ATHENA AND TARZAN

CHAPTER TEN

SUSAN H

Brennan spoke with the desk clerk at the Evergreen Lodge. After she provided her with ID and her credit card, she and Booth were on their way to their room.

Booth turned the key in the lock.

"What kind of inn still uses keys?" he asked.

"This is exactly as I remember. The view is spectacular isn't Booth?"

"We should check in with the sheriff. Small town like this is bound to notice us, and then the rumors fly. Wonder if it's still that big guy, Chris, what's-his-name."

"Scutter. His name was Chris Scutter. What's wrong?"

"I just don't like this Bones. Wide open spaces, the sparse population, it just makes it harder for me to protect you."

"Well, maybe you're the one who needs protecting."

Brennan's phone rang. "Brennan,"

"Dr. Brennan, it's Cam. The skull and the skeleton you sent don't belong to the same person."

"Oh, I should have thought of that possibility. Has Angela been able to construct a face?"

"Yes. A female between 17 and 25 died 20 years ago. She was buried near Stone Mountain, Georgia, but Hodgins thinks she's a transplant. We have two women with similar features that fall into that category. Anne Sutton, a 22-year-old who disappeared while visiting her sister. Margaret Fisher, a 20-year-old who disappeared, a week after moving to the area with a friend. We expect to have a definite ID after the DNA results come back."

"Maybe you have them both Cam."

"Hodgins is processing the new soil samples now."

"I'll review his report when he emails me. Cam, can you tell Angela I arrived safely in Aurora?"

"Of course. Be careful, and tell Booth hi."

"Cam says hi, Booth. Apparently, the skull and the body are from different bodies"

"Let's go talk to the sheriff."

***

Chris stood up when they entered his office, "Dr. Brennan, Agent Booth, well this is a pleasant surprise. You haven't found another cannibal in the area have you?"

"No, no," Booth shook his hand. "Nothing like that. No, this time we are on the trail of a psychopathic serial killer. Um, as a professional favor, we need you to keep that confidential."

"Certainly Agent Booth, I appreciate the courtesy visit. So, Dr. Brennan, how have you been? You are as lovely as ever."

Brennan smiled. "Actually, I got married recently."

"Oh, well congratulations to you. I'm sure many men are disappointed."

"So, Sheriff, you still haven't sent for that Russian bride huh?" Booth asked.

"You should stop in and see Charlie. He'll be tickled to see you."

"Actually, I will probably be using his services. That is, if he still handles overnight deliveries."

"Yes he does. Things don't change much in Aurora."

The door opened, and Sherman Rivers walked in.

"Look, the bone gatherer and the FBI. This is a coincidence. You may be interested in something I just found."

He pulled out a digital camera and handed it to the sheriff.

"Chris, can you load these?"

"Wow, you've gone hi-tech," Booth said.

A picture of a large group of people, many resembling Sherman, popped up on the screen.

"Oh, sorry, we had a family reunion. You want to look at the last pictures first."

Chris clicked the mouse a few time, then a picture of a skeletal hand on a tree populated the screen. Brennan leaned in.

"Can you enlarge the bones?" she asked Chris. He did.

"Booth, it appears to be pointing."

"Sherman, can you take us to this tree?" Booth asked.

"Of course Agent Booth, I still owe you for ignoring the poaching charge."

"Let's not mention that Sherman, okay?" Booth whispered and looked around the office.

"Chris, do you want to come with us?" Sherman asked.

"No, I think the FBI, and Park Ranger can take care of this. I'll file the report."

The three walked out into the sunshine. A man in a baseball cap strode past them.

"Booth, that man, do you recognize him?"

Booth looked at his back, and shook his head.

"Booth, that's Mark."

"How can you tell Bones? His hair is dark brown, and that cap is pulled low over his eyes."

"Well, just look at his gait. It's better than a fingerprint."

"Hey Mark!" Booth yelled. The man stopped and turned.

"Well hello," he said smiling. "Imagine running into you two, way out here. Hi Temperance."

"Nice hair Mark." Booth said.

"Thank you. My niece forced it on me. She studies cosmetology, and no one in the family is safe."

"Well, that all seems incredibly unlikely Mark. We meet you in Vegas with blonde hair, then we travel to a town barely on the map, and here you are, with a fresh dye job." Booth said.

"Life's funny that way. Well, you enjoy your stay." Mark said and walked away.

"Who is that?" Sherman asked.

"He isn't a local then?" Booth asked.

"No, I never saw him."

"The question then isn't who he is but how we prove it."