Brennan was still contemplating her discussion with Booth as she walked back into the lab that afternoon. He remained extremely distrustful when it came to some of the people in leadership positions at the FBI, and she was trying to understand the cause of his concerns, wondering whether or not his anxiety in this situation was valid. Being lost in thought over her husband's unhappiness, she didn't hear the woman who was rapidly approaching behind her until the woman accosted her roughly.
"Dr. Brennan, please...if I could have a few moments of your time...", the woman began loudly, panting as she firmly grabbed Brennan's arm with one hand and waved a file folder with the other. "I want to discuss something with you. I have a case that I think you'll be interested in working on." The large blonde woman had chased Brennan down as she walked through the lab and now tried to stand in front of Brennan's door to prevent the scientist from entering her office. "This case is worthy of a forensic anthropologist of your caliber, Dr. Brennan. I think you'll find it most interesting. I'm your biggest fan! I just love your books, and this mystery is certainly as intricate as anything a reader might find in one of your stories! Please let me show you this file..."
Brennan pulled her arm away from the intruder and studied her cautiously. "Who are you? Have you checked in with security? You shouldn't be in this part of the lab. This area is off limits for visitors." Pointing to a sign above the lab entrance, Brennan spoke to her visitor as the woman tried to enter her office. "Authorized personnel only. I don't think you have permission to be here. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. Please leave immediately before I'm forced to call security. Perhaps you should make an appointment." The woman quickly moved to block Brennan's entrance to the office.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Brennan...I didn't realize I had to check in with security, but I'm so anxious to discuss this situation with you." The woman's words rushed out in a torrent of emotion. "If you could just give me a minute, I'd appreciate it so much.…. My name is Lisa Riggs, and my husband Robbie died under mysterious circumstances…I need your help to solve this crime...I just know he was murdered and no one will listen to me. If someone with your reputation would look into the situation, I can get the authorities to take me seriously...with the equipment you have available you could check his remains for all sorts of poisons or toxins, just like Kathy does in your books…."
Brennan tried to remain calm, remembering what Booth had said about this woman. She definitely did not want to upset this intruder. "No, Mrs. Riggs, I'm afraid I can't give you a minute. I'm truly sorry for your loss, but there are protocols that must be followed here in the lab. I am contracted to work for the federal government. I don't do freelance work." Reaching into her pocket, Brennan pulled out her phone and dialed quickly. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Riggs, but you leave me no choice. Yes...Security? This is Dr. Brennan. Yes, I need assistance by my office." Brennan glanced at Mrs. Riggs, hoping she'd take the hint. "That's right...immediately. Thank you." She ended the call and stood with her arms folded across her chest. "I'm sorry that I am unable to assist you. I would suggest that you engage a private detective to look into your allegations. Because I work for the federal government, anything I found out would have to be turned over to them." Brennan nodded to acknowledge the two security guards who had entered the lab area and pointed to the intruder. "Please escort Mrs. Riggs out of the building."
Lisa Riggs wasn't going to give up so easily. "Dr. Brennan, could I leave the file with you so you could read over it? The federal government murdered my husband while he was in prison at Leavenworth. They poisoned him or something. He was perfectly healthy, but they said he had a stroke. There's some conspiracy...just read through it. It's something that Kathy would want you to do..."
One of the security guards took Mrs. Riggs by the arm. "You need to come along, ma'am. You can't be in this area." The guards tried to escort Lisa Riggs out of the restricted area, but she reacted violently, flailing her arms and kicking at the guards' shins.
"Let go of my arms! Get off me!" Mrs. Riggs screamed as she used her fist to assault the guard. "I'm not leaving this lab until Dr. Brennan promises to look at my husband's file. Don't you understand? He was murdered, and I have a right to seek justice on his behalf! This lab belongs to US citizens. You work for me! You can't make me leave!" More security personnel came to assist the guards in removing an irate Mrs. Riggs from the lab. "You'll be sorry! You'll wish you had helped me! I'll be back, and I'll make you listen to me! The feds can't get away with it. I'll have my revenge! You'll see!"
Brennan's hand shook as she called her husband's phone. "Booth, I need you at the lab…NOW!"
ooooooooooo
"What've we got, Aubrey?" Booth walked up the front sidewalk of the tidy little house and found Agent Aubrey standing on the front porch talking to a local police officer.
"Hey, Booth. Sorry to drag you all the way out here to the suburbs, but I thought you'd want to see first hand what happened. The next door neighbor says she heard what sounded like a loud car backfire, so she looked over to this house and saw that the bedroom window looked like it had been shot out. She tried to call the homeowner but got no answer, and the front door was locked, so she called Metro to have them do a safety check. When the locals broke down the door, they found the victim in her bedroom." Aubrey stopped talking as the paramedics brought out a stretcher with a body bag on it, followed by another local police officer and an FBI forensic tech.
"It sounds really bad, Aubrey, but why am I here? I mean, I'm sorry the homeowner died, but it almost sounds like it was an accident, or maybe a home invasion gone wrong…not really something for the big boys." Booth stood scratching his head as he watched the paramedics load the body into the ambulance.
"Our victim has a massive gunshot wound to the chest. Metro called us because of her identity. She used to work for the FBI. Her name was…."
Booth suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over him as he realized the victim's identity. "Stephanie Morrison? Goddamn it...what did she get herself into…."
"Yeah. How'd you know who it was?" Aubrey was surprised. "I just found out myself. Are you okay, Booth? You look a little pale."
Booth nodded and rubbed a hand across his eyes as they walked through the house to the bedroom. "I'm fine...just a little shaken. Ms. Morrison came to my office a few days ago to talk about a mutual friend." Booth decided not to share everything with Aubrey….the less Aubrey knew, the better off they'd both be, at least until there was more concrete information available. "So what happened? What does Metro say?"
"The blood and tissue splatter on the back wall of the room seems to indicate that she was shot through the chest with some sort of high powered semiautomatic rifle. The shot entered through her bedroom window and probably pierced her heart. Basically her chest cavity exploded. To me, this looks like a professional hit." Aubrey shook his head. "What I don't understand is why she was shot in the chest. A hit like this is usually a head shot."
Booth was grim as he stood surveying the bloody crime scene. "Christ, this is unbelievable. She never had a chance...This was a warning, Aubrey. Whoever killed Ms. Morrison wanted me to know immediately who the victim was, and they knew that I'd understand why this happened. They're telling me to back off...to mind my own business and stay out of the way."
Aubrey looked at Booth in disbelief. "Seriously, Booth? Who would want to do that…and why her? That seems a little extreme, doesn't it?"
He paused as an FBI tech came into the room to take samples, followed by Deputy Director Jamison. "Well, Booth...", Jamison started as he looked around the bedroom in horror, "this is unbelievable, isn't it? God, what an awful thing to happen to someone. Poor Stephanie…"
"I'm sorry, sir...I don't want to appear rude, but who called you?" Booth was surprised to see Jamison at a murder investigation out in the suburbs. Directors didn't usually show up at crime scenes.
Deputy Director Jamison appeared to be calm and composed under Booth's intense scrutiny. "I heard about it while I was at the office. Someone called me to let me know what had happened, and I came to check on the situation here as soon as I could. After all, she used to work for me. I want to make sure we do everything we can to find out who committed this crime. I'd like you to personally handle the investigation, Booth...you and Aubrey, of course."
"I understand, sir. Of course, I'll handle the investigation. It's important to me personally as well as professionally." As he walked over to inspect the horrible mess on the bedroom floor, Booth's gut was nagging him again as he thought about what was happening. It was too much of a coincidence that Jamison would show up at Stephanie Morrison's house so soon after she was murdered. It was almost like he knew in advance what was happening...things just didn't add up right...Booth watched as Deputy Director Jamison and Aubrey walked over to the window to see if they could figure out the bullet's trajectory. He walked over to speak to one of the techs about sample collection when his phone rang.
"Booth….wait, what? Jesus! Okay, look...alright, easy. Just calm down, Bones. What happened exactly? Oh my God. Yes, I know...okay...yes...yes. I know. Look, I'll be there as soon as I can, okay? I'm on my way.." He waved at Aubrey and Jamison. "Family emergency. I've gotta go take care of something immediately. I'll call you as soon as I can."