She expected to see...well...she wasn't sure what she expected to see, but what met her gaze was totally beyond anything she had thought she'd see.
Stretching away below her window was a deep valley. The first impression Brennan got was one that she was at a very high altitude. Amazingly high, to be in such warm splendor. She looked back into the room she was in, almost expecting it to be some sort of mirage that would disappear, or that it would indeed turn out to be some grimy dungeon, that maybe her mind had tricked her into seeing that luxurious room as some sort of protection mode...
But no...it stayed real, in unwavering opulence.
She looked out again. Yes, very high...above the tree line...even above the snow line...she watched as crystals of snow swirled away from the roof above, driven by a frigid wind. She looked out over the valley, that seemed to stretch down thousands and thousands of feet,so far she really couldn't make out details of what lay below. It stretched away and away into the distance almost as far as the eye could see, to meld with huge mountains that seemed to stretch off to the horizon. . Wherever they were, it was smack in the middle of some mountain range, and this place, whatever it was, was perched on the side of one of those mountains.
Impossibly high. It must have cost millions upon millions and a huge effort to build this here, Brennan mused to herself, as she tried to follow the snaking, switchback road that lead away from this place, down the dangerous heights. It disappeared from her sight long, long before it got to the bottom. How high were they? Impossible to gauge. Very high.
Brennan stood looking for some time at the breathtaking and still hard to believe view, then she shook her head, still confused by all of this.
She turned from the window and looked over her room again...that's when she noticed the envelope sitting on the night table beside the bed. The same type as she had been handed in the diner.
She gazed around the room, slowly and carefully. No cameras, as far as she could tell. A huge fireplace, kindling and firewood stacked neatly beside it. No pokers or other of the usual fireplace utensils. Understandable. Two doors, one probably a closet, the other possibly leading out. Closed. Likely locked.
Brennan padded over, and confirmed her thought. No surprise there.
"OK, fine",she thought, "I guess I'll have to play along, lets see what Mr. Mysterious Kidnapping Bastard wants now."
She padded silently over and picked up the envelope, and opened it.
There, rather than typing, she saw bold, strong, and rather beautiful penmanship. The letter was hand written.
"Dear Dr. Brennan. First of all, my most humble apologies for the unfortunate turn things took in getting you here. You were not to be harmed in any way. Unfortunately my "associates" bungled the job badly in their impatience. Be assured...that indescretion will be punished in due time."
"Secondly, let me immediately lay your fears to rest about your friends. The boy, Parker, is unharmed and with his was merely a diversion to separate you and Mr. Booth. I guessed correctly that either one of you on your own would be difficult enough to manage. The two of you together would have been formidable separation was you here, was necessary. The physical distance between you now, , and time it will take Mr. Booth to get here, was all necessary. In time, you will understand why.
Further, none of your other friends are in any danger whatsoever. I have no interest in them and they will come to no harm from me.
Mr. Booth is healthy, and unharmed, and if I guess correctly, likely on his way to you as you read this. "
A wave of relief swept through Brennan as she read that. But then, why her? She read on.
"You also will not be harmed in any way . Other than your freedom being , shall we say, curtailed somewhat, for a brief time. You will not be able to leave this suite, for your protection as well as our own. You have proved yourself a worthy adversary. I want neither you nor any more of my men damaged."
" Rest assured, everything you need is provided for you here. Your privacy is also are cameras, however, they watch all exits from this room from the outside. I am no voyeur, Dr. Brennan. That is not what this is all about.
The kitchen is fully stocked , including your favorite dishes...all vegetarian, of course. The bath, I think you will find, is anything and everything you might desire. The bed and other furniture, the best money can buy. You will, despite your initial shock, enjoy everything here, I am confident of that. "
"I am sorry that this is the way things must be done. I am sorry for any mental anguish or physical pain any of you or your friends and colleagues may suffer or have suffered. I truly believe it is and was necessary, and unavoidable. But I think you will see, in time, that all of this was the right thing to do."
"Please enjoy your stay Dr. Brennan. Relax, and consider this something of a vacation. One , you might admit to yourself, you badly need."
The letter was unsigned. Brennan was just as mystified and confused as before, but at least, if this letter was true, everyone she held dear was OK. And for some reason she couldn't fathom, , she did believe that.
She walked back to the window, and looked out over the bleak, terribly beautiful view, and wondered, "Who is this, that has gone to such lengths to bring me here? And what the hell was this all about?"
She stood, awestruck and confused, and continued to gaze through the window as snow began to whip in sheets from the darkening sky.