Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Twelve
Scarlett was about to walk out the door when she saw the name plate on said door. She smiled. She turned to look at the man. When she looked him full in the face she could see it. She said, "If it wasn't for the beard, I would have seen it sooner. You're Jack Hodgins."
"Yes, I'm Jack Hodgins. Bug and slime guy."
"Also, Sam Hodgins' son. Sam Hodgins of The Cantilever Group. You completely dropped off the face of the earth ten years ago. That was when I read a lot of scandal sheets. Everyone was looking for you. There were more sightings of you than Elvis Presley."
Jack jumped up and shut the door. He said, "Don't tell anyone. I just want to just be Jack Hodgins, entomologist, and slime guy."
"Don't forget conspiracy theorist. Your family generates more GNP than Europe."
"And my family is the largest donors to the Jeffersonian."
"So, did you get your job on merit or on nepotism? Just kidding. You would have to be the best or Butler would have run you off a long time ago. Although technically you are his boss so I guess he can't."
"I am the best in my field."
"I'm sure you are. Hey, is that why you don't want to go to the banquet?"
"How do you know about that?"
"People talk, I listen. I learn a lot that way. Spill."
"Okay, my parents, my siblings, my whole extended family is going to be there. They will see me and make a big deal over me."
"Do you not stay in touch with them?"
"Sort of. My mother invites me over to the mansion once or twice a year. I go, but we don't have a lot in common."
"Sad. Of course, my relationship with my family isn't much better. All I have is my sister. She sends me a Christmas card every year and I respond. We don't have a lot in common either."
"If I go to the banquet, they will blow my cover. I will never be Hodgins, conspiracy nut again."
"I can understand that."
"Have you ever wanted to go unnoticed?"
"Oh, no. I always want to be center stage. Let me see what I can do to help you."
"Thanks. Hey…
Scarlett turned and smiled. She said, "Don't worry. I know how to keep a secret."
A couple of nights later, everyone was standing in the lobby. Everyone was dressed up except Jack Hodgins, Dr. Goodman was about to tell him to change clothes. When Scarlett walked into the lobby from the outside, she said, "Dr. Hodgins, thank you for waiting for me. I need this analyzed ASAP."
Rhett said, "What is this about? One of our cases?"
"No, for another case. My lab guys can only give me a window of twenty-four hours. I spoke with Dr. Hodgins, and he thinks he can give me a much tighter time."
Jack said, "Bugs tell all. Let me have the evidence. I will get right on it. Dr. Goodman, if everything goes right, I'm sure, I will be able to join you no later than nine."
Scarlett said, "You better make it ten just to be on the safe side."
"Nine possibly ten? Just forget it. Everything will be over by then. I need him at the cocktail hour. Not when everyone is ready to go home. Next year, Dr. Hodgins."
"Yes, Sir."
Everyone walked out and left Scarlett and Jack in the lobby. As soon as she was sure they were gone she said, "Drinks are on you. You can afford it."
"Sure, I'll drive."
"Sure, I can't afford a DWI."
"Neither can I. Let me call an Uber."
"Perfect."
Sometime in the night, Jack and Scarlett were dropped off at the Jeffersonian. They had a fun time, but Jack had definitely gotten a no trespassing sign from the Special Agent. That was fine. He had an enjoyable time and she had gotten him out of going to the banquet. He knew she would never say a word to anyone about his connections to The Cantilever Group. He knew she wouldn't because she wanted to keep it in her back pocket so she could force him to do something for her. It was alright. He would do what he had to do to not blow his cover.
The next day Rhett called Scarlett and said, "What was that last night?"
"You don't need to know."
"Yes, I do."
"Can you keep a secret?"
"Yes."
"So can I. Goodbye, Buttercup."
Rhett hung up and shook his head. He guessed he wasn't going to find out. He hoped Scarlett wasn't going to get involved with Dr. Hodgins. Last night when the limo had dropped the group back off at the Jeffersonian, he had seen her Bronco and another car that he guessed was Dr. Hodgins' car.
Rhett had been filled with so much anger he had decided to go to Dr. Hodgins' lab and catch them in the act. He told the group as they were walking to their cars, "I left something in my office. I need to go back in."
Security didn't stop Rhett. Everyone knew who Dr. Butler was. When he got to Hodgins' office the lights were out and nobody was there. He went back down to security and asked the guard, "Where is Dr. Hodgins?"
"I don't know he and a very nice-looking woman left the building right after you and the others left."
"Very well, Thank you."
The security guard continued the conversation because he was bored. He said, "I think they were going out for drinks."
"Why do you say that?"
"The woman said, 'The drinks are on you. You can afford it.' Then Dr. Hodges said, 'Fine, but I'm driving.' The woman said, 'Great, I can't afford a DWI.' He said, 'Neither can I. I will get an Uber."
"What is an Uber?"
"An Uber is a vehicle that drives you from one point to another."
"Like a taxi?"
"I guess."
"Good night."
"Good night, Dr. Butler."
As Rhett had driven home, he decided that he shouldn't have been surprised Scarlett went out with Dr. Hodgins. Although unexplainably to Rhett he was mad about Scarlett dating Dr. Hodgins. He asked himself, 'What does he have that I don't have?' He answered himself by saying, 'Availability.' He didn't know why that made him sad.
When Rhett got to the Jeffersonian Building the next morning, he was glad to see that Scarlett's Bronco wasn't in the parking lot. Although that really didn't mean anything. If they went to someone's home that person could have driven them back to the Jeffersonian or they could even have Ubered back.
Rhett couldn't ask the security officer about it because he hadn't worked the night before. Finally, as he was walking up the stairs, he willed himself to stop thinking about it.
At the end of the day, as Emily was fixing her dinner, she thought, "I wonder why Dr. Butler was in such a bad mood today. I hope he gets over it quickly. He was even more short tempered than usual.'
The next time Rhett saw Jack Hodgins, he truly looked at the man. He recognized him also. As head of his department, Rhett had to attend a lot of those meet and greet dinners. He recognized Jack's resemblance to the Cantilever Hodgins. He was fine with letting people keep their secrets. He would do something about Jack having to attend anymore Meet and Greets. He decided that Scarlett and Dr. Hodgins had just gone out to have drinks together, but there was nothing serious between them.
Rhett went to see Dr. Goodman. He said to the older man, "Jack Hodgins is the best bug and slime guy in the nation if not the world."
"Agreed."
"He is also Sam Hodgins' son."
"Really?"
"He doesn't want to be Sam Hodgins' son. He wants to be Jack Hodgins – slime and bug guy. I don't know about you, but before I went to college, I had already had enough of being Jeff Butler's son. I wanted to stand on my own merit. Because of unforeseen circumstances it was a lot easier for me to do that. Don't make Dr. Hodgins attend those Meet and Greets. Assign him something else to fulfill his obligations to the Jeffersonian."
"Alright. I too had a father with a long shadow. I too did not want to stand in that shadow. What do you suggest?"
"Give him the school field trips."
"Dr. Butler, I never knew you had such a wicked side."
Rhett smiled and left the office. He had done what he had done because it struck him as something Scarlett would have done. Protect her people.
When Jack found out that he would no longer be obligated to attend any Meet and Greets because of his attitude, he was happy. He wasn't unhappy when he found out in exchange he would have to escort and entertain all the school field trips. In fact, he started preparing presentations for the students. Something practical so they fully understood the wonders of science.
About a month later Scarlett was at the Wilkeses house having dinner. She had not seen Butler in all that time. All she had been assigned was run of the mill cases. One horrible person doing something horrible to another person. They both deserve to be put away for a long time, but unfortunately, she could only put away the ones that she could prove need to be put away.
Ashley said, "Scarlett, would you do me a favor and look over one of my case files. I have a man, Howard Epps, who is about to be executed in a week. I am trying to find a way to stop the execution and get him a new trial."
"No. Howard Epps killed that girl."
Ashley looked bewildered and said, "How do you know?"
"I was the second on that case. It was one of my first cases after I had joined the Washington Office. How did you not know that?"
"I didn't think the arresting officer was important."
Scarlett looked at Ashley with an appalled look, she said, "Why is he already scheduled to be executed? He should have at least five more years of appeals."
"It seems his case flew through the appeals process."
"That should tell you something Ashley. The case against him is so good that it just doesn't even slow down on the appeals track."
"What about the unknown pubic hair?"
"What about it? The judge at the trial disallowed it. All the appeals judges disallowed it. I have been keeping my eye on Mr. Epps."
"Mr. Epps was not well-represented at either trial."
"It is a good thing now in his final hours he has F. Lee Bailey representing him or is it, Clarence Darrow. How long have you been on the case?"
"A month."
"And the only thing you have come up with is me finding a mistake for you."
"Scarlett, do you want an innocent man executed?"
"No, but Epps is not an innocent man. You never could see the forest for the trees."
"Are you absolutely positive he is guilty?"
"Yes. What do you really want Ashley?"
"Can you get your friend, Dr. Butler, at the Jeffersonian to go over the evidence to be sure nothing has been missed?"
"He is not my friend. He is my colleague. Yet you know what, I am so confident he killed that girl that I will take it to Dr. Butler and let him look it over. If anyone can find an anomaly, he will. Bring the evidence to my office tomorrow."
"Can you just take it home with you? It is in the trunk of my car."
"Yes, I will get it after we are finished eating. Melly, the lasagna is wonderful."
"Thank you."
"The wine is good too."
"Ashely picked up the wine."
Ashley started telling Scarlett all about the wine. She didn't care about its history, but she pretended to listen to Ashley as he droned on. The only reason Scarlett agreed to let Dr. Butler look over the evidence was so she would have an excuse to see him again. She knew he was interested in her as much as she was in him, it was just neither one was going to make the first move. Just in case they were wrong.
After Ashley had helped move the boxes to Scarlett's truck, he said, "Can I come see you tomorrow?"
"No, I'm going to be working on your case."
Author's Notes: This case is based on Bones Season One, Episode Seven