The Bone Artist
Chapter TEN
ELM377 & Interest Me
Stephanie held her breath. Bobby and that sleazy girl were rolling around above her. Lint tickled her nose, but she didn't dare flick it away. She thought she'd been caught when Bobby folded the seats flat. She squeezed her eyes and pretended she was somewhere else.
Her legs cramped as she lay under the seats. The blanket that shrouded her smelled like feet. She and Bobby would look back on this day as special. She imagined snuggling in his arms in front of a fireplace and relating the incident to him. How he would be touched by what she went through just to be alone with him. He would feel guilty about that cheap whore he brought to the truck.
He would squeeze her and whisper that he was sorry it took so long to realize the spiritual and psychic connection they shared. Oh, she would forgive him. She would reassure him it was all in the past. Grandly, she would never even mention the restraining order. What was it Jesus said? He knows not what he does?
That's all. He just doesn't know yet. Tonight, she would convince him.
The sounds above her stopped. Her shoulders relaxed. That woman was nothing more than a toy for him to play with, to pass the time until she and Bobby could be together. Stephanie exhaled when the door slammed.
She heard Bobby enter the front seat and turn the engine. He was alone, she could feel it. Joy expanded her chest, and she meditated to her heartbeats' percussive song in her ears. Love. She experienced the truest, most painful love she had ever imagined. Bobby would be hers soon.
The car door startled her. Had she fallen asleep? She tugged the rancid blanket tightly around her and imagined the blanket was Bobby's arms. Deep in her fantasy, she barely noticed the gasoline fumes until they accumulated in her head and thudded for attention.
Tires squealed, and carpet bit her arms when the truck stopped. She held still as Bobby opened the back and grabbed the gas cans. The deep thrum of the full cans was unmistakable. After a few minutes, she peeked outside and saw the Center. Oh, perfection. Fate, the planets, the universe arranged the perfect setting for her to declare her love.
She snapped her head down when the truck door opened. The impact of the closing door whiffed through her. She glanced out the window. Who was the dark haired man running from the truck? A light radiated from a Center window. She forgot the strange man, and exited the truck to unite with her true love.
Brennan's body pressed the door and pulled against her seatbelt as Booth shot through a sharp curve. Booth was calling for back-up as they raced to the Center.
"It's not logical Booth. What does he have to gain by burning down the center?"
"We're talking crazy killer Bones, not logical scientist."
"Yeah, that guy is three beans shy of a cleansing."
"Who let him in here?" Booth demanded.
"Well I certainly didn't. Noel, what are you doing here?"
Noel slipped his last fry in his mouth.
"This is probably a good time for us to concentrate on The Flow that will bind us as a team. You know, change can be stressful"
"Hey, Mung Boy, we are not a team."
"Whoa, you invited me in. I ran surveillance for you."
"That's true Booth, you did bring him on the team."
"We are not a team!"
"Bones is right Booth. We're gonna get the bad guy."
"Stop calling her Bones."
"Why do you object to him calling me Bones? You do."
"Because I call you Bones. That's my special name for you."
"It's not even like it's all that original man. The hot doctor works with bones; it's not a huge leap dude. I'm sure other people have called her Bones. Haven't they?"
"There have been a few people that called me Bones."
"See Dude, told ya."
"But I put an end to it immediately."
"Then why do you let the cop call you Bones?"
"He just won't stop."
"Bones, do you really want me to stop calling you Bones?"
"Well at this point, I've come to identify with the name, at least from you."
"So, like what should I call you then?" asked Noel.
"Dr. Brennan, of course."
"I don't know, now that we're a team, that seems pretty formal."
"We are not a team," Booth insisted.
Noel flew from his seat and hit the floor when Booth negotiated a hard right.
"Ouch!"
"Take it as a sign from the Universe to shut-up, Bean Boy."
Stephanie's bare feet slapped along the dark hallway, as she headed for the wedge of light spilling from a room.
"Bobby?"
Jameson's head popped into view then retreated.
"Stephanie, you've been warned about showing up here."
"Bobby, I just want to talk to you. I think we've had a misunderstanding, and we can work it out."
She peered into the room, but didn't see Jameson. She stepped in, and Bobby grabbed her from behind and pulled her against him. She laid her hands on his arm and smiled.
"I knew you cared Bobby. It was Melinda who was in the way."
"Shut-up."
He pulled Stephanie across the room and grabbed a gas can. Fumes poisoned the air as the plush carpet drank the gasoline. Jameson zigzagged through the room, pouring the noxious fluid and dragging Stephanie with him.
"You know, I'm glad you're here Steph."
"I'm glad too Bobby."
"I'm pretty sure we're glad for different reasons. You're a bargaining chip that's going to get me out of trouble."
"I'd do anything for you. Are you in trouble?"
"Sit down," he shoved her in a chair.
She watched as he grabbed another gas can and swung his arms to splash the walls. The fumes swirled around her, and her brain swirled with them. Jameson grabbed a pilate and wrapped it around her and the chair. Her sight spun with each loop of the band. Jameson pulled tight, removing all elasticity.
Stephanie's vision darkened as she took shallow breaths, which was all her binding would allow. Her vision turned red and spotty, but then she realized that lights outside were flashing into the window.
Booth watched through binocular lenses, as Jameson emptied the cans. The night air flashed red as back-up arrived. Booth exited the SUV and updated the agents on the situation.
"Agent Booth," an underling yelled and handed Booth his binoculars. Jameson dragged a woman into view.
"This has become a hostage situation," Booth announced.
"Call a negotiator. Can we establish contact?"
Booth stuck his head into the SUV.
"Noel, what is the phone number for the Center?"
Booth dialed as Noel rattled off the number.
"Non-Vegans welcome, Healthy Foods, how may I help you?"
Booth snapped his phone closed.
"Noel!"
"Oh, sorry, sorry, I always get those confused."
Noel offered another phone number, and this one connected with Jameson.
"Mr. Jameson, this is Agent Booth. Remember, we met at FBI headquarters."
"No, I don't recall."
"Sure, you met me and my partner Dr. Brennan. We discussed your wife."
"Don't patronize me Agent Booth, of course I remember. We aren't buddies, so let's get down to business."
"What business is that Mr. Jameson?"
"Leave me alone. Don't interfere with my marriage. None of this was ever any of your business."
"I'm sorry, I don't follow. What is none of our business? We haven't charged you with anything at all."
"No, you haven't charged me, but that leads to the question: What are you doing here with reinforcements? You've been watching me. It's none of your business if me my wife and I are getting along, or if Melinda was having an affair."
"Yes, that's true. A man shouldn't interfere with another man's marriage. I may have crossed a line. But nothing bad has happened. Come out and we'll discuss it."
"Sure, I'll be right out. This is religious persecution. Remember how Waco turned out."
"I have nothing against your religion. I even took a Yoga class. Come out before something bad happens."
"Do you see that woman tied to a chair?"
"I see her."
"I have a restraining order on her, and she broke it. Now, if you let me escape punishment, I will let her escape punishment."
"What punishment, Mr. Jameson? We haven't charged you with a crime."
"Leave now, and nothing will happen."
"Do you think we can leave?"
"Do you think I won't set her on fire?" Jameson hung up.
Booth hit redial, but flames danced in the window. Noel jumped out of the SUV and ran through the Center's doors. Booth's men followed.
"Idiot!" Booth yelled after Noel.
Noel watched Jameson exit the room and run down the hall. Officers caught up to Noel, and he directed them toward Jameson. Stephanie squirmed in her bindings and the flames danced in a circle around her. Noel pushed his left toes against his right heel to remove his shoe.
Booth reached him as he removed his second shoe.
"What are you doing?"
"It's just like walking on hot coals dude. I'm saving the girl."
Noel ran into the room and dragged the chair into the hall. He and Booth scraped the chair through the hallway and out the exit. Brennan was waiting, and she cut Stephanie loose, and examined her for injuries.
"How are your feet?" Booth asked.
"Wow, she's pretty, "Noel answered staring at Stephanie.
"Noel," Booth snapped his fingers.
Stephanie approached Noel, "It's like a fairytale. You saved me from the fiery dragon."
"Cool," was all Noel said.
"Does that make me your princess and you my knight in shining armor?"
"Sure, like as long as the armor is made of organic cotton."
Booth walked away from the new couple, shaking his head. He called the agents out of the building.
"Come on out boys," he radioed, "The fire is spreading."
Booth entered his SUV with Brennan, Noel and Stephanie and watched the fire.
"Booth, where is he?" Brennan asked.
"We're watching the perimeter, Bones. He's still inside."
"Well that's crazy."
"Exactly."
"Yeah, I told you the guy was scrambled in the brain," Noel added
"He was just misunderstood," Stephanie said.
"Did you understand him, Stephanie?" Brennan asked.
"Yes, we had a special connection. He didn't exist on an ordinary plane like the rest of us."
"I see," Brennan said.
"Really?" Booth whispered,
Brennan shook her head.
Flames, police lights, and spotlights lit the night brighter than day. Heat from the fire raised the temperature inside the SUV. Brennan and Booth silently watched the building as Stephanie and Noel discussed the intricacies of restraining orders and court appearances.
"They can only restrain the physical, but nothing can stop our spirits from reaching out to another human," Stephanie said.
"Exactly, but I'd rather reach out with the physical." Noel said.
"So Noel, what do you do?"
"I manufacture hemp products and run surveillance for the FBI."
"Oh, you work for the government."
"Yeah, I know what you're thinking, but I'm freelance. I can turn down any job for any reason."
"I see. On reflection, I suppose that could work well. Perhaps you're paying penance for miscarriages of justice in law enforcement in a past life."
"I think you could be right. Maybe I'm just working out some bad Karma, and that's why people don't get too close to me."
A fire ball exploded in the sky, the foursome covered their ears and squeezed their eyes shut. Stephanie buried her face in Noel's chest. He wrapped his arms around her and stared at the explosion.
"Now, that is some bad Karma man."