Chapter 14

Pine Tree Hotel, Monday 8:00 p.m. MST (10:00 p.m. EST)

Booth and Brennan finally got back from the ambulatory center and the FBI Agent immediately went to Tim to discuss any residents of the hotel that seemed to be acting strange. Brennan went ahead up to their room and went inside. She put down her purse on the nightstand and got down on her hands and knees. Reaching under the bed, the forensic anthropologist pulled out her gun. The airport workers had been all too happy to let her through with it as soon as they saw she was flying with Booth. The last thing they wanted was Cullen to rip them a new one again about giving his agents a hard time about flying. In order to avoid such troubles, Homeland Security had given the airport a list with photos of FBI Agents and their partners. She had been very impressed that they put her on the list but after the Hamid Masruk case, she figured that they understood her value, not only as a squint but also as a valuable asset to the government. Slipping the weapon back into her purse, she made her way to the hall. Locking the door behind her, Brennan went downstairs to meet up with Booth.

"Like I said, the guy seems to be off. He always wears gloves whenever I see him. I mean inside and everything." Tim was explaining to Booth.

"All right. Call the sheriff's department and tell him I'm going to check this out." The G-man said.

"Will do, Agent Booth." Tim quickly picked up the phone that was under the desk and made a phone call. The partners spoke in hushed tones as they climbed the staircase.

"So where are we going?" Brennan asked.

"We? I'm going to check out room 210. You are going to call the Marshals and see if they have any more information about Sarah Kemp's condition." Booth corrected.

"Oh no you don't. I'm not letting go in there alone." She pulled her weapon from her purse. Inwardly, Booth smiled to himself.

"It's dangerous and I'm not going to have him try to finish you off like he did this afternoon." Her partner was adamant.

"All the more reason for me to finish him off first." Brennan smirked. Realizing that she wasn't about to back down, Booth kissed her temple.

"I knew I loved you for a reason." He smiled and Brennan was about to ask him what he meant when a door opened and a man walked out from room 208.

"Sir, please get back in your room." Booth flashed his badge and the man did as he was told. Then the partners advance to room 210 and Booth stood in front of it while Brennan took the position against the wall next to the doorframe. On three, he mouthed to her. The forensic anthropologist nodded and Booth began the silent count.

1… 2… 3! The FBI Agent used his powerful leg and kicked the door in. Immediately the two rushed in and found the room empty. Booth motioned that he was going to sweep the bathroom while Brennan checked the rest of the room.

The FBI Agent looked around the bathroom. It was empty and it appeared that any personal belongings that should have been in the room were gone. No toothbrush, soap, shampoo, or anything. He exited the bathroom and found Brennan looking disappointed.

"His suitcases and everything are gone." She said.

"As are his personal affects from the bathroom. He probably spilt after the drive-by." Booth kicked the bed in disgust.

"So now what?" Brennan wondered. Her partner's answer was to pick up his cell phone and called the sheriff.

"Do you have any hits on the partial license plate, I gave you?" He asked.

"I ran it through and called Denver. The plate matches Mark Johnson's car, a 2000 Chevy Impala. The guys in Denver put a national APB out. Any luck in the hotel?" Sheriff Dippert wondered.

"No. It appears he took off." Booth told him.

"I'll call you if I get anything." Dippert said and the call ended.

The Woods outside Idaho Springs, 9:00 p.m. MST (11:00 p.m. EST)

A man was dousing a car with gasoline. The dead body in the trunk needed to be gotten rid of and what better way to keep the FBI Agent and that forensic anthropologist busy. He had killed the man and splashed his blood all over the inside of that stupid chick from Miami's car. He hoped that would throw them off and if it didn't then maybe he got lucky with that drive by earlier.

He pulled a lighter from his pocket and lit the rag that he held in his hand. Throwing the rag inside, he backed away and watched as the car was lit with flame within seconds. That piece of evidence would be destroyed soon, as he turned and walked back toward Idaho Springs. Thinking of evidence made him realize that they still had his finger and his prints on the computer. It had been stupid to remove his gloves but he didn't want to tip off the computer guy as to the real owner of the computer. He would have to see if he could get those back.

To Be Continued…