Chapter 7

Temperance finally pulled her car into the designated spot in the garage beneath her apartment building. The rear wheel was wobbling as she drove, and she was certain there was axel damage or wheel damage at least. Getting out the car, she slammed the door and slowly walked around her poor car. It was going to be expensive to fix. The entire passenger side was dented and wrinkled, black paint marring the silver finish. The side window was shattered out, safety glass sprinkled all over the interior of her car. Her windshield had a large crack in it; her front end had damage from her hitting the wall from the lack of brakes. She decided to call the dealership to have it totally overhauled and repaired. She'd have to get a rental car or something. She wasn't looking forward to telling Booth about this, but she had gotten the message on her cell phone that he was going to stop by later today, and she knew he'd see the car and probably over react anyway. She had to go back to work tomorrow, and she knew Angela, Jack and Zack would all have to hear every detail of the last 24 hours. She could just hear Jack Hodgins and his conspiracy theories now. It was going to be a very long and trying day tomorrow. She could plan on getting little to nothing done.

Unlocking and entering her apartment, she was happy to see the maintenance men had come as she'd requested and taken away the couch and chair from where she had pushed them out into the hallway. She'd have to remember to get them a key to her place as well.

Tossing her keys and phone next to the answering machine, she pushed the button that was blinking at her and listened to the message her father left her. Sitting down at the bar stool beside the breakfast bar she just sat there a moment, thinking about what the message said. She knew she had to keep the message for Booth to hear, yet somehow she didn't want to. She wanted to find her father. She wanted to see him again, she had so many questions. With a sigh, she picked up the phone and dialed Booths office number. After a few rings, she was directed to his voice mail. Hanging up without leaving a message, she dialed his cell number, and he picked up on the 2nd ring.

"Booth" he answered, sounding distracted

"Hey, it's me. Where are you?" she asked him, hoping he was on the way over

"Almost to your place, why what's up?"

"Well, first, don't over react when you see my car, and—"

"Why? What happened" he cut her off mid-sentence "are you okay?" he demanded

With a sigh, she said "never mind. I will see you when you get here" and she disconnected.

She knew how he could be when he was upset and driving, and since he was almost here anyway, she figured it could wait until then. Before she had a chance to hang the cordless phone up, there was a knock at her door. Thinking it was the building superintendent to get her new key, she got up to answer the door. She unlocked the door, and swung the door open. She didn't even have a chance to look up at who it was before something very hard connected with her skull. Searing pain and a loud crack was all she felt and heard, and she crumpled to the floor, in the doorway of her apartment, the phone slipping out of her hand.

Standing above her still body, the assailant looked down at her thoughtfully. He could take her, and remove the problem now, or leave her for her FBI boyfriend to find. Although the former was tempting, he knew he was ill equipped to handle a kidnapping and murder right now. That would require more planning. This would have to suffice to go along with the message she had just gotten from her father. Perhaps this would drive home the point to the stubborn FBI agent.

Snapping a quick photograph, he quickly exited the building, taking care to leave through a door he knew the FBI agent would not take. Jogging to his dark sedan, he appraised the damage to the driver's side. Silver streaks of paint marred the shiny black finish; however little to no other body damage was evident thankfully. He'd have to see to the repair and refinish of this ASAP. He couldn't afford to have any evidence against him. Just in case.

End chp 7

Sorry not as long as others, more coming soon. What did you think?