You know the standard disclaimer, I don't have to say it again, do I? Just check previous chapters - nothing's changed.

We're coming to the climax on this one, so expect regular updates for a while.


23 missing child

Brennan found herself almost struggling to keep up with Booth's long strides as they hurried back to the motel. Most of the building was in darkness, only one room ablaze with light, the blinds drawn. The parking lot was empty but for two cars; Booth's and a sedan that stood in front of the lit up room.

Booth tried the door of the office building, but it was locked, the lights off. Rattling the door, banging on it and shouting produced no effect. Booth walked round the back of the building and then rejoined Brennan at the car. "His car's gone," he said briefly. "He was working on it earlier round the back."

A voice called to them from the one motel room that had lights on: it was the father they had seen earlier in the diner. He approached them, looking extremely nervous. "Have you seen my son?" he asked.

Booth shook his head, suddenly very attentive. "Is he missing?" he asked, with a concerned look at Brennan.

The man held out a piece of paper. "I found this," he said.

Brennan took the note and held it carefully by the very edge, angling it so that she and Booth could both read it in the light streaming from the open door.

I've taken the boy back to his mother. That's where he belongs, with us, not with you. If you come anywhere near us again we'll have you put in jail for kidnap.

Brennan looked up at Booth, shocked. Booth looked at the man. "So your point is?" he asked. Brennan felt confused at first, but realised Booth was checking his facts before jumping to conclusions, and she nodded approvingly.

The man hesitated, then obviously decided he had to speak out. "My ex-wife has no boyfriend. She's too busy getting out of her head on vodka all the time. I doubt she's even realised he's gone. Anyway, I can't just leave it like that. I – I only took him to take proper care of him. She could never do that. I have to know he's safe."

"Of course you do," Brennan soothed, while watching Booth carefully. She knew what must have happened, and she could see from Booth's face that he had too. It was happening all over again, but this time they were around to change the ending. She hoped.

"I'm going to have a look around," Booth told her. "You get the police, tell them what's happened. The guy who took over from Harvey is called Robert Ford. Tell him what we suspect, tell him to take it quietly, we don't want to scare Charlie off."

"What are you going to do?" asked Brennan, suddenly concerned that he was going to walk into danger.

"I'm just going to take a look around."

"I'll come with you."

"No." Booth held both her arms and forced her to look at him. "It's important that you get hold of Ford. We can't afford to waste time on this. It's pretty certain neither Charlie or the boy are around, but I need to check the rest of the place anyway, just in case. You keep calling, please, and stay here with..." He looked over at the man.

"Paul Chymes," the man answered, looking anxious. "My boy – his name is Mikey."

Booth nodded. "Okay. Mr Chymes, I need you to stay here with Bones – with Dr. Brennan, and tell her everything you know, okay? I'm just going to have a look round, and then I'll be back. We're going to do everything we can to get Mikey back safe and sound."

"Thank you." The man looked grateful, as if Booth had already returned his son to him. Brennan just hoped Booth would be able to keep that promise.

Booth withdrew his gun from his holster and held it ready in his hand, and Brennan watched him kick down the door to the office, check round it and come out with a handful of keys to the motel rooms. He nodded at her, and unlocked the next door room. Brennan watched him disappear inside and turn the lights on. Then she turned to Chymes and took him back into his room.

The room was similar to the others she'd been in, a dirty green carpet on which stood a cheap pine bed and dressing table. A wooden chair nearby stood piled with clothes and towels. The door to the bathroom was ajar, the light showing around the edges of the door. She checked in there just in case, although she knew it was futile. In the far corner of the main room was a cupboard, with a TV standing on top of it still showing a kids' cartoon show. Chymes indicated it with a vague wave of his faintly trembling hand. "Mikey was watching TV," he explained unnecessarily. "He wanted his bag of toys from the car and I left him to get it. When he didn't come back in I went to look and found the keys in the lock and no sign of him."

"Did you see anyone? Hear anyone?" Brennan asked, ignoring the sound of the TV while listening intently for the sound of Booth moving from room to room.

"No. But he has the TV on rather loud." Chymes crossed the room and turned the volume down as he spoke. He thought for a moment, then hit the off switch.

"Who did you speak to in the office when you checked in?"

"A guy who said his name was Charlie. Very cheerful guy. Seemed to take a shine to Mikey." Chymes' face suddenly changed. "Is that who you think has him? Your boyfriend said about not scaring Charlie off."

Brennan opened her mouth to give the usual correction, but then remembered that yes, Booth could at this point be described as her boyfriend. She gave a small smile to herself. Maybe once this was all over they could enjoy their new relationship. She just nodded. "We have reason to believe that Charlie, the motel owner, has kidnapped your son," she said quietly. She did not go into any more detail. The fact that Charlie was also suspected of killing two other boys and a man could not help his frame of mind at the moment, and she needed him to keep calm and cooperative.

She took her phone out of her pocket and called the local station. "We need to get the local police in on this," she said, as she waited for the phone to connect. "We need to locate Charlie and get to him before – as soon as we can." She listened intently to the phone, then swore and hung up. "It's engaged."

Booth stuck his head round the door. "I'm just going to check those sheds behind the motel," he said. "Won't be long."

She nodded, and waved a hand at him, as she hit the redial button on her phone. "Come on, pick up," she muttered, as the phone rang and rang at the other end. Beside her, Paul Chymes started to pace up and down the room, chewing on his fingernails.

Please let me know what you think! This is my first time trying to write a mystery/thriller and combining it with romance, so I'd appreciate your views.