Disclaimer: Bones, it's not mine. Guess its safe to repeat this EVERY DAMN CHAPTER just so no one thinks I got them, lost them, got them again, gave them away……
Chapter 5 The victim (Tuesday)
"Booth." She answered the phone with a tired sigh.
"Booth. How are you?" She smiled and dropped the file she'd been reading.
"Good, Hodgins isolated the fibers found on our victim and-" Booth cut her off.
"No, how are you?" She blushed, thankful he couldn't see her. "I'm fine, Seeley."
"Good. Now, about the case, we have a potential match."
"Are you faxing it over now?"
"Nope." She turned to her computer.
"Is it in my system?"
"Nope." She frowned, confused.
"Booth!" The line disconnected. She'd just hit speed dial 1 when she heard his phone ringing. He leaned against the doorway to her office wearing his trademark black suit and a sly grin. Again, she blushed and rose up to meet him.
"Delivery for Booth." He handed her the file with a grin. Temperance rolled her eyes and tossed the file on her desk choosing to thank him properly before delving back into the case. Pulling him toward her with the black and blue striped tie she'd bought him for Christmas she gave him a long, sweet kiss. When she picked up the file again he chuckled softly, adjusting his tie.
"More deliveries to come, if that's my reward." She returned his leering smile with a sweet one of her own.
"Laura Beed?" She held up the missing person's photo. It did bear a resemblance to the sketch Angela's temporary replacement had rendered.
"Yeah. Her coworker, uh, Beth something, reported her missing a week ago Monday when she didn't show up for work. Apparently she hasn't missed a day in six years. Beed is thirty-four, 5'7" and lives alone."
"Vital statistics match the victim. What about fingerprints?"
"Partial pinky print matches the victim. It's not a conclusive match-there wasn't enough skin remaining."
"Was Beed in the system? Why does the Bureau have scans on her?"
"Beed was a notary, live-scan fingerprinting is required of all digits. You up for a visit to Ms. Beed's house?"
"Yes. Let me hand this off to Zack."
"Already has a copy." Booth placed a kiss on her temple and guided her toward the waiting SUV, steering her away from door frames as she reviewed the file walking without paying attention to the direction she moved.
Pulling up in front of a small, but well kept house Temperance and Booth had the same thought, this is just like our neighborhood. Booth opened her door and reached out for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. The local police had already arrived and cordoned off the property, Booth held up the tape as Temperance stepped under. Flashing his badge Booth nodded at a detective he knew from his time with the force.
"What did you find, John?" The detective nodded politely at Temperance and turned his attention to Booth.
"Blood stains in the basement. The house looks ransacked. Victim lived alone, a neighbor has offered to do a walk through for missing property. Victim's car is also missing."
"Is there a body in the house?" John turned to the doctor, surprised.
"No, ma'am."
"Then you don't know Beed is the victim." Her tone was curt, unwielding. Booth stepped in.
"Detective Ross, allow me to introduce my wife, Dr. Temperance Brennan Booth. She's the lead liason from the Jeffersonian assigned to the case. We've yet to make a positive identification on the body recovered Sunday night."
Ross muttered his apologies and shuffled away, allowing Booth access to the house. Temperance followed at a safe distance, knowing Booth was on edge.
Several hours later Temperance was kneeling on the basement floor, her face close to the cement scanning the floor for fibers. Booth descended the stairs and surveyed the room. He quickly growled at two men from the local PD who were observing and, dare he say, admiring the anthropologist as she leaned forward, posterior in the air. Temperance turned her head, hearing the men loudly clamor for the stairs and allowed Booth to help her back to her feet.
Resting on the steps together and surveying the basement, Booth was the first to speak.
"I talked to Angela."
"Yeah, what did she say?"
"The swelling on Sam's arm has almost completely disappeared. Parker's teacher sent home a request for a meeting and we're all having pizza tonight. Together."
Temperance felt a familiar twinge of guilt. She loved being home when her sons arrived from school, excited about their days, full of energy.
"Booth, I just can't tonight. This evidence is going to keep me in the lab for hours. I can't ask Hodgins to stay again, someone needs to be with Angela. And Zack looks horrible. I don't think he's slept much since the body was recovered." Booth just grinned, she really has gotten better at applying concern for her staff to the observational data she subconsciously collects.
"I know. That's why I got a rain check for tomorrow night."
"I don't know what that means." He pulled her close, squeezing her side gently.
"It means we're working late tonight and having Angela and Hodgins for dinner tomorrow night."
"Okay. Can you take me back to the lab? I'd like to get started on these samples."
"Sure thing, babe."
END Chapter
A/N: Coming up, more clues about our victim and missing woman. And, the Booth family dinner complete with, drum roll please, a baby! Also, in a much later chapter, someone is leaving the lab...could it be Cam? Will she be the next victim? Any votes for Angela being a stay at home mommie? Reviews are appreciated, have a great weekend all!