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Chapter 12

Seeley Booth stalked out of the law office, Bones' file tucked securely under his arm. The receptionist gave him an alarmed look, wishing him a nice day. The look in her eye suggested she may have overheard elevated voices. At this point, that was the least of his worries. Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw the older woman with her hand at her throat, watching him out the window.

He unlocked his SUV, got in and slammed the door. Sitting there a moment, trying to control his breathing and his temper. His cell rang from within his pocket. It was Cam. He answered abruptly "Booth"

"Seeley, what's going on?" she got right to the heart of the matter

"What's going on with what Camille?" he snapped, he wasn't in the mood for this

"With Dr. Brennan. What are you doing? Angela told me that you looked like hell. You need to take a break from it" she said matter of factly

"Back off Cam. I know what I am doing. You don't understand, okay?" he said in a cold voice

"Fine. But you know what, maybe she is running from YOU" and with that the connection ended.

He closed his cell phone and slipped it in his pocket.

Bones was not running from him. No. He refused to believe it. Not after the night they shared together and the things she said. She was out there and he was going to find her. He opened the file and quickly scanned the legal documents before him. It listed a lawyer in the Minneapolis area – Jack Roethel, attorney at law. The rest was legal mumbo jumbo regarding adoption laws, and the here to's and wherefores. Bottom line, one Temperance Brennan giving up parental rights to her unborn child and this lawyer in Minnesota was going to find a couple for the child. Okay. Now we are getting somewhere.

He dialed the phone number listed on the office letterhead at the top of the page.

"Jack Roethel's office, how may I help you?" a female voice asked him

"I need to speak to Mr. Roethel, my name is Special Agent Seeley Booth with the FBI in DC" he answered her impatiently

"One moment sir" she put him on hold and was assaulted with a morning show, two dee jays were going back and forth on some current event in their area.

"Jack Roethel" a strong male voice answered

"Yes, Mr. Roethel, I am with the FBI in the DC area, working on a missing persons case, and I have some information here I need to talk to you about" he began

"A missing person's case? What could this possibly have to do with me?" the attorney sounded confused

"This is regarding a private adoption you were doing in conjunction with Curtis Walker" Booth paused "Does this sound familiar?"

The silence was heavy on the connection. Just as Booth was going to see if the attorney was still on the line, he finally responded

"Yes. Yes, I am familiar with the case, missing person? I'm afraid I don't understand Agent Booth" the lawyer said in a guarded tone

"Well then, let me bring you up to speed okay? Curtis Walker's client, Dr. Temperance Brennan, as you know is expecting a child around Labor Day, and was to arrange an adoption of the child. Circumstances changed, and as is her legal right, Dr. Brennan changed her mind, and decided to keep the baby. She advised her lawyer, who in turn advised you. I have the copy in the main file here of that correspondence. I need to know the name of the couple who was to adopt that baby" he paused a moment "I think it is a very real possibility that they could have some information on Dr. Brennan's whereabouts" he finished

"I see, to be quite frank Agent Booth, this situation has quickly spun out of control, and a great deal of the blame does lie with me" the attorney admitted quietly. Jack said nothing for a moment, perhaps gathering his thoughts

"Yes. I do have the information you need. I assume you are going to come to Minnesota then to pursue this lead?" he pressed insistently, and went on "Why don't you come to my office and I will give you everything you require to locate the couple, and should they have any information, I will of course cooperate fully with the FBI" the attorney said, sounding impossibly calm under the circumstances.

"Fine. I am going to catch the next flight out there. I will call you when I get to Minnesota, thank you" and with that he flipped his cell phone shut, and started the SUV. He had an overnight bag in the back of the SUV he kept there for out of town and out of state cases that would serve this purpose. He called the airport in advance, as he was driving, to secure a seat on the first available flight to Minnesota. He had to hurry, the ticket agent told him, a flight was due to leave in 45 minutes. Reaching up and turning on the siren, he sped off to the airport. Booth murmured a silent prayer to a God he didn't talk to as often as his religion preached.

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Doug Duncan was beginning to worry. His wife had been out of town for just over 3 days now, and he only heard from her as she got to town. Where was she? What was she doing? She said she was going to meet with the mother of the child they were to adopt, what then? He paced their small living room, and wondered what to do. He tried her cell phone several times and left messages, but was getting no response from his wife. Maybe he should call the police….yet doing that may anger Trista, he didn't like to make her upset, he wanted her to be happy. He'd give her one more day before he called. She was probably distracted with meeting the famous author and forensic anthropologist he told himself. Of course she'd check in, she loved him.

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Trista gazed down at the sleeping pregnant doctor. There were dark circles under her eyes, and although she'd been fed enough, her cheeks somehow seemed gaunt, her hair dull and lifeless. Her eyes skipped guiltily away. A part of her knew what she was doing was wrong, but she wanted this. This baby was hers. God wanted it this way, or else he wouldn't have had their attorney Jack point Temperance in her direction.

So far, the doctor had been very cooperative, but very quiet. She seemed deep in thought. That day she'd caught the doctor staring out the window, her hands caressing her bulging middle.

Trista had anticipated a struggle and perhaps an escape. Although today was the first day she'd been awake, she'd seemed very subdued given the situation. Maybe she's resigned herself to the inevitable, she thought. Tonight, after she was certain Temperance was asleep, she'd call Dougie to let him know she was okay, and she'd be gone for a while. He'd understand, he loved her.

Startled at a sound, she glanced back down at the young woman. She was mumbling in her sleep. Leaning forward to catch what she was saying, all she could make out was 'Booth…Seeley…' and that was all. Her voice although hard to understand, was filled with despair, and even as she watched, a lone tear made its way down her gaunt cheek.

End chapter 12