Chapter 8
Around three o'clock, Booth and Brennan walked back into the lab at the Jeffersonian. They had managed to get through about fifty people's backgrounds and marked down any interesting ones. Brennan found the work incredibly boring at times but she was sure that Booth found some of what she and the rest of team boring as well.
"How much progress did you make Zach?" She asked as the partners scanned into the platform.
"Well I was able to match four of the six other cases. I'm still working on the impressions from the fifth body." The young student said. Brennan nodded and moved over to the examination table where Zach had laid the X-rays and pictures out.
"You put these into the computer and matched them?" Booth asked.
"Yes, it's a rather easy process. First, I scanned the X-rays and pictures into the computer. Then I pulled the files up into an enhancement program, which raises the impressions on the bones so I can match them more easily. Next, I ran…" Zach seemed so proud of his work before Booth cut him off.
"A simple 'yes', would have done it." The FBI Agent said.
"Finish matching the last two bodies. Booth and I are going to see how Angela and Hodgins are doing." Brennan gave the student a smile. Zach smiled back and quickly dove back into his work.
"Why are you like that to him?" Temperance asked Booth as soon as they were out of earshot.
"Bones, I told you; something to do with wanting to be the alpha male. That's the phrase you used." He gave her his 'charm' smile. She had the sudden urge to kiss him but warning bells in her head reminded her they were at work. Instead, Temperance rolled her eyes and they opened the doors to Angela's office. The partners were in for a big surprise.
Angela and Jack appeared to be enjoying their work and it had nothing to do with the buildings the two were told to investigate. It wasn't anything dirty; they were just sitting in the same chair talking and holding hands. It was just the fact that neither, Booth nor Brennan ever figured these two would get along so well.
"So I take it the building work, went pretty good." Booth smiled as the two practically fell over each other trying to stand up. The chair they had been sitting hit the floor.
"Angela, can I see you for a moment?" Brennan asked. The artist could tell that her friend meant business. They stood over where the good doctor thought they couldn't be overheard.
"What are you doing?" Temperance wondered.
"Jack and I were just talking. Bren, hon, I've been so busy trying to hook you and Booth up that I just never noticed how interesting Jack is." Angela answered.
"Bullshit. You've been pestering me and now here you are sitting in Hodgins lap and holding hands. If I'm not mistaken, you called him the most annoying, self-centered, crazed person you know and at times you didn't even want to get within one hundred feet of him." Brennan said.
"Things change. I'm sure you and Booth weren't all business at his office." The artist smiled. It took all the strength Brennan had to not get too upset.
"Things were all business and right now we don't have time for this." Her words came out sharp and mean. Immediately, she regretted it.
"I'm sorry Angela."
"Listen, sweetie, I know there is something I'm not being told. I can feel it. Lately, you seem to be snapping at everyone. I think tonight, we should go out for drinks and talk." Her friend smiled. Brennan's mind told her that she really should get back to her book but she acquiesced to her friend's suggestion.
"All right but let's focus on the case." The two walked back over to Booth and Hodgins, who had spent the last few staring at each other in silence.
"What about the buildings?" Booth asked. He seemed anxious and he kept looking at his watch.
"All we found out is that all seven buildings were once apartment complexes. They had been empty for many years and that's why they were scheduled for demolition." Hodgins finally opened his mouth. He didn't expand on anything, which seemed odd because he usually managed to stick a conspiracy in.
"So there is a good chance that our suspect never lived in them. Why then do a half-ass job of burying the bodies there?" Booth thought aloud.
"Well you said that he was just toying with the FBI." Brennan offered.
"Yes, but there has to be a reason. Were the buildings made by some famous architect? Maybe the perp thought that if he drew enough attention to them, they wouldn't be demolished?" Booth again floated some ideas. Suddenly, his phone rang.
"Booth." There was a period where he didn't talk and then he let out a loud sigh.
"But Rebecca, I want to see him. He's my son too." Again he fell silent. Brennan, Angela, and Hodgins tried to focus on the buildings but it was hard. Finally, the FBI Agent hung up his phone with a hard snap. Then he walked out of the room. Temperance wanted to go to him and find out what had happened but the case had to be dealt with.
"I want you and Hodgins to find out who built these buildings. I want every avenue covered there has to be a connection between these apartments and the bodies or the killer. I'll be in my office." Brennan ordered.
"That is if you two can focus." She smiled and left the room, hoping she could find Booth.
To Be Continued…