Note to Readers - Soooo sorry this took longer to update than I planned. My laptop stopped working and took a week to fix. Which is ridiculous since it only turned out to be a bad power cord! When I went to pick it up, I felt like I was picking up my child or something! I was so lost without it! haha Anyway, I hope you enjoy this next update as B & B get themselves further into their dangerous investigation. Sorry if any errors, I proofed it quickly so I could get it posted. I will proof again later and correct any mistakes.

Mistaken Identity

Continued . . .

Chapter 6

Gravedigger Storage Unit / Operations Hub

Brennan flipped on the light switch activating the single bare light bulb above them – casting haunting shadows throughout the mid-sized unit.

Much of the evidence still remained in it's original location and some of the items that were more critical to the case, had already been bagged and tagged, taken to either the Jeffersonian or the FBI offices at the Hoover Building to be processed and cataloged, finger printed, tested for residue from other particles and debris that would hopefully connect the items to the crimes that had been committed - all in order to make sure it was fully prepared for the inevitable court hearing.

The current investigating team didn't even look into the possibility of Taffet having help, but then again, they had no idea of Booth's suspicions, nor did they know about his having heard other voices. Those were things that Booth omitted from his report to give himself time to either remember and describe more clearly what the voices sounded like, how many there were, and what he heard them saying. Booth knew that others would have just automatically dismissed the voices Booth heard, as merely drug induced dilerium - and if it weren't for Booth's own gut instinct nagging at him that it was real, then he too may have thought the same thing.

Booth and Brennan were not privvy to any details of the current investigation, this was only due to the fact that both of them had been victims. But one thing that everyone did know, as that this would have to be a very thorough investigation. They all knew that any mistakes could result in a mistrial, thereby releasing a killer back into the world, and another reason for the intense scrutiny and meticulous attention to the evidence was because, not only had this serial murderer been responsible for numerous deaths, kidnappings and attempted murders, but adding the assault and attempted murder of an FBI Special Agent to the list, pretty much guaranteed that the Prosecutor would immediately push for a Life Sentence with no chance of Parole because unfortunately Washington DC, was not a Death Penalty State.

Any time someone in Law Enforcement was killed or almost killed, the public outcries and media attention also made it extremely difficult for jury selection. Obtaining non-biased Jurors that hadn't seen, heard or read about the Gravedigger's horrendous crimes became a daunting task. Most citizens take serious offense when someone in Law Enforcement such as Booth, who risks his own life day in and day out to rid the streets of criminal activity, is killed or nearly killed in the line of duty or by some vengeful psychopath.

Booth's thoughts turned back to the subject at hand as he continued to scope out the room. The largest items, or items that did not need additional inside the storage - including a Black SUV not unlike Booth's although shorter in length - had been left there for the time being after having been video taped and photographed. Typically the items would have already have been relocated to the large FBI facility where evidence and vehicles that had been involved in crimes and such were stored. But luckily for Booth and Brennan, the relocation of items for this case had been pushed out for another week, giving them this precious time to complete their own investigation.

The lucky break that had caused the delay was due to a sizable drug bust that went down only the day before Booth went missing, causing the FBI facility to be bogged down with multiple vehicles that had been confiscated to be searched by drug sniffing canines. The cars would later be cleaned and sold at Government Auction.

Brennan headed to the front of the SUV to look for evidence of a busted front end, searching for signs of the chunk that had been embedded in Hodgin's leg. This vehicle may just as well have been a hearse considering it had been used to transport victims to their inevitable death, though thankfully Brennan, Hodgins and Booth had outsmarted the killer/killers, surviving their respective ordeals.

Booth was looking for missed clues on a small rectangular table that held large white rubber gloves among other things. One could easily spot the areas where other evidence had already been removed, but the dust free spaces of various shapes told the story of exactly what had been removed. Booth could see what was most likely the shapes of a couple different Tasers, slightly different in their shape as well as in the amount of power they put forth to cripple their victims.

Booth shuddered as he shook off a memory of the pain induced by the one that had been used on him – and used on him more than once. It was easy to spot the shapes of where guns had laid – guns, a large knife, a roll of duct tape.

Booth inhaled deeply after realizing he had been holding his breath off and on since the light first came on. His eyes started rapidly scoping the rest of their surroundings before looking over at his partner to check on her safety and well being, which he had to admit, had become a habit that he would never even try to break. As strong as he knew she was and possessing the unique ability to detach herself from the emotions of certain situations, he knew that everyone had a breaking point – even the infamous Dr. Temperance Brennan.

"Well Bones? How are you holding up?" Booth asked her with obvious concern in his voice.

"Me?" she answered, "Why are you asking me that, you are the one who just went through this nightmare only days ago, with fresh wounds to prove it. Booth I have long since put behind me, what Hodgins and I went through – I'm fine."

"Yeah - okay Bones - whatever you say." Booth said knowing full well that she had just pulled up her usual protective shield over her heart and mind, merely as a coping mechanism. He knew that she didn't even realize that she was doing that. But he could read her better than he could read one of her well written, yet sometimes hard to follow, crime novels.

He would slowly get her to open up and talk more about her experience at some point, when the time was right.

"How do you want to proceed Booth?" she inquired.

He stood in place, gun re-holstered, hands on his hips - "Well, hmmm . . . that's a good question. Let's take advantage of the vehicle still being here, we can search it for clues of anyone other than Taffet and any victims. I am sure the investigators didn't look for any accomplice evidence since they believe she acted alone."

Booth knew from experience that had the investigating team known that there was a possible witness to the fact that Taffet hadn't worked alone and that this 'Gravedigger" persona was possibly a team of 2 or more people - they would have taken a different approach on gathering evidence and following leads. Now, that was his job.

Since he didn't want to cause alarm until he and Brennan found evidence to back up his theory, or until he was able to remember the voices more clearly, including what he heard them saying - he was keeping it on the down low. Inside the vehicle, using flashlights that they had each brought in with them, they began to search mainly the front passenger side which most likely had yet to be searched since the assigned FBI team would have first and foremost searched for anything linking Heather Taffetto the vehicle and any further searches would be conducted after the SUV was moved to the FBI facility.

"Booth, look at this." Brennan called to him as she dug her gloved hand deep into the passenger seat cushion. Booth looked over from his position across from her as he had been simultaneously searching the glove box.

Brennan was holding a pen with tweezers from her pocket. At closer inspection they saw writing on the pen advertising the Fairfax County Library. This could be a huge break so they eagerly finished searching every inch of the vehicle for anything else, even pulling some finger prints and bagging other particles and items that may turn out to be a lead.

Finally, two hours later they emerged from the storage room, squinting from the brightness of the afternoon sun. Then after locking it back up as though they had never been there, they climbed back into the vehicle to head to the Jeffersonian. Not ten minutes down the road, Booth's cell phone began to ring.

"Booth" he said answering in his typical fashion.

"Seeley Booth," said the caller on the other end, their voice synthesized in the same exact manner that the calls from the Gravedigger were conducted, Booth's heart nearly jumped from his chest. Brennan was watching him and from her close proximity to Booth, she was able to hear the familiar and dreaded sound though more muffled from where she was seated. She leaned closer to her partner, her own eyes scanning his – instantly seeing the panic that was rising in his brown orbs.

"I suggest that you and your partner Dr. Temperance Brennan, cease and desist your investigations or I can assure you, you WILL regret it."

Booth immediately countered with his own threat without taking the time to think it through - "You leave my partner out of this! I will not back down so whatever you got, just - bring - it - on!" his anger and his voice rising with each passing word.

Then the ominous caller taunted him with one more final threat, practically spitting out Booth's name at the end of his sentence with all the venom one could muster. The caller's final phrase before hanging up had caught Booth off guard causing him to almost sideswipe a passing truck as he fought to maintain control of his own vehicle.

The line went dead. "Booth, what is it? I was unable to clearly make out the last comments – you look like you were punched in the gut." she added with concern, reaching out to calm him with the gentle touch of her hand on top of his own. She could feel the tight grip he had on the steering wheel, his arms straightened and his elbows locked as he struggled to dial down his anger and control his driving.

"Booth talk to me."

He finally looked over at her, taking a deep breath he explained, "Bones – the son-of-a-bitch bugged my home! He has been watching us every step of the way since possibly even before I was released from the hospital. He knew about our visit to the storage unit, he knows everything!" his face still reddened from the shock, knuckles still white from anger.

"How can you be sure Booth, did he say your place has been bugged?" she asked.

"No, but I know. I know because – well, do you remember when we were at my apartment just after I nearly passed out at the Jeffersonian?" he began.

Brennan nodded her head in acknowledgement.

"Okay, and you know when were half teasing, half threatening to take all of the files and leave me there if I didn't rest?" again she nodded, curious to see how that action pertained to the recent phone call. "Well, you might not recall this part, but I do. I then teased you back saying I would get my revenge on you later – I told you to ~ expect it when you least expect it. ~ " he then watched her face, waiting to see if there was any recollection evident in her expression.

"Yes Booth, I remember - but I really did not know what that meant, which is probably why I even retained any memory of that phrase at all. But I need you to explain to me what the connection is, and what you meant by that statement."

Booth found his anger from the caller's threat slightly decreasing, she was so cute when she heard a cliche' that she didn't understand. "That phrase is just a clever way to tell someone that you will get your revenge on them as soon as their guard is down – so when you had forgotten all about it, that's when I would pull a 'sneak attack' and get my revenge for your blackmail attempt. But I only meant it as a harmless and fun tease."

"Okay, I get it – somewhat." Brennan responded, smiling at him as she realized his 'tease' was just another one of his adorable flirtation tactics. "But Booth, I still do not understand what that has to do with the phone call you just received."

"Because Bones, that is what the bastard said to me right before he hung up. Booth's memory then briefly flashed back to the end of the phone conversation, he could hear the words in his head as clearly as if he was hearing them out loud . . .

"Then expect it when you least expect it Agent B-OO-TH!"

TBC

Thank you again for your patience and hopefully the story will get more and more exciting for all of you as we go.