A/N: Reviews make me write faster, so please review!!!!!!

After what seemed like hours, though was in reality less than twenty minutes, of taking solace in her husband's strong arms, Booth and Brennan returned to their search for their daughter. The clock was ticking, and there was less than thirty-three hours until Ross expected the ransom – and Bones. Still, there weren't any substantial leads. Booth and Brennan went to Parker's school and spoke to all of his teachers, football coach, and the entire football team, in the event that Ross has been hanging around Parker's school. Again, they came up empty.

Malone's lackeys had a bit more luck. Mrs. Winkler was certain that she'd seen a man who looked very much like Ross, but with a beard and brown hair, rather than blond. She had noticed him when she, Ciana, and Emma were leaving the library. He had told Emma that she looked a lot like his daughter. Mrs. Winkler had thought it was a somewhat odd comment but didn't think much of it.

October 10, 2010 3:00 PM

"Ange?" Brennan asked, walking into her best friend's office, "Can you do me a favor?"

"Of course, sweetie," Angela said, eager for the possibility to help.

Handing her a photo, "Can you alter this to give him a beard and brown hair?"

"Of course. Did someone see him?"

"Yes, Emma's foster mother, outside the library. I want to take the updated photo to the library."

"Of course,"Angela nodded, "So, um, you lived with this guy?"

"Yeah," Bones answered shortly.

Booth's voice echoed in her head. The people who love you want to share the burden of your pain.

"He sexually abused the other girl in the home and I. We reported him to the police; he spent twelve years in jail," Brennan reported rapidly.

"Twelve years?" Angela said, eyebrows raised, knowing that no one did twelve years for molesting a child.

Brennan nodded.

Gently placing her palm on her best friend's forearm, Angela asked, "Sweetie, did he rape you?"

Tears sprung to Angela's eye the moment the words crossed her lips.

Brennan shook her head, "No, but he raped Sarah, the other girl. I witnessed it."

"God, Brennan," Angela said, tears now running down her face and wrapping her arms around her best friend, "I never knew."

"How would you? I never told you."

"And Booth suggested that you tell me?" Angela said, a small smile gracing her lips and pulling away from Brennan slightly.

"Yes," Brennan nodded, "Some day I will tell you more about it, but now I need to get that picture to show around the library."

"Of course, sweetie. I will email it to you right away."

"Thanks, Ang."

October 10, 2016 3:45 PM

Hand in hand, Booth and Brennan walked into the library and walked up to the circulation desk.

"Excuse me, have you seen this man?" Brennan asked.

"And, who are you?" the woman who looked like the quintessential librarian asked.

Booth flashed his badge, "My name is Special Agent Seeley Booth, and this is Temperance Brennan of the Jeffersonian," he reciting, wondering how a librarian could no know his wife.

"Yeah, I've seen him. He was in earlier, checked out a copy of Goodnight Moon."

Booth swallowed the lump in his throat, "What's his name?"

"Let me check," she said, accessing the library database.

"Michael Kowalski. Lives at 127C Desales Street."

"Thank you. If he shows up, please call me immediately," Booth said, handing the woman his card.

Taking his wife's hand, he led them out of the library. He took out his phone and dialed Malone.

"Yeah, we have an address. 127C Desales. Me and Bones are on our way. Bring back up."

Putting his phone back in its holster, Booth said, "Malone's on his way with back-up."

Brennan nodded, "Booth, he must have been watching us for a long time to know about the book."

Booth took a deep breath, "I know."

Booth had read Goodnight Moon to Natalie every day since she came home from hospital. Brennan has initially found the notion ridiculous - a book about saying goodnight to inanimate objects. Booth explained that he'd read the book to Parker frequently until Parker said he was "too old." Of course, he didn't have the opportunity to read to Parker everyday, but he wasn't going to miss out on that precious time with Natalie. Even when he was out of town, he would read the book to over the phone. Over the last year, Natalie had preferred that the roles be reversed, and she read the book to her father. Years later, Natalie sitting on his lap while he read to her would be among Booth's most cherished memories of his little girl.

Just after 4:00 PM, they arrived at 127 Desales, where Malone and a number of agents waited for them. One twenty-seven Desales was a large row home that had been divided into a number of apartments. It was, by far, the worst house in the block and surrounding area. Most of the apartments were inhabited by parents, who wanted their kids to attend the better school district. According to his neighbors, Kowalski was one of the only people without a child or a spouse that lived in the building. They said that he "kept to himself".

Booth and Malone led the way, knocking on the worn looking door.

When they received no response, the landlord shouted, "Mr. Kowalski? The Munoz's in G smelled gas. We have to inspect for a gas leak. If you are in there, please open the door."

Still no response. Malone gave the landlord the go ahead to open the apartment.

"Be careful," Booth whispered to Bones before entering the apartment.

The agents scanned the apartment, and young agent called for Malone, "You gotta see this."

Malone ran into the bedroom, Booth and Bones close behind him.

An entire wall was papered with photos of Bones and Natalie. Parker, though never Booth, appeared in a few photos. Ross had indeed been watching the Booth family for quite some time. There were photos of Natalie as a very young toddler, holding her mother's hand in the park. There were photos of Natalie and Elizabeth, as well as the nanny they had prior to Elizabeth. When Booth saw a photo of his wife with only her panties on, he immediately tore it down.

"Agent Booth, that is evidence," one of Malone's agent said.

"Yeah, were you planning on taking this particular piece of evidence home, Gonzalez?" Booth growled less than an inch from the man's face.

"No!" he shouted, "I just…sorry."

"I bet you are," Booth said, backing away.

"Booth, that's not helping," Brennan scolded, "I am sure that Agent Gonzalez had no intention of bringing that photograph home and using it as a stimulus -."

"Okay, Bones, got it."

"We are going to get an FBI forensics team in here to dust the photos for prints, make sure Ross doesn't have an accomplice."

"We should have Hodgins check the place for particulates," Brennan said, "maybe they'd narrow down where he has her."

Booth nodded, feeling less and less hopeful with each moment. He, however, felt the need to keep up the façade for Bones.

"I am sorry to have to mention this, but Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan, do you have the assets that Ross is looking for available?" Malone asked.

"It isn't going to come to that," Booth responded quickly.

"Yes, I liquidated some assets; they will be available tomorrow," Brennan replied.

"Malone, may I have a word with you?" Booth asked.

"Sure," he said hesitantly.

Brennan seemed pleased to boss around the agents for the moment, and Booth cornered Malone.

"You are not letting her deliver that money without agents nearby."