A/N: I try to get review thank yous out, but sometimes I just don't manage. Chapter 7 was one of those times and I apologize for that. Thank you all so, SO much, for all the kind reviews and feedback. I'm beyond thrilled you are enjoying my story. You rock, every single one of you.
The latest note yielded nothing more than any of the others. This didn't surprise either Booth or Brennan, but it still left them reeling. The lack of progress was what prompted Booth to stop by Cam's office late Monday afternoon.
"Cam." He hovered in her doorway.
"Booth! Hey!"
"You, uh, you got a second?"
"Uh-oh."
"What?"
"Sounds serious." She said, motioning him in.
"It is." He took a seat across from her, his fingers worrying his poker chip.
"What's up?"
"Bones has been getting letters."
"Yeah, Angela mentioned something about that."
"Well, Sweets seems think this guy is after her."
"After her how?"
"He's infatuated with her. Wants to be with her. Sweets says she is his end game. The prize."
"God. A real nut."
"Yeah, so…"
"You don't even have to ask. I'll increase security." She could see his shoulders relax a little in response. "It's that bad?"
"We just don't know who this creep is or what he wants. He commented on Hadley's eyes, he watched Parker's ballgame…" Booth rubbed the back of his neck and blew out a deep breath. "He's watching all of us. But it's clear it's Bones he's after." He swallowed hard and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I'm going to be picking her up and dropping her off as much as possible. If I can't bring her to work, she'll have an FBI escort. And if she tries to leave this lab for any reason, she cannot go alone. Please, make sure she has someone with her."
"You want me to baby-sit Dr. Brennan."
"Yeah, I do. And I've talked with Angela and Hodgins, too. I'll talk to the squinterns if I have to. She just can't be unprotected."
"You think she would try to go out alone?"
"You know how she is about asking for help."
Cam smiled. "That I do."
"Thanks, Cam."
"You be careful, too, Big Man. If this guy thinks you are in his way…" She didn't finish the sentence.
"I'll be fine. My priority here is Bones."
"And you don't think she'd be destroyed if something happened to you?" Cam lectured, eyebrows raised. "You watch yourself."
Booth stood. "I will."
Cam watched him walk out the door, his shoulders hunched back up, the stress evident in his posture. Concerned for her friends, she picked up the phone to speak with the head of security.
Monday wrapped up with a quiet, tension-filled dinner as a feeling of unease permeated the Brennan-Booth home. Hadley's bath and bedtime routine was the lone bright spot of the evening. After the baby was in bed, Booth half watched a baseball game, while Brennan attempted to read a paper, but neither had any real focus on what they were doing. Unable to think about anything but the threat that lingered against them, they went to bed early, hoping a good night's sleep would make it all a little less ominous.
It didn't
Tuesday dawned with a dark gray sky that served to carry over their moods from the day before. Booth was still worried, Brennan was still anxious and even Hadley seemed to have misplaced her usual cheery disposition.
"Where's the damn escort?" Booth kept peering out the front window.
"Booth, just go. They'll be here soon."
"No. No way, Bones. If I had my way they'd be parked here every minute we're home, but Hacker's already on my back about all the manpower I'm using. If he didn't still have a thing for you, we'd be getting no help at all."
"So you are exploiting Andrew's remaining feelings for me to utilize FBI resources?"
That made Booth smile a little as he stared out into the street. "I told you; I'll do whatever it takes."
Booth watched as a dark sedan pulled up to the curb in front of the house. "They're finally -"
An unhappy shriek erupted from the baby bouncer, cutting him off and he dropped the curtain and turned towards his daughter. "Hey, Little Girl. What are you complaining about?" He followed her gaze and spotted her stuffed cow in a heap several feet in front of her seat. Scooping it up, he dropped down to one knee and tucked it back into her hands. "If you stop chucking your cow to the floor, you'll be much happier."
Hadley grinned and waved her cow around by its leg. Smiling, Booth pressed a kiss to her head. "Daddy loves you madly, Hadley," he cooed his little rhyme for her, and when she responded with a happy coo and smile of her own, he rubbed her tiny cheek with his finger. "No more grumpies, okay?" In response, Hadley shoved the cow's nose into her mouth and chewed on it.
Booth chuckled and stood to kiss Brennan.
"Please be safe." He told her, as he took her in his arms.
"I will."
"Cam is increasing security at the lab. The agents outside won't leave until you are inside safely. Don't go out for lunch. Have someone else pick it up for you or pack lunch to take with you. Stay in the lab. When you are done for the day, call me and I'll come to the lab and walk you guys to the car. I'll follow you home. If I can't, I'll get you some agents who will."
"Booth, We've been over this. I'm no less concerned than you are. I promise, I will take every precaution."
"Okay. You'll text me when you're leaving?"
"And I'll call when I'm safely at my desk."
He smiled at her, but it couldn't mask the worry in his eyes. "I love you."
"I love you, too." She answered and tiptoed up to reassure him with a kiss.
Her reassurance wasn't enough. All the way to the office he kept turning everything over in his mind. The letters to the publicist, the notes, the phone call to the diner…it all made his stomach churn. And it was all so methodical…no prints, no hairs…the envelopes were self-sticking so no DNA…the guy was good and had been from the beginning.
Sweets was sure there would be a mistake. At some point the note writer would screw up, give them something to go on. The bolder he got, the more likely it was that he would slip up. Booth wasn't sure they could afford to wait that long. How bold would he get before he made that mistake? And what would the cost be when he did?
He was pulling into the Hoover for his 7:30 meeting when his phone chimed with a text.
"Leaving now."
He checked his watch, noting the time. If his meeting went well, it would be over before she called.
It didn't go well. At all. The room was cramped, the coffee was bad and the big boss was pissed. Booth kept quiet, rode out the storm and kept checking the clock on the wall.
She didn't call.
Orders were given, papers handed out, taskforce positions assigned. Booth registered none of it. Even if he estimated a generous amount of time to drop Hadley at the daycare, it was well past time for her to check in.
Where was she?
Questions were asked, demands were made and goals were set. Booth didn't hear them.
Panic was setting it and he couldn't leave. Whatever goodwill Hacker had afforded him would be gone in an instant if he walked out of that room and he needed Hacker to keep Brennan safe.
His phone buzzed in his hand with a text message.
"Roadwork on 47th. Had to detour."
He was sure his sigh of relief echoed in the room. He texted back.
"Where are you now?"
He waited for her answer.
And waited.
And waited.
And lost his patience just as the meeting broke up around him. He bolted out the door before he could be intercepted by Hacker or anyone else, the phone already to his ear, her number dialed.
"Brennan."
"You're okay?"
"Yes, Booth, we're fine. The agents are right behind us." There was annoyance was in her voice. "I can't safely text and drive."
"So where are you?"
"The detour rerouted us through Tyler, near the library. I should be at the Jeffersonian within a few minutes."
"The library…" Something clicked in Booth's head.
"What about it?"
"Call me when you're in your office. I have to make a phone call."
"Okay."
He disconnected before he heard a goodbye and quickly dialed another number.
"Hello?" the voice on the other end sounded distracted.
"Angela?"
"Booth? I just left the daycare and Hadley and Brennan haven't checked in yet. Is everything okay?" Angela sounded worried.
"Everything's fine, there was road construction or something. Listen, I have something I need you to run down for me."
"Sure."
"The card the note writer used to pay for our lunch came from the Dallas, Texas area."
"Right."
"Bones said something about being near the library which got me thinking; can you access the Dallas public library system? Maybe see if there was one person who checked out some or all of her books any time in the last six months?"
"Uh, yeah. I can try. You think you might find our guy this way?"
"It's more of a shot than we had before."
"I just got to my office. I'll check Dallas and surrounding areas as soon as everything is up and running."
"Thanks. And make sure…"
"I know, Booth. I'll keep my eye on her. She's not going anywhere."
"You're the best, Angela."
He could hear the smile in her voice. "I know that, too." She teased him.
He disconnected the phone and felt a little more in control.
It wasn't much, but it finally felt like he had somewhere to start.
