The Squinterns

A Boy in a Tree

"It's not suicide." says Booth firmly.

"Because Booth thinks that prep schools turn out entitled criminals." says Brennan.

"We all went to private school. None of us are criminals." says Hodgins.

"I didn't." I say.

"In fact we fight criminals. We're crime fighters." says Zack with a mouthful of pretzels.

"No, you're noy. Youre, us," Booth sighs. "I'm just saying it's not a suicide."

"I'm a big believer in instinct." I say.

"Finally, a squint with an open mind." says Booth.

"Excuse me? I'm not a squint. I have a badge." I say.

The waiter walks up. "What's with these pictures? This is a restaurant. People come here to eat. What's the matter with you people?" he says in disgust. "Booth, what the hell did you bring in my place?"

Zack guiltily shoves the photos back in the folder.

"I had nothing to do with it." says Booth.

"This is exactly what I wanted?" says Brennan in amazement. "This is amazing. The guy definitely has a knack."

"Ooh" says Hodgins. "So you guys do take orders." he says, sniffing his seven organ soup.

"Of course we do. But it's always better when you leave it to me." warns Sid

I gag when I smell the soup. "And for the little lady, something for your distress." he says, handing me a bowl of soup. I taste it tentatively. It's delicious. It's mostly broth, with a few green onions and other vegetables I can't name.

"Booth" warns Sid one last time.

"All right, I'll take care of it." says Booth. Sid walks off. "You're saying that the boy died ten to fourteen days ago?"

"Hey bugs buzz, but they do not lie." says Hodgins, eating a bite of mystery organ.

"And you're saying that he didn't hang himself?" Booth asks me.

"I'm sure of it, although not everyone is convinced." I take another spoonful of my soup.

"Hodgins is very good at using insects to ascertain time of death." says Brennan.

"How do you explain an email sent seven days ago from Nova Scotia?" asks Booth."Hmm? See? Look at that. Hodgins that stinks."

"It really does." I say.

"Come on, taste it." he says. I'm suddenly glad it's Angela and not me that's stuck next to Hodgins.

"I can smell it from here." says Angela.

"Angela, it's so good." says Hodgins. He holds it up towards Angela.

"That's really gross." she says.

~

"Swan dive, cannonball, cherry bomb, now matter how he jumps, the hyoid does not break." says Angela. She replays the hologram, and the kid hangs from the tree. I wince as the rope reaches it's limit and he jerks to a stop.

"What about added weight?" asks Brennan

Angela sighs and types some stuff on her tablet."We figure an added weight of ninety kilos to snap the hyoid."

"Ninety kilos is just under two hundred pounds. The weight of a muscular man." I say.

"Oh boy, the Venezuelan hit squad theory again? For one thing, it's nuts. And another, the guy'd have to be about twenty feet tall." says Booth.