A/N: It's hard to believe the case is finally solved. I dreamed up this murder at the beginning of this month and now we're done (with the murder at least)!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones. As if you hadn't figured this out already; I repeat it every damn chapter.

Chapter 18 The End of the Case (Friday)

Early Friday morning Temperance Brennan Booth dropped off her sons at their school, providing them with empty backpacks to fill with their final school papers and cupcakes to celebrate the last day of the school year. Driving to the Jeffersonian, Temperance reflected on her last conversation with Angela before the artist left the hospital with Jack and little Aimee.

Flashback

"I'm taking my maternity leave. The whole thing, three months." Temperance smiled.

"That's great, Ange. I'll really going to miss you. Of course, I'll be joining you on leave pretty soon."

"Good. Because Jack and I made a decision. I'm going to need your help."

"What is it?"

"We're getting married in two months. I want you to be my matron of honor."

"Two months! Ange! I'll be eight and a half months pregnant then." Temperance's mouth hung open she stared at her best friend, imaging how huge she'd look in all the pictures.

"Well, we want a honeymoon with Aimee and Jack has his heart set on a month long trip in Europe." She paused at her friend's stricken face, "but I told him we couldn't be that far away when you had your baby. So we settled on the Florida Keys. We can be back to D.C. in a few hours."

"Ange, I don't know what to say. Maid of honor, I… I…"

"Actually you'd be the matron of honor. Maid implies you're unmarried."

"Whatever, matron of honor. But that means I've got to help plan your wedding."

"So? You've done this before; I haven't. Except that whole Fijian fire dance wedding." Angela grinned widely.

End Flashback

It was nearly noon at the Jeffersonian when the team met to discuss the case for the last time. This time Jack had returned, eager to report his findings and begin his own extended vacation.

Booth began recalling the findings from his fellow agent's work in Lynchburg. "The brother has a van--a 1976 Ford E-Line complete with red shag carpeting. The brother claimed his sister borrowed the car shortly before her death and hasn't seen it since. Agents found it in a local impound lot, parked illegally outside the cemetery where we found the victim. The FBI is transporting the vehicle here now for particulate analysis." He glanced at Hodgins who took the lead.

"The first victim's car showed no significant particulates. The damage caused by fire was too extensive. Further analysis of the transition metal salt and 8-hydroxyquinoline found on the victim's thumb point away from a bank identification. Banks use inkless scanning and live computer scans are used for background checks."

"What else explains the particulates?" Cam asked the question on everyone's mind.

"Notary. She's a notary." Zack broke the silence, drawing glances from the team.

"I thought she was a teacher…" Katie frowned, confused.

"No, no, the first victim was a notary," Zack nodded enthusiastically. Only Booth seemed to understand.

"Right, the missing briefcase. It must have held her notary supplies. I bet we'd find a match between her fingerprinting kit and the second victim."

"I don't get it. Why does this matter?" Cam broke in, eager to get back to the discussion of particulates and her own pathology findings. Temperance answered her, none to patiently.

"Every notary is required to keep his or her supplies locked to prevent misuse. This would include a journal recording every notary act. That's the connection. Our first victim worked for the second victim and possibly the killer on a job." Hodgins finished the thought.

"It explains why the first victim traveled so much, was gone all the time. It fits. That's why the killer stole the briefcase, to hide the evidence."

"That's a stretch, Jack. If she worked as much as you think, there would be dozens of clients to check. And the supplies would probably go to next of kin anyway, if there was any." Temperance shook her head again, annoyed at her boss' ignorance.

"State law required a notary return his or her journal to the Secretary of State upon resigning their post or death. It becomes public property. The record lasts forever. The thumbprint in the journal would point directly to our killer, probably provide motive. The killer probably destroyed it, maybe in the car fire."

"But," Booth interjected, now pacing the platform deep in thought, "the only notary acts requiring thumbprints are ones relating to real property. Mortgages, trust deeds… I've got it." Five pairs of eyes watched him expectantly.

"The first victim was killed by two individuals. Tortured. Probably to give up her journal or perform the notarization under duress. They dump her body, using the van for transport. Then they steal her car and leave town, burning it when we find the body, knowing we'll find them. The killer double crosses his partner."

"His?" Temperance questioned.

"Yes. It's the brother. He killed his sister. Sonava bitch. I'll bet you we find a new deed on the mother's property, filed and notarized by the first victim." Booth stormed off the platform, cell phone in hand, as the team watched him deliver orders to his associates at the FBI.

The SUV was unusually quiet as Temperance and Seeley drove to pick up the boys from school. Relief mixed with anger filled Booth as he leaned back, lazily steering the car, one hand resting on his leg. Temperance was also absorbed with her own thoughts. How could someone kill his or her sibling? How? What kind of mother raises a child who could do that? Temperance forced her thoughts to halt there, unwilling to let the fear of her own inadequacies sweep over her, and ruin the rest of the day.

Booth pulled the vehicle to a stop in front of the school and came around to open the passenger door. Temperance smiled at him gratefully and they walked, hand in hand, through the courtyard. After meeting briefly with Parker's teacher, they collected the boys from the playground and headed home.

It was well after dark and past regular bedtimes when the house finally fell quiet. Temperance had fallen asleep on the couch and was awoken by a deep voice and light kisses to her temple.

"Bones… honey, time to wake up."

"Booth!" Her quiet protest was ignored as he knelt beside her, peppering her neck with more kisses. He gently nuzzled her ear, whispering promises as she woke.

"You deserve your reward for solving the case today. We'll get the boys to sleep much earlier for the rest of the summer. But tonight, I need you to get upstairs and into bed."

"I'm comfortable here."

"Nope. You'll be sore in the morning. I'd carry you but I'm afraid that's no longer an option." She opened a single eye, regarding him warily.

"Are you calling me fat?"

"Absolutely not. I'm calling my baby fat." She squealed in discomfort as he blew raspberries on her belly through her shirt.

"Stop that! Jeez, you'll give the kid a complex."

"Only if you come to bed with me."

"Fine. Let's go." And so the Booths ascended the stairs toward bed.

END Chapter

A/N: Hope the case wasn't too confusing. I was confused but that's nothing new. I'm not 100 percent sure about the notary rules in Virginia so I'm basing them on the rules for my state. And the reason why Booth and Temperance know so much about notaries: adoptions, buying a house, court documents all require them. Okay, looking ahead: at least 2 more regular chapters and probably an epilogue.

Katherine's note: Wow. I never realized that writing a few sentences after every chapter could be so much damn fun. So y'all have to excuse me. By the way, I'm home "sick" from school right now. Just thought y'all should know. And if you though this chapter was good, just wait for the next ones. And the song I'm listening to now: "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo. Never really liked the song, just the band name. I have a feeling it's gonna be an 80s day (And a smiley day, too)