1956JohnDeere50: Lol interesting way to end a review =D. Yeah the devil's in the details and sometimes that can make or break a story.
yenyen76: I seriously couldn't resist!
Mlbrunell: No idea what's on the metal. You'll have to read on to see..that's Hodgins thing.
loverofbones: Thanks so much for that =D I'm glad that I'm able to update everyday so you don't have to wait long.
DWBBFan: Funny you should bring up the shirt because blue suggest truth ;) Umm I don't think so..heh well there is this one thing but eh... *snicker* it's a secret
bonesgirl4ever: Booo for being stuck in the house. Write a B&B story =P But I'm glad that I'm able to give you something to do.
dreambetty: Icking but necessary description for her face sorry it's groady but gives a good visual. Oh I so seriously did do the Captain Morgan thing on purpose. I had to name him and was flipping through a name guide and well it went down hill from there. Around here most everyone are pepsi drinkers except for with alcohol then it's Coke. To be honest I think that's really the only reason Delaware has Coke..LOL
Gottaluvem: Good luck with that. I was drawing pictures and graphs and good lord my husband was asking what the hell I was doing. It was kinda amusing.
Chkgun93: My man...another pepsi fan. My husband is too. I've managed over the last ten years to get him to drink diet lol but hey at least it's pepsi.
luckywynner86: Isn't it? I remember the ride to Pennsic one year. My friend Jen and I singing really loud and offkey with the windows down. It was awesome.
toffeeeclairs: The system I'll be describing I've actually seen used in a college classroom. The profs handwriting was god awful so they set this up for him to explain equations. It's sorta kinda like power point but not really.
Thanks for all the AWESOME reviews and adds I've been seeing pop up!
Chapter 47
Twenty minutes after leaving the airport, they arrived at the prosecutor's office.
"Hi, I'm James Hammon," the prosecutor said, holding his hand out to Booth.
"I'm Special Agent Seeley Booth, this is my partner Dr. Temperance Brennan, Corporal Legates and Private First Class Brown," Booth said, making the introductions.
"I understand that you are currently unable to speak, Dr. Brennan," James said, looking at Brennan. She nodded a yes at him and pulled out a magna doodle. Brennan quickly wrote and handed it to Booth.
Talk to Francis? Offer some type of deal?
"You want to do that?" Booth asked looking at her in astonishment. She took the magna doodle from his hands.
If he has information tied to case, yes. Are you okay with that?
"Yeah, Bones, I'm okay with that," Booth said. Turning, he looked at the prosecutor.
"Mr. Hammon, we are currently investigating something that Francis may have been involved in. We would like to know if it were possible to offer some kind of deal if he gives us useful information," Booth said.
"What investigation is that?" James asked, looking around the room at the four people standing there.
"I'm sorry, we are unable to discuss an on-going investigation dealing with national security," Booth said apologetically.
"The time of the hearing has been bumped due to the nature of Dr. Brennan's necessities. It won't be until 4:30. So, something maybe arranged. However, his lawyer will want to be present during the questioning," James told them brusquely.
"He will only be allowed if his security clearance is high enough," Booth said firmly.
The prosecutor grumbled but made several phone calls. Brennan perched on the edge of a chair across from Hammon. Booth stood behind her and laid his hand on her shoulder. Hammon hung up the phone ten minutes later and looked at the pair in front of his desk.
"Private Francis has agreed to speak with you about your offer. He requests that his lawyer be there. I made the suggestion due to the security nature of your request that the lawyer be there for the offer and leave if he gives you what you are looking for," Hammon told them. Brennan turned and looked up at Booth. Booth looked at her and nodded.
"We want to talk to him. When can we see him?" Booth asked Hammon. Hammon looked at his watch and grunted.
"Eleven o'clock. He's having a meeting with his lawyer at the moment," Hammon said.
Hammon glanced around the room trying very hard not to stare at Brennan's eye full of broken blood vessels. Booth's hand momentarily tightened on her shoulder at the man's obviousness. Booth saw the magna doodle appear and read over her shoulder as she wrote. He tried not to laugh but failed miserably as she turned it towards the lawyer.
Mr. Hammon, I would prefer that you stare at my eye than to try to avoid staring. Right now you look as if you have Tourettes' Syndrome.
"My apologies, Dr. Brennan. I have just never seen anything like what has happened to you," Hammon said, looking at her intently. Brennan scribbled on her magna doodle and handed it to Booth.
There is nothing amusing about Tourettes, Booth
"No, Bones, there is not," Booth said, trying not to grin at her obliviousness as to why he was laughing.
"I assume you can amuse yourselves until you speak with Private Francis then?" Hammon asked, twiddling the pen in his hands impatiently.
"Yeah, we'll head over to the Fort and amuse ourselves," Brown said from where he stood near the door.
Brennan stood up and Booth put his hand at the small of her back and escorted her out of the office. They walked together out of the building and into the waiting Humvee. The kid behind the wheel raised an eyebrow in question.
"Just take us to the Fort and drop us someplace we can amuse ourselves for a few hours," Legates told him. The kid put the vehicle in gear and drove away from the lawyers' office. Booth looked over when he heard the stylus move across the magna doodle. She held it up for him to see.
He seemed to be lying.
"He's a lawyer, that's what they do," Booth said.
Brennan shrugged and stayed quiet for the rest of the ride. The young soldier dropped them off at what looked like a cafe, sort of. It served drinks and snacks, had TV's in each corner with games going, pool tables, video games and music going. They made their way to a back corner booth. Brennan slid all the way into the dark corner and opened her laptop.
Booth stood up and walked to the counter and glanced at the menu. Grinning, he ordered a slice of cheesecake, blueberry tea with honey, a cup of coffee and cinnamon roll the size of a plate. When he sat down, Legates started eyeing Booth's cinnamon roll.
"You can buy one right over there at the counter," Booth said, pointing with his fork at the counter. Brennan's computer beeped and they heard Angela.
"Hi, Sweetie. Let me guess, you want to know what we found?" Brennan nodded at Angela's question.
"Well, the 'intelligence' guys," she said, making quote marks with her hands, "have been holed up in the conference room with the files. Cam's still waiting on the results of her scan. Jack is mumbling over the mass spec machine and I've been sitting here with my thumb up my butt," Angela said.
A burst of laughter from a nearby table let everyone know they'd heard Angela's comment. Brennan quickly typed something and Angela looked down at the screen.
"Temperance Brennan, that was absolutely filthy. I am so proud of you. Studly, you've been good for her," Angela smirked.
Booth groaned and ducked his head as his face turned red. One of the men at the other table turned around to stare when he heard Brennan's name. Legates burst into laughter at Angela's comment and Booth's reaction to it.
"Oh yeah, baby, it's copper," Hodgins yelled as he came running into the room. He skidded to a halt at seeing Brennan on the screen.
"Good, Dr. B, I have those results of the mass spec reading from last night," Hodgins said.
"Hodgins, we're in a public place," Booth said in a low tone. Hodgins nodded, sat down, squeezed Angela over and began typing.
Copper with traces of marble. This type of copper is predominantly found in Afghanistan
Booth read the words as they appeared on the screen. He stuck a fork full of cinnamon bun in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
"So, that means," Booth said slowly, turning the information over in his mind.
"The pieces of the thingie were made in that far off desert place," Hodgins said. Brennan's face scrunched up and she typed.
Thingie?
"Booth, you explain it to her," Hodgins said, waving his hand. Legates leaned over and whispered in Brennan's ear since Booth's mouth was full.
Okay
"Do all the pieces of the thingie have those compounds?" Booth asked after taking a swig of his coffee.
"No, some were made here in the US. Those pieces were mass manufactured or taken from a different item. However, no identifiable markers on them," Hodgins said, shaking his head.
"So, some of the parts were imported then," Booth said.
Who can get past airport security with those types of items?
Brennan typed on the screen while biting her lip between her teeth. Booth reached over and gently pulled at the skin below her lower lip. She let her lips go with a pop, Booth pulled a tube of chapstick from his pocket and handed it to her.
He glared at the cracks that had just appeared on her lips. Brennan quickly applied the chapstick and handed it back to Booth. He stuffed it in his pocket and glanced back at the screen.
Anything from the conference room?
Hodgins looked at the words Brennan had typed on the screen.
"I don't know let me check. Who do you want to talk to? Parks? DeWalt? Price?" Hodgins asked, looking over trying to see Booth.
"Get Parks," Booth said. Hodgins nodded and left the room. Angela scooted back in front of the screen. Angela was about to say something when they saw Michelle run behind Angela puffing.
"Hide me please?" Michelle said in a frantic voice. Legates leaned around Brennan to look at the camera.
"What's wrong, Baby?" Legates said in a concerned tone.
"She, oh god, here she comes," Michelle disappeared and they saw Angela's arm wave Michelle towards the back corner of her office. Daisy came bouncing up behind Angela.
"Have you seen Michelle? I was helping her study the human reproductive system when she took a bathroom break. She never came back," Daisy chirped.
"I'm sorry, Daisy, I haven't seen her," Angela lied to the bouncy woman.
"Well, if you see her. Oh look there she is," Daisy said, pointing toward the other corner of Angela's office.
"Michelle, did you that the average man produces 500 million sperm daily. That amount gets higher in healthy males such as Agent Booth, Corporal Legates and Corporal Techie," Daisy squealed. Booth and Legates' faces turned red and they saw Michelle run by behind Angela.
"Poor Michelle. She's going to kill me for leaving her alone with them," Legates said, smirking.
"Legates, that is Cam's daughter and let me tell you, Cam has an evil streak. You should start hiding now," Booth said, licking the icing off his fork. A moment later, Rowan's face appeared behind Angela.
"Dr. Brennan, can you please do something about that woman. She is making most of the men in the building uncomfortable screeching about penises, testes and ejaculation. Not to mention her trite facts about masturbation," Rowan growled. The table next to them howled and Brennan tried not to laugh as her face was getting stiff.
Bring her to the screen please
Brennan typed on the screen and waited for Daisy to appear. When Daisy got there, Brennan put her stern look on as best she could and typed.
Ms. Wick you are making the men uncomfortable. If Michelle needs help she will ask Cam for it.
"Yes, Dr. Brennan," Daisy said in a hurt tone. Daisy walked away and Angela smiled at the screen. The screen split in half and a black screen with red writing appeared next to Angela's face.
THANK YOU!
Brennan rolled her eyes and looked over at Booth. Angela was laughing, her hand clapped over her mouth to hide it.
"I'll let Parks get up with you later. Bren, you need medication on your face and can't talk anyway," Angela said, swallowing her laughter unsuccessfully. Brennan nodded and closed the connection.
"See, Bones, it's just you scientists types that are that casual and clinical about sex," Booth said. One of the men from the table came over to their table and stuck out his hand. Brennan looked at him with a curious look on her face.
"I have to say thank you. I've not enjoyed having coffee this much in years," he said, laughing. Booth clapped his hand into the man's and shook it.
"Glad to be of service," Booth said, smiling. The man walked back to his table, still laughing. Brennan scooted over closer to Booth and shooed him out of the booth with her hand. Booth slid out and watched as she made her way to the bathroom.
"I want you two in that room with us when we interview Francis," Booth said, pointing his finger back and forth between Legates and Brown. They nodded in acceptance of his command.
Brennan returned from the bathroom and Booth could smell the aloe vera on her skin. At ten thirty, the Humvee pulled up in front of the shop. The four of them left the shop and climbed in the vehicle. They rode in silence to the Leavenworth Penitentiary.
It took them thirty minutes to get through all the check points and doors. The final door shut behind Booth, Brennan, Legates and Brown. Booth and Brennan took a seat at the table, Legates and Brown took up posts next to the door. Brennan set the folder she had carried in down on the table in front of her and crossed her hands over it.
A few moments later, a man came in and sat down across from Booth and Brennan. Brennan eyed the man, he was on the shorter side, had a long narrow nose set over watery gray eyes. His receding hairline gave him an aura of a rodent. As Brennan scanned the man's features the door opened and a guard led Francis in. He sat down with a smirk and looked at the two of them across the table from him.
"So, there is something you need from me?" Francis asked, sneering at them. Booth leaned back casually and looked Francis in the eye.
"We are here to offer you a deal. We have spoken with the prosecutor and he is willing to offer you the chance for parole after ten years if you are sentenced," Booth said, glancing at his nails. Francis snorted and looked at his lawyer.
"Private Francis, minimum sentencing for attempted murder is 25 years," his lawyer whispered. Booth pulled out the disc that Angela had given Brennan and waved it at Francis.
"We also have proof right here that it was also conspiracy to commit murder," Booth said, waggling the disc at the two men.
"That's another minimum ten years," his lawyer said, chewing on his nails. He looked at the disc and a smile crept across his face.
"You can't present evidence without the defense reviewing said evidence," the lawyer crowed.
"You have had a copy for the last twenty-four hours," Booth said, looking at the lawyer.
"No, I haven't. I have never seen that disc before in my life," Francis' lawyer sputtered.
Brennan flipped open the folder and pulled out a sheet of paper. She handed it to Booth who skimmed it and smiled. He leaned across the table and set the paper down in front of the lawyer.
"Is that your signature?" Booth asked, pointing to a signature at the bottom of the paper.
"No, that's my secretary's signature," the lawyer sputtered.
"Then you need to speak with your secretary. This receipt clearly shows that you received an exact copy of this disc yesterday," Booth said.
The lawyer grunted, crumpled the paper in his hand and threw it on the floor. He sneered at Booth as if to say 'you can't prove it now'.
"Dr. Brennan keeps meticulous copies and that was one of many copies," Booth said, smiling with a devilish gleam in his eye. Francis exhaled slowly but loudly.
"What do you want, Booth?" Francis said, trying to run his fingers through his hair.
When Francis lifted his hand, Legates and Brown stepped forward menacingly. Francis held his hands up in a compliant gesture to them.
"Information," Booth said shortly.
"What information?" Francis said, narrowing his eyes.
"I can't discuss that in current company," Booth said, glancing at Francis' lawyer.
"Anything you say to him you can say to me," the lawyer said with a sleazy smile.
"This is a matter of national security which the prosecuting attorney has already informed you of. So, no you are unable to be here and if Private Francis says anything about our discussion, he can and will be prosecuted for treason," Booth said, glaring at Booth men.
"Jeff you can go," Francis said to his lawyer.
"This is not a good idea," his lawyer protested.
"Jeff," Francis hissed.
The lawyer stood up and slammed the chair back under the table. He stalked from the room, slamming the door behind him. Legates snorted and rolled his eyes at the man's temper tantrum.
"What do you want to know?" Francis asked, sitting back and crossing his arms.
"How did you know where the shooter would be?" Booth asked, looking Francis straight in the eye.
"Someone told me," Francis said vaguely. Booth waved his hand in a 'tell me more' gesture. Francis sighed and thoughtfully grunted.
"Hannah Burley," Francis said.
"Okay, how? Why?" Booth asked, trying to get as much information as he could from Francis.
"We were dating and she asked me a favor. She had heard about the fight between the three of us," Francis said, waving his hand to encompass the three at the table, "and wanted to know if I wanted to get back at you."
"Did she say why she wanted to get back at me?" Booth asked his knee starting to bounce in agitation under the table.
Brennan could sense Booth's agitation and unease, so she smoothed her hand down his thigh to his knee. His leg stopped bouncing as he realized he was doing it.
"At the time I did not know it but she was sleeping with Torres," Francis growled.
Booth shifted forward, placed his elbows on the table, and leaned on his forearms. Snorting lightly, Booth looked at the man with a raised eyebrow of disbelief.
"Surely you knew about Ms. Burley. I was there about three days when I heard about her," Booth said. Francis stiffened slightly and glared at Booth.
"I thought I was different," Francis muttered, his face turning pink.
"Anyway, I found out she was a Delta and that she was bumped down the list of some secret government program," he paused and scratched his jaw, "it had the name of a band. Oh, yeah Evanescence. She had been put on the standby list because they bumped everyone down to put you on it. Due to your skills." Francis looked at Booth and leaned forward on the table.
"I just wanted to get back at your for embarrassing me. I never meant to actually kill you, just hurt you. That's why I didn't push you all the way up. The shooter corrected his sights too quickly. You were supposed to get it in the shoulder or arm. Not the back of the head," Francis said, his voice low and apologetic.
"I'm not going to say it's okay because it's not. And it's not because my heart stopped on the flight to Kabul. It's because of what you put Bones through. You will get to see a tape of what she did and went through at your trial. Are you willing to sign an affidavit of this information?" Booth asked, staring Francis down.
"Yes, I can do that," Francis said.
"Okay, once we're out of here I call the prosecutor about your charges," Booth said. He stood up and looked down at Francis.
"As a good Catholic I should forgive, but this one, well, I'm sorry but I'm just not ready yet," Booth said.
"I can understand that," Francis said, nodding. Brennan stood up, picked up her folder and hooked her arm through his. The four of them left Francis sitting at the table staring at the surface lost in thought.
