"How do you know where he is?" Booth demanded after Max's statement.
Let him finish. He will tell you.
"Before I let you in on anything, you gotta promise to not arrest me," Max ordered.
"I promise," Booth said immediately.
Booth! He's a murderer!
"Good. Can I come in?"
No.
"Sure," Booth said, moving aside. "Coffee?"
"No thanks. Let's cut to the chase, shall we?"
"Go for it."
"Rumor has it amongst the felons I mingle with that the Gravedigger is in cahoots with a writer to help boost the publicity of his murders."
"I knew that," Booth said. "Tell me something I don't know."
"I think this person is in the legal system," Max went on. "Or at least involved in law enforcement."
"The Grave Digger? What gives you that impression?" Booth asked.
"It's a hunch."
"I don't want hunches, Max. I want facts."
"Give me some more time, and I'll get what you need," Max said, standing up.
"Wait, that's it?" Booth asked as Max opened the door.
"Yup."
"You said you knew where he was!"
"In law enforcement or the legal system. I have to narrow it down a little more," Max explained.
"Hurry up about it then," Booth ordered. He sighed loudly when Max was gone.
That went well.
"I don't need sarcasm right now, Bones," Booth said, rubbing his face hard. He was still thinking about her confession of love on top of his that had just happened less than twenty minutes ago.
I meant it.
"Meant what?"
That I love you. I know you're thinking about it.
"Can you read my mind now?"
No, I just know you. I'm sorry it took me dying to figure it out.
"It's okay," Booth sighed. "It's been a long day. You mind if I go to sleep?"
Go ahead.
"See you tomorrow."
Good night, Booth.
...
Booth awoke on the couch. Confused, he sat up.
I've got us a lead!
"How did I get here?" he asked.
If my murderer used up his insulin, they would need a refill. Go to the drugstore and get a list of people who got refills for that.
"Bones, how did I get on this couch?" Booth demanded.
When you sleep, I can...move you.
"You what?!"
It's strange. It's like you're sleepwalking, but I can see and do stuff while you sleep on.
"Okay, that's crossing a line, Bones. Do not ever do that again!"
Okay, okay. I thought you'd be glad I got us a lead.
"I am, but I'm not thrilled that you manipulate me like a damn puppet when I'm asleep," Booth growled.
I got sloppy. I've been doing it the whole time.
"What?!"
Didn't you notice how toned you are? We go for runs.
"Oh my God, WHAT?! Bones!"
I am bored when you sleep. I'm sorry. I will refrain from doing so in the future.
"Yes, you will," Booth said gruffly. He looked down at the paperwork on the coffee table. She had done good work, though.
You're welcome.
"Stop reading my mind," Booth ordered.
Let's just go already!
"Let me at least get some coffee into me," Booth said, moving to the kitchen. He sighed. Today was gonna be another long day.
...
Booth was waiting for the paperwork to come in on insulin refills when Angela came into his office. A woman with hair so blond it was white followed behind her.
"Hey," he said, looking up at her.
"What's going on with you?" Angela asked.
"Um, nothing. Why?"
"You were so jittery at the funeral, especially when Zack was going on about Brennan being in your head."
"It was a weird statement to make."
She's on to us.
"This is Avalon," Angela said, gesturing to the second woman. "She is a psychic. She is very accurate."
"I don't need that," Booth shook his head vehemently.
"I can see you're struggling with something," Avalon started.
"I'm struggling with figuring out how to tell you I don't want to talk to you," Booth said. "Oop, just did."
"Booth," Angela said, affronted.
"Look, I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine. Please just be on your way," Booth said. Angela saw the fax come in just then.
"Are you working on something?" she asked, pointing. "I thought you were on a leave?"
Uh oh. Booth...
"It's personal," Booth said quickly. Angela narrowed her eyes.
"He's hiding something. I can sense a presence inside of him," Avalon said, squinting. Angela's eyes widened suddenly.
"Is she...is she there? Is she inside you?" Angela demanded.
"No," Booth denied.
"Oh. My. God," Angela said, coming closer to him. "She is! BRENNAN!"
"Shhhhh!" Booth urged, waving his hands frantically.
I can hear her just fine. She doesn't need to shout.
"Booth! If she's in there, I want to talk to her," Angela commanded. Booth stared at her. Here was his out from hiding it. Angela was a spiritual person. She'd be more inclined to believe this sort of thing was real. Hell, she was already there.
You might as well just admit it.
"Booth? Tell me. Please? I want to talk to her," Angela begged, starting to tear up.
"She's telling him to tell you," Avalon said.
"How did you know that?" Booth asked before stopping himself. He clapped a hand over his mouth.
"I'm gifted," Avalon smiled. Angela grabbed his head firmly then, looking into his eyes.
She knows she can't see me, right?
"You need to stop that," Booth said, pulling back hard.
"If Avalon says she's in there, then I believe her. Is that why you've been acting so strange? You didn't want to tell us?"
"Voices in your head indicate mental illness, Angela," Booth said. "Serious mental illness."
"If you can tell me something only Brennan knows about me, then I will know this is real," Angela said, crossing her arms.
Her middle name is Noodlin.
"Aw really?" Booth asked.
"What? What did she say?" Angela demanded. He sighed roughly.
"She said your middle name is Noodlin," Booth said, wincing.
She also carries around a photo of Channing Tatum.
"And you carry around a photo of Channing Tatum?" Booth asked.
"That's her," Angela nodded. "Oh my God! Brennan, I miss you so much!"
And I you.
"She misses you too."
Tell her we are trying to solve my murder. She can help!
"Bones wants you to know that I'm actually working on solving her murder," Booth said hesitantly.
"Murder?! But...she had a heart attack," Angela said.
"Ah, that's why she's still here," Avalon nodded. "Unfinished business."
"Can you go now?" Booth asked. "You've established what you came here to do."
"All right," Avalon agreed. Her heels clacked as she walked away.
"She was murdered?" Angela whispered as Booth closed the door.
"Yes. Insulin overdose. I'm getting the records of refills right now," he explained. He pulled the paper off of his desk, scanning it.
"I'm on board," Angela said firmly.
"Please do not tell the others about this," Booth said. "I can't count on everyone believing it to be true."
"It stays with me," she promised. "Can you tell her that I love her?"
I love you too, Ange.
"She loves you too. Look, I can't keep having a three way conversation here." He went back to the paper. No names stood out to him. He set it down, sighing.
"I think we're at a dead end."
I disagree. Let's show this list to my Dad.
"Oh, so now you're fine with me talking to him?"
Yes. He's involved now. He will recognize someone I bet.
"There's like hundreds of people on here," Booth argued.
"This is too cute. You're still bickering with each other," Angela smirked.
"Try having her voice trapped in your head," Booth said, moving past her. He had to go meet up with Max. Angela grabbed his arm.
"I want you to know that I'm grateful you told me," she said. "You're not crazy."
"Thanks, Ange. That's what I want to hear. I gotta go, though," he said, hurrying past her.
"I'll be at the lab," Angela called after him. "If you need me."
...
Booth watched Max's reaction carefully as he studied the list. He had met Max where he'd been living, and it was a very abandoned building. Booth knew the guy hated people, but this was almost pushing it.
"Anyone?"
"No," Max shook his head.
"You're lying," Booth noted.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I don't recognize anyone. Now, I found that book writer guy, and he wouldn't talk," Max went on.
"We knew that," Booth scoffed.
I guess we are at a dead end then.
"I am going to go over this list and rule out people who are children and who are viable suspects," Booth said. "I will make a shorter list and then ask those guys where they were the night Bones died."
"You do that," Max said, sliding it back over to him.
"What are you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna wait."
"For what?"
"That's none of your concern," Max said. He gave Booth a level stare. Booth felt puzzled, but he didn't say anything more. He left without a word. He had work to do.
...
He was halfway through the list when he called it a night. He went home and sat down with a beer, thinking.
I can't thank you enough for doing all of this.
"I'd do anything for you," he said. "You know that."
I know. I'd do it for you too.
"I know," he smiled.
I don't know what happens when this is over.
"I don't either. I want you to be in a good place, but I will miss you."
I'll miss you too. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner that I love you.
"You told me now. At least you didn't die without telling me."
Technically I did.
"You know what I mean."
I do.
"We'll get him, Bones. Then we'll celebrate."
I would like that.
Booth sipped his beer and swallowed. He hoped that one day they'd be together wherever she was. He couldn't stand the idea of never talking to her again.
Next chapter is the last chapter folks.
