Gangster With a Heartbeat. Chapter 9.
Into the Lion's Den.
The hotel's exterior was neglected... extremely neglected. How it even stayed open was a question most people asked themselves as they briskly walked by, not wishing to get to close in case of danger. Seldom seen however, were the shady customers who frequented a particular room at the end of the hall. It looked similar to the other doors with a passing glance but if one were to peer just a little closer that certain individual would notice a small tack pushed into the wood of the door right above the nob.
Now, having no prior knowledge as to what the tack meant, a slightly curious pedestrian would surely move on; however, a one Seeley Booth saw the copper stud in the door and let out some of his frustration. That was the sign that his target was home. Somehow knowing that the man he wanted to see was directly behind the two inch thick splinterable object released even more of the anger that had been building. So much so that the handsome Booth let a smirk slide upon his lips as he took a careful step back raised his foot and kicked the flimsy door clean off the hinges.
After the cloud of disturbed dust and grime settled to the floor the experienced fighter made his quick entrance through the doorway. as his eyesight adjusted to the semi-darkness movement in the corner caught his attention.
Rounding the corner of the bed Booth smiled widely at the figure he found slivering in fear on the floor. Giving his victim a once over Booth was satisfied at the little man's reaction.
He had mouse brown hair which was concealed with an odd looking top hat, something quite in fashion at the time though it still looked odd. His eyes, which were as wide as their lids would allow, were pealed open and staring at the man towering over him. Somehow Booth pictured seeing his reflection in those eyes which suddenly drove him wild.
Picking the puny thing up by the collar of his shirt was one of the easiest things Booth had ever done; completely effortless and he held the younger man up in the air looking around the room to find something to smash him into. Finding nothing suitable Seeley Booth merely used the wall.
He held one hand to the now torn collar and the other to the slim neck of the other guy.
"Hello Rat. Yaknow, you're a really hard guy to find- with all those different hotel rooms an all I thought I would never find you." Booth sneered to him a chill instantly filling the room.
"To what do I owe this pleasure Don Seeley?" The mouse man slipped out from a crushed throat. Even with a hand gripping his tracheae his English accent was still able to slip through his very white teeth.
"You already know why I'm here Murry." Booth growled to him, suddenly deciding to throw the tiny man onto the floor. He landed with a slight thud but not as bad as Booth wanted to hurt him, though the kid would surely be sore for a while.
"What do you want to know Mr. Booth?" The grimy looking man breathed out as he clutched his throat.
Taking a heavy seat onto a chair in the corner Booth flicked on the lights. "Tell me when Capone is coming to town." He said as he glared down into the face of his informant. Giving the kid a few moments to collect all of his internal information Booth noticed that he was actually very well kept, as well as his room. Nothing was out of place and it came as an afterthought that he might have left the room cleaner than when he was given it.
Suddenly the younger man rubbed his eyes wearily. "Ya realize that if I tell ya what I know then Capone is going to kill me, right?"
Booth caught his eye, and giving no hint of sympathy he threw his companion a smirk. "You realize that if you don't tell me what I want to know then I'm going to kill you, right?"
There was no need for an answer because Booth saw complete cooperation in Nigel-Murry's eyes. Leaning back in the chair he made himself comfortable and waited for the news to start pouring out.
"Capone is going to be here tomorrow night." Vincent began. "There's a jolly old ball goin' on down town in the old opera house. Did you know they made it into a reception hall?" In seeing no interest what so ever in Booth's eyes Nigel-Murry quickly moved on. "You'll find him there."
Pleased that the information he had received was actually useful Booth rubbed his hands together and rose from his seat. Nigel-Murry straightened up as well and Booth's hand somehow found its way to his back, making a clapping noise as it encountered his body. "Now that wasn't so hard now was it Vince?" He taunted.
"Easy for you to say, I'm the one with my back side on the line."
Booth let out a laugh and left the slightly disheveled boy behind him, though only to be called back a moment later. "Mr. Booth?" Nigel called to him and as he turned he watched to snitch fidget slightly. "Thanks for not killing me..." He said so that Booth could barely hear him.
Sending a glittering smile to the other man Booth again turned around. "No problem Vince but if I need anything again just please tell me the first time, then we won't have to go through that now won't we?"
Nigel-Murry gulped. "Jolly good." He was quiet for another moment and as he kept walking Booth was sure he heard the younger man open his mouth several times almost as if to say something but the words, if ever said, were never heard by his ears.
When the entrance came into view Booth took great care to exit the dilapidated building quietly and without much fuss so as not to be seen. He then made his way back to his waiting driver and urged the young lad to step on the gas; never quite mentioning the need to see the woman who was back home waiting for him or that his son was likely in her arms.
"Why can't I come with you?" Brennan voiced as Booth told his newly adoptive family of his plans.
"Sweetie-" Angela said, trying to persuade her to listen.
"No Angela, they threatened Parker." It was all she said as she stomped off into the other room. Booth recognized the direction she was going and kept the information quietly to himself, knowing completely that neither Hodgins nor Angela knew that his room was that way.
"I'll talk to her." he muttered to the other couple and excused himself. He felt their eyes on his back as he turned around the corner.
After their respectable Don he exited the room Angela turned to her lover. "This is getting weird..."
Jack turned to her, a questioning look on her face. "Well I'm sure things like that don't happen all the time. I'm sure the threats will stop soon and then everything will be alright."
She watched him for a moment and then let out a quick snort. "Not that, Jack. I meant their relationship. Bren's never been one to take hold of someone so quickly. I mean, look at what's just happened! We come back after just one night away and they've already moved in together!" She breathed a quick sigh through her nose. "And the even weirder thing is that I don't think she's sleeping with him."
Jack was quiet next to her except for the hmp noise that he sent her way after she finished her explanation. They stuck together in a quiet embrace waiting for their friends to make their way back. Him gathering her slender fingers in his and she with her head rested on his unexpectedly muscular shoulder.
Booth watched his friend hide within herself. A few moments before when he had first walked into the room she had remained expressionless, as he had almost always seen her. But then, as she saw him gazing upon her the facade quickly melted away and he was left with a woman full of an emotion consistent with grief. Such sadness overwhelmed him and he made a move forward, unconsciously, to take her in his arms.
She had tried to shuffle away at first, though still allowed his arms to snake around her waist, but after failing to keep the tension within herself she let forth an incredibly small sniffle.
The stayed like that for longer than either of them realized and it never occurred to them to watch the time. It was just him and her. Together. In eachother's arms. The quiet that engulfed them was filled with unspoken questions but neither person felt that it was the proper time to voice anything, save for one statement.
"You're going to let me help you on this." Temperance murmured to her companion as she stared blankly out the window. Evident from her tone he realized that there would be no arguing with her on the subject.
"Alright." Booth said back to her, with the same tone of voice as she and together looking out over the still bustling city they held each other.
The ball room was glowing with the light of ten great chandeliers covered in thousands of candles. Sconces dawned the otherwise barren walls and filled the lower area with soft mood lighting. Dancers littered the floor with dresses and trains of all patterns and colors. Hundreds of people were packed into the space, a jazz band smoothly working the tension out of the air. The people were looking for a good time; Temperance and her companions not included.
As she and her scarlet dress draped themselves over the polite arm of a one Seeley Booth they both started to sway with the music, bringing eachother in closer as the dance commenced. He was holding onto her secret sweet spot at the very small of her back and she was trying not to let the involuntary rush overcome her.
To focus on something other than his ever sinking hand Temperance looked about the crowd. After a moment she located her targets. Angela, scantly clad in a deep magenta dress with no back what-so-ever and her partner Jack in his dashing black and white tuxedo seemed to be pleasantly enjoying themselves. A great smile spread across the artist's lips as her dance partner whispered something in her ear.
Her friend's smile was the only thing that calmed her as Temperance looked around and her eyes involuntarily examined every little thing that went on outside of her own tiny bubble; like the handshakes that went from one man to the other or the Italian descendants that completely took over several spots of the crowd. Booth had warned her of the things they were likely to encounter but he hadn't been able to prepare her for what she saw with her own eyes.
Suddenly Booth's hands gripped her waist. Looking up with a slight gasp from the surprise of his actions Brennan's upcoming scolding was thrown aside when she saw his face.
His eyes were drawn wide in his hatred and fear, though his mouth was compressed into a straight line. The sparkle that had been in his eyes just a while earlier after seeing the dress on her was now completely gone. Replaced in its entirety with a clouded deadened looked that took him far away from her.
It was then that she realized why he was acting that way. Seeley Booth had spotted Capone even if she hadn't.
Her dance partner made a move in the other man's direction, his hands quickly sliding off of their resting place on her hips. Momentarily stunned by the sight of the man that wanted her friend dead Temperance was finally brought back as she glanced over the murderous look that Booth was trying to conceal on his face. Grabbing his hand she pulled with all of her strength and was only able to just barely move him so that he faced her instead of their potential murderer. She held on tight to his shoulders as he subtly tried to pry her hands away.
"Calm down Seeley." She whispered in his ear, which seemed to have the desired effect.
It was then that she caught the eye of a small statured man sitting off to the side in the direction that Booth had been so intent on in the prior moments. He was short, fat, and ugly with oily skin and slicked back hair that was starting to thin out. The entire combination was then transformed into something even more frightening when he smiled at her only to reveal enormous yellow teeth.
Fear keeping her perfectly still time seemed to slow as the doctor watched the man across the room raise his fingers to the air and pointed it in her direction. Not knowing what he was doing she watched in tragic fascination as he let out a muted belly laugh and pretended to shoot her; yet, instead of the normal silence she thought would follow another man immediately took a step behind the midget of an Italian and raised a real gun. She hadn't time to notice that Seeley Booth had still been watching the movements of their prey and had blocked her form from the view of the gunman. For some reason she never heard the shot... just watched.
She caught him as he fell. Straight into her arms since she had lined herself up to break his fall; though, when contact was made Temperance lacked the physical strength to hold him and together they sank to the floor.
As she opened her eyes a few seconds after Booth had tumbled upon her Temperance Brennan registered the screams that were echoing through the ballroom, as well as the luke warm substance gushing from the human that was crushing her. He lay as if he were standing- except on the floor, his whole body covering hers.
"Booth? Booth wake up." Came a small voice from somewhere in her throat.
Tears had started to fall from her eyes when a distant mini explosion resonated through her. The bullet pierced and seared its way into her side and the last thing she saw before she looked at their killer was the second hole in the chest of her beloved friend.
TBC
