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Ch. 2 – Lie of Omission
"What do you mean that you don't have a body for me just yet?" Brennan asked, "Are the remains in transit?"
"No. When I said I don't have a body for you yet, it means that there isn't a body for you to examine at all," Mitchell Clark replied.
"Then what do you need me for?"
"Because there's going to be remains for you to examine in the very near future."
"And you know this because you're clairvoyant?" Brennan asked incredulously.
"No, Dr. Brennan. I'm a step above clairvoyant, I'm a profiler."
"Oh," Brennan said softly, her eyes widening imperceptibly. She'd encountered only one profiler before when she had been working on a case with Booth. These individuals had an amazing ability to take seemingly unrelated elements of a crime scene and pinpoint what age, sex, psychological profile, and occupation of the perpetrator as well as determining his motive for committing the crime. She'd initially dismissed it as more psychobabble but had quickly learned just how accurate it all was. Booth had grudgingly used the profiler's aid in that previous case but had treated him with unjustified hostility. When she'd questioned Booth, he'd told her he'd had an unpleasant experience with another profiler who cared only about proving his theories correct no matter the peripheral damages and harm it brought to others.
"You seem suddenly wary of me, Dr. Brennan," Clark prodded.
Temperance mentally floundered for some excuse to explain her sudden mental wanderings but then decided on honesty.
"I am slightly, Agent Clark."
"Please, call me Mitch, Dr. Brennan," Clark interrupted.
Brennan nodded at his request and continued, "Agent Booth told me of a profiler he encountered once who was… reckless in his investigation."
"Well, I can assure you that Booth and I are old friends. We've known each other since training at Quantico."
Temperance considered this new data as she would new evidence in any of her investigations. Clark watched as the almost visible wheels in her head spun wildly. She blinked suddenly, signifying she had reached a decision.
"In that case, Age… Mitch, why don't you explain why you need a forensic anthropologist when you have no body for me to analyze."
"That's a wonderful idea, Dr. Brennan. I've been working on a serial murder case for four months now. Before you demand why I'm only asking for your services now, I had been working with another forensic anthropologist, Michael Stires, up until last week. Unfortunately, Dr. Stires was called away to a dig in Kenya and recommended that I consult you for the remainder of the case."
Brennan raised her eyebrows at the mention of Michael's name. She had avoided all contact with him since the Maggie Schilling case and was internally surprised that he had recommended her to continue his work on this case. She admitted to herself that she would not have done the same. Never mind the fact that Booth would never work with him in her stead.
"I see. I would imagine that you have Michael's case notes?"
Clark nodded and reaching into his briefcase, which she hadn't noticed before. He removed twelve case files of equal thickness and placed them in the center of her desk. Brennan reached for the top file and flipped through it. The most recent victim had been female, aged 23 and had been found in the hyenas' cage in the Central Park Zoo in New York City. She briefly surveyed Michael's notes, which were well organized and detailed. Nodding her approval she returned her attention back to Clark.
"Of those twelve cases, three were killed in Virginia, three more in Vermont, another three in New Jersey, and three last month in New York. Based on the pattern he's going to move on to D.C. next and there will be three more dead bodies. All of the victims were women, usually in their twenties although one was 32, all of them had red hair, and all of them were strippers or exotic dancers. According to the local medical examiners and Dr. Stire's examinations, the women were beaten, raped, and their throats were slashed. He then dumps the bodies in the cage of a scavenging animal, usually in a local zoo, although one body was dumped in a university lab's rat cage."
"So according to your profile, the murderer is going to continue this pattern here, in D.C.?"
"Yes. I'll alert you as soon as the next body is found. I just wanted to give you the files so that you could familiarize yourself with them. I look forward to working with you, Temperance."
Temperance looked up briefly from the file that she had re-opened and gave a small parting smile, not even registering that Clark had called her by her first name. She heard him reach the doorframe and called out quickly, "Agent Clark?"
Clark briefly considered re-iterating his request to be called Mitch but decided against it. Instead he simply answered, "Yes?"
"Where does he find his victims? Why does he choose these women in particular?"
"I don't know that yet. That's what I'm hoping you'll be able to help me figure out."
Brennan nodded, returning her attention to the file in her hands, completely ignoring his presence. He lingered briefly in the doorway, watching Brennan reading the notes, her brows furrowed in concentration. She twirled a piece of hair absentmindedly. Clark had to admit that she was an extremely attractive woman albeit very intense. He envied Booth for being able to work with her on a regular basis. Turning to walk out of the lab and ignoring the prying eyes of the nearby squints, he thought again of the alluring Dr. Brennan. That auburn hair was quite impressive.
Brennan was flummoxed. After almost two days of no contact, Clark had called thirty minutes previously and informed her that their first victim had appeared in the vulture cage in a local aviary. The body had not been sufficiently damaged to allow it to bypass the medical examiner's office. It would be sent there first and then Clark would have it brought to the Jeffersonian lab.
Brennan had given Zach the task of packing up the thirteenth century Australian aborigine they had been working on while she determined whether she had all of the necessary supplies. She had also apprised Hodgins and Angela that their services may be required in several hours. She was in the process of disinfecting her examination table when Booth entered at the far end of the lab.
Brennan didn't see him as he approached the raised area where the squints frequently examined bodies and performed various tests. Booth watched Temperance as she moved her hand in concentric circles, wiping the table clean, leaning over it to reach the far side. He'd spent seven wonderful days with his son but at odd moments during the day he'd found himself missing the brilliant, socially awkward forensic anthropologist. Not to mention conversation with Bones was never dull.
Climbing the stairs, the sound of his feet on the treads caused her to look up and she actually smiled widely in greeting.
"Booth."
"Bones."
She rolled her eyes at the name but made no comment.
"Enjoy your vacation?"
"I did. Did you miss me?"
"Mm-hmm," Bones muttered without thinking while she suddenly frowned, trying to remember where she had left her favorite pair of tweezers.
Booth started at the response, and then noticing the furrow between her brows he smiled. Apparently Bones was being a little more forthcoming than she would have been if her full attention had been given to him.
"What time did you find you missed me the most?"
"8:15."
Booth gave Brennan a curious look, which she encountered when she looked up from her clipboard.
"I'm sorry, you didn't just ask me what time it is did you?"
"No, Bones, I didn't," Booth momentarily considered asking his question again but decided against it and moved on instead. "What's got you so occupied?"
"Medical examiner's office is going to be sending a body here in a few hours and I want to be prepared for when it arrives."
"Since when did you start working with the medical examiner's office?"
"I haven't. But it does occasionally work with the FBI."
"Bones, do we have to go over this again? You are my partner but you are not a member of the FBI. I'm the one with the badge, remember?"
"Believe it or not, Booth, I do understand that."
"Good. That's good."
Brennan nodded her agreement and turned her attention back to her clipboard.
"So why is the medical examiner's office sending you a body? I've barely been back and I wasn't given a case that requires your help."
"That's good, because I'm going to be very busy in the near future. Based on Michael's notes, this case is going to be very intense."
"What case? And Michael, as in Michael Stires, Michael? You're working a case with that creep?"
"No, Michael is no longer on the case. He was the previous forensic anthropologist. And the case is for the FBI. I thought Cullen would have apprised you of the situation."
Brennan returned half her attention to her clipboard and used the other half to keep up her end of the conversation with Booth.
"No, I'm pretty sure he forgot to tell me about you having your own, independent case."
"Oh, I'm not working on this on my own. I was requested by an agent."
Booth's eyes narrowed.
"What agent?"
Before Brennan could reply they were interrupted by the sound of new feet on the stairs. Booth turned and after recognizing the familiar face and smirk felt equal parts anger, alarm, and surprise well up within him.
"Clark," he spit out.
"Agent Booth. Wonderful to see you again."
Booth fumed at Clark's faked innocent air. The son of a bitch.
"Oh yes, I'd forgotten Clark had said you were friends from Quantico," Brennan supplied distractedly.
"Friends!" Booth repeated incredulously.
"Well," Clark replied, "we started out that way."
Brennan looked up and shot a curious glance at Booth as she suddenly noticed the palpable tension in the air. Something was going on here that she had a feeling would affect the rest of the investigation.
"Booth, did Agent Clark lie to me about your previous relationship?"
Clark interrupted before Booth he could reply.
"I did not lie, I merely omitted some facts."
Booth snorted derisively and then turned to face Brennan, deliberately omitting Clark from his line of vision.
"Do you remember that profiler with no regard for anyone or anything besides his puzzle I told you about a while back?"
Brennan's gaze almost imperceptibly shifted between Booth and Clark. There was a, subliminal struggle for domination going on between the two and she was intrigued to see who would win. Realizing that Booth was waiting for her input, she nodded to acknowledge her remembrance of the conversation.
Booth made a wide gesture with his hands and said, "May I introduce Agent Mitchell Clark."
Brennan's eyes widened and she turned an accusatory glance at Clark.
"You did lie to me."
Clark sighed, "Fine, I did lie about my previous relationship with Booth, but I wasn't lying about needing your help on this case. You're one of the best forensic anthropologists in the world. Besides, you've seen what's happened to the previous victims, don't you want to help prevent it happening to more women?"
Brennan felt conflicted. If Booth was correct about this man, she wasn't sure she wanted to be a part of his method of investigation. But after spending the past two days immersing herself in the case files of the previous twelve victims, she felt compelled to help. She was just opening her mouth to give her reply, when Booth interrupted her.
"Oh no you don't. You're not going to guilt her into working this case."
"Booth, stop. I want to work this case. If I can prevent this happening to more women, I will," Brennan interceded.
Booth growled, realizing that Brennan was perfectly valid in her desire to aid the investigation.
"Fine. But if you work the case, I'm going to work it too."
"Booth," Clark protested, "I don't need you."
"You may not but Bones does, if for nothing else than making sure someone's looking out for her."
Brennan considered protesting that she did not need anyone to protect her but seeing the mood Booth was in decided the ensuing argument would not turn out in her favor.
"Dr. Brennan is perfectly safe while working with me," Clark protested.
"Like Kate Mahoney was safe with you?" Booth queried. Clark's face fell not in remorse but in defeat and it was evident from Booth's raised eyebrows that he had won this round. Suddenly, Clark's visage changed as came up with a new tack to try.
"Cullen approved my working with Dr. Brennan," he stated with a sly look, but Booth was unperturbed.
"That's fine. What time is the body due to arrive?" Booth demanded of Brennan.
"Two hours. Three at the most."
"Great. We'll leave Dr. Brennan to preparing for the arrival of the latest victim," Booth stated. "Meanwhile, Clark and I will go have a quick meeting with Deputy Director Cullen to define the roles each of us will play in this investigation. Is that satisfactory for you, Dr. Brennan?"
Temperance nodded her assent; surprised by the sudden formality Booth had used in addressing her. It must have been the result of his pent up anger towards Clark, she decided.
Booth tapped his hand on the desk after Brennan's approval and then gestured to Clark with the other, "After you Agent Clark."
Clark descended the stairs and Booth made to follow but then turned around.
"This is why I gave you my cell number," he said quietly.
"I didn't know an FBI profiler qualified as an emergency," Brennan replied.
"It does when it's Clark," Booth said as he headed down the stairs. He called out over his shoulder, "I'll be back soon, Bones."
Brennan watched as the two men exited the lab, both sets of shoulders equally tense. Hearing the rustling of clothing behind her, she turned to encounter Angela, Hodgins, and Zach who had apparently been eavesdropping on most of the conversation.
"I'd scold all of you on not listening to discussions you have nothing to do with, but I have a feeling the lecture would be lost on all of you."
Angela and Hodgins gave her defiant grins while Zach merely flushed and turned towards his microscope. Angela sauntered over.
"I told you Clark was going to start some excitement around here."
"Yes, Angela, you did, but I'm not entirely sure I want to deal with two competing FBI agents while trying to solve a serial murder case," Brennan said dryly.
Angela shrugged, and then turned back to watch the two men as they left the building.
"What I wouldn't give to be one of Hodgins bugs so that I could hang out on a wall during that meeting," she sighed.
TBC
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