Well I have no excuses this time! I hope people are still reading this. The good news is, that I sat down and made an outline this weekend so I know exactly what's going to happen. Hopefully that makes posting quicker! The other good news (if you like this story) is that its going to be approximately 43 chapters long! So look for lots of twists and turns! I hope you enjoy!
"I can't do it man, sorry." Hodgins said.
Booth groaned. "No, that's okay, it's just we are running out of options."
"What's going on?" Brennan asked, coming up on the platform.
"I can't narrow down the instances of American Smoketree. I'm sorry, the possibilities are just too endless." Hodgins noted.
"That's fine." Brennan said, earning a sharp look from Booth.
"What, Booth, if Hodgins can't help, then we should shift our focus elsewhere."
"Like where?" Booth asked.
"I know you're getting frustrated…"
"You're damn right, I'm getting frustrated." Booth said, his voice rising in anger. "These people, they killed my friends. They strangled a little girl to death. They burned a man and strung him up."
"And we will figure out who did it." Brennan replied. "But we need to do this methodically. Zach's working on the bone dimple, that could give us something."
Booth nodded. "I'm going to go and see how the cyber crimes unit is doing with the website. And maybe there's a hit off the receipt." He headed off the platform, Brennan following behind.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm coming with you." She stated.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Look Booth, I'm your partner, remember? We're supposed to do things together."
Booth looked sceptical but just nodded, and they made their way out of the building.
"Are you sure you're not just watching me to make sure I won't blow up or something?"
"Well, that too." She replied, giving him a soft smile as they got in the car.
"I'm sorry." Booth said immediately, pulling out of the parking lot. "This case frustrates me. We have very little forensic evidence, we don't even know who this head guy is, we've got multiple killers…"
"It frustrates me too." Brennan replied. "I've rarely had cases with this little forensic evidence. This person is meticulous. But we just need to be persistent. The evidence is there somewhere. We will catch this guy."
"I know we will, Bones."
After a few minutes of silence, she felt the need to change the subject.
"How's Parker?"
"Fine, I guess. I haven't seen him in a while, its complicated."
"Rebecca shouldn't do that." She said quietly. "Not let you see him I mean."
"Yea, well its not like I get a say in the matter is it?" he said harshly. He softened his expression at the sight of her face. "Sorry Bones, I didn't mean….I mean thanks."
He pulled the car into a parking space and they got out and headed into the Hoover building.
"No problem Booth."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Sorry Booth." Agent Adami said. "We can't find the web owner. The guy paid the domain through , then shut the account down. We traced the account to the guy's bank account, but it turned out to be from Western Union. We are contacting them right now to figure it out."
"That's fine." Booth muttered. "I'll be in my office. Let me know."
Booth stalked off to his office, Brennan behind him. They had just got to the door, when they heard a shout behind them.
"Booth, here's the name for that credit card receipt. His name's Miller Wheats. He was sent to jail a few years ago for attempted robbery. He lives in Inez, Kentucky." The agent said.
"Kentucky. Where Howard Walkerton was killed." Booth noted. "Do you have his file?"
"Yes." The agent handed it over to him. Booth nodded and he and Brennan made their way into his office.
"So this guy goes all the way to Virginia to pick up some grappling hooks then heads back to Kentucky to kill Howard Walkerton?"
"Makes sense, Booth, if he couldn't get the right kind of grappling hooks he wanted."
"Or that the leader wanted." Booth surmised.
"You don't think he's the leader?" Brennan asked.
"Do you?" Booth answered. "I mean, caught by a credit card receipt? That's too easy for him. He would be smarter than that."
"I agree." Brennan said.
"So now we bring in Mr. Wheats here and see if he will confess to something. Get the goods on this cult leader."
"It's going to be hard." Brennan said. "People who are members of cults are taught not to disobey their leaders for anything. They would rather die then reveal their religion's secrets."
Booth nodded. "Yeah, but Miller's been in jail. I'm sure if we threaten him with lots of jail time, he might crack."
"Let's hope so."
Booth sat at his computer for a moment, typing. "Inez is only an hour away from Elkhorn City."
"That means that it was most likely Miller who picked out Howard as the victim." Brennan noted.
"That's the thing I don't understand. How did they pick these victims? Were they trying to recruit them and it went wrong? Were they just picked off the street? Tawny seems like she would have been plucked because she was a cute kid, but Howard?"
"Recruitment makes sense Booth. In fact, that makes a lot of sense." Brennan replied.
"You look like you're about to solve a puzzle." Booth noted.
"Think about it. Howard Walkerton leaves with his kids because his wife was cheating on him."
"And she's a drunk." He interjected.
She nodded. "They look for a place to settle and they meet Miller Wheats, who sees a new recruit. Howard and the children get involved, but then Howard decides that he doesn't want to be a part of this cult, so they kill him. Most likely, the children are alive."
"You mean the kids are part of this cult thing?"
"Children are often an important factor to cults because they are easier to manipulate. Plus, they sway the parents because most parents wouldn't want to leave their children behind."
"So they are safe?" Booth asked.
Brennan shook her head. "I'm sure they are alive. As to what ritual behaviour they've had to endure, it depends on the cult. Most likely a lot of sexual assault, especially with the girl."
"Dammit." He cursed. "Well let's hope Miller has answers."
"Yes. Let's hope he does." Brennan replied soberly.
