Here is the next chapter. I am really trying to update semi regularly. I hope that I can. On with the story!

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Chapter 9: Stories and Families

Thompson stared at Booth. For a minute Booth did not think that he had heard the question because he just looked at him. Then Thompson looked at Brennan and said, "I remember that sale because it almost made me quit my job of six months."

Thompson paused. Neither Brennan nor Booth said anything and waited for him to continue.

"That was one of the worst times of my life. My father had just died and my girlfriend of several years left. Then Mr. Cartwright came along and he wanted to buy this piece of land that had been on the market for almost three years. It had been shuffled from person to person in hopes that someone would be able to sell it.

"Anyway, Mr. Cartwright came in and asked about that property specifically. I thought that my luck was getting better after an absolutely terrible time in my life. Unfortunately this guy drew out the process as long as possible. He would go to confirm the purchase and find something wrong with the contract. I think I wrote and rewrote that contract a dozen times."

"Did you ever see him?" asked Booth his pen poised over his pad.

"Only once. I don't really remember any specifics but he was pretty average with dark hair."

"If we brought a sketch artist over would you be able to describe this guy for her?" asked Brennan.

"I don't think so. It has been an awfully long time."

"Alright, keep going."

"Well, after over a year of trying to sell that stupid property to David Cartwright I finally sealed the deal. Then six months later he came back and tried to say that the contract had something wrong with it and tried to give me the property back. He failed but I had my resignation letter written up. The only reason I stayed was because my boss convinced me to stay."

"Did anything stand out to you at all?" asked Booth.

"Besides the fact that he drew out the process an extremely long time? No."

"Did he say what he wanted to use the property for?"

"Not that I can remember."

"Well, thank you for your time," said Brennan as she and Booth stood to leave. Thompson stood up also and walked them to the door.

"It really wasn't any trouble and if there is anything else you need . . ."

"We'll be sure to let you know," said Booth.

Thompson closed the door after them and Booth led the way to his SUV. After Brennan and Booth had settled in their seats, Booth looked at Brennan and said, "Well, what do you think?"

"I don't know. He seemed pretty sincere to me," said Brennan uncertainly.

"I'm not sure. I think he might have something to hide," said Booth turning on the car and pulling away. "So where to now?"

"I guess we should talk to Laura Walker's family now," Brennan suggested, "You said that they should be home now right?"

"Yeah," said Booth. He reached back, grabbed a file from the back seat, and handed it to Brennan, "Look up the Walkers' address."

Brennan grabbed the file and opened it. After reading of the address she sat back to read the file. It was not a lot of new information but Brennan kept hoping that something would jump out and give her insight to end this case.

This time the drive took only fifteen minutes and again Booth parked on the street. The houses on this street were older than the houses on Thompson's street and whereas Thompson's street looked to be a teenaged road, this one looked older, and more worn.

There was a car in the Walker's driveway and the lights were on inside. Again Booth allowed Brennan to lead the way up onto the porch. She rang the bell. Booth and Brennan could hear movement inside before the door was opened by an upper-middle age man. He stared out at them before saying, "Can I help you?"

Booth took a small step forward and said, "I think we can help you."

"I don't want to buy anything," said Mr. Walker immediately.

"We are not selling anything," said Brennan slightly confused.

Booth pulled out his badge and said, "FBI, Special Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan. We have some information about your daughter."

The man's eyes widened and he took a step back and looked almost afraid but we he spoke, his voice was steady. "You've finally found her haven't you?"

"Yes, sir. We have."

"You had better come in," he said and stepped back to allow them into his home. The smell of fresh baked cookies immediately hit them as they walked in the door. Mr. Walker led them into the living room and said, "Please, make yourselves at home. I'll go get Kay."

Brennan noticed the differences between this house and Thompson's at once. Thompson had few personal touches and did not have an overflowing supply of furniture. The Walker house had pictures all over the walls and on every hard surface in the room. Brennan noticed that there were lots of pictures of Laura and another girl at least in the older pictures. At some point however, the girl stopped showing up in the pictures. Brennan wondered who she was.

There were a ton of magazines stack up next to the coffee table and the TV was turned onto the news. The news was reporting the weather. Nothing exciting in the next couple of days. Brennan sat down on the couch and Booth sat down next to her. She picked up a picture from the end table. It showed Laura, the other girl, and Mr. and Mrs. Walker. They seemed to be at the beach and everyone had huge grins on their faces.

Mr. Walker walked back into the room and said, "Kay will be here in a minute. She has to take the cookies out of the oven and clean up a little." He watched Brennan set the picture back down on the side table, "That was our family on the trip to Destin. The only time we ever went. That was a year before Sarah died. It was the summer before Laura went to college."

He paused. Brennan said, "You guys looked like you were enjoying your vacation."

"We were. I think that was the last time the whole family smiled. A month after that Sarah was diagnosed with cancer and less than a year later she was dead."

Booth was afraid that Mr. Walker would start crying for a moment but he collected himself and said, "But that was years ago."

From behind Booth and Brenna they heard, "John?"

"In the living room, Kay," he called back softly.

Kay Walker walked into the room, looked at Booth and Brennan, and asked, "Have you people finally found my daughter?"

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So there it is. I did not get a lot of response with the last chapter, so how am I to know what you guys think? I would very much appreciate a review. ;)