Just for the record, the weather today is calm and sunny, but the air is full of bullshit.
~ Chuck Palahniuk (Diary)

Chapter Sixteen: Black Limousine

Gus entered the living room and was surprised to see Booth standing in front of the picture window with a confused look on his face.

"Something wrong, Booth?"

He turned at the question and shook his head. "I don't know, maybe. It seems like there's a lot less media out there today and that makes me wonder."

Gus took a quick glance and nodded. "Makes sense, some were probably sent to New York for the day."

Booth closed his eyes as he finally caught up. "Damn. I forgot today is September 11th. I haven't been near a television lately." He sighed. "I have mixed feelings about this day."

"Yeah. It was such a nightmare, but…"

"Our fellow countrymen did us proud."

"Right." Gus looked at Booth and both men, by some silent agreement, bowed their heads in tandem for a moment, each remembering a horrific day in their country's history and the fallen that were taken long before their time.

After a few moments, Booth scrubbed his face roughly with both hands and let out an irritated sigh, ready to move on with the business at hand. Leading Gus to the sofa, they both sat down, coffee cups in hand. "We need to work out this timeline for what happened the night Clay was taken. We already know that Tucker was in the front seat of the Town Car, but we don't know how or when."

Gus took in the other man's appearance, slightly disheveled and definitely frustrated. "Booth, you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. No…damn." He gave Gus an appraising look. "Alright, we talked to the kids this morning."

"Are they okay?" He sat up, worried.

"Yeah! Yeah….they're just fine. Fine and dandy. Their parents, however…"

"You miss your kids. Of course you do."

Booth nodded sadly. "I never asked….you have kids?"

"Nope. I like kids, just don't really want any of my own."

"I can't imagine my life without them."

"Boy and a girl, right?"

"Yeah…Parker and Alexandra."

Gus smiled. "You'll see them soon. Now that we know Tucker is responsible for this, we have something to work with."

"We still need to…" Booth looked up suddenly, eyes wide.

"What?"

"Did Clay have a regular driver?"

Gus shook his head. "No. Whoever was available from the pool was who he got."

"Did he have someone assigned to him from the pool that night?" Booth picked up some papers and began looking through them.

Gus looked pained. "He should have…I didn't see anyone listed on the call sheet, though. It was blank. I just assumed that Tucker stepped in and took the car without being detected."

"Like, someone left it blank deliberately? Or was it erased?"

He pulled the paper out of the file and handed it to Booth. "It was blank."

"Who assigns the drivers?"

"Dave Mitchell, he's the pool coordinator. But it's arranged by Kinser."

Booth tapped his chin. "Kinser…Kinser….Clay's aide? Stephen Kinser?"

"Yeah." Gus suddenly felt his blood run cold. "Kinser."

Booth heard something in Gus's voice and looked at him sharply. "What? You getting a feeling about Kinser?"

"Yeah, a bad one. Normally, I would say that it was crazy, because everyone who works for Clay loves him. But Steve…"

"He doesn't like Clay?"

"No, he does. It's Charlie he hates."

B&B

"So what's the play here?"

Booth glanced at Gus as they stood outside the door to the basement where Stephen Kinser was waiting. After a short discussion, they had sent an agent to pick up the aide and bring him to the house…a place he hadn't set foot inside since Clay had married Charlie.

"I don't know him…you do. I think he'll be more calm and receptive if you take the lead."

"But interrogations are not my forte. I've only conducted a handful; your skills in that area are legendary. I'll follow you, and if things get ugly…"

"You can step in. Good call." Booth opened the door and led Gus into the room, both barely looking at Kinser as they sat across from him at the table.

"You know…" Booth began conversationally, "Guys like this hang on coat tails like a cat on curtains so what I don't get is why Speaker Woods getting married made him risk fifteen years of dedicated service and a federal pension."

Kinser paled perceptibly as he looked from Booth to Gus and back again. "What the hell are you talking about?" He pointed at Booth. "And who the hell are you?"

"I think I'll be the one asking questions here."

"I don't understand. What does this have to do with Speaker Woods' disappearance? Because I only know what I've read in the newspapers…" He glanced at Booth again, recognition dawning. "You're Agent Booth! I know you from when…"

"That's Deputy Director Booth, and yes…I am a friend of Mrs. Woods."

"Does your wife know about that?"

Booth slapped his hand onto the table, making both Kinser and Gus jump. "You don't get to mention my wife. Now, let's get into what happened the night Speaker Woods was taken."

"I told you…"

Gus stepped in. "And you know that we know, Steve. You were the one who assigned the driver to Clay that night. You were the one who left the log sheet blank. Dave Mitchell confirmed that you set everything up. So you can either talk to us, or…"

Kinser shook his head violently. "I've worked my entire career to get the perfect candidate into the perfect race and this idiot blows it with a red-headed tart that has slept her way from one continent to another! She's nothing but a liability." He shook his head and folded his arms indignantly. "Not on my watch."

Booth leaned over to Gus, "Did he just say red-headed tart?"

Gus nodded as both men got to their feet faster than Kinser could blink.

B&B

Penelope and Sweets looked up from their checkers game as Brennan entered the room shaking her head.

"Do you mind if I join you?" She asked, sitting down next to Penny.

"Not at all, Bren. Is everything okay?"

"Yes. I just needed a break from the 9/11 coverage all over the television. I was there helping with the aftermath, and I do not wish to be reminded right now."

Sweets nodded. "I don't blame you. I can't even imagine how hard that must have been."

"Yes." Brennan sat back, refusing to elaborate. Sweets took the opportunity to bring up the idea he'd had the night before.

"You all know that tomorrow is Charlie's 40th birthday, right?"

Penny shook her head. "No, I didn't. What terrible timing. Poor Charlotte."

"I thought we could maybe make the day a little easier on her…make her a cake, cook her favorite dinner…something to take her mind off this whole mess, even if it's only for a little while." Sweets looked at both women expectantly.

Brennan smiled. "That's very thoughtful of you, Sweets. I think Charlotte would appreciate the effort."

"Gus said that her favorite cake is pineapple upside down cake. Do either of you…"

Penelope grinned. "Yes! I have a great recipe from my grandmother!" She turned to Brennan. "Bren, would you want to help me with the cake?"

"I'd love to. And maybe Angela could help with gifts of some sort. We can't leave, but…"

Nodding, Penny agreed. "We can make due. Let's do it!"

B&B

Later, when Charlie asked if Kinser gave them his standard 'political liability' speech' all they would say was, "He tried, but I don't think he got all of it out, do you?" Gus asked Booth.

Booth shook his head with smile, "No, he most definitely did not."

Charlie's eyes narrowed slightly. "What did you two do?"

The two men looked at each other innocently. "Just standard interrogation techniques, nothing more. Right, Gus?"

"Yep, that's right Booth."

"I don't believe either of you, but I have a feeling I should be thanking you both for something."

"Nah, we're good." Booth motioned for everyone to sit. "I do have a question for you, though."

Charlie nodded. "Anything."

"Why did Clay continue to employ a man who so obviously despised his wife?"

"I can answer that." Gus said. "The fact is Steve has been with Clay since he was merely a rookie candidate with a nice pedigree. He was there through Michelle's death and every single campaign stop, kissed baby and election return since. Clay felt a certain amount of loyalty towards Steve."

"And Clay is nothing if not loyal." Charlotte interjected. "Sometimes to a fault…"

Gus sighed and continued. "It's a good trait to have, Charlie."

Booth shook his head in confusion. "So did he ever say anything to you directly, Charlie? Anything untoward, rude, insulting?"

She gave Gus a sideways glance, not wanting to reveal certain things she had kept to herself for years. Knowing it was important to the investigation, she relented. "Yes. Nothing obvious, just little digs and snide remarks. Commenting on my dress choices or makeup for state dinners, remarks about whether or not I understood the proper etiquette for a given dignitary, he even left a newspaper open to your wedding announcement out on Clay's desk once."

Booth winced. "And you never told anyone about his behavior?"

"It wouldn't have served any type of purpose, Seeley. Clay knew how Steven felt, and he kept us apart except for whenever it was absolutely necessary. Once I started living here, Steven never crossed the threshold again. Clay made sure of that."

"Well, apparently Kinser felt like that wasn't enough." Booth glanced at Gus, both coming to a silent agreement. "You were the intended target that night, Charlie."

"What?" Charlotte whispered in shock. "How…"

Gus took over the explanation. "When you left early that night, you threw the whole plan off. Steve thought that maybe you getting kidnapped would be better press than you had been getting, and your triumphant return after a valiant rescue would have gotten staggering press. And…" He paused, thinking. "If you weren't saved, even better."

"This guy is a complete scumbag, Charlie. It was never personal with him, he was worried about his job." Booth placed a hand on her shoulder, which she shook off.

"Don't try to make me feel better about this! It really is my fault…oh, God. If I hadn't gotten sick, if…"

"Charlotte." Gus spoke quietly but firmly. "What Kinser thought was the plan and what the actual plan was are, we think, two different things. Booth and I think Clay was always the target. Always. So there was nothing you could have done to prevent it, nor anything you did the catalyst. Tucker always had this planned, it was just a matter of opportunity and dumb luck."

Charlotte sighed. "I suppose that should make me feel better, but…"

Booth shook his head. "We will get him back, Charlie. Trust me on this. We're getting closer, and we will get him. Tucker will make a mistake, and then…he's ours."

Gus nodded in agreement at Booth's insistent statement. "This isn't over by a long shot, babe."

Resigned, Charlotte stood to leave the room. "I suppose I have no choice but to believe you."