Chapter 18

Interrogation at the Hoover Building, Wednesday at 5:00 pm

While the Squint Squad processed the evidence from Margot Bartnik's home, Booth stood in the viewing room with Brennan while they waited for Sweets to arrive. Mr. Torna was there to ensure his new client wasn't going to ruin their chances at trial.

"He doesn't seem to be giving her much legal advice does he?" Booth wondered at the lack of conversation between the lawyer and Margot.

"Perhaps she told him the truth and he no longer wants to represent her," Brennan shrugged.

"True or maybe he wants to be able to still live in Sharpsburg. It comes out that Margot blames the Sheriff and I imagine there will be trouble," her partner nodded.

"Sorry about keeping everyone waiting," Sweets interrupted their conversation as he entered the viewing room.

"No problem Sweets. You ready?" Booth wondered.

"Yes, this should prove to be interesting," the young psychologist smiled, in fact Brennan would characterize this as the excited Sweets. The two left her to listen in while they interrogated the suspect.

"What are the charges against my client? Deputy Houser didn't say much over the phone," Torna asked.

"She's being charged with the death of Leon Fick but I don't think she did it alone and Sharpsburg hardly seemed the place to discuss it," Booth explained. At this point the lawyer leaned over and whispered something to his client. At which point, Margot spoke up.

"I didn't do anything,"

"Then explain why we found your prescription in the victim's system and your prints on the kitchen utensils?" Booth wanted to know.

"Don't answer that," Torna told her.

"How about you answer this for me? How well did you know the victim?" Sweets piped into the conversation.

"We were friends. His wife and I worked together before she died," Margot explained.

"And when his wife stole the nine millimeter handgun, you didn't know about it?" Sweets wondered.

"Most days our shifts overlapped. She could have retrieved it when I wasn't there," the librarian explained.

"You knew about Leon's nephew though right?" Sweets asked.

"Yes," Margot replied.

"So after James was killed by Sheriff Boyd, you never once suspected Leon killed your ex-husband?" The psychologist raised an eyebrow. At this point, it looked like the librarian wanted to say something but her lawyer cut her off.

"Don't answer that,"

"Let's go back to the moment in question when you say you found Leon very drunk and waving his gun around. You said you called the Sheriff. Why not just dial nine-one-one? Why call the Sheriff directly?" Sweets wanted to know. It was again at this point that Torna leaned over to his client. They seemed to be arguing, as Margot kept shaking her head 'no'. However the lawyer finally convinced her to tell them.

"I was seeing Bob up until a few days ago. After Leon died, he pulled away from me," the librarian explained.

"So you killed Leon Fick?" Booth asked.

"No, as I said before I called Bob and told him what was happening. He said he'd handle it. Then Leon was dead," she said.

"Why didn't you come forward with this information before?" Sweets wondered.

"I wasn't going to confront him after I thought he killed Leon," Margot told them.

"So we are to believe that a decorated law enforcement officer killed Leon Fick and not you?" Booth was skeptical.

"Look my client has been more than cooperative. Either retain the charges or I'm taking her back to Sharpsburg," Torna threatened. It was then that Booth's cell phone chirped and he picked it up. Brennan had texted him some very important news.

"Margot is being charged with first degree murder. We just found her prints all over the shotgun and potato starch jammed up in the barrel," the FBI agent said.

"Looks like we're done here although I do have one more question before he takes you away," Sweets had a look on his face that indicated that he was onto something. Margot was pale and the psychologist went on,

"How's your shoulder?" Margot just gave him a look and Booth hauled her up out of her seat. The amount of force he used would have made anyone with a bruise on their shoulder from the kick back of the shotgun cringe. However the librarian didn't and Booth led her to the door. Sweets moved into the viewing room to join Dr. Brennan.

"So your analysis?" She asked.

"She's not one hundred percent innocent but I don't think she took the kill shot. I think the Sheriff did that. Her way of handling something like this would be completely different. Leon was drunk, he could have blabbed what he did and she would have used her sleeping pills to kill him. The pills would not mix with the alcohol in his system and he would have died. Now the Sheriff on the other hand, he would have used force. The only thing that concerns me is why he tried to make Sheriff Boyd's death look like Leon's. We already suspected that Leon had killed the Sheriff," Sweets explained.

"Right but the amount of alcohol in Leon's system was almost nonexistent when Cam ran a tox screen," the forensic anthropologist said.

"Exactly. They waited until the morning. Margot cooked him breakfast and fed him the sleeping pills. Then when they kicked in, Sheriff Townshend arrived and killed Leon," the psychologist nodded.

"The only problem is that the fingerprints we found on the weapon and the pill bottle all point to Margot. Sheriff Townshend's prints aren't on them," Brennan sighed.

"So all you have is the fingerprints tying him to being at the scene of the crime," Sweets noted as more thoughts swirled in his head.

"I'd like to listen in on a conversation between Booth and the Sheriff. Perhaps we can learn some interesting information. We already know that Townshend lied to you and Booth so if we can get some insight into his mind, it may help," he continued. Brennan nodded as the two left the room and headed for Booth's office.

Sweets explained the plan and the FBI agent sat at his desk and listened intently. Brennan could tell from the look on his face that he was thinking of something.

"Sounds great Sweets except for the fact that I can't just drag Sheriff Townshend up here and charge him as an accomplice if I have no proof," Booth explained.

"Like you've never brought anyone into interrogation without explaining to them what you're planning. Tell Townshend there is some paperwork to fill out. Then we catch him in a lie hopefully," the young doctor suggested.

"Ok, but if this doesn't work, all Townshend has to do is keep his mouth shut. With that weak story Margot has it won't be hard to convict her," Booth shrugged and picked up the phone. He hated to see the Sheriff get away with murder especially since he knew that Margot didn't fire the shotgun. With no evidence tying Townshend to the scene other than some windowsill fingerprints, he hoped that Sweets could get something out of him.

To Be Continued…

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