A/N: Sorry this is so late. Hope you like it.

Chapter 12

The Jeffersonian Medico-Legal Lab, Tuesday at 11:00 am

While Booth was on the phone with Deputy Director Cullen, Hodgins and Simon gathered their gear. Yesterday's search for the missing bullet that killed Sam Butter hadn't gone well. Now that they discovered the gun that possibly killed the victim was missing, it was even more important to find the nine millimeter round.

"As soon as you find something call me. Angela is busying trying to reconstruct the bullet that killed Sheriff Boyd," Cam told them.

"Will do," the entomologist nodded before the two headed out to the van. With Angela busy with the Angelator, the Head of Forensics headed back to Brennan's office.

"He's still on the phone. Cullen has news from North Dakota," the forensic anthropologist told her.

"Oh boy. The rest of the team is working on the bullets. I take it you and Booth will be heading back to Sharpsburg," Cam said.

"Yes. Booth has already informed Sheriff Townshend about the evidence that's missing and he has his men looking for it but I wouldn't hold my air," Brennan shrugged.

"Breath and you're probably right. Someone has long ditched it and even if they haven't the only man who could have told us is dead," her boss shook her head. At that moment, Booth shut his phone and let out a deep breath.

"More bad news?" Cam's sarcasm was unmistakable.

"As if it could get worse. The dead man found in Minnesota has been identified as Evan Smythe. Supposedly went on a hunting trip and never came back. Charlie is out talking to the friend, a Tom Bailey, who was living with Smythe. Still no one has seen anyone matching Jay Moore's description," the G-man explained.

"So nothing that could help us with that case yet," the Head of Forensics heaved a sigh.

"As for the missing gun, Deputy Houser confirmed the serial number on the paperwork matches the serial number of Fick's weapon. That being said, the only crimes that can be linked to the weapon are the shooting of Jessica Mahle and the robbery of the convenience store," Booth said.

"So what do we do next?" Brennan asked.

"We're making a trip to Hagerstown. Abby Donaldson is still our only link to all of this. Get your coat," her partner told her.

Abby Donaldson's House in Hagerstown, Maryland, Tuesday at 1:00 pm

Booth and Brennan walked up onto the porch of the farm house. Booth knocked on the door.

"So isn't this a formality?" His partner asked.

"What do you mean?" The FBI agent wondered.

"Well everyone else who would want to kill Sheriff Boyd and Leon Fick is dead," Brennan said. Before he could open his mouth, the front door opened.

"May I help you?" An older woman asked. It was obvious that she had been crying.

"I'm Special Agent Seeley Booth and this is my partner Dr. Temperance Brennan from the Jeffersonian. I know this is a difficult time but we need to ask you some questions," Booth gave her a smile.

"Come on in. No reason to stand outside on Leon's account," Abby gave a slight smile and let the partners in. She walked into the living room and offered them seats on the older sofa. The room was Spartan but comfortable. The older woman took a seat in an older recliner.

"Money's been tight since Rick died. Leon tried to send some money but I always sent it back. We haven't talked much since Jimmy…" Abby trailed off.

"We know this is difficult but we need to fill in some blanks. We believe that Leon killed a man named Sam Butter back in nineteen eighty-one. The gun used to hold up the local convenience store was identified as your brother's," Booth said.

"I know. Sheriff Boyd came to the house and told us. He said he wouldn't charge Leon because Leon didn't know that Jimmy took his gun. Instead of looking relieved, my brother looked tense. After the Sheriff left, I asked him how this could happen and he told me that everything was going to be ok but I could hear something in his voice. Something just wasn't right and then the Sheriff was killed a few days later…" once more she trailed off. The painful truths hidden in her family's past had been weighing heavy on her.

"Did you tell Sheriff Boyd your suspicions?" Booth asked.

"I was going to. I had an appointment to see him on the day they found his body. Being an officer involved shooting things had to calm down for a few days before he could discuss anything," Mrs. Donaldson said.

"Did you suspect Leon?" Brennan wanted to know.

"I did but when they said it was a nine millimeter bullet, I knew it couldn't be. Leon only had one nine millimeter and it was in the police station," Abby told them.

"We recently discovered that your brother's gun was removed from the evidence box and replaced with a squirt gun. Was there anything unusual about your brother or even your husband's behavior?" The G-man wondered.

"I didn't know that. As for Rick was too consumed with grief to do anything. Leon was angry. He blamed the Sheriff for Jimmy's death but I told him, Jimmy shot that poor girl. How was Sheriff Boyd to know he wasn't next?" Abby sighed.

"Any ideas as to who would have shot your brother? They used a shotgun," The FBI agent asked.

"We moved from Sharpsburg not long after Jimmy died. We couldn't stay there. I'm afraid that I can't be much help there," she said.

"Did he tell about anyone in his life?" Booth was hoping he'd get some helpful answers.

"We talked at his wife's, Marie's, funeral and then again a few months ago. He said that he had company coming over and couldn't talk long but that he wanted to tell me he was thinking of selling the house. He wanted me to know because that's the house we grew up in. I think it was just getting too much for him at his age. I heard a woman's voice in the background though," Abby explained. The information was interesting to say the least. Very few women could shoot a shotgun. Never mind hold a potato to it. It was then that Booth's phone rang. He excused himself and picked up the call.

"Booth,"

"Agent Booth this is Sally LeRoy, from Sharpsburg Forensics. I have something you need to see. How soon can you get here?" The woman sounded nervous.

"We're in Hagerstown. Where do you want to meet?" He asked.

"At my apartment. What I have isn't safe at the lab," Sally told him.

"What's the address?" Booth wanted to know. She quickly gave him the address.

"We'll be there in about twenty minutes." He promised before hanging up. Then he walked back out to the living room.

"Thank you for your time Mrs. Donaldson. We must be going," he smiled and Brennan left her seat.

"My brother might have been a bastard but you catch the person who did this to him," Abby said. Booth gave a nod and he and Brennan were heading back out to the SUV.

To Be Continued…