Note: Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter. They're excellent motivation.
What if? Brennan killed Deputy Direct Kirby instead of Max
AU? Probably
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There was one obvious solution.
The room full of pictures, the shot through the diner window ... someone was hunting Russ.
It probably wasn't just one someone, either, There had been a whole task force dedicated to framing Marvin Beckett for the murder of Gus Harper, a task force full of FBI agents who wouldn't like the truth coming to light.
Arresting them wasn't an option - not with Booth suspended and the entire FBI against them. Besides, an arrest would just make the rest of the task force edgy, afraid of what would come out when the case eventually made its way to trial.
No, an arrest wasn't a solution. The person hunting them had to die.
She supposed she should feel guilty at the thought, but she knew as well as anyone that sometimes, death was the only way to get justice.
"Parker's school gets out in half an hour. I'm supposed to pick him up today. Do you mind giving me a ride?"
Her partner's voice startled her out of her musings. She looked at him, trying to mentally reconstruct his question.
"I want to see Russ", she answered. "How about you drop me at my place and take my car?"
His answering smile made her feel just a little guilty.
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She unlocked the door and walked into her apartment. "Russ?", she called.
There was no answer.
She kicked off her shoes and walked into the living room. There was a note on the coffee table, and as she read her brother's explanation of a job interview, she felt the nerves in her back jump to life.
She spun around, grabbing the misericorde off the shelf behind her.
It wasn't until she saw Deputy Director Kirby lying on her living room floor that she realized who had invaded her home.
She took a few steps, breathing deeply to wear off the adrenalin, her eyes never leaving the mortally injured man bleeding out in front of her eyes.
Her phone rang, and she answered it with her usual "Brennan", focusing on sounding calm and relaxed.
"Hey Bones", her partner replied. "Caroline called. She needs us at the FBI. I just dropped Parker off, I'll be at your place in 10."
"OK", Brennan answered, her eyes on the corpse in the middle of the carpet. "I'll meet you downstairs."
She hung up the phone and went to grab the shower curtain out of the bathroom.
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It was hard work, dragging a corpse to the top of a building, especially when you had to dismantle the security cameras first. Making a second trip for matches and gasoline was simpler, but still took planning and time.
Still, it was the obvious solution. Deputy Director Kirby's death wasn't enough - it had to be clear to his associates that they would get the same if they messed with the Brennans.
By the time everything was assembled, it was well after midnight.
She tied the body firmly to the pole, then took a deep breath and slid the common kitchen knife she'd brought between its ribs. Pulling it out, she stabbed the corpse again, then sliced open the abdomen and pulled the intestines out, watching them pool on the ground.
She pulled a Columbus quarter from her pocket and pried open the jaw far enough that she could cram the quarter deep into his throat. Finally, she pulled a copper weapon and tossed it on the ground.
Surely even FBI techs would be able to tie this murder to her father. It was the obvious solution, and as she well knew, Max Keenan could take care of himself. Besides, he was probably miles away.
She picked up the can of gasoline and doused the body, being careful not to spill any on herself.
She lit a match and slipped into the stairwell as the flames leapt to the sky.
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Thoughts?