the clavicle." Zach says as he show the bone to Dr. Brennan.
"Are you even listening?" Hodgins asks.
"No." Zach deadpanned.
"They have a separate division. You know, that way their hands are always clean. In 1970…" Hodgins continued.
"Jack! We're trying to work." Dr. Brennan shouts in anger.
Booth walks up the stairs to the center platform behind Hodgins. Hodgins doesn't notice he is coming. "Someone seems really defensive about the FBI lately. You realize Booth is just another Government stooge." Hodgins states.
"This has nothing to do with Booth." Dr. Brennan responds without looking up.
"You know I don't enjoy having squints on my team anymore then you like me on yours, but you know we're supposed to be working together. Okay?" Booth says.
Hodgins turns to face Booth. "Sure. So what do we do, group hug?"
"Agent Gibson here will be over seeing things for Homeland Security." Booth says, ignoring Hodgins and gesturing to the burly man.
"I'll try not to be in the way." Agent Gibson acknowledges.
"No, uhhh …we don't need to be overseen." Dr. Brennan replies.
"That's really not your call, Bones. Okay, how soon can we get the DNA match?" Booth asks.
"That'll take days. I can get a match much sooner then that I have all we need." Dr. Brennan answers.
"You're going to be able to ID him from that?" Gibson queries.
"Asking stuff like that is in the way." Zach comments.
Dr. Brennan walks away leaving Booth to follow. "Remove any flesh and particulates you can and then macerate him." She stops to face Gibson. "If that's alright with you?"
Hodgins turns to Gibson, who is leaning on the exam table. "Don't touch the table. Don't touch the table."
"This is my lab. I'm a scientist. A doctor." Dr. Brennan complains to Booth as they walk towards her office.
"Yeah, so I've heard." Booth replies.
"Look, would you be able to do your job if someone is looking over your shoulder all the time?" Dr Brennan explains.
"You do, okay. I've developed a tolerance." Booth retorts.
"I'm sorry but I don't understand the advantage of compromise." Dr. Brennan says shaking her head.
"It's a terrorist attack, Brennan. It's bigger than you and it's bigger than me." Booth comments.
"The job is the same." Dr. Brennan remarks.
"No, it's not! We're dealing with someone here who devalues an entire culture. Terrorizing people by using God to justify mass murder." Booth says passionately.
"You're making it personal. That doesn't help." Dr. Brennan corrects him.
"It is personal, Brennan. All of us die a little bit on one like this." Booth says sadly. He then looks around a bit. "Where is Black at? I thought he was assisting you on this case."
"He is in his office, I believe." Dr. Brennan explained. "Dr. Black said he would go through his memories of the crime scene and see if he can recognize the explosion from his experiences in Britain. I didn't know he worked with the police force over there."
"He didn't." Booth corrects her. "He was part of the British Twentieth Special Forces Airborn."
"So he was part of the Military," Dr. Brennan concludes. "Then the two of you should get along."
"What does he mean by go through his memories of the crime scene?" Booth questioned.
"I would hypothesize that Dr. Black has Eidetic Memory, which would explain how he was able to get three doctorates in the time he did, and just needed some time to sort through the memories." Dr. Brennan answered logically.
"What's that mean in English?" Booth asked.
"That was English, Booth" Dr. Brennan deadpanned.
"What does Eidetic Memory mean, Bones?" Booth asked, rolling his eyes slightly.
"It mean he can recall everything he sees, hears, or touches with perfect clarity, its a very rare ability that I find myself be quite jealous of at the moment."
Booth, Gibson, Zach, and Dr. Brennan are in a lab room with a large plastic box with the burnt remains inside of it.
"All the trace evidence has been stripped. Hodgins scavenged as much as he could." Zach stated.
"Okay, let's get started." Dr. Brennan say authoritatively. Zach grabs two jars off of a table and bring them over to the plastic box. Zach then opens a sliding hatch at the top of the box, and proceeds to empty the jars onto the remains.
Booth gestures to the jars of bugs Zach dumps on the body. "What the hell are those?"
"Dermestes Maculatus." Zach replies.
"Flesh eating beetles. That's how we clean the flesh off of burn victims." Dr. Brennan explains. Gibson's phone rings loudly, calling his attention away.
"Gibson. Yes, sir. Yes, sir." Gibson answers. The burly man turns to Dr. Brennan. "The President wants to know how long the ID is going to take."
Dr. Brennan gestures to the beetles. "Why don't you ask them?" Dr. Brennan suggest just as Dr. Black swiftly enters the room.
"They wont have to," Dr. Black states. "The explosion originated underneath the driver seat. From my own experience with terrorist and bombing back in Britain, I would sumize that the bomb had a pressure sensor and a trigger tied to the odometer." Gibson looks at him suspiciously.
"The esteemed Doctor Black is a former member of her Majesty's Special Forces." Booth explains to Gibson, who relaxes and nods respectfully at Dr. Black.
"Angela?" Dr. Black asks as he looks at Booth with a raised eyebrow. Booth laughs confirming where he got the information. "Well... yes, you are correct I served in her Majesty's Twentieth Special Forces Airborne for three years. Was honorably discharged from the military when I was offered a position on an anti-terrorist attack force. I served for a year while studding for my Doctorate. I, then, humbly resigned to finish my studies before I decided that I needed a change of scenery and crossed the pond to apply for a job over here. Dr. Goodman thought I would be a good addition to the Jeffersonian and hired me on the spot after an interview."
"That means you were barely 18 when you joined Spec Force?" Booth questioned.
"That sounds about right, yes." Dr. Black confirmed.
"Shouldn't there have been more time from the time you finished school and joined the military to the time you were promoted to Special Forces?" Dr. Brennan qurried
Dr. Black laughs. "The would have been if it wasn't for the fact that I and a handful of close friends stopped a terrorist from starting a civil war that could ignite World War Three while in our last year of Hogw-" Dr. Black clears his throat "High School." Dr. Black finishes.
"Impressive." Dr. Brennan acknowledges. She looks over at Booth to see if he caught Dr. Blacks slip of the tongue. Booth looks her in the eye and nods subtly, letting her know he had.
Interrogation Room with the victim's wife and brother
"You've made a mistake. It can't be my husband." Mrs. Masruk sobs.
"My brother was no terrorist. He hated those people. You can read his speeches. Talk to anyone." Mr. Masruk adds.
"We're not making any accusations." Booth said, trying to consol the grieving family members.
"It's all over the news. It's all anyone is talking about." Mr. Masruk bit back.
"We cannot control the press, Mr. Masruk." Booth stated.
"How about your men? They've searched our house. They've talked to our friends." Mrs. Masruk responded.
"Until we can identify the body we have to conduct a thorough investigation." Booth explains.
"So identify the body. The longer you wait... Do you know what it is like for us?" Mrs. Masruk questions.
"His body was fragmented by the blast. We're still retrieving pieces." Dr. Brennan says. Booth touches her arm. "I understand how difficult this is not knowing. I'll work as quickly as I can to get you what you need. That's why I asked for his history. Where he grew up? Any injuries from his youth? Medical records?"
"Of course. I brought you what you asked for. " Mrs. Masruk replies, handing over a large manilla envelope.
"Thank you." Booth states.
"We lived just like you. We came to this country because we love it. We are Americans. It can't be Hamid. It can't. My husband was not a terrorist." Mrs. Masruk sob as tears fall from her eyes.
Jeffersonian Lab
"It could be a perchlorate." Zach offered. "Would that be used in a bomb?""
"Yeah but this is a crystalline structure, aluminum based." Hodgins commented.
Gibson leans over top of the computer trying to seen what they are doing. Hodgins is annoyed and tries to pull the computer screen so he can't see it. Dr. Brennan walks into the lab pulling her hair back into a ponytail.
"Okay, I'm back. How are we doing?" Dr. Brennan asks.
"I have his detergent brand, cologne, shampoo. He died a well-groomed man." Zach comments handing a peice of paper to Dr. Brennan.
"Thanks." Dr. Brennan states.
"Dr. Brennan?" Gibson questions.
Dr. Brennan ignores Gibson and walks away. "Are the bones done yet?" she asks Zach.
"Yeah, I will check the beetles." Zach replies.
"Dr. Brennan, whatever you have there…." Gibson begins, annoyed at being ignored.
"It's a piece of paper, that's all, with some writing on it." Dr. Brennan interrupts, waving the aforementioned papers as she walks into her office.
A few hours later Angela walks into Dr. Brennan's office and from the doorway she asks. "Hard at work?" She looks around and notices all the pictures from the file. "There's a shocker."
"I just saw his wife. She gave me his medical records…photographs. Apparently he was ill. They were testing for Lupus which would explain the face. It must have been painful." Dr. Brennan replies from the floor she is sitting on.
"Look I … I know that you needed help out there. At the crime scene and I wanted to but…" Angela trailed off.
Dr. Brennan gets up and sits on the couch. "It's okay. You see it. I don't anymore. I don't know what's worse."
Angela joins Dr. Brennan on the couch. "You holding up okay?"
"His wife doesn't believe it was him. I've got to give her an ID." Dr. Brennan responds.
"Whatever I can do." Angela offers.
"Yeah, I know." Dr. Brennan says gratefully.
"And about this weekend…"
"Angela, I don't know."
"Oh come on."
"I don't know."
"Brennan I know this great club, they play Trip Hop and Trance."
"I don't know what that means."
"It doesn't matter. We'll grab Booth."
"No!" Dr. Brennan exclaims.
"I think he likes you. God, if I were you, I'd buy a ticket on that ride. And if not him, definitely the exotic, mysterious, British ex-military turned doctor hottie."
Dr. Brennan points to plastic boxes of bones. "Look, I'm going to be very busy this weekend even after the ID, I have these. Besides Doctor Black is a colleague, it is frowned on fraternizing with coworkers."
"Remains from World War One."
"That's what the institution pays me for. I've got hundreds of these waiting."
"And they can't wait one more weekend?"
"They've got relatives. They've waited long enough."
"You know, it's not that scary, Brennan. You have a few drinks. You move to the music. You might even smile. And you didn't say no, when I mentioned Doctor Hottie." Angela smiled. Neither notice as Zach walk to the door.
"The bones are clean." Zach interrupts.
"I've gotta run. You hang around. I may need you." Dr. Brennan tells Angela.
Dr. Brennan, assisted by Zach, examines the remains in the bone room. "Comparing remains to details provided of Hamid Masruk, age 37, of Afghani origin. Texture of pubic synthesis indicates age of bone consistent with Masruk, as is height." Dr. Brennan says, speaking into a recording device.
"Complexity of the cranial vault sutures matches the statistical probability of your age and decent." Zach states when Dr. Brennan points voice recorder in his direction.
"Good."
"Too bad we can't tell who did this to him. Isn't what we all really want to know?" Angela questions.
"Uneven growth patterns in the vertebrae indicate undernourishment as a child." Dr. Brennan continues.
"Consistent with the diet where Masruk was from. Probably evidence on the calvarium?" Zach queries.
"Why don't you reconstruct the skull and check it out?" Dr. Brennan suggest.
"My first cranial reconstruction." Zach notes with a smile.
"Evidence of multiple fractures to the bottoms of the feet consistent with methods of torture used in Afghanistan and consistent with Masruk's history. I'm convinced we have a statistical match." Dr. Brennan confirms and turns off recorder.
"So Masruk is the bomber." Gibson commented.
"He drove the vehicle that delivered the bomb yes, but as Dr. Black pointed out, he may have just been another innocent victim in a terrorist game of chess." Dr. Brennan replied.
"What about the skull? You're having the kid reconstruct it…" Gibson began.
Dr. Brennan grabs the file. "This is an educational institute. He wants to learn. Is that okay with you? For forensic ID, we have all we need. Now I would like to get this data to Booth as soon as I can."
"I'll take it." Gibson says, refering to the file in her hand.
"No, I don't think so. I work with Booth. That's my deal." Dr. Brennan states emphatically.
"Dr. Brennan, I have jurisdiction…" Gibson reminds her.
"Then why don't I destroy my notes and let you guarantee the identity of the remains." Dr. Brennan snarks at him as she walks out.
"It's best to just ride it out, like an earthquake." Angela says to Gibson.
Booth's apartment.
"Bones?" Booth says answering door with shirt unbuttoned.
"Yeah." Dr. Brennan confirms.
"Did we have an appointment?"
Dr. Brennan hands over the file. "No, uh…it's him. Masruk drove the bomb to the cafe."
"I guess the wife didn't know the husband very well, he must have had some enemies here." Booth commented.
A woman enters the room wearing one of Booth's shirts and not much else. "Hey."
"Hi, sorry." Dr. Brennan greets her.
"Tessa, this is Brennan. Tessa Jankow, Dr. Temperance Brennan." Booth says, introducing the two.
"Oh, hi. I've heard a lot about you." Tessa states with a smile.
"Really?" Dr. Brennan asks.
"Tessa's an attorney." Booth explained as he began to button up his shirt.
"Mmmm, corporate, keeping the fat cats fat." Tessa extrapolates.
"I was just studying a cranial fissure on a corporate attorney last week. Of course he was dead so…" Dr. Brennan trailed off.
"Interesting." says Tessa.
"Thanks." Dr. Brennan responds.
Booth turns to Dr. Brennan. "Well, the Bureau…I was just heading to the Bureau. Santana called and said something about a bombing and I thought you were at the lab. Maybe, uh, you should come."
"Sure."
Booth kisses Tessa goodbye. "See you later."
Booth's office FBI Headquarters
"Okay, what is so funny?" Booth asks.
Dr. Brennan chuckles. "I just never figured you'd be in a relationship."
"Why, do you think something's wrong with me?" Booth questions.
"Not wrong. You just have alpha male attributes usually associated with a solitary existence." Dr. Brennan explains.
"What! Me? You're solitary." Booth snaps back.
"No, no I'm private. It's different and we weren't talking about me." Dr. Brennan responds.
"Well I was." Booth states.
"Well I wasn't. Look, I'm happy for you. Relationships have anthropological meaning. No society can survive if sexual bonds aren't formed betw…" Dr. Brennan begins.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Booth asks interrupting her.
Santana comes out of his office. "Booth."
"Yeah?" Booth asks.
"You got that ID?" Santana asks.
"Yeah it was Masruk." Booth confirms.
"Oh, that's too bad." Santana sighs.
"He was killed with four people and another fifteen injured. He may not even be the bomber if Dr. Black is correct in his hypothesis. Why is that bad?"
"Exactly." Santana hands a file to Booth. "The report came back from ballistics. The explosives were placed under the car with the trigger connected to the odometer. Masruk was murdered."
Dr. Brennan looks at the file as well. "So Dr. Black was correct, Masruk wasn't a terrorist."
"Somebody tried to make him look like one. Any leads on who did it?" Booth asks.
"That's why we're paying you, Booth." Santana states.
Interrogation Room
"We're very, very sorry Mrs. Masruk." Booth says.
"I told you Hamid was the victim, but you wouldn't listen. You couldn't imagine an Arab who's a peace loving man." Mrs. Masruk replies.
"That's not true." says Booth.
"No? We must investigate everything Mrs. Masruk. We must turn your house upside down because we believe your husband was a good man. Is that the truth?" Mrs. Masruk responds with annoyance.
"No! They searched your house because Muslim extremist have declared war on the United States. Preliminary findings made your husband a suspect which we are required…" Dr. Brennan explained.
"It's not Bureau policy to target or profile any ethnic group. It wasn't our intention. I can understand why you may feel offended." Booth interupted.
"I can't." Dr. Brennan replied.
"Bones!" Booth exclaimed in frustration.
What? She's been a part of a criminal investigation that's all. Her rights haven't been violated. It's unfortunate that her husbands' ethnicity is a factor but to say that it isn't would be disingenuous." Dr. Brennan concluded.
"I'm going to have to apologize for Dr. Brennan." stated Booth to Mrs. Masruk.
"It's fine, Mr. Booth. Honesty is always a welcome relief. So when can I bury him? When can I give him peace?" Mrs. Masruk asked.
"There are certain body parts that I'm still examining. Others are still seared to the surface of the wreckage…" Dr. Brennan began.
"I'm sure Mrs. Masruk doesn't really need to know the details."Booth whispers quietly to Dr. Brennan.
"If I can retrieve more remains of her husband, Muslim law requires that I do." Dr. Brennan explains to Booth. Then turning to Mrs. Masruk, "I spent some time in Iraq identifying bodies. I'll give you whatever I can so that he can be purified for burial."
"Thank you." Mrs Masruk said before asking Booth, "Is that all?"
"One last thing. A few calls were made to uh, his cell phone from your house minutes before the blast." Booth states with a questioning look.
Mrs. Masruk looks down at a family photo she was holding. "Yes, we argued. It was a family matter. My final words to him were words of anger. "
"I'm very sorry. It must be very painful." Booth consols her.
"You looked very happy in that picture." Dr. Brennan comments.
"Yes." says Mrs. Masruk before picking up her belongings to leave.
"Thank you. If there's anything else that you know that you can think of, just give us a call." Booth says. He turns to Dr. Brennan after the wife leaves the room. "I think she's having an affair. Personally."
Jeffersonian Dr. Black's Office.
"The only way if can get any information from the items that were buried with the remains is to magically repair them." Dr. Black states with a huff as he examined items that were in evidence bags. "I have no idea how Hodgins or Angela do their jobs recovering and reconstituting evidence that has been damage." Dr. Black replaces the evidence in the bags and puts them in his desk drawer. Pulling out a ring of over twenty keys he flips through them until he gets to the smallest key on the ring and proceeds to lock the drawer.
"Harry, you really should take a break you have been at this for hours now, ever since you got back from informing Doctor Brennan about the bomb in her current case. Go out, get lunch. Find a date, there is no reason to be alone for the rest of your life, my love." Hermione scolded from the wall.
"You are probably right that I need to eat, however you are also my wife, Hermione I made vows to be faithful to you, in this life and the next." Dr. Black replied as he stood and moved to put on his coat.
"I was your wife, Harald. I died. You have been more than faithful to me, finding a new love is not betraying the one you have lost. You need more than just a painting made with love, magic, and my memories. You need friends, people you can trust and confide in, people that can be there for you on those 3 days a year that you turn my paintings around to face that wall. By the way just because I can't see you cry doesn't mean I can't hear you." Hermione stated emphatically.
"The saying is 'never let her SEE you cry' not 'never let her KNOW you cry'." Dr. Black said. "I think I'll try some Chinese food." Dr. Black say as he leaves the room but stops and faces Hermione. "I'll think about it alright? I don't know if I'm even ready to date again." Dr. Black the turns and leaves for a wonderful little Chinese place called 'Wong Foo's'.
Wong Foo's, a small dimly lit Chinese restaurant.
Booth walks in and takes a seat at the bar. "She was having an affair!"
Dr. Brennan walks over and sits down beside him. "I'm sorry, but that's an offensive assumption!"
"Well, all the signs are there." Booth replies.
"You can't make wild accusations about somebody's personal life based on a feeling." Dr. Brennan scolds. At this time Dr. Black walks in and sees Booth and Dr. Brennan arguing, he turns and sees Angela watching them intently but sitting alone at a table. Dr. Black decides he'll wait until one of them acknowledges him before sitting near them.
"It's more than a feeling. Okay, that photograph is evidence just as solid as the markers you squints pick up looking at your little bones." Booth replies to Dr. Brennan. Angela sees Doctor Black out of the corner of her eye and turns to face him. She waves him over to sit with her. Then makes a shushing motion as she is still paying attention to Dr. Brennan's conversation.
"The evidence that I find isn't empirical. What you consider evidence is merely conjecture." Dr. Brennan states.
"She dyed her hair. She lost weight. You know, she shoved a little Botox in her forehead. She's still feeling guilty over the last fight she had with her husband." Booth rattled off.
"Uhhh! You are an insufferable…arrogant….man!" Dr. Brennan shouts, frustrated with Booth.
"Oh! So only a woman could know a woman. I thought women wanted us to understand them." Booth queries.
Angela pulls Dr. Black along with her as she comes over to sit beside Booth and Dr. Brennan. "Not really. A magician never wants to reveal her tricks…"
"We're having a private conversation." Booth says to Angela.
"We're not here." Angela responds gesturing to herself and Dr. Black. The bartender serves Dr. Black a cup of tea while he sits at the bar.
"So, you think you know women just because you live with some sexy lawyer? Unbelievable." Dr. Brennan says to Booth. Booth scoffs at this.
"You live with a sexy lawyer?" Angela asks Booth.
"She has her own place, okay." Booth responds to Angela.
"He thinks just because Masruk's wife started working out and had a little make over, that she was having an affair." Dr. Brennan explains to Angela.
"Hmm, and how long were they married?" Angela asks narrowing her eyes.
"Eleven years." Booth responds.
"I'm with him." Angela says to Dr. Brennan, gesturing at Booth.
"There is no concrete proof!" Dr. Brennan states.
"Boobs perkier?" Angela asks.
"Mmmm Hmm." Booth nods in agreement.
"I don't believe this. If you're so sure then why didn't you confront her." Dr. Brennan snaps at Booth.
"Because if she or her boyfriend were involved, she would warn him." Angela explains.
"Very good." agrees Booth.
"I'm a constant surprise." Angela states smugly. Dr. Black is shaking with barely contained laughter, he hides his smile behind his teacup.
"Alright. Great. I will be in the lab getting us some real data." Dr. Brennan says leaving the bar. Booth sighs.
"So, how many nights a week does "sexy" sleep over?" Angela asks.
"Ha, ha, ha." Booth laughs.
"Three, sometimes four." Dr. Black states. Booth chokes on his drink.
"How did you know that?" Booth asks looking past Angela at Dr. Black.
"You both have demanding jobs, your days off do not always align, your tie is tied reverse of what you usually tie it meaning either someone else tied it or you were in a hurry and had no mirror to look in." Dr. Black explained before finishing his tea. "Besides that you are thinking about it right now, very loudly I might add."
"You can read thoughts?"
"You're psychic?" Booth and Angela ask at the same time.
"It's a gift, though I have to be either looking directly into the eyes of the person or be relatively close by to hear their surface thoughts. Some people with well organized minds can block me out entirely. Doctor Goodman and Doctor Brennan are good examples of people I cannot read. Please keep this to yourselves. I try not to broadcast my gifts to the masses." Dr. Black stated. "I mainly use it to see if the people I talk to are telling the truth, however that is also dependent upon them being truthful to themselves. Some people believe a lie so much that to them the lie is true and the truth is a lie."
"Interesting." Booth says, rolling his eyes. "Whatever, I won't say anything."
"What am I thinking?" Angela asked looking Dr. Black in the eye. Dr. Black blushes a deep red, and turns away, causing Angela to laugh.
Medico-Legal Lab
"How's it coming?" Brennan asks Zach.
"The Ethnoid and Sphenoid fragments won't piece together." Zach explains trying to piece the skull fragments back together.
"Zach, I would like to return the remains to the widow before her demise." Dr. Brennan states sarcastically.
"I'm doing my best, Dr. Brennan. The integrity of the bone seems to be compromised. I don't know if it's the metal fragments from the blast…" Zach begins to explain.
"I examined the chemicals used in the explosives. The perchlorates I found can have a degenerative effect." Hodgins cuts in to explain.
"Not this quickly. Excuse me." replies Dr. Brennan. She then looks through the microscope. "Unusually soft bone tissue. You know, this has nothing to do with the blast. I owe you an apology Zach. Do you have his medicals?" She takes the file from Zach. "Stiff joints, facial disfigurement. There's a disorganized Trabecula pattern here that his doctors wouldn't have been able to see. Could have been a degenerative disease."
"I don't get it. How does his medical condition figure into the murder?" Hodgins asks.
"Now it's a murder. Before it was terrorism because we didn't have all the facts. You don't overlook anything when you're looking for the truth." Dr. Brennan states before turning to Hodgins. "Check for Lupus and Pagets. Do you have enough tissue?"
"Yeah, I can manage it."
"If those come back negative, he might have been exposed to a toxin which would mean his brother was too. He's exhibiting similar symptoms. I'll get the brother's medicals. " Dr. Brennan says.
Hodgins sighs. "I graduated top of my class, Rhode Scholar, youngest member inducted into the Academy of Physical Sciences but she still makes me feel like a cretin."
"She apologized to me." Zach replies smugly.
Victim's brother Farid Masruk's apartment
Booth looks around the apartment and notices the cross on the wall.
"Yes, I am a Christian." Farid states seeing Booth looking at the cross.
"And Hamid is Muslim and Sahar?" Booth asks.
"I converted." Farid explained. "Hamid could never accept it. Religious differences caused too many problems."
"Seems to be a consistent fact throughout history." Dr. Brennan stated.
"Please." Farid gestures for them to sit. "I tried to make peace with my brother but it was difficult. There was more than religion between us."
"Sahar mentioned that there was some…uh… family problems?" Booth replies.
"Yes." Farid nodded.
"I can understand how, uh, delicate it can be." Booth saids gently.
"Did she tell you anymore then that?" Farid asked.
"No, but I mean, if you have any other information that could help us in the investigation?" Booth suggested.
"It's not my place." Farid said.
"We're just trying to find out who killed your brother." Booth explained.
"Sahar was seeing another man but I can't believe she'd hurt my brother." Farid states.
"Do you know who this other man is or is it just a feeling you have?" Dr. Brennan quieries.
"I've met him. Ali Ladjavardi. He worked with Hamid at the Friendship league. I wanted Hamid to confront Ladjavardi." Farid explained
"Did both you and Hamid have contact with Ladjavardi?" Dr. Brennan questioned.
"Yes, once. Hamid, my brother brought me to meet him. Sharing a meal is a gesture of peace. I was trying to save their marriage but Sahar and Ladjavardi were not going to stop their affair so I told Hamid to repudiate her." Farid stated.
"Sorry?" Booth questioned.
"In Muslim law it's a method of divorce. It's called Talak." Dr. Brennan explained to Booth.
"I still respected his traditions." Farid said.
"You and your brother seem to share a medical condition." Dr. Brennan started.
"Yes. Why is that important?" Farid asked.
"We don't mean to embarrass you, but Dr. Brennan is just trying to figure out the condition. That's routine. Part of the investigation." Booth explained.
"Have you seen a doctor?" Dr. Brennan asked.
"Yes. He believes it's a genetic disorder we shared. He was going to call Hamid's physician to discuss it." Farid said.
"Would you mind if we saw your medical records?" Dr. Brennan asked.
"Of course not. If I could be helped, I welcome it." Farid responded, gesturing at his face.
Medico-Legal Lab
"Apparently, they live together a few days a week, but he was very clear that she has her own place." Angela explained.
"Should you be intruding into their lives like this?" Zach questioned.
"Oh yeah. Absolutely." Angela replied.
"We're negative for Lupus and Paget's. When you're done, I will do a scraping for environmental contaminates." Hodgins stated.
Zach hands a petrie dish of particulate matter to Hodgins. "I found these. Shiny flakes that caught onto the torn patches of bone."
"Bottom line, I still think Brennan has a shot with Booth." Angela stated.
"But she says she's not interested." Hodgins retorted.
"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much." Angela quoted.
"Maybe she protesteth just enough." Zach replied.
"Puh lease." Angela said. "She's been sleeping alone for months. She has enough pent up sexual energy to power a small mid-western city."
"This looks like gypsum. That wouldn't cause any organic damage. It's probably used to insulate the explosives, bet the FBI doesn't know that yet." Hodgins remarked.
"I'm gonna go check out this girlfriend." Angela commented.
Interrogation room
"I'm not proud of the affair. I admired Hamid but Sahar and I were in love and I can't change that." Ladjavardi addmited.
"You worked with Hamid. You had access to his car." stated Booth
"That's ridiculous." Ladjavardi replied.
"You also had contact with his brother, Farid, who said you were less then friendly with Hamid." Booth continued.
"Have you ever been in the middle of a messy relationship Agent Booth, or are you a perfect man?" Ladjavardi asked.
"You know, I prefer to ask the questions, Mr. Ladjavardi." Booth commented.
"And I have the right for an attorney. Have you called the number I gave you?" Ladjavardi responded.
"Of course. You know, I would never deny anyone his rights." Booth replied.
Santana enters the room. "Mr. Ladjavardi, I'm Special Agent in Charge, Santana. We're sorry for the inconvenience, you're free to go."
"Thank you." Ladjavardi said to Santana.
"You're finished." Santana told Booth.
"What the hell was that all about? He was a prime suspect." Booth questioned.
"He's a mole for Homeland Security. They planted him in the Arab-American Friendship League." Santana stated.
"He admitted the affair." Booth retorted.
"Maybe but Homeland Security says he's clean. They do not want his cover blown." Santana said.
"But sir…"
"Do I look like I'm discussing this?" Santana responded angrily.
Santana leaves and Booth punches the wall.
Brennan and Booth in his SUV
Booth honks the horn angrily at a car in front of him. "C'mon." He groans.
"You want me to drive?" Dr. Brennan asks.
"No. Why?"
"You're angry."
Booth laughs facetiously. "I'm not angry."
"Yeah, you're furious. You're going to kill somebody."
"I'm not angry. Believe me, you do not want to see me angry. That's the last thing you want to see."
"Okay."
"This is me accepting reality."
"Okay, my mistake."
"My superiors, they make the decisions, Bones. Alright. They don't think them through, that's really not my problem."
"If I were you, I'd be mad. Homeland Security is preventing you from doing a proper investigation of a murder case."
"I'm a grownup. I'll deal. You know that thing where you ask for the strength to change the things that you can and the wisdom to know the difference?"
"Not really."
"Well, it's a good thing."
"Who do you ask?"
"For what?"
"For the strength and the wisdom?"
"God."
"And that works?"
"Can we talk about something else?" asked Booth with a sigh.
"Sure. Tessa?" Dr. Brennan queries.
"Tessa!? No. Why do you want to talk about Tessa?"
"What? Why? Why not? I'm sorry. We won't talk about Tessa."
"I prefer if we would just stay on point and talk about things that you like to talk about, like dead people. Dead bodies?"
"Sure, sure. You've killed a lot of people, right? When you were a sniper?"
"Maybe we shouldn't talk at all."
"Right, cause you're angry."
"Not angry. I'm not."
"We'll find out who killed him, Booth. We've got Hamid's body. You can always count on the dead."
Medico-Legal Lab
"When Booth sends over the brother's medicals, I want them matched to Hamid's." Dr. Brennan states.
Hodgins hands a sheet of paper to Dr. Brennan. "I'm starting on a tox screen."
"Farid said his doctor suspected a genetic condition. Maybe we are overlooking something." Dr. Brennan replies. She then notices an electronic device on the table. "What is that?"
"We used the trace elements we recovered to try and build the bomb. It might give you another link." Zach stated.
"Isn't the FBI working on that?" Dr. Brennan asked.
"Yes, this is just for fun." Hodgins says with a grin.
"To see who's better?" Dr. Brennan guesses.
"Maybe, a little. Yeah." Hodgins admits.
"Good luck." Dr. Brennan comments.
Zach presents Brennan with the skull. "Ta-da."
"Nice job." Dr. Brennan congratulates Zach. "No wonder you had such trouble with reconstruction look at the spread of the Trabecular pattern in the bone."
"Microscopic fissures, like cracks." Zach explains.
"I knew that." Hodgins replies.
"I don't think so." Zach retorts.
"Can we focus? The spread is too rapid for any organic bones disease or genetic condition. It's definitely a toxin. Is there any surviving marrow to test?" Dr. Brennan asks.
"Uh, I'll try and find some."
"Let's do it."
In a Cafeteria. Tessa is sitting at a table snacking on a muffin and reading a book on the FBI when Angela enters. Looking around, Angela holds up a paper in her hand that has a picture of Tessa on it and some personal information. She smiles when she sees Tessa sitting at one of the tables and walks over near her dropping her purse, spilling the contents on purpose. Tessa looks down from her book and goes to help Angela where both strike up a conversation.
Medico-Legal Lab
"The marrow's degraded. I can give you basics but that's it." Hodgins said.
"According to these tests the liver function was impaired." Zach replied.
"His body was trying to get rid of whatever was poisoning him." Dr. Brennan comments.
Angela joins the group. "There is trouble in paradise."
"I beg your pardon?" Dr. Brennan queries.
"Tessa does not feel secure in that relationship. I think she's threatened by you." Angela said
"You talked to her." Dr. Brennan commented.
"She didn't say much but even though she has a phenomenal figure she was chowing down on a fat-free muffin and she was reading a book about unsolved FBI cases. Ughhh, she's obviously feeling insecure."
"She's spying for you?" Hodgins asks Dr. Brennan.
"No! No!" Dr. Brennan denies embaressedly.
"Even if you have nothing in common it's difficult to sublimate intense sexual attraction and we hear it's been awhile." Zach says to Dr. Brennan.
"Okay, Stop! " Dr. Brennan demands.
"He is there for the taking, honey." Angela goads.
Booth joins the group. "Okay, I couldn't get his medical records. What?"
Dr. Brennan now embarrassed beyond belief. "Oh nothing."
"Trying to track down the doctor?" Booth asks.
"Don't need him. It's definitely a toxin but we can't determine what kind." Dr. Brennan states.
"Too bad the liver is cooked, that could tell us everything." Zach comments.
"You know, I need subtitles walking in here." Booth remarks.
"The liver is like a filter. It would contain evidence of any toxins in the system, but we don't have the liver or any of the flesh left." Dr. Brennan says.
"But we do have the beetles." Hodgins suggested. "They ate Hamid's flesh and whatever organs remained and we all know you are what we eat."
"So you can ID the poison from the beetles." Booth stated.
"You can't kill them. They have names." said Zach
Dr. Brennan takes a handful from the jar andputs them in a blender. "We have to, Zach. Some."
"In Thailand, they are sautéed in peanut oil. Mmm." Hodgins gloats.
Booth pats Zach on the shoulder as he leaves.
Later
"We're going to have to run a simulation. I need you to input this skull and give me a face." Dr. Brennan said.
"You've got it." Angela replied.
"And no more talk about Booth. You shouldn't have gotten involved." Dr. Brennan stated.
"That's what friends are for." Angela remarked.
"Please, Angela." Dr. Brennan begged.
Booth walks up behind Zach and notices the bomb. "Hey, Wha…Where'd you get this?"
"I'm building it. Theoretical construct of the bomb based on the particulates we gathered." Zach replied.
"This isn't your job. The Bureau's doing this." Booth stated.
"Got it!" Hodgins exclaimed. "They were poisoned by dioxin, a very pure form. It would stay in the system for years cause cancer, diabetes, heart attack, and the facial system bone degeneration we saw."
"Give me the saturation levels. Angela can use it in simulation to give us approximate date of ingestion." said Dr. Brennan.
"How much would it take to poison them?" Queries Booth.
Dr. Brennan starts to walk away. "Just a little slipped into their food. Like at that lunch they had with Sahar's lover.
"Impressed?" Angela asks Booth.
Dr. Black's office.
Dr. Black has the blinds and the door both closed so he may speak to Hermione in peace. He explains what happened at the Chinese place to her. The more he talks the more Hermione laughs, especially when he gets to the part about reading Ms. Montenegro's thoughts about him.
"Really, love?" Dr. Black snapped at the painting in embarrassment.
"Oh Harry, stop being such a prude." Hermione giggled. "If you are so embarrassed by a few dirty thoughts then you need to get laid worse then I thought. We were married in 98, lost the only child we ever conceived in 99, and I passed away four months later. You have been loyal, faithful, and more to the point 'CELIBATE' since then. It is now 2005, go ask the woman for a date at least. You might find that she can help you with more then just your libido."
"'Mione' love I'm not sure about this what if I let her in but she rejects me? What if we get close but she dies just like everyone I've ever loved?" Dr. Black trails off with a sob.
"Harald James Potter-Peveral-Black, you stop that this instance. There is no use crying over spilled milk, especially milk that has as of yet been even poured into the Merlin be damned glass." Hermione scolded. "Now you pull yourself together and then go ask that nice young woman on a date."
"Yes, dear." Dr. Black sighed in resignation. He stands up and exits his dimly lit office, closing the door and locking it behind him. He starts to head directly for Angela's office, but his nerves get the better of him as he reaches the lab. Instead he detours around the walkway of the upper level.
"Just do it." He mouths to himself. "Don't be a coward. You're not a chicken, Harald." He mutters, clenching his fists and shaking his head. "She should at least know what she's getting into, right? Am I ready to reveal that much?" He sighs frustratingly. "Look, don't be a prat. Just do it, Potter." Before his resolve could flee from him, he marches down to the lower level and towards Angela's office door. Upon reaching it, he sees more than just Angela inside and he falters.
"Nope. Terrible idea. I am a chicken." He mumbles and takes a step back, away from the door. Hermione's voice echoes in his mind, berating him and before he even knows it's happening, he's pushing open Angela's door.
Angela's Office
"Dioxin levels were 5600 parts per trillion. Speed of bone degeneration is an 88% increase over base line osteoporosis. Date of death was…" D.r Brennan began.
"I remember that one, thanks." Angela interrupted.
"Run the scenario." Dr. Brennan remarks.
"I'll never get used to this." states Booth.
"Yeah? Chicks with toys?" Angela laughs.
"Poor bastard." Booth said seeing a picture of Hamid.
"Match it to his INS photograph. See how accurate you are." Dr. Brennan tells Angela. Angela proceeds to pull up a government photograph of Hamid, its a perfect match. "Good work, Angela. Probable date of exposure, about four months ago, I'd say first week in June."
"Let's go pay a visit to Mr. Ladjavardi." Booth says before he and Dr. Brennan leave. Dr. Black walks in shortly after.
"May I have a moment of your time, Miss Montenegro?" Dr. Black asks.
"Sure, how can I help you Dr. Black?" Angela asks.
"Do you mind if I close the door? This might end up becoming a conversation we don't want others hearing." Dr. Black queries.
"Alright," Angela agrees. Dr. Black walks over and closes the door. Angela motions for them both to sit on the couch against the wall. "Sooo, are you going to tell me why I might not want others hearing this conversation?"
"Miss Montenegro..." Dr. Black begins.
"Angela, please." Angela interrupts.
"Then please call me Harald or Harry when we are alone." Dr. Black responds. "Angela, you may have noticed I don't have many friends." Angela stays silent and nods at Dr. Black. "I've lost a lot of people, people that I loved. They were taken from me by a gang of murdering, raping inbred idiots." Angela gasp at this but lets Dr. Black continue. "I was hurt, damaged, by what happened." Dr. Black pulls a handkerchief out and hands it to Angela, who dabs at her eyes.
"Of course you were. Harry no one can go through something like that and come out unscathed." Angela consoles Dr. Black taking hold of his hand and patting it gently with her free hand. "Is there a reason you told me all this?" she asks.
"I have been alone for six years, since my wife was..." Dr. Black takes a deep breath. "I was recently reminded that finding someone new to share my life with is not betraying her memory, and that she would want me to be happy."
"Go on." Angela coerced.
"Knowing what you do about my past, that I'm emotionally damaged, do you think you might want to go out for dinner sometime?" Dr. Black asked.
"Wha?!" Angela asked startled. "Like on a date?"
"Yes." Dr. Black responded quietly.
"I..." Angela started.
"Its alright I get it we don't know each other very well. You are a beautiful woman and can easily get any guy to date you. Besides you probably already have a boyfriend. This was a bad idea, I'm sorry." Dr. Black said, standing up and pulling his hand away from Angela's.
"Hold it right there, buster." Angela scolded. "You think you can come in here and confess about you tragic past to me, ask me on a date, and then back out before I can even say that I would love to go out on a date with you? If so you are more emotionally damaged then you said you were. You will pick me up tonight at seven, wear something casual we are going dancing."
"But..." Dr. Black tried to respond.
"No buts mister. You are taking me dancing, we are going to have fun, and you are going to pull that stick out of your ass and loosen up before I beat you to death with it." Angela commanded.
"Yes ma'am" Dr. Black sighed resignedly.
"The insulation they used is gypsum based with plaster and lead mixed with asbestos." states Hodgins looking through a microscope.
"Pyrobar, It's a fire proof tile developed in 1903 by the United States gypsum company. It was only used for a few years." Zach commented.
"So probably came from the building where the bomb was constructed in." Hodgins speculates.
"We find the building and we find the bomber." Zach replied.
Booth and Dr. Brennan are in Booth's SUV after interviewing Ladjavardi about his whereabouts on the first week of June.
"How about this? Sahar wants out of the marriage. Hamid refuses so Sahar poisons him so that she can run off with, uh, Ladjavardi." Booth postulates.
"Doesn't make sense." Dr. Brennan states.
"When someone dies, the first suspect is the spouse."
"Well what about Hamid's brother? Did she poison him too?"
"Why not? You know he's pushing his nose into the marriage. I mean suddenly Sahar is facing, you know, a devote Muslim and a fundamentalist Christian and you know and nobody allows divorce and she's pushed to murder."
"That's eschewed logic."
"Ah, C'mon Bones. Just work with me here. Alright. It's what we in the law enforcement call positing a scenario. Don't use the word eschewed."
"What if you and Tessa were going to break up and you didn't want to?"
"Interesting, Bones."
"Well I'm positing a scenario. Tessa wants to break up and you don't want to so she poisons you."
"No, no, no."
"And then just to make sure she blows you up with a bomb."
"Why would Tessa do that?" Booth asks.
"Exactly. Thank you."
"See cause Tessa and I, that's a bad example."
"Well you're a couple in love, right?" Dr. Brennan asks.
"Why do you keep bringing up Tessa? I mean why? What's the big deal? Is it so odd for you that I have someone in my life?" Booth queries.
"We were talking about couples. It's a natural segue."
"Alright, you know, you have to quit using the word segue and eschew. They sound French."
"Keep changing the subject. I get it. You're sensitive about you and Tessa."
"Why aren't we talking about you and your boyfriend?" Booth grumbles.
"I don't have a boyfriend." Dr. Brennan exclaimed.
"You just said that as though it's a good thing and you know what? It's a very, very sad comment on your personal life."
"Look, you're angry again." Dr. Brennan's phone rings. She answers with "Brennan."
"The bomb insulation was made from Pyrobar which was used by an architect named William Allard. He was known for developing the Woodley Park neighborhood around 1910." comes Zach's voice from the speaker of the phone.
"Hang on a second, Zach." Dr. Brennan turns to Booth. "The bomb was made in Woodley Park."
"That's were Farid lives. Hold on." Booth makes a quick U-turn in the road. "No wonder we couldn't get his medicals. He already knew what was poisoning him. Alright, just stay in contact with your boys and tell them we're going to need them. Alright, Listen Brennan, we're heading into a very unknown situation. I think it's best if you just stay in the car." She glares at him. "Okay, then. You know, if you have to come in with me you just stay behind me." Same glare. "Fine, just be careful, Alright."
Farid's apartment
"Okay, Anybody asks that door was open. Stay right here!" Booth tells Dr. Brennan before yelling. "FBI Farid. Show yourself." Then to Dr. Brennan. "Okay, Clear!"
Dr. Brennan gets on the phone and calls the Medico-Legal Lab at the Jeffersonian. "Okay, give me Hodgins."
"Yeah? " Hodgins says on the other end of the line.
"Farid was making something here. Okay I got uh, melted plastic, bottles of chlorine…" Dr. Brennan observes the items on the counter of Farid's kitchen.
"Dioxin. That's how you would make it." Hodgins replied.
"Bones!" Booth called from the other room.
"Yes." Dr. Brennan answers.
Booth gestures to a hole in the wall of a closet. "Insulation. Farid definitely made the bomb. He killed his brother."
"Alright, Stay with me Hodgins." Dr. Brennan says into the phone.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Hodgins responds.
"Hamid must have been killed because he found his brother making dioxin, alright, and that's probably how they got contaminated. C'mon, A mechanics guide for Hamid's SUV. Page on the odometer, dog-eared." Booth comments holding up the book.
"He wasn't a Christian." Dr. Brennan looks in a book. "Deceit in the service of Allah is holy."
"The Koran?" Booth asks.
"No, Imam's twisted interpretation of the Koran so that mass murderers don't have to feel guilt." Dr. Brennan exclaimed.
Booth finds more bomb supplies. "He's made another bomb. It's out there, Right now. "
"I'm convinced." Dr. Brennan replies. The she say to Hodgins. "What's the dispersal rate for a bomb packed with say… two liters of dioxin?"
"Ahhh, homemade device similar to the car bomb that could be …three to five hundred meters if the victims weren't killed they'd develop cancer, blindness, lesions, diabetes.." Hodgins explained.
Booth looks through a date book. "Ah, no. Today's day is marked." turning to Dr. Brennan. "Call Homeland Security they'll secure the apartment."
Booth and Brennan in his SUV Both on cell phones.
Booth speaks into his phone. "There is a convenience store across the street from Farid's apartment. The owner saw him get onto a bus and head downtown."
Dr. Brennan speaks to Angela on her phone. "We're not sure what bus. Booth is checking with the FBI now if you find anything…"
"I know. It's just these bus schedules are totally confusing." Angela replies to Dr. Brennan.
"Yeah we saw his date book he had 5:30 circled, so just check anything that has anything to do with 5:30 that begins, ends, whatever. Yeah. I'm not going anywhere." Booth says into his phone.
"Angela is checking too. I still don't understand why Farid would kill his brother?" Dr. Brennan says to Booth.
"Because both of them were developing symptoms and then people would start asking questions then Farid would have been exposed. He had a mission to accomplish." Booth surmised.
"How the hell does he think he's bringing about a better world by blowing people up?" Dr. Brennan questions.
"Fanaticism and logic don't go hand in hand." Booth comments.
"It's almost 5:30. C'mon Angela anything between Woodley Park and downtown?" Dr. Brennan asks Angela through the phone.
"Okay, okay, uh…three movies start a six. There's a lecture at Fuller Hall on Birds. I can't imagine that will be crowded and a peace conference at the Hamilton Cultural Center. There will be speeches by Arab Moderates and a Congressman. That looks like the one." Angela replies to Dr. Brennan. Dr. Black who is still in the room turns and walks out of the room.
"Peace Conference. Hamilton Cultural Center." Dr. Brennan says to Booth.
"That's…" Booth begins.
"That's it." Dr. Brennan interrupts.
"That's gotta be it." Booth then speaks into his phone. "Okay Gibson, just get your boys over to the Hamilton Cultural Center and just keep them back when you get there. You understand me? If you spook this guy he will blow himself up before we can take him out. Fine, bye."
"Thanks Angela." Dr. Brennan says to Angela via her phone.
"You know, you don't have to come." Booth says to Dr. Brennan.
"You have got to be kidding me." Dr. Brennan replied.
Hamilton Cultural Center
"We'll start down here and make our way upstairs." Booth says to Dr. Brennan.
"Welcome to the Hamilton Center Peace Conference. We would ask that all delegates check in at the orientation located at the east entry before convening for the keynote speaker address…" an announcement comes over the intercom.
"There are too many ways in. Where are the reinforcements? Aren't there always reinforcements?" Dr. Brennan states.
"Sure, they're downstairs tying up the horses." Booth replies.
"Sarcasm doesn't help." Dr. Brennan retorts.
"Okay, they are mobilizing swat teams and additional agents but it takes time and if Farid has the bomb and spots them, it could be bad." Booth explained.
"If you see him will you shoot?" Dr. Brennan asks.
"Well, he might not have the bomb." Booth said.
"You don't believe that?" Dr. Brennan queries.
"I'm not taking out a target Brennan unless I'm sure." Booth states.
"Is that how you make it easier? Calling him a target?"
"You know you really picked an odd time to have this conversation."
Dr. Brennan points to Farid on the floor below them. "Booth!"
"Farid."
"There! That's Farid." Dr. Brennan states
"I'm not sure."
"Look his walk is labored from the dioxin poisoning and the parietal bones in his skull match his picture." Dr. Brennan explains.
"It's dexterous. What if you're wrong?" Booth asks.
"This is what I do Booth. Do you really want to wait? He's carrying something heavy in his camera bag, see the extra weight is causing his shoulder to…" Dr. Brennan began.
"No, I can't!" Booth says. Dr. Black walks out from under the walkway that Dr. Brennan and Booth are standing on wearing his Suit jacket instead of his lab coat.
"What is Doctor Black doing down there?" Dr. Brennan asks.
"I don't know." Booth replies. "If he get us all killed, I'll shoot him."
"How would you shoot him if you are dead?" Dr. Brennan questions
Farid turns around as Dr. Black approaches and greets him with a hand shake. Dr. Black says something to Farid. Farid's eyes widen and his free hand moves toward the bag at his side. Dr. Black lashes out with a quick punch to Farids chest and in a flash of red light Farid drops to the ground his hands at his side. Gibson move in to check and ends up taking the switch out of Farid's hand, opening the bag to reveal the bomb Gibson takes off his sunglasses to look up at Booth, nodding his head that they got the right guy.
Wong Foo's
Dr. Black, Booth, Dr. Brennan, and Angela are sitting at a table discussing the case.
"What the hell were you doing there, Black?" Booth growled.
"Saving your ass, Agent Booth." Dr. Black responded. "I know guys like you who are unwilling to take a life, but will do it if they have to. It kills them a little everytime they take the shot. I've dealt with Terrorist before. I heard the conversation Angela, and Dr. Brennan were having and rushed over to provide backup so you wouldn't have to take that shot."
"And the flash of red light? Nothing on Farid could have done that." Booth questioned.
Dr. Black pulls out a small round object with a T shaped handle and fits it into his hand so the round disk sits on top of his knuckles. "This is a Micro High-Frequency Insulated Shock Intersperser, or MiH FiSt for short. My late wife invented it for when I didn't have my gun on me, it discharges when the pad is struck with enough electricity to stun whoever is hit with it. The discharge is a red flash of light."
"You could have made millions of dollars if you sold those." Angela said in awe. Dr. Brennan nods in agreement.
"I had it patented. However I have no need for money, between my income from the Jeffersonian and the money I collect from my family's investments. I could probably retire and buy my own island." Dr. Black shrugged.
"Okay for a second date you are taking me to a Fancy Dress restaurant." Angela says with a big grin.
"We haven't even finished the first date yet!" Dr. Black exclaimed.
"You saved my best friend from being blown to tiny little bloody bits, and you saved Booth, too. That has to count for something" Angela replies. Dr. Black just blushes and takes a sip of his tea.
"I told them what you said about the reward. However apparently Her Royal Majesty sent an order through MI5 to tell you..." Booth pulls out an official looking document. "Sir Harald James Potter-Peveral-Black, You are hereby ordered to receive your due reward or face punishment from Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth the second." Booth finishes reading. "Looks like you don't get to escape the reward after all, Sir Squint, Knight of the Lab." Everyone breaks out in laughter as Dr. Black blushes deep red and tries to hide in his teacup.
End
I want to thank my Beta reader for helping flesh out a couple scenes better than I had written them and for putting up with me.
Thanks for reading. Remember to review with comments and thoughts about future chapters.
