Chapter 10
Baton Rouge Hotel 1:30 pm
Booth and Brennan sat in the FBI Agent's room discussing what the locals had said while they waited for their room service.
"I don't know why the two I talked to behaved the way they did. Who would they be protecting?" Brennan asked as she shifted her position on the bed.
"I don't know but the man I spoke to, Rene Lafayette, said that he didn't hear of anything recent about someone losing a forearm. It could just be a ploy to get us to focus on that instead of the bodies. Unfortunately without a description of the person who tossed the bodies or even a boat description, our only leads are the Woves." Booth said kicking off his shoes and leaving them near the chair he sat in. There was a knock on the door and he got up to get it.
"Mmmm that smells good." He commented. Brennan nodded. Booth tipped the man who brought the food and closed the door.
"What did you order?" Brennan asked.
"The jambalaya." Booth smiled. The forensic anthropologist smiled back as she showed off her gumbo.
"I guess we both enjoy spicy food." She said. They were about to dig in when Brennan's cell sounded. She dug it out of her purse and held it up to her ear.
"Brennan." She answered.
"Hi, hon. I have an update. The body is that of Max Smith. He has a record too. Smith was once convicted of forcible rape. His last given address is near New Orleans." Angela told her.
"Hmm." Brennan said. Booth gave her a look before sticking his spoon into his jambalaya.
"We couldn't get any useable prints off the forearm. The stomach acids in the alligator ruined the fingertips and as us yet we haven't gotten any DNA matches. Zach thinks the forearm itself has been dead for a week but it's hard to tell due to it having been embalmed." Angela continued.
"I was afraid of that. Any foreign prints or fibers or anything?" Brennan asked.
"No. Sorry sweetie. How's Booth?" The forensic artist asked.
"Good as can be expected." Brennan said without realizing what she was leading herself into.
"Really? Not fantastic? That's too bad I would have expected better of him." Angela replied.
"What do you... " Brennan started.
"Sorry, I had to ask. I'll let you know if anything new comes up." The forensic artist quickly hung up. Brennan shook her head and turned to Booth, who was enjoying what was left of his jambalaya.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Angela wondered how you were and when I said good she said that she expected better of you but I don't know what that means." Brennan explained. Booth practically choked on the food in his mouth. She immediately got off the bed and came over to him.
"I'm fine. You'd better eat your gumbo before it gets cold and tell me what she said when you're done." He said. Brennan nodded and started to eat her food while Booth drank his iced tea. He knew exactly what Angela had meant and he hoped that someday soon they would explore that idea but it would up to Brennan, not him.
Later, after Brennan had finished eating and had explained what Angela had said about the body and body part, Booth decided that it was time to head back to Florida and question the Woves. Brennan made a face as he arranged for a flight to Orlando and a hotel room. This constant back and forth was tiring.
When he was done, Booth pushed the foot cart out into the hallway and then plunked himself down on the nearest bed, pushing himself up against the headboard. Brennan moved off the one she was sitting on and sat next to him. He wrapped his arm around her and she snuggled her head against his shoulder. They were enjoying the companionable silence when Brennan cell rang again.
To Be Continued...