"What is Max doing in Dr. Brennan's office," Cam asked to no one in particular as she glanced in the direction of the forensic anthropologist's office. Angela swiped onto the platform and set down her sketch pad.
"He said he needed to look up a few things. Since Booth was suspended and Bren's on bed rest, I think he's trying to help out as best he can."
"His way doesn't include anything illegal does it?"
"I suppose it's possible, but Max has been pretty crime free… you know, other than the murder thing."
"I know Booth was looking up information on the entertainment company that released that film of Rebecca being murdered. Hey, do we know who is going to replace Booth until the board decision?"
"I haven't heard anything. I suppose I can call Deputy Director Cullen and find out." Cam glanced once more into Brennan's office and headed to her own to make the phone call. She sat down after closing the door behind her and dialed Cullen. When he answered, she cut right to the chase.
"Deputy Director Cullen, it's Dr. Saroyan."
"Does this pertain to Agent Booth's suspension?"
"I realize that I have no say in the matter, but there was no good reason for Booth to have been suspended."
"No good reason? There is a sex tape of Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan floating around the internet and you're telling me that there was no good reason for them to be suspended? Agent Booth has been told repeatedly that his personal life has to stay separate from his private life."
"And I agree with that sir. You're not taking into account however that the tape was released by our murder suspects after being filmed illegally. How is that in any way his fault?" There was silence on the line for a moment and Cullen cleared his throat before answering.
"From what Santana told me, well he made it sound as though… Until the board meets to discuss this matter, Agent Booth remains under suspension. The case is currently being handed over to Agent Chelsea Shourt. She'll be over soon to discuss any findings you have. Is there anything else Dr. Saroyan?"
"No, I think that covers it. Just for the record, that suspension is bull and you know it."
"Booth has been on shaky ground ever since that incident in California. Even if I agree with you on this matter, it's not up to me to reinstate him. I'll do what I can to get his job back however."
"Please see that you do, otherwise I can't guarantee that my people will be that cooperative in the future."
"I understand."
"Good, then we know where the other's opinion stands. We'll make sure that Agent Shourt has all of the details on this case." They said their goodbyes, and Cam hung up the phone with a sigh. Well, it was worth a try. Now it was up to her team to prove why they needed Booth.
In Brennan's office, Max clicked from one site to the next, looking for what information he could find on the adult entertainment company. There were no owners listed, nor could he find any information on the people who worked there. It almost seemed to be a ghost company. He made copies of all the information to give to Booth so he'd know what was going on with the case. As he headed from the office, he paused in the doorway to check out the newly assigned FBI agent.
The woman was young and had an air of confidence which could rival that of Temperance herself. She waited at the foot of the examination platform for security to scan her in, smiling at Cam as the pathologist met her.
"Dr. Saroyan, I'm Agent Chelsea Shourt. I'll be taking over the current case from Agent Booth." The two women shook hands, and Max moved around to hear what was being said.
"No disrespect, but we're expecting Booth to be reinstated soon." Agent Shourt pulled a bit of a face at the comment.
"Yes, well regardless of what you're expecting, I'm working this case. Now what can you tell me about your findings?"
"Well, this one's a little difficult. Why don't we go to holographics and we can show you what we've found."
"Show me? What do you mean exactly?" Cam pressed her lips together and indicated the direction of the Angelator.
"What do you know about this case Agent Shourt?"
"Well the information given to me indicates that we're looking for a serial killer. I know there were several files pulled in relation to this case…"
"Yes, Booth looked over the files and brought us everything that matched the m.o. of the murderers."
"Murderers? As in more than one?" Cam nodded and led Agent Shourt to the Angelator. She glanced back once to see Max hovering in the doorway. At a quick motion of her head, Max ducked into the room, staying just out of the agent's sight.
"Angela, did you finish the three dimensional rendering?" Angela looked up from her desk and nodded.
"Yeah, and can I just say that I thought the videos were bad enough but now? Ugh." She turned on the holographic program and ran the scenario. Chelsea watched the rendering, fascinated in a horrified way at the images images playing out before them.
"This is our victim from San Diego. When we reviewed the remains, they were heavily predated upon due to the time spent in water," Cam said and motioned for Angel to pause the clip. "Our victim had fractures along her spine, occipital bone and compaction from a fall. We determined that she was sexually assaulted, and evidence on this video shows exactly what we found." Chelsea closed her eyes and swallowed, bile rising in her throat.
"And you have videos for all of the cases?"
"Yes, all except our latest victim, but that could be due to the recentness of the murder."
"So the same people murdered each woman?"
"Yes. The evidence collected from each case is currently being examined to see if anything can lead us to the murderers." Chelsea wrote down some notes and gave a quick nod.
"Is anyone looking into the company that put out those videos?" Cam glanced quickly at Max, and then back to Agent Shourt.
"Booth was working that angle, though I'm not sure how far he was in the process."
"Well, I'll look into it and see what I can find. Please let me know if you find out anything else." Agent Shourt left the office. Once she was out of the lab, Cam turned her attention to Max.
"Why do I get the impression you've discovered something?"
"Look, I'm only trying to help out my kids. I did some digging and found out that there is officially no company called 'Sex, Lies, and Internet'. There was a few years ago, but any information more recent than two thousand three is simply not there." Cam looked at Max with her arms crossed.
"So what are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that whoever released that tape of my daughter is 'head' of the porn company and the FBI aren't going to find anything."
"Do you think you can do any better," Angela asked him. Max gave her a grim smile and nodded.
"You don't get to be a con man my age unless you have friends in unusual places. I bet I can find out who is putting out these videos and arrange a meeting with them before the FBI even has an Id."
"Max, don't you dare do anything illegal. There's enough going on right now that Booth and Dr. Brennan don't need you getting in trouble on top of it."
"Don't worry, I'm not about to do anything illegal." Max turned and left the office, waving his hand at the two women as he went. Angela and Cam watched him go before they turned to look at each other.
"So, what do you think he's going to do," the artist asked. Cam shrugged and glanced back up at the angelator.
"I wouldn't put him past threatening the Deputy Director to reinstate Booth. I just hope that's not what he plans to do."
XxXxX
Sam Cullen yawned as he headed to his car. He generally didn't like to stay late at the office, but the whole fiasco with Agent Booth caused way too much paperwork to get out at a decent hour. He shook his head and fumbled for his keys. There had to be a piece of information missing amidst this whole mess. Booth and Dr. Brennan weren't the types to display their personal relations to the world. Hell, they'd managed to keep their relationship a secret for six months, and it most likely would have remained a secret if not for the accidental marriage in Alabama. Leave it to them to accidentally get married.
He shook his head and stopped next to his car door. Those two just couldn't seem to catch a break, especially if the paparazzi was anywhere in the vicinity. He had to give it to the pair for grace under fire. They'd both grown so much within the partnership, and the proof was in Booth's handling of his son's case. Yes it had been a conflict of interest, but he'd followed procedure and the little boy was found unharmed.
Cullen unlocked the door, opened it and threw his briefcase into the car. Before he could get in however, a hand settled onto his shoulder.
"Deputy Director Cullen, I'm disappointed in you." A shiver ran down Cullen's neck at the words. The tone was cold and detached, but the voice was all too familiar. Sam turned around to face Max Keenan. He kept his expression as neutral as possible as he faced the man who killed his direct boss.
"What do you want Max?"
"I like you Director Cullen. You're an honest man and you've generally shown my daughter and son-in-law with the respect they deserve, but now you've disappointed me immensely." Max let go of Cullen's shoulder and put his hands in his pockets. Cullen waited, knowing that the ex-con would get around to whatever he had to say eventually. "You shouldn't have allowed Booth to be suspended."
"That was not my decision. The review board laid out specific rules regarding Booth's conduct and those rules were broken."
"Oh, and how were they broken? The person responsible for murdering the victim in their latest case released that video of their intimate moments. They had nothing to do with that tape and you know it. So don't tell me that they violated some set of rules."
"You're here to get me to reinstate Booth?"
"Amongst other things. I have information about the company that released that sex tape and I know that you aren't going to find them at all, but I can." Cullen arched a brow up as he looked at Max.
"What makes you think that you can find them faster than the FBI?"
"Because I have connections that you don't. I can help you put away serial murderers, but I won't do that so long as Booth is off the case. I can assure you that you'll get nowhere without me."
"I don't work well under threats Mr. Keenan."
"And I don't believe that I've threatened you. I told you already that I like you. You're an honest man and I know you'll do what you feel is right." The two men looked at each other for a long time before Cullen sighed in defeat.
"I'll talk to the board and see what I can do about Booth. In the meantime, we're doing things my way. If we aren't able to turn up any leads within the next couple of days, I'll give your proposal some thought."
"You're a good man Cullen." Max slapped the Deputy Director on the arm and left him standing by the car. As Sam watched him walk away, he was sure that the entire encounter wouldn't have any evidence showing that he'd actually talked to Max Keenan. He took a moment to admire the con man's audacity before getting into his car. He'd take care of the details in the morning, but for now he was going to go home and get some sleep.