Vigilante Justice

A/N: After a crazy week I am finally posting the next chapter… thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 10: The Disappearance of Andrew Carson

"Hi, Booth. Is it quitting time already?"

Answering her cell phone while trying to put away her forensic instruments, Brennan couldn't suppress a pleased smile. For the last several weeks, Booth had called her at "quitting time" every night like clockwork, and she was beginning to use the phrase regularly. She couldn't remember the last time she'd gone home by herself. Booth drove her, met her at her front door or had her over to his place.

She hadn't even gone to the grocery store alone since the close call outside George's Grill last month. Angela had made her promise to go with her when she needed to shop, which had actually turned into a nice routine for both of them.

And everything had remained quiet. They were all beginning to relax and carry on with normal life without the constant fear that Carson was waiting to get one of them. For a few days, the papers carried the story of Carson's secret life of crime and his subsequent disappearance, and then, as is the nature of hot news, the story fell off the front page and out of the public eye. In spite of this Booth knew that the FBI was still working hard to locate the fugitive, but to his frustration the trail was now cold and no new leads had surfaced.

"Not only is it quitting time, but it's Friday night. How about we go paint the town red?"

"If by that you mean you'd like to go to George's, play darts and drink until we feel intoxicated, I'd have to say no. We did that last Friday night."

Booth chuckled. They had indeed, along with Cam, Angela, Jack, Lance and two interns. The music had been lively and the conversation had degenerated into a delightful exchange of corny jokes and stupid stories from their younger days.

"Well, it was fun, wasn't it?"

"It was great fun, Booth. I loved it. I just thought we could do something a little different."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Just dinner tonight, but tomorrow I'd love to drive to Ocean City and walk along the boardwalk. Maybe we could walk on the beach, too. I know it's too cold to go swimming, but I haven't seen the ocean in a long time. I don't know why but I have a yearning to see it again."

"That sounds perfect. It's a date."

"Wait—do you have Parker this weekend? Because he could come, too. They have a great little amusement park at the end of 10th Street, right on the water. I'm not sure it's open this time of year, but I can check, if you like."

"I don't have Parker this weekend. Rebecca and her boyfriend are taking him to visit her parents for the weekend."

Booth sounded a little melancholy. Even though he got to see Parker a lot, the weekends they were apart still got to him. Bones was suddenly glad she'd come up with this idea and asked him along, something she hadn't done very often in the past. But now… things were changing between them, getting closer, more intimate. A whole weekend without seeing him seemed like an eternity.

"So, dinner?" Booth said. "I'm downstairs, if you want me to take you to eat."

"Where downstairs?"

"I'm parked right next to your car in the parking deck."

She smiled. "I'm on my way."

When she walked out onto the level she was parked on, Booth saw her across the lot right away and his face brightened like a beacon. He stuck one hand in the air and waved once, then waited for her impatiently. When she got within ten yards of him, he met her half-way and grabbed her arm enthusiastically as he walked her to his car.

"Are you driving?" She asked. "Where are we eating?" She looked in the back seat and saw two bags that looked like groceries.

"I'm cooking," he announced excitedly. He gave her a sideways look, not sure what he reaction would be.

"Grilled cheese sandwiches?"

"Italian. Pasta. My aunt's recipe. You'll love it. Can we cook at your place? You have a better kitchen for that sort of thing."

Brennan snorted. She knew what he meant was she had basic herbs, spices, matching silverware, fresh lettuce and condiments other than ketchup.

"Sure, but only if I get to help cook the pasta."

"Deal."

"Have you talked to Max lately?" Brennan asked him as he pulled out of the parking deck. After taking a cursory look in both directions, he squealed out into traffic, wedging himself into a narrow opening between two cars and eliciting an angry honk.

"What do you mean by 'lately'?"

"Have you talked to my father on the phone in the last few days?" She clarified, shooting a suspicious glare at Booth. He was evading her question and she wondered why.

"Yes," he responded cryptically.

"What's going on?"

"Bones, nothing is going on. Why are you giving me the third degree? Yes, I talked to your Dad. What's so strange about that?" He turned a corner with a little too much enthusiasm and the tires screeched.

"I can't seem to reach him. Yesterday I went over to his apartment and nobody was there. He hasn't been at work, either. I'm concerned. Do you know where he is?"

"You went over to his apartment alone?" Booth's protective instincts flared. He'd been sure he hadn't let her out of his sight, but apparently she'd slipped out of his careful surveillance long enough to discover that Max was not around.

"Where is my father?" She demanded angrily. He could tell she was tired of him dancing around the truth. Booth sighed.

"He's out of town for a few days, but he'll be back on Monday. There's no reason to worry about him, Bones. He's fine. He and I are just doing a little legwork to make sure things stay quiet and safe for you and your family, that's all."

Booth was frowning now. He didn't like keeping secrets from her but he didn't want her getting upset when she found out what he and Max had been working on behind the scenes for these past few weeks.

"You didn't answer my question," she fumed.

"Look. He's working on something for me, Bones. It's a sensitive matter, but your Dad has skills in this area. I can't tell you anything more. Please, will you just let it go? Look, we're here. Help me carry in these bags, okay?"

"I want to talk more about it over dinner."

"Great," Booth muttered mostly to himself.

But when dinner was over and he had steered her back out the door and down the street to a local bar where live jazz was being featured, he was relieved that the subject had not come up again. Bones had apparently decided either she didn't want to know any more about her father's secret activities or she didn't want to fight with Booth. Either way, he was off the hook temporarily. They took seats near the back so they could still talk while the music played and Booth made sure he was right next to her.

"Dinner was good," she whispered to him, tapping a foot to the music. He smiled happily. Booth was shoulder to shoulder with her in the crowded bar and when she whispered in his ear, the shivery sensation had awakened the low-level longing he always felt when they were together. He draped an arm over her shoulders and stole a sideways glance at her face, lit up with enthusiasm. Her deep love of music was one if the things that he'd been surprised to learn and that he now loved about her.

A movement at the door to the establishment caught his eye. Looking over, he saw him standing just inside the door, watching. Not wanting Bones to look back, he avoided making eye contact with the latecomer.

"I'll be right back," he said in her ear, gesturing vaguely toward the restroom. She barely acknowledged his departure and continued to bob her head in time to the rhythmic strains of the band.

"Max," he greeted her father with a handshake. Latching onto his arm, he steered the older man out of Bones' line of sight and they slipped into a booth.

"I didn't expect you back so soon."

"Our business is taken care of," Max replied. He wiped a hand across his brow. "I flew in about an hour ago. Call me when you can talk and I'll tell you all about it. I'm going to go home now and give Tempe a call on her cell phone so she won't worry about me."

"Where are you going to say you've been?"

"I'll tell her I went to the Midwest visiting family. Her cousin from that family came to visit us last Christmas; she'll buy it. Go enjoy your date." Max nodded toward the bar where Tempe was seated and winked at Booth.

"Okay then. We'll talk later. Glad to see you home, safe and sound, Max. Good night."

Clapping him on the shoulder Booth stood and made his way back to enjoy the evening with his favorite person.

Not long after his encounter with Max, Bones' cell phone rang. When she hung up, he leaned over and asked loudly who it was. The music was getting louder and rowdier as the night progressed, making it hard to talk. Bones pointed to the exit. Ready to go, Booth rose and helped her put on her jacket. He followed her out to the dark street where a light fog was beginning to curl around the edges of the buildings.

"That was my Dad," she finally answered him when they could both talk in a normal tone of voice again.

Booth smiled as she filled him in on the conversation. It was obvious she had bought her Dad's story pretty easily; almost too easily. It almost appeared that Bones preferred not to delve into the matter too deeply.

"Come on; I'll drive you back to the Jeffersonian to pick up your car," he said, hooking an arm around hers.

"Are you going to follow me home again? Make sure I don't get kidnapped by bad guys?" She teased.

"Of course. The FBI is thorough."

Her answering smile made him feel guilty. If only she knew how very thorough he'd been on this case. But as far as he could help it, she'd never find out.