Back In The Driver's Seat


"I don't know what this is or how it helps us solve this case. This isn't a clue, it's a puzzle, and it isn't getting us any closer to catching a murderer!" The man shouted angrily.

A woman yelled back, "There's a technique called 'investigating'. You might want to try and look into the woman's life in order to identify these people called 'suspects,' rather than rely on forensics to magically turn up the killer's identity. We've given you enough information to start doing your job!"

The yelling had reached fever pitch, as Brennan could hear it from the moment she entered the Jeffersonian Thursday morning through the sliding glass doors that framed her lab. She recognized the woman shouting as Cam. The man's voice she didn't recognize. She hesitated for a moment as the shouting continued and considered stopping into Cam's office to see what the commotion was about. But it was against her nature to interfere in someone else's business. As Brennan listened to the shouting that was catching the ear of every person in the lab, she suddenly realized the shouting match was headed in her direction.

"You, Doctor Brennan, what the hell is this?" Agent Harris demanded, waving a piece of paper in his hand as he marched towards her.

"How am I supposed to know what's on that piece of paper you're waving around like a lunatic?"

"This!" He had finally finished his approach to Brennan and showed her the drawing she sketched of a potential weapon in the Park murder. "What the hell is this?"

"It's an approximation of the shape of the item that your murder victim was struck with repeatedly," Brennan stated flatly.

"It's not a weapon!"

"Anything could be a weapon, Agent Harris. It doesn't have to look like a weapon to kill someone."

"I know that," Harris said in an incredulous voice. "But this sketch means nothing to me!"

Brennan turned and walked away toward her office.

"Where are you going?" Harris called after her, as he followed a step behind.

"I don't respond to people shouting in the lab. This is a place of work, of professionalism and we observe a decorum that you seem to be lacking. I've decided not to acknowledge your presence until you can acknowledge our standards," Brennan said walking briskly, without turning around.

He took two steps into her office, and Cam appeared in her doorway, catching up with them.

"I thought the reason we came to you people was because you could tell us who did this. You're supposed to be like psychic geniuses or something. This," he shouted while flailing the piece of paper, "doesn't get me a murderer!"

While she was tempted to point out that there were no such things as psychics, she decided to simply ignore the uncouth agent. Noticing Cam at her door, she looked right past him and said, "Good morning Doctor Saroyan. How are you today?"

"My day's getting better already, Doctor Brennan, and you?" Cam smiled and walked towards her, handing her a file for an unrelated case.

"I'm fine, thank you," she said, smiling at the frustration she could see in the FBI Agent's posture as they continued to ignore him.

"Is this what you called 'professionalism,' ignoring a federal agent like you two are schoolgirls on the playground?" Brennan gathered some paperwork, staying silent and the doctors started to walk out of her office, leaving the agent in disbelief.

They were almost to the forensics platform's stairs when they heard, "Doctor Saroyan, Doctor Brennan?" Harris called out to them in a calmer voice, with a twinge of desperation attached. "Let me start over. I came here this morning in need of help. I don't have any suspects from this woman's life that raise eyebrows, and this weapon gives me nothing to go on. I don't have any leads, and this murder is getting a ton of press. With no answers, my bosses are pretty upset. I need your help. Please."

Brennan and Cam looked at each other and turned around to acknowledge the man. Brennan spoke first. "While I appreciate the more professional tone you approached us with, I am not sure what other information I can give you to help in this case." The honesty in Brennan's expression caused the FBI agent to sigh.

"But, I… can you at least give the scene a once-over? You're a scientist and you understand geometry and biology and weapons. You've been to crime scenes before, and maybe you'll see something we've missed that'll be a clue or a potential weapon," Agent Harris said, pleading now.

"I don't know how understanding geometry will help you solve this crime," Brennan said, with an almost mocking tone in her voice. "But I've already seen the photos of the crime scene, and nothing stood out as a murder weapon."

"I was told you were the kind of squint who went into the field and solved crimes. And I was told you were good at it… Please? It has been nearly a week since this woman was murdered and we don't have a clue who did it, which means we can't stop him from doing it again."

Brennan flinched at his statement, because he hit on the one point that always kept Brennan working even the most impossible cases. The next victim. Cam reacted quickly, pulling her aside, out of earshot Harris. "Doctor Brennan, he makes a fair point. The reason you've been able to solve so many murders in the last few years is because of your participation in the field and your observations of crime scenes and suspects. You can often see what others cannot. I know you're reluctant, but it's just a short trip to see if you can help the loud man who has been interrupting the peace in our lab. Just once." Cam paused, allowing Brennan to think for a moment. She shuffled her feet and sighed.

"Agent Harris, I'll go to the scene just this once to see if I can make any additional observations. I'll drive myself and meet you there."

"Thank you. Thank you Doctor Brennan." He clapped his hands together, and headed towards the door. "I'm more than happy to drive, if you'd like?"

"No," Brennan said firmly. "I will drive myself." She walked to her office to get her bag and muttered to herself, "I'm an excellent driver."