The Perfect Shot – Chapter Seven
WARNING: Spoilers for Season 6
Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or any of the characters. They are all owned by Fox and Hart Hanson.
As the door to Founding Fathers opened his eyes scanned the people exiting. He had studied his case very well. He knew who each person was and recited their information from memory as they filed out of the bar.
Dr. Jack Hodgins – Entomologist
Angela Montenegro-Hodgins – Forensic Artist
Dr. Temperance Brennan – Forensic Anthropologist
Dr. Camille Saroyan – Pathologist
Vincent Nigel-Murray - Forensic Anthropologist Intern
He was disappointed that FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth had apparently decided to stay at the bar instead of departing with his partner but he knew he'd get the opportunity to even the score soon enough. He raised the scope to his eye, placed his finger on the trigger and pulled. The target dropped unnoticed at first as everyone dropped to the ground. He could hear the screams of terror escape from the remaining four people as they each crawled toward the lifeless body of Vincent Nigel-Murray. He saw the doors to the bar swing open and he smiled as Booth rushed to the side of his partner. Your time is coming he thought as he left the building, whistling as he walked away.
Booth knew instantly what the sound was, he had heard that sound so many times during his life as a sniper. He left Hannah safely tucked under the table as he ran to the door. His eyes scanned the roof tops of the nearby buildings before he frantically moved to kneel down beside Bones. He grabbed her arm and jerked her around to face him. "Bones, are you hit? Are you ok?" his words coming at once as he searched her from head to knee looking for any sign that she had been shot.
Brennan raised her tear filled eyes and threw her arms around Booth's neck. "I'm fine Booth but Mr. Nigel-Murray is dead" she cried as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
Booth clung to her, afraid that if he let go he'd fall apart from the sheer terror that shook his body at the thought of losing his partner, his best friend, the woman he truly loved more than anything or anyone in the world except his son Parker. His eyes scanned the rest of the team. Hodgins was holding Angela trying to calm her down and Cam was checking Vincent for any signs of life. Slowly she raised her head and upon meeting his questioning eyes sadly shook her head.
Booth continued to rub Brennan's back as he lifted his phone to his ear and called for assistance.
Hannah appeared at the door of the bar her concern for Seeley enough to pull her from her hiding place. As she peered through the door she saw Vincent Nigel-Murray lying on the ground with a gunshot to the head, Hodgins was holding Angela and Cam was looking at Booth who had his arms wrapped firmly around his partner's body. Hannah sighed, just one more link to hold the partnership in place she thought as she pushed the door open and stepped out.
Booth felt a hand on his shoulder as his name was called, "Seeley?" he had forgotten about Hannah until now. He pushed back from Bones slightly to look up at Hannah.
"Hannah, I'm sorry. Are you alright?" he said not releasing Bones completely.
"I'm fine Seeley. Is Temperance alright?"
Hearing Hannah, Brennan pushed herself from Booth's grasp and wiped the tears from her face as she looked at Booth's girlfriend. "I'm ok. I wasn't hit. I can see you appear to be unhurt as well. I'm glad."
Hannah nodded and smiled as Brennan got to her feet. Booth stuck out his hand to steady her as she stood, not wanting to break the contact just yet.
"I've called for the forensic team. I think the shot came from that building there. The one that houses the main office of Regions Bank" he said.
Cam and Brennan both nodded. Brennan walked over to where Angela and Hodgins were kneeling on the ground, "Angela, Dr. Hodgins are you alright?"
Hodgins shook his head and Angela, sniffling, replied, "I'm ok. Are you ok sweetie?"
"I'm fine Angela" as she hugged Angela she looked at Dr. Hodgins and said, "Dr. Hodgins can you get the kit from your car and begin taking samples. We need to collect as much from the scene as possible before the FBI forensic techs get here. Also, go to the roof top that Booth indicated and get what you can."
"Sure Dr.B. Ange, are you going to be ok for a few minutes?" he wanted confirmation before he left his pregnant wife's side.
"I'm ok honey. Let's get this over with so we can go home" she responded and kissed his cheek.
Soon the forensic team was hustling and bustling about collecting the body and as much evidence as the forensic anthropologist required. After all the evidence was collected the team agreed to meet at the lab at 8 am the next morning.
As they walked away Booth ran to catch up with his partner, "Bones you are going to stay with Angela aren't you?"
Brennan stopped and turned to look at her partner. She could see his girlfriend standing by the SUV watching them. "Booth I'm fine. I'm going to get my car then go straight home".
"Bones someone just killed one of your squint terns. That same someone has already killed another person you know, I can't help but feel there is something to this. There are no coincidences in a murder investigation."
"I know Booth you have told me that before. But why would I possibly be the target? I agree that there is a connection but if I were the target then I would be the one lying on Dr. Saroyan's slab right now. I'm fine and I'm going home. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ok Bones, but if you need anything, promise me you'll call me."
"I will Booth. Good night" she said as she waved to Hannah and turned to walk to Hodgins' car.
Booth stood still and watched as she walked to Hodgins' car, never taking his eyes from her. He hoped to meet her eyes as she climbed in the car but she never once looked up. As he turned to walk back to his SUV he noticed Hannah staring at him. With slumped shoulders he walked to open her door. She kissed his cheek and slid into the passenger seat as he walked around to his side and climbed in.