(Season 11)
A/N: I posted Chapter 8 last Thursday, but FFN did not sent out any emails to anyone to let them know. If you missed it, make sure you go back and read it before you read chapter 9.
Thank you for reviewing my story. I appreciate it.
I don't own Bones.
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Friday afternoon and Angela heard an alarm on her computer. Someone had filed a missing person's report for Andrew Arsenault, citizen of Canada and it seemed to match the parameters she had used in her search. Hoping that this might be the one she was waiting for, Angela checked the personal information that Brennan had been able to provide for their wood chipper victim and compared it to the personal information provided in the missing person's report. A lot of the details seemed to match perfectly and Angela decided to inform Brennan and Cam.
Entering Brennan's office, Angela found her friend sleeping on the couch. Not willing to disturb her, she left immediately and sought out Cam instead. Cam was in her office going over her projected budget for the next fiscal year when Angela entered the room. "Cam I think I may know who the wood chipper victim is."
Pleased to hear that tidbit of news, Cam save and closed her file then turned her chair to face Angela. "Good, who is he?"
"Well, we don't have a head or hands or even a complete upper torso, but I think it may be Andrew Arsenault. He's a citizen of Canada." Angela checked the tablet in her hand and nodded her head. "He was reported missing by his father two days ago to Metro Police. Richard Arsenault also informed the Canadian Embassy too. I sent you a copy of the missing person's report. Since the body was found behind the Canadian Embassy . . . well, I think it's a possibility. I think we should get a sample of DNA from Richard Arsenault to see if he and our victim are related."
"Is he here in town or in Canada?" Cam jotted down some notes on a pad next to her PC.
Angela smiled. "We're in luck. Richard Arsenault is staying at his son's apartment right now. He left the address and a phone number when he filed the report."
Checking the email, Cam noted the pertinent information. "I'll forward this to Booth and see if he can get the DNA. Did you tell Brennan? She might want to go with him."
A quick glance at the doorway and Angela shook her head. "Brennan is sleeping in her office. I didn't have the heart to wake her. She only got about three hours of sleep last night. She told me that she had a nightmare that wouldn't allow her to go back to sleep."
Cam had seen Brennan earlier that morning and she had recognized that Brennan was overly tired. She had tried to encourage the anthropologist to go home, but Brennan had insisted that it wouldn't be necessary. Now she realized that she should have insisted. "Don't wake her. I'll have Booth come by and pick up Ms. Warren. She can get the DNA sample just as easily as Brennan."
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Alerted that he had an email, Booth found that Cam had forwarded him a missing person's report for Andrew Arsenault, a citizen of Charlesbourg, Canada, a small town north of Quebec City. Grateful to finally have a possible lead, Booth called Aubrey to let him know he was going to leave in a few minutes to interview Richard Arsenault. "I'm going to ask him for a sample of his DNA to see if he's related to our wood chipper victim."
You're going to do a DNA test?
"What am I? A squint?" Booth rummaged in his desk drawer for a pack of gum. "I'm going to go by the Lab and pick up the red-haired squint, Jessica and she's going to do the swab. Bones isn't available right now."
Hey want me to go do the interview? I'm not really working on anything right now.
"Trying to take my case from me?" His hand finally latched on to a pack of gum in the back of the drawer and pulled it out.
No of course not. I just know you've got a mountain of paper work on your desk and I thought I could get the ball rolling. Hell our victim may not even be connected to this Richard Arsenault. If he isn't then you won't have wasted your time.
Well aware that Aubrey probably wanted to be alone with the red-haired intern, Booth smiled as he opened his pack of gum. "Okay, go ahead. Just keep me in the loop and let me know if we've found out the identity of our victim."
Will do.
The call ended, Booth folded a slice of gum, popped it into his mouth and flipped open the file on top of the stack sitting on his desk. If Bones is still sleeping like Cam says she is then that means she really is tired. I should have talked her into staying home damn it.
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The interview with Richard Arsenault went about as well as Aubrey had expected. At first the man had refused to believe that there was a possibility that his son was dead. He thought for sure that the FBI had made a mistake. Aubrey was careful to explain that they didn't know for certain if the man's son was dead or not. They had found a body a few days ago behind the Canadian Embassy and they wanted a sample of DNA from Richard to run tests and see if it was possible that the victim was Andrew Arsenault. Of course if Andrew had a hairbrush available then they wouldn't need anything from Richard. They could use whatever hair was in the brush for the tests.
Richard had realized that he had to cooperate with Aubrey if he wanted to make sure that the victim they were investigating was his son or not. After he retrieved his son's hair brush from the bathroom as well as his toothbrush, he handed them to the young woman accompanying the agent and watched her place them in a plastic bag. "Could you tell me how he died . . . the man found behind the Embassy? Could I see him? I might be able to tell you if it's my son."
As stoically as he could, Aubrey solemnly shook his head. "I'm sorry Sir. The victim was found in the woods and well, you wouldn't be able to tell if it was your son by looking at him. I think it would be best if we did the DNA test and then we can tell you for sure if it's Andrew or not."
Although he was horrified at the thought that the dead man might be his son, he was even more horrified that if he was, there was a possibility that any plans for a funeral would involve a closed casket. He prayed that the victim that Agent Aubrey was investigating wasn't his son. His family would have a hard time accepting their boy's body was destroyed or badly damaged. Andrew had been a beautiful baby and a handsome young man. It just didn't seem fair that his son might be dead. He was so damn young. "Alright, I'll accept that for now. Can you tell me when you'll know for sure if it is Andrew?"
Jessica placed the plastic bag in an evidence bag and turned her attention towards Richard. "Sir, it usually takes a few days, but we will start the process as soon as I return to the Jeffersonian."
"Alright, just call me when you know for sure." Richard felt like he was trapped in a nightmare. His youngest boy might be dead and he didn't know how he was going to explain it to his wife and kids. Andrew had been the baby of the family and everyone had adored him.
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On the way back to the Lab, Aubrey swung by a Starbucks and bought Jessica and himself a large coffee. He had been tempted to buy a snack, but passed on that idea. They were going to go out in a few hours for dinner and a movie marathon and he didn't want to spoil his appetite.
Handing one of the coffees to Jessica, Aubrey smiled and sipped from his coffee cup. "I found out when the barbecue is. Booth says you can come any time after one. We're probably going to eat around three or four. I guess there's going to be a little socializing while Booth grills. He said he's going to set up a badminton net and he's got a wading pool for Christine and Hank. Booth said the adults usually play cards, stuff like that. If you want to come later you can if you think you'll be bored."
"Why would I be bored?" Jessica took a sip of her coffee and placed the cup in a cup holder. "It sounds like fun. Of course I'll be there at one. I play a mean game of badminton, so you better bring your A game, Superman."
"Well bring it on." Aubrey had only played the game as a child with his mother, but he was sure he was good enough to beat his friend.
Challenged, Jessica stared at her friend with hooded eyes. "I'm very competitive. Don't be surprised when I defeat you on the field of battle."
A sly smirk on his face, Aubrey started his truck. "I won't be. Just you don't be surprised either. When I play I play to win."
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At five that evening, Booth arrived at the Lab and found Brennan sitting behind her desk, checking her emails. She looked rested and Booth was relieved. "Hey Bones lets go. Max picked up the kids, so we're free to go home and maybe have an early night. I think we could both use more sleep and we should take advantage of having the house to ourselves. Aubrey says he'll probably be home around two in the morning. That science fiction thing he's going to isn't going to let out until about one or so."
Though she had meant to take a short nap after she had eaten her soup, she had slept for three hours. It had helped her get though the last two hours, but she agreed with her husband. Extra sleep would be good for both of them. "That sounds like an excellent idea, Booth. Let's pick up some Chinese food on the way home, so we don't have to cook."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Booth yawned. "Damn . . . okay let's go." Booth watched his wife remove her lab coat and retrieve her purse from her desk. "Cam said we'll know if our wood chipper victim is Andrew Arsenault by Monday. If it is at least I have somewhere to start my investigation."
Brennan walked over to where Booth was standing and linked her arm with his. "Yes Ms. Warren told me after I awoke from my nap. She plans to come to our barbecue Sunday. Aubrey invited her."
Chuckling, Booth nodded his head. "Yeah, those two are just friends."
"Well, of course they are." Brennan thought Booth was stating the obvious. "They spend a lot of recreational time together."
Moving out of the office and down the hallway towards the exit, Booth decided to remain silent. He was too tired for bickering or lectures. He just wanted to go home, eat a little pepper steak and go to bed. It wasn't how he had originally planned to spend date night, but sometimes you just have to recharge your batteries, especially when you have two small children and extra free time was rare.
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