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Arriving back at the hotel room, Booth sighed again in frustration.
"Not even enough to pull them in for a traffic violation," Booth muttered.
Nolan's file had been relatively clean, and so was Nick's. There had been no new information, and not enough to hand the investigation off to the local police. What Booth and Brennan knew of the illegal fights was well hidden from the authorities.
"So you really will have to fight again," Brennan said quietly, knowing that it was the only option now.
"Yeah, it's the only way to nail these guys. We'll set up a raid, and hopefully, once we pull Nolan in for questioning, he'll crack and give up Nick."
The phone in their room rang, and Booth looked at Brennan. They both knew it was probably Nick, it was the number they had given him.
Booth picked up the phone, "Hello?"
"If it isn't my new champ, Tony the Tiger," Nick greeted him.
"What do you want?"
"I'd like to extend an invitation to you and your woman to a fight tonight. You won't be in the ring, but I like to give my champs a chance to size up the competition. Whoever wins tonight will be against you in the next fight."
"Where is it?" Booth asked, grabbing a pen and paper, jotting down the address. He finished on the phone with Nick, hung up and then called Walt to inform him.
"Are you fighting tonight?" Brennan questioned as Booth hung up the phone.
"No, we're just going to watch. Go get ready, we've got to leave in an hour ok?"
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With his hand on the small of her back, Tony escorted Roxie into the fight club. Tonight, she wore tight black peddle pushers, coupled with a tiny white dress shirt tied above her navel to show off her abs. Peeking through the white shirt was a red bra, and it was driving Booth wild. He wrapped his arm around her waist, and she placed hers over his shoulder, falling into the act.
"Army, the boss will be glad to see you," the bouncer greeted him, then eyed Brennan up and down.
"Hey, keep your eyes on the door if you know what's good for you," Booth warned him, pulling Bones closer to him.
As they walked further in, Booth whispered to her, "Keep an eye out for Walt, he's here somewhere. And stay close, alright?"
She winked at him, "You weren't gonna let me out of your sight anyways," she drawled in her fake accent.
He flashed her his charm smile, "You got that right."
They heard an announcement being made that the first fight was about to begin and made their way to the ring. They didn't need to push through the crowd, as many spectators recognized Tony/Booth from the last fight, and made way for him so he could get to the front of the crowd.
Booth and Brennan observed the fight, with Brennan whispering about one of the opponent's weaknesses to Booth every few minutes. They didn't hear Nick come up behind them.
"Tony the Tiger, and if it isn't the lovely Roxie," Nick said to them, and they turned around, "How is my best fighter?"
Booth could see right through Nick's fake flattery. He knew that Nick thought he had won, that he had control over the FBI agent he thought was Tony. So Booth played right into the game.
"I'm doing fine Nick."
"Enjoying the fight? You know, who ever ends up victorious will be your opponent."
"And I pity whoever that is," Brennan joked.
The men laughed, "I'm paying special attention to their moves. I don't want to disappoint in the next round," Booth replied.
"That's what I like to hear."
They turned their attention back to the fight as it ended and the new winner was declared.
"How about we go get some drinks?" Nick suggested, ushering them to the make-shift bar as a new female fight began, "What can I get you Roxie?"
"A long island would be nice," she smiled at him.
"Just a beer for me," Tony ordered.
Nick nodded to the bartender and spoke again,
"I'm glad you've had such a change of heart about fighting Tony. I'm sure you'll grow to enjoy this little business in time."
"It was good getting back out there."
"I liked seeing him out there," Roxie flirted.
Nick chuckled, "Have you had a chance to see our current female champion?" he directed their gaze back to the ring.
They again watched for a few minutes until someone brought them their drinks.
Nick raised his glass, "A toast, to Tony the Tiger."
Raising their glasses, Booth and Brennan drank to the toast. Nick stayed and made small talk for a few more minutes before leaving.
"Does he not give you the creeps Bones? That man is worse than slime," Booth said, taking another swig of his beer.
"Physically I don't think its possible to give someone the creeps, nor do the creeps actually exist, and as for slime, I guess he's worse than getting slime on you."
"I'm just saying, that he's a bad guy," Booth laughed, trying to simplify it for her.
"I'd have to agree with that," she sipped at her drink again, "I'm going to find the bathroom, ok?"
"I'll help you."
"Booth, I think I'm perfectly capable of finding the bathroom on my own."
"With the guys who threatened you all in this building? No, I think I'll help you."
"They know you're going to fight, why would they do anything to me now?"
"You know what Roxie? Maybe you shouldn't talk so loud in such a crowded area," he hissed at her while guiding her along to the back of the room.
Finding the women's washrooms, Booth leaned against the wall outside, "I'll wait right out here," he told her as she went in.
She gave him a look and shut the door behind her. He watched the people who were observing the fight, and didn't feel himself sliding down the wall towards the floor. The room began to swirl slightly, and the colours seemed to be blending together. It was like being drunk, but his mind told him he couldn't be, he'd had less than half a beer. His eyes grew heavy, and he fought the urge to fall asleep, but it was too strong. The world went black.
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When Booth awoke he was outside, slumped against the side of his rental car, which was the only one left in the parking lot. Groggily, he glanced at his watch, and did a double take. Nearly two hours had passed since he had blacked out. He rubbed his eyes with his hands, slowly trying to stand up. Using the car door to stable himself, he glanced inside, and then fumbled around in his pockets for his keys. He got in and nearly fell into the front seat. That's when he noticed the note taped to the steering wheel.
If you go to the cops, we will kill her.
If you try to find us, we will kill her.
If you don't fight, we will kill her.
Wait for the call, we'll come get you, and until then, we're watching you.
He nearly passed out again.
Bones. She was gone. He struggled to remember the last thing they had done before he had blacked out, and it hit him. The drinks, Nick had ordered them. Booth let his head drop down on the steering wheel.
"How could I have been so stupid?" be berated himself, while slamming his fist against the dashboard.
He automatically reached for his cell phone, ready to make the call to send the entire FBI into action, when he saw the note again. They were watching him, who ever 'they' were, and he couldn't run the risk of whoever it was seeing him make the call. Instead, with shaking hands, he started up the car and decided to go back to the hotel room before making the next move. He also knew it was the hotel room's number that Nick had and would call, so he would wait there.
He said a silent prayer, hoping she was alright, even though worst case scenarios were already running through his mind.
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She had a splitting headache, and her ears rang. Her head felt like it weighed a hundred pounds as it slumped against her chest. Somewhere in her mind, the rational part of her awoke, telling her that the human head only weighed eight pounds, so it was impossible for it to feel heavier. She slowly tried to open her eyes, and then closed them again against the little bit of light that had managed to assault them. Brennan felt like she had the world's worst hangover, and she knew she hadn't had a morning like that since college. She also knew she had only consumed about three quarters of her long island that Nick had brought her.
And then the details began to come back to her.
She had been in the bathroom, fixing her hair in the mirror, and all of a sudden, she had needed to brace herself against the sink. She had felt light headed, and the room had started to spin. Falling to the floor, she had tried to claw her way to the door when two men entered the bathroom. She remembered thinking it was odd that they were in the woman's washroom, and that was where her memory stopped.
She tried again to open her eyes, and then to speak. But she couldn't. Something was over her mouth, and she couldn't move her arms, they were restrained behind her back. Panicking, she forced her eyes open to take in her bleak surroundings. The room was dark, the only light coming from a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling a few feet away. She tried to scream through whatever was covering her mouth, but it came out muffled.
Shaking her chair, she desperately tried to move, to see any more of the room she was in, to see if Booth was there.
Where was Booth?
Thousands of thoughts and scenarios rushed through her mind, fuelling her headache. She could be anywhere right now, and she dreaded to think that the next place she might end up was on Route 15.
To be continued…