Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Four

Emily, Rhett, and the dolly got on the elevator. They got off on their floor and pushed it into the main part of the lab. Rhett said, "Leave it right here and lock the wheels."

Once Emily had locked the wheels, Rhett continued, "Suit up. Mask, gloves, gowns, and skull cap."

"Face shield?"

"Not yet."

Rhett opened the drum carefully. He lifted the lid. Inside was indeed a body. It appeared to have become mummified.

Emily said, "It's a Hispanic female."

"I would agree, Ms. Addy, but here at the Jeffersonian we do not indulge in guess work. We get the facts and draw conclusions from there. Logical conclusions. Recording on. This is Dr. Rhett Butler and my assistant Emily Addy. We have opened the drum. Ms. Addy, Besides the body, what else do you see?"

"Plastic pellets…"

"We know they are pellets, but we don't know what their composite is made up of."

"Yes, Sir."

"Go on."

"The only other thing I can see at this point is a plastic stem that is part of an artificial plant."

"That is correct."

"I see something poking out of the pellets."

"I do too. Recording off."

Rhett said to Emily, "Go get the camera and we will take some pictures of the drum and the body inside the drum."

"Yes, Sir."

Emily came back and she took pictures. Soon the victim was on the table and Rhett started examining the body. Soon he had a bunch of information. He didn't know if any of it would be of any importance.

The body's height was 145 to 152 cm.
She had unusual dental work.
She had two rings on – One inscribed with M.H.R.
A locket inscribed "To Patrice Love Uncle Phil
Green dye
An artificial plant stem
Pellets
An address book.
The drum was made in nineteen ninety-three for transporting dye. There were markings on it.

Rhett picked up the phone and called Agent O'Hara. When she answered, he said, "I need someone to identify the markings on the drum."

"I will be right down to take some pictures."

"I will inform security."

Rhett hung up the phone without saying goodbye.

Scarlett at the other end just shook her head. She was in her office at the FBI Building. She stopped by Sam Cullen, her supervisor's office, and said, "Dr. Butler may have a lead on the corpse in the drum."

"Alright."

"Manana."

"Alright."

As Scarlett walked into the lab, she was impressed with all of the equipment. She didn't know what any of it did, but it was impressive. She said, "Whatcha got Buttercup." Rhett looked daggers at her. She said, "I'm sorry. Whatcha got Dr. Buttercup." Rhett continued to stare crossly at her. She said, "I got all day. Take your time."

"Take the drum, and these items back to the FBI lab. They have the equipment and the skills to find the clues you need."

"What can you tell me about the victim?"

"I made you a list. Here."

As Scarlett looked at the corpse, she said, "So she is Hispanic?"

"That would be a guess. I do not guess. When I am finished with my examination, I will give you all the facts."

"Thank you."

"Take your drum with you."

"Sure. Where is the loading dock?"

"Upstairs."

Emily said, "I will show you."

"Ms. Addy, if Agent O'Hara is the top-notch investigator she claims to be, then she will find the loading dock without your help. You need to stay here and observe."

"At least tell me which floor it is on."

When Rhett didn't answer Scarlett, Emily said, "The ground floor."

Scarlett pushed the dolly containing the drum to the elevator. She thought, 'He certainly needs to acquire some people skills.'

Rhett had decided to try a new restaurant he had heard of. It was called the Unconventional Diner. It was on 9th Street. As he waited for his meal he thought about the time after Bonnie had been killed. As soon as Bonnie was buried, Rhett had filed for divorce from Heather. He was a wealthy man, but she had signed a prenuptial agreement. She got five thousand dollars, her car, and any money she had in her checking account. Rhett later found out that the man who had kidnapped his daughter was Heather's dealer. The dealer had found out from Heather how wealthy Rhett was. He had known that while Heather was getting high, he could easily walk out of the house with the little girl. At the trial Rhett had found out that Bonnie had struggled more than the man had thought a four-year-old little girl would so he had left the chloroform-soaked handkerchief over her nose and mouth longer than he should have.

It was over eighteen months before Bonnie's murderer went to trial, by then Rhett had been to hell and back. The first six months, he would come home from work and start drinking until he passed out. One day Dr. Goodman, said, "Mr. Butler, if you want to kill yourself there are easier ways."

"What the hell do you know about anything?"

"I know that your amazing brain is getting pickled every night. You are drinking so much; it is coming out of your pores. What happened to you is tragic, but you need to make a decision. You need to either decide to live or just go ahead and get it over with. Either way I don't need a drunk on the payroll."

"I'm not a drunk."

"You have to live if you want to see your daughter on the other side."

"There is no other side."

"Even more reason to live the life you have been given. There is an AA meeting on every corner. Take the day off and find one. When Dr. Bush retires you will obtain his position. That is if you are consistently sober."

Rhett had taken the day off. He had found an AA meeting. He had started trying to stay sober. Finally, Miguel had found him. Miguel had become his sponsor, sort of.

Miguel had no problem with alcohol. He simply attended AA meetings for the free coffee and doughnuts. He had attended enough meetings that he knew the jargon and could fake it.

Once Miguel found out that Rhett's moments of relapse happened in the evening, he saw an opportunity. He had moved in with Rhett. He hadn't asked permission. Probably because he knew proud Rhett would have said no. Miguel had just moved in with his few possessions. It had worked. It had been what Rhett had needed in that moment. They had both gotten something out of the arrangement. Miguel a home and Rhett a conscience.

Luckily, Miguel had been a good person who had just needed a break. He had never felt he had taken advantage of the situation because in truth he had earned his room and board. Those first three months, Rhett had been a hard man to keep sober. As Dr. Goodman had said Rhett had been determined to kill himself. Finally, Miguel had gotten Rhett to understand that his work was valuable enough to mankind for him to keep on living. At first, Miguel had thought he was laying it on too thick, but he soon discovered that Rhett had an enormous ego, and he did think he was that important to mankind.

Rhett later found out that Miguel had been homeless but not an alcoholic. Miguel had been staying with a friend, but it was clear to Miguel that his friend's girlfriend wanted him physically. He had jumped at the chance to get out of the situation. By the time Rhett had been sober enough to figure out what was going on, he hadn't cared. By that time, he knew that Miguel had saved him. He also knew what a talented artist Miguel was. Rhett paid for Miguel to take classes to become a forensic sketch artist then got the man a job at the Jeffersonian.

The men no longer lived together, but Miguel was still Rhett's conscience, at least where alcohol was concerned. He was definitely Rhett's only friend.

After the trial was over Rhett had sold his house and moved into a high-class condo. By that time Miguel could afford his own place. Rhett had no longer needed someone to watch over him. In fact, he wanted to be alone. Alone with his work. His mission in life.

Rhett never thought about Bonnie. It just hurt too much. By the time the trial was over, Rhett had been promoted to Head of his department. He had the best in all their fields as his employees. His life was perfect just the way it was. That song by Simon and Garfunkel – I am a Rock summed up his feelings. He was a rock too. He didn't need anybody or anyone.

The next day, Rhett once again called Scarlett. He said, "All the anthropological markers indicate that she was a Hispanic female in her late twenties. She was pregnant at the time of her death."

"Be sure and retain that fetal tissue. We will need it to prove paternity."

"I am aware of that, Agent O'Hara."

"Let me know when you are finished with the body, and I will come get it."

"Do you want Miguel to create a drawing of her?"

"No, I know who she is. Her address book had a Permanent Residence Card which had her picture on it. Her name was Reyna Angelica Marroquin. She was from San Salvador. There was a number in her address book that was still good. That is pretty amazing. We found out the entire story from her friend. I am flying down to Boca Raton to interview the man that I think is the murderer."

"If he lives in Boca Raton, how did the drum get to Arlington."

"The new homeowner dumped it there. He put it on the curb for the trash people to take. They left it. Probably because they couldn't get it into the garbage truck. He opened it to see what was in it. When he found a body in the drum, he panicked and just wanted to get rid of the body. He had a criminal record from when he was a young man in his twenties. He was afraid of getting involved with the police. He had a lift on his truck and took it to Arlington. He wouldn't say why he chose the National Cemetery. Thanks for your help."

"You're welcome."

"I'm still not convinced on the genius part, but you did do a competent job on this case. Thanks again. Goodbye."

"Competent! Competent!"

Rhett had never been so insulted before. No one answered him. Scarlett had already hung up.

Over the next week, Rhett found himself thinking about Scarlett O'Hara. It was the first time in a long time he had let anyone disturb his thoughts or his work. He had been tempted a couple of times to call her up to find out what had happened in Boca Raton. She had not come herself to pick up the body. There was no reason why she would. Some minions would handle that.

A month later when Rhett walked into his lab, Emily said, "Dr. Goodman wants to see you."

"Will that man never leave me alone? I will be right back."

When Rhett walked into Dr. Goodman's office, he was disappointed to find the man alone. Rhett said, "What do you want?"

"You need to meet Agent O'Hara by the pond at Arlington Cemetery."

"No, I have things to do today."

"Too bad. I already said yes."

"You cannot say yes for me."

"As you are part of the Jeffersonian team, I can loan you out to other agencies."

"Loaning me out sounds like I am property. Owning another human being became illegal in eighteen sixty-five. They fought a whole war about it and everything. Have you not heard about it? It was called the Civil War."

"Go Dr. Butler."

"I'm going."

"Dr. Butler, she said for you to dress down."

Rhett went back to his lab and found Emily. He said, "I have decided we are going to help the FBI again. Go change into a jumpsuit. Put your walking shoes on."

"How did you know that I have walking shoes here?"

"I know you walk every day on your lunch hour."

"How?"

Rhett stared at her and said, "Your hair is messed up, your cheeks are flush, I have seen you eating at your desk while doing paperwork, and probably the most telling would be I have seen you several times leaving and returning from your walk." He actually showed discretion and did not mention that there was often a slight smell of odor coming from her body in the afternoon. He knew without being told that was unnecessary and unkind to add to his explanation. He slightly smiled at her. He continued, "Go on now. The FBI is waiting on us."