Chapter three-enjoy! All the reviews have inspired me to get the next chapter written, even though I wasn't planning to with my long day today. I opened my account and was amazed at how many were in there. Thanks so much! Do not own Bones or anything that has to do with it.
By the end of the flight, Brennan was feeling more like herself. She had managed to push thoughts of Booth and their upcoming living arrangements out of her mind. It was time to focus on the case. She was not going to let a little crush keep her from doing her job properly.
They made their way through the small airport in Charleston. This was so different and laid back from Washington. The airport had only one main terminal. After collecting their luggage, they found the rental car station right away-it was right next to the baggage claim. This time, Booth hadn't been able to talk his way into getting the classic car. In order to keep up the façade that they were a wealthy couple who could afford to stay at a place like the Sanctuary, the FBI had sprung for a luxury car rental.
After Booth loaded the luggage into the car, they set off for Kiawah Island. In order to reach the island, they would have to drive along the same stretch of road that the Night Stalker used to discard of the remains of his victims. Since Booth had been assigned to the case, no more bodies had been discovered. Today was the fifth day that a body had not been discovered. With his insatiable appetite for murder, they knew it was only a matter of time before he killed again. For all they knew, maybe he already had. It sometimes took a few days for the remains to be discovered. A lot would depend on where he chose to dump the next body. It was a promising sign that no more abductions had been reported though.
As they drove further out Booth and Brennan noticed the sharp contrast in the area outside of the city. Charleston was a fairly decent sized city. Lots of businesses and homes. Absolutely stunning architecture. Booth decided that if he ever got a little bit of free time, he would have to explore the city a little bit. Not now though. Just a little way out to the island, the surroundings changed. Homes and businesses became more scattered. Lots of vegetation. Large trees with thick heavy branches hung over the road and ran the entire length down. It didn't seem too scary during the day but they both could see how it could be frightening at night.
They were approaching one of the crime scenes. Booth thought it would be a good idea to begin the investigation now. Once they assumed their new identities for the trip, it would be increasingly difficult to be able to get away and investigate without blowing their cover. As they pulled onto the side of the road, Brennan noticed the memorial that had been set up for the murdered girl. She had been identified late in the day yesterday. Flowers and pictures of her were set up by the condemned building. Booth noticed the similarities to Bones right away. She had almost the same color hair and eyes. Even a few facial features were similar. He began to worry more about her safety. What if I can't protect her from this monster?
They got out of the car and carefully made their way through the overgrown grass and up to the house. Booth and Brennan ducked under the yellow crime scene tape and stepped onto the porch. The front porch was caving in and both had to be careful where they placed their next steps. One wrong move would send them crashing through the rotting wood and down into god knows what beneath.
The first thing Brennan noticed as she took in the crime scene was the word ALONE spelled out along one of the walls. She went up closer to it, removed the digital camera from her bag and began to photograph it. Booth walked up behind her.
"It's her blood" he said quietly. "That's his calling card. After the victim has died, he removes the hands and uses the blood that comes out from the open wounds to paint that phrase somewhere in the crime scene."
Brennan didn't have anything to say to that. She walked along and began to study the area of what remained of the floor that the body had been laying on. Then she noticed something on the floor sticking to one of the splinters of wood.
"Booth come here' she said, motioning for him to join her.
"What is it Bones?"
"Do you see that?"
"What?" he said leaning in closer. Then he saw it too. Sticking to one of the pieces of splintered wood in what remained of the floor were a few fibers of some kind of cloth. He removed an evidence bag from his own bag and with a small pair of tweezers, removed the fibers and placed them in the evidence bag.
"I can't believe CSU missed this" she said shocked. "We need to have these analyzed, they might be able to tell us a little about our killer. They will need to be sent to the Jeffersonian. I want my team working on this. When we get checked into the hotel I can send the photos I've taken to Angela and have them analyzed. I also am going to need to be able to see the remains. Maybe our killer has left something else behind there too."
"Okay Bones. I'll see what I can do. We need to go checked into the hotel first, then we have a briefing in Charleston with the local FBI. Then, we should be able to stop at the medical examiner's office so you can examine the remains before they are released to her family."
They carefully made their way back to the car and drove to the hotel. They discussed the case a little more, but decided that what they really needed to do was discuss their cover story. Booth and Brennan spent most of the rest of the drive to the hotel arguing over details of their fake relationship. By the time they arrived, they had most of the story put together. They were as ready as they would ever be to be Mr. and Mrs. Sernicko.
That's all for now. Sorry this chapter is a little short. I was kind of tired after today, but I really wanted to get this up for you guys. I have a few days off this weekend, so I am hoping to get a lot of writing done. Next chapter, Booth and Brennan begin their undercover work as fake husband and wife. How do you think that's going to work? Please review and let me know what you think! Thanks!
