Disclaimer: Bones and its affiliated characters do not belong to me. I mean no copyright infringement. All characters and places are meant to be fictional.
Author's Notes: We're getting close to the final twists in the story. This is a short chapter but another chapter none the less. Enjoy! (Two chapters in one day! My birthday… my gift to you. Reviews anyone? I'm being shameless… I know. I'm not usually like this so I'm blaming it on my birthday. As Brennan said at the end of the last episode… "fair enough." *grin*
Responses to your reviews are at the end.
Sweets' Plan for the Truth
Chapters 25: The Change in the Game
"Caroline, we're going to have to continue this conversation later. Bones and I have a meeting to attend to."
"I'm quite comfortable where I am. My doctor's orders are to avoid excessive stress to my knee for another week."
"And yet, you're here," said Booth sarcastically.
"Don't take that tone with me, young man. I think I could be of some assistance right here. It looks like Barbie has brought Ken with her."
"Keep your voice down!" growled Booth.
Booth welcomed the two inside his office and offered his chair to Hannah while he sat on a corner of his desk and left Kip to stand.
Just in case you didn't read the author's notes and this chapter isn't making sense:
I posted two chapters, today! This is the 2nd one.
Booth glared first at Hannah with a hint of betrayal. Then he turned his glare on Kip. He reached for the newspaper before addressing him. "There is more to the story than what you learned from Hannah and from being brought in for questioning. Who's your informant?"
"I can't tell you that. It would ruin my credibility for future stories."
"Obstructing justice will prevent you from writing any stories. I can book you right now and hold an official interrogation."
"You don't have any evidence that I was even using an informant much less being involved in the crime. As you said, this is informal."
"Probable cause will allow me to hold you for 24 hours. Now talk."
"Let me see that paper, Cherie."
"Who's she?" asked Kip.
Brennan jumped in quickly. "She's helping us with the case… working undercover."
Caroline used her best neutral face. "I don't draw as much attention as I did in my younger years. I used to be one hot chick."
As Caroline was finishing the story that Brennan started, Booth turned around and mouthed, "Good one, Bones." He gave her a proud smile.
"You guaranteed the suspects won't be returning to the original bar and I don't like wasting my time. So give up the information," Caroline told him with a look that turned fiercely intimidating. "Where and when is the next drug transaction?"
"I don't have that kind of information."
"I wasn't born yesterday. My guess is that you've been promised to be the first one on the story."
Hannah spoke up for the first time. "That doesn't make any sense at all. Why would I have been staking out the place if he had an informant?"
Booth answered that one. "He was using you to keep me sniffing down the wrong trail."
Hannah looked at Kip with disgust. She couldn't believe that she had lost Booth for such a piece of dirt. "You're giving our profession a bad name? How do you expect our readers to trust what we're saying?"
"Oh come on, Hannah. You're smarter than that. We don't live in a perfect and peaceful world. You just came back from Afghanistan and you're as gullible as ever. Easy target."
"What even gave you that impression to begin with?"
Kip laughed sadistically. "Look at him." Kip pointed at Booth. "Did you really think a war time romance would transfer to a successful one in the real world? You were so busy flirting with me that you didn't even notice his unfaithfulness."
"Whoa! Wait a minute there you son of a b*tch." Booth walked up close with fire in his eyes.
"Booth!" yelled Brennan as she jumped out of her seat. "He's not worth it. He's the one ruining the case. Don't let him get off easy. Everyone in this room, including Hannah, knows that you of all people would never be unfaithful."
Caroline noticed Hannah's shoulders sag in relief and start to breathe again. Brennan took one of Booth's arms gently and led him back to his perch on the corner of his desk.
"Maybe not physically. But mentally and emotionally, he was very much cheating on you," Kip said as he looked at Hannah. "Haven't you noticed the way he looks at his partner?"
"That's enough, Tiny." said Caroline sternly. Booth couldn't help but smirk. Brennan looked confused. "Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan are the most professional team we have in this bureau. So, you can stop taking the attention off of yourself. Starting now."
Booth was starting to wonder if he should bring Caroline into some of his more difficult interrogations. The thought of her scaring the shit out of the most hardened criminals brought a small smile to his face. He owed her big time for dodging the subject of his feelings for Brennan. She may be able to push him into a corner, but she wasn't going to allow just anyone do it.
"There's no way they would be dumb enough to return to the same bar after reading your story. You knew I was working the case and you told the suspects that I was there when someone got caught with drugs in the lockdown? How stupid are you? When and where are they going next?" asked Booth. He was definitely losing his patience.
"Are you trying to get me killed?"
"We can protect you."
"Would I still be able to get the story?"
"Yes. It would raise less suspicion," claimed Booth. Brennan's eyebrows lifted in surprise, but she went along with it. "Where's the next drop?"
"Tim's Tavern on Fifth. Tomorrow at ten. There. My time is done here."
"Not so fast. How do those two yo-yos know who Dr. Brennan is?" asked Booth who was barely containing his anger. "Was her kidnapping planned?"
"Was it?" asked Hannah with big eyes.
"If it was, would she have escaped?"
"Are they looking for her to keep her from being a witness in court?"
"I don't know. Seriously." His answer seemed forced, but Booth let it go. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her and he would be protecting her regardless.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Booth called Chase to arrange witness protection and then asked for Perotta and Simmons to join them in his office for the latest news on the case.
"We don't have much time," said Brennan looking at Booth. "We should drop by the drug store for the hair dye before we go to my apartment. A pair of glasses might finish the disguise instead of a scruffy beard. Maybe a clip-on earring."
"No way!" stated Booth sternly.
Brennan rolled her eyes. "Well, they're used to seeing you in a suit and tie. You'll be dressed casually. I'll help you get the right look." He looked at her skeptically. "Fine. Angela is experienced with alcohol establishments. I'll ask her to come over tonight."
"Only if she comes after we're done with the dance lesson. I'm not ready for an audience."
Brennan smirked. She would have to think about that.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Review Responses
(Not as many since I posted twice today.)
Thank you for the first set of birthday reviews: berniej, mendenbar, Arya Tindomiel, Julia-loves-Seth-Clearwater, bones35, and JET1967.
Caroline: So many compliments on Caroline! Thank you for that feedback! I hope I delivered, again. Did you like how she defended B&B?
Julia-loves-Seth-Clearwater: Thank you so much for the compliment on my writing skills. I've had so much fun since I started this last June. I've learned a lot and I've recently started writing original works: one fiction and one teacher's guide for creative writing.
berniej: Thank you for the in-depth review. I love knowing what readers are thinking and predicting. Maybe that's the teacher in me. I don't know, but it helps me hone my writing skills. And yes, Booth and Hannah are done! Yay!