When Special Agent Seeley Booth pulled into the crime scene people knew who was in charge. As he jumped out of his SUV, Agent Shaw ran up to meet him. "What's the status?" he asked.
"We have snipers that have confirmed movement inside the apartment and we've established a phone line. Other than that nothing's happened, sir." Shaw replied as she lengthened her stride to keep up with the man.
"Do we know who the hostage is?"
"The apartment belongs to a Miss Daisy Wick, but we can't-"
Booth stopped in his tracks. "Did you just say Daisy Wick?"
Shaw held back a gulp at the anger in his voice. "Yes, sir."
Booth strode off faster than he had before. His right hand flew up in exasperation. "Daisy Wick is Sweets' girlfriend! Does no one do background checks these days?"
"Sir, we haven't confirmed it's her yet." Shaw replied.
"I want to talk to him." Booth replied as he reached the yellow tape and ducked under it.
"I'll get the phone to you right now, sir." Shaw said and then ran off to find out where their phone line was.
"Agent Booth!" Someone called. Booth stopped and turned. It was Hanson. "Let me talk to him." She said as she jogged up.
"I think I can handle this." Booth replied stubbornly.
"You're too close, Booth." Hanson replied. "And besides, I'm a profiler and a trained negotiator. I can get inside his head. You're what he wants, Agent Booth, and I can use that against him."
Booth grimaced. "Fine, but I'm listening in."
"Of course."
Shaw came running over with the phone. Hanson took it. She waited for Booth to be connected. "Is there a floor plan of the apartment?"
Agent Shaw nodded. "It's over here." She lead them over to a table that had been set up. Floor plans were laid out in various formats and expensive looking equipment had been brought out. Various techs were currently running these machines. Hanson looked at the floor plan and then hit the call button. The phone started ringing. On the third time a man picked up. "What is it now?"
"Anthony Taffet, this is Special Agent Hanson with the FBI."
"I know, I know. The FBI has us surrounded, snipers are in place, and all that nice junk." Anthony replied.
"I'm glad you know the position you're in." Hanson replied calmly. "I was wondering if we could talk to Miss Daisy Wick." She stated it. She wouldn't allow uncertainty to be in her voice.
Anthony sighed. "If you must." There was a rustling and then a small voice came through the phone.
"H-hello?" She stuttered.
"Miss Wick? This is Agent Hanson with the FBI. Are you alright?" She asked with a glance up at Booth.
"I'm fine." Daisy gulped. She was sitting on a bar stool in the center of her living room with one of her hands zip tied to the stool. Her furniture had been pushed around so that all the windows were blocked and the door was barricaded. Her mouth had been duct taped moments before.
"Listen, Daisy, we are going to get you out of there, alright?"
"Okay."
"Is Taffet listening in?" Hanson asked next.
"No." Daisy breathed back.
"Good. Daisy, if anything happens you flatten yourself against the floor. Got it?"
"Yes." Daisy replied.
"Alright, I'm going to read off the room names and say yes when I get to the room you're in."
"Okay."
"Bathroom, Bedroom, Kitchen, Living room-"
"Yes." Daisy replied then asked, "Is Lance okay?"
"Doctor Sweets is fine. He's doing very well." The Agent answered.
There was some more rustling. "You've talked enough. Now ask your real question."
"What do you want?" She asked fiercely.
"What do I want? I want a just world." Taffet snarled back.
"Let's be realistic here." Hanson fired.
"Fine, Agent Booth alone and unarmed."
Hanson let out a coarse laugh. "Come on, Taffet, I said realistic. When you come up with something give me a ring." She then proceeded to hang up.
"What are you doing?" Booth asked
"He's a classic narcissist with a twist of sadism. He won't be able to stand being ignored." Hanson replied.
"That sounded like a drink cocktail." Booth stated
"Everything he's done so far has been to draw attention to himself. Therefore, he's a narcissist. He also enjoys causing others pain. Sadism."
Almost as if on cue the phone rang. "Agent Hanson." She stated as she picked up the phone.
"Don't you hang up on me again or I'll -!"
Hanson ended the call again. Booth winced. If Daisy died because of this so called profiler he was going to wring her neck. The phone started ringing again almost instantly.
"Are you done having your temper tantrum?" Hanson asked.
"I was nothaving a temper tantrum." Anthony shot back.
"You're not getting Booth alone so forget it. Think of something more reasonable and I might be able to work it out."
It was silent for a moment.
"I'll send the girl out." He decided.
Hanson was wary. "What would you like in return?" Hanson knew that Anthony knew they couldn't refuse an offer to release a hostage unless it was outrageous.
"Lance Sweet's room number."
"You've had your fun with Doctor Sweets. Why not target someone else?" Hanson questioned.
"The room number. You have ten minutes." Anthony hung up without another word. He glanced over at Daisy who was pulling desperately at the zip tie holding her to the chair.
A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long, guys! I was having trouble deciding where to go with this plot. But it's all ready now and hopefully I should have a few chapters posted in a short span of time! Ideas are always welcome though! :D
Sneak Peak: Brennan and Sweets fluff in the next chapter. ;)