-Venus POV-
Booth, Temp and I are being escorted into forest which is a bit past a hiking trail as the officer informs us about the situation. "Hikers aren't supposed to let their dogs off the leash back here, but I'm pretty sure the dog was running free when they found the... what he found." Temp then asks, "What's the condition of the body?" "No idea. Can't get close enough to examine it." Booth then asks, "Why not?" "The dog's definitely not on his leash at this time." We hear the dog growling and sitting on a rock with a body part as the owner says, "Put down the bone." We all look at the dog as Booth says, "How the hell are we gonna get to the body?" I then say, "Not sure yet, but that's a cute dog..." Temp and Booth look at me with a weird face as I shrug, "What?... It is a cute dog." The officer then says, "You don't see that every day. Sent for Animal Control. Take another hour, though."
We see the owner struggling to get his dog to drop the piece of body remain from a distance, "Drop it. Drop it now. I'm so sorry. He-he's never done anything like this." Booth then asks us, "Either of you ever have a dog, Bones, Blueberry?" Temp was first to speak, "I always wanted a pig." "A pig?" "Very smart and, despite the popular misconception, very clean." "I prefer my pig with a little mint, a little honey glaze..." He looks at us seeing that we aren't amused, "So, Blueberry, what about you?" "I want a dog so I could train them to help me out if I have an episode... Plus they're cute." "Ohh... what type of dog?" "A bullmastiff. I think they are very adorable and reliable dog." He nods as Temps says, "In some cultures, dogs can guard corpses, sometimes to the point of starvation, so... shoot it."
Booth and I look at her in shock, "What?! Temp don't say that!" "I'm not-not shooting him for just doing what comes naturally. As far as he's concerned, you know, finders' keepers." "That dog is compromising the integrity of my remains, so wing it... him." I then say, "Sis there's another way." Booth nods, "Dog's love me." He starts going slowly to the dog as I quickly looked at him, "I was not going to say that, Ranger." We watch Booth try to do his thing, "Nice doggy. Good pooch. Ah! Nice dog. Good pooch." Booth gets closer but the dog barks at him and I try not to laugh about the situation. "Whoa! Hey, we're just gonna wait for Animal Control."
Booth comes back to us as I pat his back and take out another bone that dogs loves as I say, "I'm next." Booth tries to stop me as I go up to the dog as it is growling. I bring out the bone and have it in front of the dog. I get the dogs attention, "Would you like this other bone? Then drop it." "Blueberry, I don't think that's going to work." I ignore Booth as I concentrate on the dog. I raise my voice a bit higher, "Drop it. Or you no bone. Drop right now!" The dog drops the bone and looks at me. "Good dog... now fetch." I throw the bone as the dog goes after it. Temp comes over to me as Booth says, "That really worked?!" I chuckle, "Of course Ranger, I am amazing like that."
Temp then says, "Okay, I need everybody to clear the area. Set up a perimeter." Booth nods and yells out, "Clear the area. Let's set up a perimeter." We go up to the remains and start examining it. "We should take it back to the lab, sis." She nods and we start taking any evidence that we need around the area.
We are at the lab on the platform with the team as I say, "Victim was female, late teens." Cam then adds, "Blonde. Cause of death looks like blunt trauma to the back of the skull." Zack adds, "She was buried face down." "What's that, some Satanic hoo-ha?" Hodgins comes over to us, "My Uncle Preston wants to be buried standing up without a casket." We all looked at him as he just continues, "Pupal casing and insect remains suggest she was buried out there seven to ten years ago."
Temp adds, "Placement of wrists and ankles suggests she was bound." I nod, "Residue on the medial malleolus might tell us what restraints were used." Temp then sees something, "Oh, look at that." Zack looks at the same spot, "Yeah, wear to her right lateral epicondyle and rotator cuff. Also, repetitive motion damage to the lower lumbar vertebrae." Cam asks, "What's that mean?" "Golf." We look to the side seeing Angie coming up the platform as Hodgins greets her, "Hi, Angela. You look great today." "Thanks, Hodgy. This is my boho-rocker-artist, mid-week, take-a-deep-breath-and-pout look." Temp and I ask, "Hodgy?" "Uh, I did a facial reconstruction extrapolating skin tone from hair color. For the record, I hate the guy who killed this girl, and I hope to hell he burns in all eternity."
Booth then comes up the platform, "That our victim?" I nod as Hodgins says, "Yeah. I found flecks of black enamel paint in the wound." Zack adds, "Shape suggest a tire iron." Temp and I look at each other and say at the same time, "Tire iron." We look at Booth as Temp continues, "Hands and feet bound." I then add, "Buried face down." Booth starts following along, "Epps." Everyone starts worrying except Cam who looked at us confused, "Hello. New team member in the room." Temp starts, "Howard Epps- serial killer on death row." Booth adds, "Killed at least three." Hodgins adds, "We found two of them last year." Angie adds, "The judge stayed his execution to try him on the new charges." Cam starts understanding, "You saved his life. Ironic." I nod, "The time frame fits. This girl would've been killed about six months before Epps went to prison." Booth then says, "Run her through the database. get an I.D."
Cam then suggests, "Why don't you just ask him?" "Well, because last time Bones and Blueberry saw Epps, it... got violent." "You'll be there to protect them." "They are not the one's who needs protecting. Blueberry broke his wrist." I nod as Temp says, "He touched her with his creepy serial killer hands. I would've broken both of his hands." Cam looks at us, "Better not take Dr. Venus or Dr. Brennan." I sigh and nod.
-No One POV-
Booth is at the prison as the door opens and he sees Epps in the room waiting for him, "Agent Booth, what took you so long?" "And where are the sisters?" Booth puts down a picture in front of him as he asks, "Who is this?" Epps stands up only to be stopped by chains, "Oh, that's right, you're chained." "How about removing these shackles?" "The name, Howie. The name." Epps sits as he says, "You know... those hack doctors at the prison infirmary did a miserable job setting my wrist. It aches all the time, and I don't have a full range of movement. And let me tell you, when you're stuck in a prison cell for 23 hours a day, there's really only one thing you can do to pass the time, and I need my wrist." "Well, I'm sure Dr. Venus would be happy to re-break it for you."
Booth then starts organizing a file as Epps ask, "What's that?" "Oh, these? These are crime scene photos. The ones you like. Tell you what, you, uh, you tell me the girl's name, I'll, uh... let you take a look." "Everything you need to win the game is right there in front of you." "Game? Your bored, huh? Are you playing with us?" "When Dr. Venus and Dr. Brennan figures it out, come see me again, but bring them especially the younger lady scientist. Otherwise, I don't say a word." "Next time you see either on of us, they'll be giving you a lethal injection." Booth stands up and leaves the room as Epps lays back on his chair and smiles.
-Venus POV-
Temp, Zack, and I are examining the bones as he says, "Classic game theory, throwing down of the gauntlet." Booth is sitting down as he asks, "What?" "Conflict of interest arises, followed by a series of moves from which divergent strategies can be discerned." "What did he say?" I chuckle, "Zacks saying that Epps is playing us." "Yes. That's exactly what I said." Zack adds, "Zero-sum, obviously. After a few moves, we'll know Epps' order of preference." Booth was confused as I say, "He is saying that we'll find out what Epps wants." "Look, I already know what he wants. I told you- he wants Bones and especially Blueberry sitting across the table from him."
Temp then speaks, "Four rational players-- me, Ven, Booth and Epps. What about the non-deliberative agent?" "What did she say?" Zack then explains, "In a game, there tends to be one 'N' rational players, and a non-conscious, non-deliberative agent. What did Epps talk about before he said all the information you needed was in front of you?" "Mom, Bones, "Blueberry, blondes, his wrist being set badly after Blueberry broke it, and, um, you know, he... he made the point that he really needed his wrist." We all looked at Booth questionable as Zack finally understood, "Chronic masturbation."
I blush not expecting him to say that as he continues saying, "The game may be all about self-gratification.". I shrug calming down as Temp adds, "The phrase he used was 'right in front of us." "Yes." I then start going things over again, "The blonde is right in front of us." Temp adds, "And she has a wrist. Well, two, in fact." Booth then asks, "You know, if you had a pet pig, what would you name him?" Temp looks up at him, "Jasper." I nod liking the name. Zack then found something, "This wrist looks completely normal." I add, "Here-- the right hamate bone." I give it to Zack as he looks at it, "Oh, coloration is off. It's slightly greasy compared to the surrounding bone." I looked at it and say, "It's about an eighth of an inch bigger than the same bone on the outside." "This hamate bone does not belong with these remains." "It belongs with the second body." Temp concludes, "There's another victim out there somewhere."
I sigh as Zack says, "Round one goes to Howard Epps." Booth then asks, "Why?" I look up at him, "Because he gets what he wants. Us in the room with him." I then smile, "Well then lets get this game on shall we." Temp and I stand up and starting to head to Booths car as Booth trails behind us. He then says, "Let's try not to look to optimistic Blueberry. It will really get him real excited." "Ranger that's like saying get ride of my whole personality... plus you know that I also like games." "You know, just sometimes you creep me out... Just a bit." "Sorry."
We are in the prison being escorted to the meeting room as we see someone inside the room with Epps. Temp then asks. "Who's that?" Booth then says, "Oh, that is, uh, Caroline Epps." "Howard's sister?" "Uh, no..." We watch the two kiss as I say, "They look more closer than siblings... or we are in another state right now." Booth then says, "That's Howard's wife." Temp then adds, "Well, he didn't have a wife last year." "Oh, they got married about four months ago. Heads up, Bones, Blueberry-- it's our turn to visit the psychotic, murderous maniac." Temp then says, "Bastard." I was about to laugh, but we were at a prison and the wife was coming towards us. Booth was first to speak, "Hi, Mrs. Epps. I'm Special Agent Seeley Booth. This is Dr. Brennan. and Dr. Venus." "Oh, Agent Booth, Howard's told me you three saved his life last year." "It was our pleasure." Temp was about to say something as I covered her mouth before she could say anything else. Mrs. Epps then says, "Extending Howard's life has given him time to come to grips with what he's done to ask God for forgiveness."
I nod and say, "Then we did the right thing by having his execution stayed." Temp then removes my hand as she says, "Are you on some kind of Medication?" "Bones." "Sis." "Dr, Brennan, I'm not one of those crazy women who falls in love with death row killers." "Obviously, that's exactly what you are." I cover her mouth again as Booth says, "Listen, if the prison ever gives you a hard time in coming to see your husband, just give me a call, I might be able to help." "Thank you, Agent Booth." Temp starts mumble as I didn't remove my hand. Booth starts pushing us in, "Chop-chop, let's go. Thank you. Nice to see you." "Nice to meet you three." She leaves and then I removed my hand as she asks, "Why were you nice to her?" Booth then says, "Cause we might need her."
We enter the room as Epps say, "Dr. Brennan, Dr. Venus, you both came." I nod, "Yes, we got your message and couldn't wait to see you as well." Temp then says, "We're analyzing the wrist bone right now." Booth then says, "We just met your wife. She seems very nice. Caroline's a hairdresser." Epps just looks at me as he says, "I'm glad you came. Hope you come back after you analyze the bone. Caroline's the best I could do in here." I nod, "I was surprised when I heard you got married." Booth adds, "Yeah, not your usual type, Howie. I mean, not young, not blond..." Temp then adds, "Not dead." "Bones, could you please shut up?" "Excuse me?" "Is this why you duct-taped their mouths? Because that I understand." Epps lean towards Booth, "That's the lamest attempt at bonding I've ever seen." He then starts inhaling, "You smell that?" "What, my stinky effort to bond?" "Antiseptic. My mother smelled like that. Obsessed with germs. She washed her hands with ammonia. Mine, too. My one regret? I didn't make her my first victim. Put her under a little stone cross years ago." I nod, "Thank you, see you later Howie." Temp stands up as well and follows me as Booth quickly follows confused.
We are in the lab examining the bones in the bone room as Temp wasn't talking to Booth, "Don't be mad at me, Bones. My telling you to shut up was a ploy." "Now, he thinks you're an idiot." "Game theory, Bones, okay? For three players to gain advantage over the one, they must be distinct from each other." I chuckle and ask, "Where'd you get that from Ranger?" Zack then comes in, "From me. I suggested that you both be the smart one." Booth nods, "Which, you know, left me making a ploy that, uh, was supposed to be lame." I walked over to Zack and grab his face and bring it down to mine and kissed his forehead, "Amazing move Zackaroo." "Thank you."
Temp then says to Booth, "Don't enjoy this." "What?" "We already have Venus enjoying the game. And the only reason I am playing his game is to discover the identity of this young woman." Zack then adds, "We've made no progress on that." I then say, "Check the junior golf leagues. Given the amount of wear to her shoulder, elbow and spine, she must have started golfing at an early age." Hodgins then comes in, "I found minutes traces of gypsum and selenium on the mystery wrist bone. Also phenylalanine, which is a kind of laxative." Booth asks, "Laxatives show up in bones?" I shake my head as Temp says, "No. Not even after years of ingestion." Hodgins continues, "the laxative is on the surface of the bone. I-I have no explanation." I then jump, "I got it. Last time his mother mentioned his mother was a germaphobe, scrubbing his hands with ammonia." Hodgins looked at me. "Ammonia?" I nod as he says, "Why didn't you say so?" "Sorry, but shall we go?" "We shall."
Hodgins and I rush off as I also grab Zack and dragged him with us. We are in Hodgin's workspace as I went to grab a machine from the counter, and I could hear Hodgins and Zack whispering, but I can't hear anything. I pick it up and start taking it to the table as Zack comes over and grabs it from me, "Thanks Zack. So sweet of you." Zack nods and puts it down as Cam comes in, "You want to expose a piece of crucial evidence to ammonia gas? No." Hodgins begins, "Besides being a laxative, phenolphthalein is a sensitive pH indicator." Zack adds, "Colorless, unless it's exposed to ammonia." "The second you expose this bone, it's useless. Epps wants you to destroy evidence."
I then say, "Well, we don't have a choice here. It might as well be a win-win scenario for him. If his endgame is to disorient Temp and I, he could do that by ruining evidence that he himself planted." Zack and Hodgin nods behind me as Cam sighs, "Fine. You can perform the experiment. So... glasses." The two of them gave me a high-five when Cam wasn't paying attention and we quickly put on our glasses. She turns on the ammonia as we watch the bone start showing symbols.
Cam then asks, "What is that?" Zack then says, "Not sure." He brings a camera over to the encased bone and brings up the image. Hodgin then says, "Freemason symbol. Hey, this explains the buried-face-down thing. Ah, it's all starting to come down together. These crossed hammers prove that Epps is working for the top level of the Illuminati." I chuckle as I see Zack giving Hodgins a weird face. I interrupted Hodgins with a slight cough getting his attention, "Uhh... sorry to ruin your suspicion Hodgins but that's the cartographic symbol for a mine." "Oh." Cam then says, "Epps is telling us that the second victims in a mine? What kind of mine?" I answer, "One that contains gypsum and selenium. I will get going and inform Booth and Temp about this. Bye." I wave them off and made my way to Booth and Temp.
We are arriving at a mining area as Temp starts explaining, "In prison, Epps mentioned a stone cross. That's what we should be looking for inside." Booth parks and we get out as I say, "This is the only abandoned gypsum mine within Epps's known killing ground to also contain selenium." Booth then adds, "Six entrances, hundreds of shafts, and half of its flooded. All right." "That's wonderful, I felt like going for a swim today." "Ha, funny. Just follow my lead and watch yourself in there, okay?" "No problem, Ranger, I will keep a good eye on Temp." "What?" "Thank you." We go inside as Temp says, "I don't think Epps would make it that hard for us." I nod as Booth says, "Yeah, well, Epps said he wished he'd buried his mother under a stone cross. I bet that is a hint. Okay, people, listen up! I'm calling in a 'splunking' team..." I then say, "You mean Spelunking?" "Spelunking team with imaging capabilities to look for a stone cross. Till they get here, let's focus on the ventilation shafts-"
I then look next to me seeing the stone cross and point it over to Temp as she makes her way to it, I poke Booth. "hold on- to the west of the main shaft. What?" I point with my flashlight the stone cross as he looks, "Oh. Never mind... Can we get some, uh, light down this shaft, please?" I shine my light at the cross as Temp says, "It's the cross, Booth." "That is, uh... definitely a cross." "Will you help me move these?" "Move what?" I chuckle and go over to Temp, "I got it Temp. Ranger just flash your light this way." We start removing the rocks as I revealed the victim. "Sis, I found the victim, it's definitely human, but..." Booth looks at me as Temp also looks, "What?" "Cam can be more precise, but I don't believe that this is more than a week old." "Epps has been in prison for seven years, which means he has an accomplice killing people, on the outside." I sigh and nod as Temp says, "Then I wonder how many more there are."
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DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN "BONES". IT IS OWNED BY JOSEPHSON ENTERTAINMENT, BY HART HANSON. I ONLY CLAIM MY CHARACTER VENUS BRENNAN. I ALSO DON'T OWN ANY OF THE IMAGES. THANK YOU.