(Authors Note: thank you to everyone who reviewed! )

Leverage

Chapter 3

"Well, I wouldn't exactly call it a problem . . ." Just the tone in Elliot's voice worried Nate.

Four years ago, Texas

"Honey, I can take you anywhere you want," Elliot was in the bedroom of a young Texas girl named MaryLee McGill and the two of them were very much naked and involved in intimate and immoral acts.

"Really?" Before MaryLee could name her place, the bedroom door burst open and Daddy McGill, flanked by three huge guards, stormed in.

"MARYLEE!" . . .

Elliot shook his head and then returned to flashback mode.

Elliot was tied to a chair, naked, in the bottom floor of the abandoned hotel that McGill used for his dirty business. Various cuts and bruises adorned his face and arms and his right hand had been smashed. As if that wasn't bad enough, he also clearly remembered McGill coming at him with some kind of knife and pliers . . .

A chill ran down Elliot's spine as he rubbed his hand and sent up a silent "thanks" that he had made it out of there in one piece. "Yeah, we're going to have a problem with that," he hissed through his teeth.

"You slept with his daughter? And were actually in the hotel at the time of the murder?! Elliot, why didn't you say something sooner," Nate was almost red in the face as he shouted at the hitter. Elliot, in turn was actually afraid of Nate.

"Nate, can't we speak rationally about this?" Sophie stepped in between them. (Parker could have sworn that she saw Elliot step behind Sophie but she wasn't going to say anything. Instead she moved over to the couch and offered Hardison peanuts.) "It isn't like he really had a choice, and anyway, it's been four years, how was he supposed to know that something that long ago would matter now . . ." she paused and then turned to Elliot, "And just how many more women of consequence have you slept with?"

Elliot shrugged and smiled roguishly, he wasn't going to tell her anything.

Bones

Chapter 3

"We're in luck!" The agent who was helping Booth with the case typed on one final key, "I ran a search on the prints you gave me from the CD in the vic's bag. And I got a hit, and a mug shot." After he hit the key a photo came up: not a flattering one, but a photo none the less. "Um, Elliot Spencer; looks like he the whole world out looking for him, Australia, Myanmar, there's a whole list here."

"Spencer?" the name rang a bell for Booth but he just couldn't put his finger on it. He made to leave without a "thank you" but the man stopped him.

"You're welcome!"

"What? Oh, um, thanks." Back in his "office" Booth placed a call to the office. "Hey, Jack, this is Agent Seeley Booth, I'm here in Texas. Yeah, could you run a check on Elliot Spencer? . . . Yes they have equipment here . . . no. Just do it okay!" He hung up and then sighed, feeling bad for being so short with Jack.

"Booth?" Brennan knocked on the door, "You drove me here, but there is nothing else I can do right now. The man," she pointed down the hall to where the coroner's office was, "is not as good with bones as he claims to be." Though the bones of Willy Carson were at the Jeffersonian, Brennan, bored, had ensconced herself in the autopsy room where another set of skeletal remains was being investigated.

"Okay, Bones," he looked around, "I guess they'll call me after they run the name." Taking the keys, he skipped around the desk and he and Bones left the police station.

"FBI?" The pair was stopped just outside the door by an older gentleman. He was average height, gray hair and mustache and he wore a nice, Texas-style grey suite and felt hat. "I thought that I recognized your suite." The man held out his hand to Booth, "Conan McGill; so what is it that brings you to my fair city?" His eyes fell on Brennan, "Ah, Temperance Brennan, I've read your book."

"Yes," Brennan offered her hand to be shaken but, instead it was kissed, "many people have read my books."

McGill chuckled as he released her hand, "I'm sure they have. Since the two of you are here (Agent Seeley Booth, I presume, I have heard that you were the one working with Miss. Brennan) you must be on the Willy Carson case." He saw that they seemed surprised. "Oh, news travels fast in a small town like this, I assure you Agent Booth. I assume that you have found something out?"

The man seemed friendly enough but years of working with people told Booth that he should still be on his guard. "Yes, we have, but we can't –"

"Discuss an ongoing investigation. I am sorry Agent Booth, I should have remembered." He smiled in that Texas-grandpa way. "Well, since you are here, perhaps you would be interested in coming to our ball on Saturday? It is just my way of thanking the police force for all of the good work they have done over the years. It would be an honor if you would join us."

"Of course!" Booth was surprised to hear the comment from Brennan. "We would love to!"

McGill seemed just as surprised at the outburst but smiled and nodded, "Okay then, here is the address," he produced a card from his jacket pocket and handed it to the bouncing Brennan, "I look forward to seeing you then. I am sorry to have to leave so fast, I am expected at a deposition." With one final handshake, he finished entering the station.

"What was that Bones?" Now that McGill was gone he turned to Brennan, who was reading the card.

"Undercover, Booth! We may get some more information on the case."

Booth couldn't help but laugh, "Okay Bones, do you have a dress here?" He took her arm in his and they walked together to his rented truck.

(Well, I hoped that you like this chapter, the next one will be MUCH longer, the teams will finally come together and Booth and Elliot will finally have their fight. KEEP REVIEWING! The faster I get reviews the faster I will feel led to update!)