Chapter 12. the man in the cell.
Booth and Brennan walked down the cell block, prisoners yelling and whistling at Brennan as they passed by.
"where'd the fire start?" Booth asked as they neared the end of the block.
"we're not sure yet. It spread through the ducting though." The warden answered
"Whoa. Are you allowed to put that many men in one cell?" Brennan asked surprised.
"There was a riot, Bones. Cut the warden some slack."
"The cell doors open automatically in a fire. The guards had to subdue the inmates so the firefighters could do their jobs." He explained.
A prisoner grabs Brennan and pulls her into the bars of the cell. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." He said pulling her away from the bars. "You stay close, okay?" he said stepping on the other side of her so that she was in the middle of him and the warden. "A lot of these animals haven't seen a real woman since Reagan was president."
"Okay." She agreed having no problem with that idea.
"Body's in here." The warden said pointing to the corner cell infront of them.
"And you're sure this is Howard Epps?" Booth asked as Brennan walked in.
"This was his cell."
"Why not keep him on death row?" Brennan asked curiously.
"We don't have one. He was transferred to Bayview so he'd be closer to the courthouse for his trial."
"Victim is male, approximately 30 years of age. He matches Epps general size and build. Contortion indicates a . . . painful death. " She said getting a strange sense of pleasure from that fact.
"Well, after killing four teenage girls that we know about it's just what the doctor ordered." Booth said vocalizing the pleasure.
"It seems as if someone threw accelerant on him, lit him on fire." Brennan said examining the remains.
"Any idea who'd want him dead?" Booth asked the warden.
"All the inmates hated him. Once the fire started, it was . . . It was chaos. Could've been anyone."
"… Booth?" Brennan said examining the arm of the remains, confusion growing on her face.
"Yeah?"
"This is the wrist I broke."
"So?" he asked not getting her point.
"This break is fresh."
"So? Bones, they break in a fire, right?" he asked still not getting it.
"But . . . there's no sign of a prior break. This man's wrist was slammed against a hard edge within the last few hours." She explained.
"Oh my god" Booth said realizing what that meant.
"This is not Howard Epps."
"All your prisoners, are they accounted for?" Booth asked the warden.
"They are if this is Epps.
"What about the guards?"
"They've all reported in."
"Whoa." Brennan said realizing something else. "The dye from the tattoo survived the fire." She examined it closer. "D.C. Fire Department. He was a firefighter."
"So you're saying that the fireman comes in to save Epps, but Epps kills him, takes his uniform, and sets him on fire." Booth said amazed.
"And walks right out the front door." She said throwing her gloves on the floor frustrated as she stands, a disgusted look on her face.
"Lock this place down now." Booth said turning to the warden.
"I want this whole block locked down! No one in or out!" the warden yelled to the guards walking away.
Booth pulled his phone out and dialed. "It's Booth. I need you to close off a 30 mile radius of the Bayview Federal Penitentiary. Howard Epps escaped." He said hanging up and turned to Brennan. "Bones you're staying with me tonight."
"No objections there." She said looking at the bones.
Later that day Booth and Brennan were talking to Howard's wife Caroline Epps in Booth's office.
"I'm no longer involved in Howard's life." Caroline insisted.
"It's hard to believe, being his wife and all." Booth shot giving her a look.
"Ex-wife. The judge signed my divorce papers last month. I thought I could help Howard, but he used me. I haven't had any contact with him in over six months." She informed them.
"I'd like to place you in protective custody until we find him." Booth insisted.
"That won't be necessary. I appreciate your concerns, but I've changed job, apartments."
"WE found you. … Howard could too." He said trying to convince her
"I have a new life and a new boyfriend. Raymond's a good man. If he found out . . ."
"We all have secrets in our past, Mrs. Epps. …Admittedly, not as bizarre as yours, but you shouldn't risk your life just because your embarrassed to tell your boyfriend the truth." Brennan added, trying to convince her to do the right thing.
"Howard's interest is in young blonde girls. I'm not even his type." She shook her head standing and walking to the door.
"If he contacts you . . ." Booth started.
"I'll call." She promised and walked out.
"Booth… we can't let her go. She's not safe."
"I can't force her to take protection, alright? I'll have the local police drive her house every couple of hours and make sure she's safe. And you know what? You're not safe either." He said worried.
"But I'm not unhinged. I can take care of myself." Brennan said defensively.
"You and Epps… it's personal, okay. You're everything that he hates."
"And what is that exactly?" she asked annoyed.
"Well, you know, you're a smart, strong, confident woman." He said smiling. And Brennan couldn't help but smile back. "And, uh, you figured him out. You made him feel powerless so he's gonna want to prove that… you're weak and inferior….So, you are not to go out on your own… ever."
Back at the lab. Booth was talking to Cam in her office.
"Look, I need you to double security here at the lab."
"You think Epps is gonna come after Brennan?" Cam asked seriously.
"I can't rule anything out when it comes to Epps."
"I'll take care of it." She nodded.
"Look, I-I don't want you to be alone either." He said honestly.
"Are you inviting me over?" she asked smiling suggestively.
"no." he said giving her a look. "…I'm just thinking that everyone should just stay here at the lab."
"Leave it to a serial killer to spoil the mood." Cam joked.
"Whatever security you think is enough, you double it, Camille." He ordered.
"I'm glad you're on my side, Seeley." She said kissing him on the cheek.
Meanwhile in Brennan's office.
Angela holds up a picture of a man in uniform, handing it to Brennan. "the burn victim is Donald Kent, a decorated firefighter."
"Epps would appreciate the irony." Brennan said putting it on the board behind her.
"You know Kent was still alive when he was set on fire? How many victims does that make?"
"Seven that we know of." Brennan sighed sitting in her chair
"And they aren't just young blonde women anymore. " Angela pointed out. "…He's such a monster. He's killed from behind bars and new victims keep turning up and now he's out."
"We will find him, Ange. We're ready this time." She said reassuringly.
"I'm not. Look, I have some sick days coming. And I was thinking that since Epps makes me sick, that—"
"We need you, Ange. Hodgins certainly does." Brennan said seriously.
"That was low." Angela said giving her a look.
"…I know. Did it work?"
Angela smiled lightly. "Yeah….How do you deal with the fear?"
Brennan reached down into her purse. "I . . . have this." She said pulling out a huge, shiny, gun.
"Oh, my God. That- That thing is huge. Wow. That's like, movie huge."
Booth walked in "whoa! Where the hell did you get that?"
"The mall." Brennan said smiling.
"The mall?" he asked surprised.
"Yeah, it's pretty big, right? ...Bigger than the one you have." She said opening then closing the chamber.
"Excuse me. It's not the size that matters. It's how you use it." Booth pointed out.
"Well, I think size is pretty important."
"The point is that you shouldn't have a gun in the first place!" he said giving her a look.
"If you do have one, bigger is always better." Angela agreed with Brennan.
"You're not helping!" he said looking to Angela.
"Right, yeah. This does seem like a private conversation." She said laughing and walking out.
"Yeah, private. Okay. You know, people see you with that, the next thing you know everyone in this place is gonna start packing."
"Get used to it." She said giving him a snide look.
He smiled. "Actually it's kinda hot." He said rounding the desk and pulling her into his arms.
She laughed kissing him. "Thanks"
"Promise me you won't use it unless it's absolutely necessary?"
"I promise." She nodded.
The next night. Cam has been poisoned by a mystery powder and Booth and Brennan go to check on her in the Jeffersonian hospital room.
"Here heart rate is erratic. There's clotting in the kidneys." The doctor told Booth as they looked in on Cam.
"How bad is it?" he asked sighing
"Bad enough. But what worries us more is the lung damage. The toxin has caused edema."
"What does that mean?"
"Fluid buildup. Essentially, she's drowning." Brennan explained. "I'm sorry."
"If she has family nearby, you'll want to send for them." The doctor said seriously and Booth walked away.
Back in the lab. Everyone is working to find out what the poison is.
"Zack saw everything. He was only a few feet." Hodgins said confused.
"And he's fine. So it's probably not a toxic gas."
"He says it was some kind of powder. …Which means there could be traces on her clothing."
"Just work fast, okay, Hodgins? Just work fast." Booth said and Hodgins exits.
"Considering the past relationship between you and Cam, I'd like to say the right thing, Seeley but . . . I
don't know what it is. Usually I'd-I'd ask you or Angela."
"You just said it. …Thanks Bones." She nodded.
Late that night. A lead led them to Parker and Parker & Parker Leather Goods.
Caroline's headless corpse is on a table in the center of the room, a big bag of white powder on her stomach.
Brennan was about to approach it when Booth stopped her. "Okay. Knowing Epps, how do we even know that's Caroline's body there."
"If it isn't, it'll still be a clue." Brennan pointed out.
"Okay, let me do this, alright?" he said slowly moving towards the table. "Alright. Jam all the frequencies." He said speaking into a walkie on his jacket, talking to the swat outside. He turned back to Brennan. "If he's got a remote detonator, it isn't gonna work now. No sign of trip wires."
"On her stomach, the poison, just like Epps said." Brennan pointed.
"I'll just . . ." Zack said moving forward and grabbing the bag.
"No, Zack, don't!" a switch clicks and a beep sounds and the room freezes. "…Don't hesitate! Put your palm on the stomach and press down." Booth instructed and another switch clicked as he did. "That was a pressure trigger." Booth passing the bag to Brennan. "the Body's booby trapped. Everybody out!" he ordered.
"Roger that! Let's go!" the swat men exit.
"What do I do?" Zack asked worried.
"Don't be scared."
"I'm not scared. I just need to know what to do."
""you gotta get out of here." Booth said turning to Brennan.
"I want to help."
He shook his head. "no." he said kissing her. "now go."
"be careful." She warned. Walking out with the powder.
Booth tilts a wooden dining table in the corner over onto its side. "Zack, uh . . . This, uh . . ." he places his hand on Zack's. "This is gonna hurt?"
"You or me?"
"Mostly you. …Okay. On three, I want you to jump back as high as you can."
"I'm not a good jumper."
"Be a good counter."
"I-I am a good counter."
"ready. One, two, three!" they counted together and Booth yanked them backwards as the body exploded.
Brennan's office. An hour later. Booth and Zack sat on the couch, minor bruises covering their body as they watched the news report. Brennan sat on the arm next to Booth. 'The explosion occurred as FBI agents searched the shop for escaped serial killer Howard Epps. At least one person was killed in the blast. Dr. Zack Addy, a forensic anthropologist who was working with the FBI, died at the scene. Special Agent Seeley Booth remains in critical condition.'
Booth chuckled. "Okay, that's creepy. Zack dead and me in critical condition, right?" he said looking up at Brennan, his hand on her knee.
"But why? It's not true." He asked confused.
Brennan turns off the TV with the remote. "You gonna be alright Zack?"
Zack nodded. "My doctor said most of my injuries didn't come from the explosion but from being slammed into the floor. "apparently, you're extremely strong." He said looking at Booth.
"Did you have to be so rough on him?" Brennan asked smacking his shoulder.
"It was a bomb. I was being, you know, heroic." He said smiling.
"I was heroic too." Zack said looking at Brennan.
"Yes, you were." Brennan agreed.
"Somebody saved somebody. …That's all I'm saying."
"Well, I got the poison." Zack said defensively.
"Which is good because Caroline's body was blown to pieces." Brennan pointed out.
"That was good thinking, you know, you keeping your wits. But I mean, what I did was, uh . . . I guess if you have to explain to yourself why you're a hero, you're not really a hero."
"I'm going to go see if Hodgins knows what the poison is yet." Zack said walking out.
"I think you're a hero." Brennan said smiling down at his as his hand wandered up her thigh.
He kissed her. "at least someone thinks so." He said pulling her down onto his lap.
She pulled him in a slight moan escaping her.
"Brennan!" they heard Angela call from right outside her office. Brennan pulled away moving next to him as she walked in. "there you guys are." She said relieved. "does Zack know what it was in the bag yet? I just came back from visiting Cam… and she not getting any better."
"he's in his office with Hodgins." Booth said with a sigh. "I'm gonna go sit with Cam for a while." He said standing and walking out, feeling guilty now.
"he's taking it hard." Angela sighed sitting on the coffee table.
Brennan nodded. "yeah."
"…I'm gonna go talk to Hodgins… see if he knows anything that could help."
"What the hell are you? You're not a bacterial protein or a non-opioid analgesic. You're not a neurotoxin or a heavy metal." Hodgins said talking to himself as Angela entered. "You act like chloromethane, but Zack said that there was no sweet smell when the powder was released."
"Are you talking to the evidence?" she asked amused.
"Just . . . working through this as systematically as possible."
"You know, when this whole thing is over, I am moving to a doorman building, I'm getting an unlisted number and I am hiring a full-time bodyguard named Knuckles." She said sitting on the edge of his desk.
"Don't get paranoid." He said looking up at her.
"That's funny coming from a conspiracy theorist." She said as his computer beeped.
"Of course! Methyl bromide." He said standing. "I'll call the hospital." He said walking out.
"Methyl bromide mixed with plaster dust. That's what made it so hard to isolate." Hodgins said catching up to Booth and Brennan in the hospital.
"What's the treatment?" Booth asked.
"Racemic epinephrine. I called ahead. They should be starting an I.V."
"that's great." Brennan said with a yawn.
"I'm gonna stay here… sit with her until she wakes up. And you should go home and get some sleep?" he said seriously.
"What about Epps?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"I got an entire surveillance team outside your home, watching you. Why does everybody question me."
"alright. I'll see you tomorrow." She said walking out.
10 minutes later Cam was awake and Booth was by her side.
"How are you feeling?" he asked smiling.
"Like I got poisoned by a disembodied head full of plaster dust."
"Plaster dust." He said realizing something. "…Plaster dust. I have to go. I'll be back." He promised running out.
Brennan's apartment, just before dawn. Brennan walked in surrounded by agents.
"Everything is secure. Agent Holtz will stay in the hallway and they'll be another agent in the lobby." One of the agents said.
"Thank you." She said taking her keys that he was holding out. "Good night." He exits and she closes the door.
A few minutes later Booth arrives gun drawn and he slowly enters , hearing music coming from the bathroom. A piece of drywall is pushed in and Epps crawls through into Brennan's closet, holding a crowbar. He pushes the door open and rounds the corner looking toward the bathroom as Booth walks past the front door with a couple of agents behind him.
"Check the apartment next door." He told one of them who nodded and walked back into the hall. Epps approaches the bathroom and Brennan rounds the corner, dry, dressed, and gun in hand. The hammer clicks into place and Epps smiles. Booth's gun clicks behind him walking closer. "Dead end."
"You won't let me shoot him, will you?" Brennan guessed.
"You knew he was gonna be here, didn't you?" he asked her looking back and forth.
"It's the only scenario that made sense." She shrugged.
Booth noticed Epps eying the balcony, knowing he was cornered."Oh. What, you heading for the balcony, Howie? Hope you can fly, cause that's about a fifty foot drop." Booth said refocusing on him.
"How did you know?" he asked Brennan smiling, curious.
"Plaster dust in the poison."
"Renovations to the apartment next door." Booth added.
"You're not all that smart, turns out." Brennan said smiling.
"One minute. All I want is one minute alone with you." Epps said smiling.
"Fine with me." She said holding her gun firm on his head.
"Don't provoke the lunatic, alright? You got nowhere to go, Howie."
"I'm not going back to jail."
"that's really not your decision, Howie. Get your hands up. Drop the crowbar. " Epps throws the crowbar at the lamp, breaking it and casting the room into darkness before bolting out the window. Epps jumps off the balcony and Booth grabs him by the arm. "You're not getting away, Howard."
"Look who the killer is now, Agent Booth." He said a smug smile on his face.
"A little help here, Bones? I got nothing but dead weight here. Help me?" she tries to reach but cant, her arms are too short. "Grab the railing!"
"You're gonna drop me anyway. Just get it over with."
"You son of a bitch." Booth said pissed.
"Are you saying you don't want me dead?"
"I'm not you, Howard."
"Oh, really? You're not thinking of the world with me still in it? Going after Dr. Brennan, your son-"
Epps, laughs, whimpers, gasps, and Booth looses his grip on him as he falls to the pavement, sirens wailing in the distance.
"oh my god." Brennan said turning into Booth and away from the blood pooling around Howard's head.
Booth, Brennan and the one of the agents are sitting at the dining room table as the sun comes up.
"Unit on the ground saw what happened. So did the sniper across the street. You tried to save him." One of the agents said.
Booth nodded. "yeah."
"no one could've helped him." Brennan said reassuringly.
He nodded again. "I know."
"You can take off whenever you want, Booth. The department might want to assign you a shrink… an on the job death like that." He said and left.
"you didn't have your full strength. Your wrist was hurt from pulling Zack away from the explosion." Brennan said taking his hand.
"my wrist wasn't hurt, Bones." He said sighing. "I had him then I lost him. Simple as that."
"I wish you'd let me shoot him." Brennan scoffed.
"No, you don't." he said shaking his head. "you'd never forgive me." He said looking into her eyes.
"then thank you for saving me from that major pain in the ass." she said smiling and kissing him.
They heard the radio from the next apartment and Brennan sighed. "how about you move in with me… you know until they're done with the renovations next door and the gaping hole in your closet is fixed… we wouldn't want another psycho slipping inside in the middle of the night." He said smiling.
Brennan laughed. "tempting, I'll give you that." He smiled kissing her again strongly. She shrugged. "I guess a couple weeks couldn't hurt."