So, for some reason all the story alerts were turned off so some of you may have missed chapters and I'm really, really sorry for that! But here is a new one, which I'll try to make long so you guys stay interested. So, enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-One: The Day They Disappeared
Bones walked into her house, exhausted from the last day of school, but excited that Christmas was a mere two days away. She was hoping to get most of the things on her list, like the telescope that she'd asked for, or the microscope that she could study the various specimens from her father's workspace. She wasn't permitted to use his because it was for his work, and was very hard to replace, but he'd promised her that she would get her own one day so she'd put it on her list, hoping to get it as soon as possible.
Bones sighed, and plopped down on the couch in the sitting room, turning the television on to the Discovery Channel.
After about two hours of watching documentaries about Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, Bones was beginning to wonder where her parents were. Her father's classes must have ended about the same time she got out of school and even if he stayed after to help some of his students he would have been home by now. As would her mother, since she usually got out early this time of the year.
Bones decided to call them at work to see where they were.
Pulling out her cell phone, she dialled her father's High School.
"Hello?" A weary voice answered.
"Hi, Jan," Bones greeted the familiar voice of the school's secretary, "its Temperance Brennan. Is my father there?"
"Hi, Tempe, sweetie." Jan said, sounding more cheerful, "No, baby, your father left early today. Said he didn't feel very well. Why? He's not at home?"
"No," Bones said, getting a bit worried, "But maybe he's at the doctor's office. I'll call his cell."
"Okay, Honey," Jan said sweetly, "I'll talk to you later. Have a nice vacation!"
"Thanks, I will. Bye, Jan." Bones replied cheerfully.
After she hung out, Bones immediately dialled her father's cell number. But it went straight to voicemail.
"This is Matthew Brennan, loving husband of the beautiful Christine Brennan and father of Tempe and Russ. That's right, be jealous. Hahaha. Anyway, I can't come to the phone right now so leave a message and I'll call you back."
His voicemail message always made her laugh, and this time was no different. She figured that his phone either died or he needed to turn it off for some reason. This usually happened with him, since he never really mastered the art of charging his cell phone, never mind actually using it.
Bones giggled to herself at the thought of her father trying to use his device and began to dial her mother's work.
"Hello?" A painfully cheerful, yet familiar voice said on the other line.
"Hi, Suze," Bones greeted her mother's secretary (why her mother, a book keeper even had a secretary was a mystery to her) sweetly, "is my mother still at the office?"
There was a long pause, then Suze's confused voice floated over the line. "No... Sweetheart, she took a leave of absence over a week ago. She should be home right now."
"W-what?" Bones asked. "What are you talking about?"
"You didn't know?" Suze asked.
"N-no," Bones stammered, "Mom never mentioned it. She's been getting ready for work every morning this entire week. She usually leaves before me and Russ."
"Maybe she's just doing some last minute shopping for Christmas?" Suze offered lamely.
"Maybe." Bones said, not fully agreeing. She felt a horrible sense of panic rising in her. "Look, Suze, I have to go. I'll try calling her."
"Okay, Sweetie," Suze said. "I hope you find her."
Me too. Bones thought before hanging up.
An hour later, Bones still hadn't heard from her parents and was beginning to get very worried when Russ walked in.
"Hey, Tempe," he said before noticing the sad expression on her face. "What's wrong?" He asked.
Bones looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. "Mom and Dad are missing."
I hope you liked it. I'll update again in a couple of days. Please REVIEW!