She immediately pulled out her cell phone and speed dialed Booth's number. She waited impatiently as the phone rang a few times and on the fifth ring he picked up.
"Hello?" His voice said groggily.
"Booth, it's me." She said.
"Bones? It's . . .6:30. Why are you . . .?" He began but she cut him off."I found a skeleton. On my doorstep." She said, surprised at how shaky her voice sounded.
"I'll be right over. Don't move." His voice suddenly sounded more alert then before.
"Okay." She said and she flipped her phone shut. She wanted to take a closer look at the skull so she crouched down on her feet. After examining the box closer, she realized that there was a whole skeleton in the box, and it was that of a young female as far as she could tell. She let out an exhausted sigh and then noticed that there was a piece of paper neatly tucked in between the skull and the side of the box. Slipping on her winter gloves, working with what was available; she pulled out the note and unfolded it. Her face paled as she read what it said.
I know that these are your FAVORITE cases Dr. Brennan, or should I say Joy. I know you're little secret but don't worry. I won't tell. Well, I hope you enjoy what I have left for you because this is only the beginning.
She dropped the note because her hand was shaking so hard and she quickly replaced it. How did he know? No one knew except her, Booth and . . .her face paled. Russ. She pulled out her phone and dialed his number. After getting the voicemail she left a message and shut her phone. Realizing that she couldn't just leave these bones out here, she picked them up and carried them inside, placing the box on her island. She then proceeded to pace the room anxiously until ten minutes later when there was a knock on her door causing her to jump."Bones it's me. Open up." Booth's voice called out. Temperance let out deep breathe, trying not to show how unnerved that note had made her feel and then she walked over to her door and opened it to see Seely Booth standing there in a suit, his hands shoved in his pockets and a worried expression on his face. He took his hands out of his pockets and placed them on her shoulders.
"Hey. You okay?" He asked in concern. She nodded numbly and let him inside.
"They're on the island." She said and pointed to the box. Booth strode over to it and snatched the piece of paper out from it.
"Hey, you're getting your fingerprints on it." She protested.
"You've been watching too much CSI." Booth said, skimming the note.
"That show is an extreme exaggeration of what we . . ." She began but Booth cut her off.
"This is serious stuff Bones. Have you told anyone else outside of the lab who you really are?" He said and she shook her head vigorously.
"None that I can recall and I told them specifically not to tell anyone." She said.
"It was probably wonder boy who blabbed." muttered Booth.
"His name is Zack." She said in mild annoyance. He placed the note back and then looked at her.
"That's it. I'm going to be you official bodyguard until we catch this psycho who sent you the note and the bones. How young are we looking at?" He asked her softly.
"I won't be able to tell until we get to the Jeffersonian." She replied.
"Let's go then, but first I think we need to get a cup of coffee." He said as he opened the door for her.
"Why?" She asked bemusedly as she picked up the box full of bones.
"Just let me, okay?" He said as she walked by him.
"Okay." She replied and the two of them walked out of her apartment and headed towards the elevator.