Angela's office had been plastered with maps. At every map was a person. So to say that the office was packed was an understatement.
"Okay, everyone!" Booth yelled and the room got quiet. "Misses Montenegro is going to explain what we're doing here!"
"Alright, I'm going to be reading off a list of places. If you have that place on your map please yell out your map number." Angela turned to her computer screen and projected the list on the screen and started calling them out. She kept her tablet in hand and highlighted the places that were on the maps and which map they were on.
It took about forty-five minutes to get through all fifty-two locations. The agents cleared out of the office and waited for a location to be given.
"Now what, Angela?" Brennan asked.
"Um…" Angela bit her lip as she thought. She scrolled through the list again. "There are eight possible locations."
"We need to narrow it down." Booth said and pinched the bridge of his nose. Only five hours left.
"Can you pull up all the locations on that map you made earlier?" Agent Hanson asked. Angela nodded.
"Did anyone check the area directly around Taffet's hideout?" Cam asked.
"They searched for two hours. There's nothing there." Booth replied.
The map came up on the screen. "The parts highlighted in yellow are the locations that are marked on the maps found in Mister Creepy's secret lair." Angela told them. "The little blue dot is the secret lair."
"We can eliminate these three." Brennan said and pointed to them.
"Why?" Booth asked.
"They're too far away from Doctor Hodgins and Angela's house." She replied logically. Angela tapped her tablet and the three of them disappeared.
"Wouldn't it be this one then?" Hodgins asked. He pointed to the one closest to the blue dot.
"Actually, no." Hanson said. "He doesn't want it too close to where he operates because it would look suspicious."
"Alright then." Angela made the location disappear. "That leaves us with four locations, a golf course, a drive-in movie theater, a cemetery, and a campground."
"A drive-in is too populated." Cam said.
"The same with a golf course." Brennan added.
"Well what better place to hide a coffin than in a graveyard?" Booth asked.
"But we can't rule out the campground." Hanson said. "It's secluded. He could have put a tent overtop his digging site."
Booth couldn't deny that probability. Oh great, now he was sounding like a Squint.
"What's your gut say, Seeley?" Cam asked. She could see that look on his face.
"I'm not sure." Booth replied.
"Bull crap." Angela blurted out. All heads turned toward her. She put a hand on her hip and stared the FBI agent down. "You always have a hunch. It's your gift, Booth. You have intuition that none of us have. So where is he?"
"The cemetery."
They were on the road in five minutes. They passed the D.C. traffic with flashing lights and sirens. Booth was steering the black SUV with one hand while the other was holding a phone to his ear. "I need a list of all the graves at the cemetery… Yes, I know how… I don't care how long it is! I need a list of all the people! … Yes, sir. I know, sir… Alright." He clicked the phone shut. "They're sending a list to my phone."
Brennan glanced over at Booth. "Something else happened."
Booth sighed. He wished that she couldn't read him so well. "They're sending some agents to each location because the higher ups don't fully trust the Jeffersonian."
"What? That's ridiculous!" Brennan objected.
"I know, but it's a good precaution." Booth said in an attempt to calm Brennan down. She took it personal when someone offended her precious Jeffersonian.
Brennan huffed. "I guess so."
Booth floored the gas pedal now that he had both hands on the steering wheel.
It only took ten minutes for Booth to get to the cemetery. Normally it would be about half an hour if you obeyed traffic laws. The SUV that whipped in behind him was Agent Hanson. She had brought Cam, Angela, and Hodgins.
"Alright let's split up. We're looking for freshly dug grave sites. You see one let me know." Booth said as they all poured out of the cars.
The cemetery wasn't very big compared to others in the area. It was actually quite a nice place. It was surrounded by trees that created a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. They also made shade for anyone that made an extended stay. There were some flowers and wreaths scattered about on various graves.
Booth had gone straight up the middle. Nothing was there. He watched the others near the end of their rows and got worried that his hunch had been wrong. But if Sweets wasn't here where else could he be?
Hodgins had gone to the far left of the cemetery. He was almost at the end of the row when he saw the freshly turned up dirt. He ran over to the spot. "Booth!" he yelled once he got there. There was no headstone.
Booth heard the yell and started sprinting over. He literally jumped over a headstone and skidded to a stop beside Hodgins. The others arrived a little more slowly.
"Where's the headstone?" Booth asked breathlessly.
"There isn't one." Hodgins replied.
Booth cussed under his breath. "Do we have any shovels?" he asked.
"I'll go check the maintenance shed." Hanson said and ran off.
"I'll call the FBI and tell them to send over their agents and an ambulance." Cam offered and took out her phone.
Booth nodded grimly and then got on his hands and knees. He started pushing the loose dirt off the top. Hodgins dropped down and joined him.
A/N: *starts the suspenseful music* Thanks for the reviews guys! Oh, and JoanneLikesVolleyball, I think I look forward to your reviews just as much as you look forward to my updates! ;)
