Skeletons in Her Trash Bag

Chapter 11

Disclaimer: See chapter 1-10

Author's Note: Sorry about the mix up with chapter 10. Everything should be fine now. It has been brought to my attention that I am being too forceful in asking for reviews, so I apologize, although I do hope you will continue to review. I do rely on feed back to see if people are happy with the depth of the plot and character development. Also, jaed was kind enough to let me know that the story that I inquired about in chapter 2 has been removed from this site due to the fact that it was very similar to a JAG fiction.

The home Brennan and Booth stood in front of was a moderate sized single family home in a good neighborhood. Booth lead Brennan to a maintained home and rang the bell. Moments passed and it was only when he rang the bell again that the door was answered. A fifty something woman opened the door. " May I help you?" She looked suspicious.

Booth held up his badge, "Special Agent Seeley Booth with the FBI, this is my partner Dr. Temperance Brennan, we have a few questions for you, Ms. Cooper."

"Oh Lord, what has he done now?" Eileen asked as she ushered them in.

Booth looked at her with some confusion. " What has who done now?"

"George."

Brennan and Booth exchanged a glance. "Do you mean George Henderson, your ex husband?" Booth inquired.

"Yes."

"What makes you think he has done something?" Booth continued.

" Look I told you people a million times, when I married George in 1995, he didn't have any girls with him. I found out about what he had done in 1999 when social services started looking into foster parents and taking away licenses. He hadn't even had any foster kids since 1993. When I found out I divorced him. That's all I know."

"Hmm yes, Ms. Cooper, I was wondering, did you know that George was in DC over the weekend."

"No" she replied, unconvincingly.

"Are you sure?" Booth asked careful not to sound accusing.

"Well, he came by Friday evening."

"Could you tell me what time?"

"Around eight, he left a little before nine." Hmm Booth thought, Henderson had gone to see Bones some time around 1 or 2 in the morning. So it was before he went to Bones. Booth patted Bones knee reassuringly.

"What did George want?"

"Because I am a nurse and I asked for the divorce, I have to pay George $500 in alimony. He came by to complain about losing his job and demand that I pay more, $1500. I refused, we fought and he threatened to sue claiming our divorce traumatized him, causing poor job performance which caused him to lose his job. We fought. He left."

"And you didn't see him again." Booth asked.

"No, I did not. What is going on?"

"George was murdered."

Eileen fell back in her seat and said nothing as they left.

In the car, Bones started to speak, " She's a nurse, she has knowledge of the body and she could have made that stab wound thrusting upwards into the heart from where I kicked him. She could easily have noticed he was hurt in the ribs, if she saw him again after he left my apartment."

"She knew about the foster kids, she might even have known names, and you are famous, so she could have known where you live and how it would incriminate you. Plus, she had motive, George was going to take her to court for more money." Booth finished.

" I should probably examine Henderson's remains. To look for the murder weapon." Bones' voice was hesitant and Booth knew that she had had little opportunity to examine the remains. He didn't blame her if she was a little anxious.

It was noon and Booth thought Bones could use lunch. Her eating habits were always sporadic and she tended to eat things that were light, like salad and not very filling. For the first time , Booth wondered, if long term food deprivation in foster care had been a cause. He had heard of extreme long term food deprivation causing ulcers and making it difficult for the sufferer to eat large quantities or overly rich foods. The cure was to have someone start gently increasing the amount of food the person took in immediately after recovery. But if Bones had that, after all these years, it might be impossible. The best he could do is make sure she was eating something she could stand. He remembered she likes milkshakes and ice cream.

Booth silently took her to the diner. Instead of a quick meal, Booth encouraged her to take a while and as she was not eager to return to the remains for once in her life, she agreed. To his surprise, she, at his encouraging, managed a vegetable sandwich, fries and a large milkshake. Booth couldn't help but feel she looked a little more solid, a little stronger after the meal.

They returned to the lab. Cam, Hodgins and Angela hadn't found anything more. Booth followed his Bones as she donned a lab coat and walked up to the plat form where the remains lay. He stood behind her in silent support, watching her study the bones.

Hours passed, and Bones studied each individual bone. He brought coffee which she drank. He sat down finally, although Bones remained standing, posture erect even after standing for hours in heels. Suddenly, Bones said, " I know what the murder weapon was."

Booth rubbed his eyes, coming to attention. He had enjoyed watching Bones in her little world. He so rarely got to see the full effect. If only the remains had not been so difficult for Bones to handle. "It's a high heeled shoe, the type generally worn by prostitutes. Five inch heel , two centimeters wide, made from steel and very sharp at the edge to make the heel click." Her voice lowered her and she bent her head as if embarrassed. " It's the kind we wore." Booth couldn't stand for her to be embarrassed, especially not for something that was not her fault. He raised her head by slipping two fingers under her chin gently and not caring who was watching, hugged her gently.