CHAPTER 8:
"Do you want to tell me, that the body that was found at the "Lilac" was somebody of the Mafia?" Hodgins looked from Angela to Brennan. Both nodded.
"Wow..." They both expected him to be excited, thinking of conspiracies, but instead he seemed to be worried and said: "How did Victor get himself into Mafia-problems?"
Angela shrugged "Do they really do that protection money thing... like in the movies?" Hodgins looked at her and nodded. "Yeah... Victor never mentioned something like that but you do not really make a habit of talking about these things... if you want to stay alive."
"Is your cousin in trouble now?" Zach asked. Hodgins looked at him incredulously "Yeah, well of course he is. They did not only find a body in his club, it was somebody of the Mafia, dude. That's not only trouble, it's big fat trouble."
"You think... Victor... Victoria could..." Angela cautiously started to ask a question, but Jack interrupted her: "No. Victor would never kill somebody... no way."
"Maybe... accidentally..." Angela said thoughtfully.
"There is nothing accidental about a paper knife rammed through the palate directly into the brain." Zach stated matter-of-factly.
"Right." Angela slapped her forehead. 'How could I forget the kind of injury?'
She could see how much the trouble his cousin was in affected Jack... this was a side of him, that was new to her.
"Well, let's see if we can find proof for Victor's innocence." Angela tried to encourage her fiancé.
"We are bound not to make conclusions and we can not assume he is innocent... " Zach started to lecture, but Brennan interrupted him: "Shut up, Zach." As everybody turned around to look at her in pure astonishment, she gave them a wry smile and added: "Please."
"Well... you better get going. The sooner we continue with this, the sooner the case is solved." Cam ordered.
Everybody nodded and Cam left. Zach still looked a bit shocked by Brennan's harsh comment, but decided that the could try to help Hodgins on restoring the handwritten note.
Brennan stood there, unsure what to do. She had examined the remains more than only once and was sure she had paid attention to every detail. Her eyes met Angela's and she could tell by the look on her best friend's face that there was another girl's talk coming up.
She racked her brain to quickly find an excuse, any work for her to do, but before she could figure something out, Angela said: "Your office, sweetie... NOW!" Brennan sighed and thought 'Looks like there is no way out.' Resigning she followed Angela.
Angela did not even leave her enough time to sit down, directly after closing the door behind them she said: "You fear that Booth could get hurt again. You care about him... that's why you reacted that unusual before."
Brennan's eyes narrowed. "Are you asking me a question or are you trying to analyse my behaviour?" she asked.
"As you are so keen on facts, Bren... I am only stating facts, okay. I know it, so don't deny it." Angela shot back... she really had enough of Brennan's evasive manoeuvres.
Brennan sighed and admitted: "Yes... you are right. ... I think the Mafia was not really pleased when Booth eliminated one of their best contacts. That's why I think they could be after him rather than after me this time... I know we do not even have proof that DiBianco is working for the same family, but it's just..." her voice trailed off.
"You are scared. You think this time it could be worse and he could get killed. And you could not bear that, right?" Angela completed her sentence.
Brennan shook her head and murmured: "You are far too perceptive, Angela. But you are right. It's silly, really... irrational. He can take care of himself... I do not know why I..."
"Because he is important to you... because you do have feelings for him no matter what you say, I know it's true... and he has feelings for you. And something has changed since yesterday." Angela said.
"Don't" Brennan shook her head. "Booth and I...we talked about it all yesterday, okay? We decided to take it slow and see where it leads us. Don't tell anybody, Ange, please... I don't want everybody to ... to gossip. Promise to me, you won't tell anybody."
Angela was surprised how quickly Brennan had given in... Booth definitely was changing her. "Sweetie... I promise to you I won't tell anybody, okay. I just wanted to know, what is going on with you... It's okay... You want to find out if you two ... match. I am sure you do, but I understand." She smiled.
Brennan breathed out audibly. "Ange... could you please... leave me alone for a moment... I need time to think."
"Okay" Angela said, but before she opened the door, she turned around again and added: "But remember, Bren, sometimes you have to feel rather than to think."
Brennan chuckled. "Booth said exactly the same thing. You read this in the newspaper or..."
Suddenly she paused and slapped her forehead. "Marco DiBianco. Now I know why the name sounded familiar. I knew him!"
Angela's eyes widened and she gasped: "What?"
"Marco DiBianco... thinking of a newspaper brought it all back. At the university some students did a scientific newspaper... I was one of them. Marco DiBianco was the name of the owner of the print shop! Let's check if it's the same Marco DiBianco... At least the age would match." Brennan pressed the speed-dial button on her telephone.
"Booth...it's me, Bone... damn it... Brennan!" Despite the tension, Angela could not suppress to snicker... Brennan was calling herself Bones. Booth was definitely rubbing off on her.
"Booth... don't laugh! I think I knew Marco DiBianco..." Brennan told him what she had told Angela and Booth promised to check.
"I call you back, as soon as I know more, okay?" he added and she hesitantly answered: "Okay."
Booth had notice the pause and asked. "Is there something else you want to tell me, Bones?"
"No... Yes. Booth...please, take care of yourself. The Mafia surely knows they lost Kenton because of you." She finally murmured.
There was a pause, then she heard Booth ask: "Are you worrying about my safety?"
"Yes" Brennan said quietly.
"I promise to be careful, Temperance." He answered in a soft tone.
"Good" she managed to answer, then she quickly hung up and looked at Angela, who was smiling.
"What?" Brennan asked suspiciously. "Nothing... " Angela answered, still smiling at her best friend. "I just thought, how cute you two are."
Brennan rolled her eyes. "I don't want to be cute. I want to solve that case."
That moment Zach opened the door of her office and said: "Dr. Brennan... you might want to take a look at the note... we were able to make most of the writing readable."
