-Venus POV-
I was up all-night hearing Temp and Sully playing around if you know what I mean. I didn't get an ounce of sleep. As we were now at the lab meeting Temps publisher. We walk up to them as Temp says, "Sorry I am late." Her publisher named Ellen says, "Oh, thank God. Hank. You know, dear, your book is on the bestsellers list. You don't have to work in this place anymore." I wasn't really focused as I didn't hear her say that as Temp says, "This is my real love, Ellen." "I know a therapist, dear, who could really help you." I heard that as Temp and I gave her a confusing look as she stops. "Okay, um... the reading and the book signing are this Wednesday night. hank has arranged for transportation." Hank nods, "Yes, a car will pick you up here at the lab, Dr. Brennan."
Ellen continues, "And then there's that radio interview next Tuesday. Now, that's an early one, so just tell Hank what you would like for breakfast." Temp then says, "That's not necessary." "Oh, honey, don't worry about that. That's what Hank is for. Right, Hank?" "Sure. Um, I wanted to tell you, Dr. Brennan, I'm a huge fan. I thought this book is even better..." Ellen cuts him off as I give him a sympathetic look, "Now, as far as your photo shoot is concerned..." She was cut off by Booth, "Okay, Bones, Blueberry, we gotta go. They found a floater in the marina. Come on." We turned around and looked at him as he looks at me, "Whoa, what happened to you Blueberry?" "No sleep..." Temp then introduces him to the other two, "Oh, my and Vens partner, Seeley Booth. This is the publicist for my book. Ellen Laskow, and her assistant, Hank." Ellen then says, "Hello. Now I see why Temperance writes those dirty little scenes in her books." We looked at the two as they say, "That-that's not me." "It's not him." "Right. You must let me get you that therapist's number, dear."
Booth then says, "Oh, no, seriously, she's got someone." I then add, "Why do you think I couldn't sleep last night with all that noise." "Booth. Ven." Booth then says, "Well, it's nothing to be ashamed of. I mean, he is kind of short." I start falling asleep listening to their antics. They start walking away as I was almost fully asleep as Booth comes back and throws me over his shoulder carrying me away as I wake up groggily as I look up at the two and wave them bye, "Nice to see you both Ellen, Hank... I hope to hear what you wanted to say Hank." He smiles a bit and they both wave me a goodbye as I dropped back down onto Booth.
We get to the crime scene as Booth holds my head as we were walking as I would just wander around and they don't need me falling inside the water. Booth then begins to speak, "So, is it just me, or is this, you know, kind of weird?" Temp asks, "What?" "Well, in your new book, they found a body at the marina, right?" I then say, "Yes, it is weird." Temp adds, "You read my book?" "Of course. Anyhow, a guy docking a boat saw something floating in the water. Thought it was a dead fish, and it ended up being a decomposed hand. The dive crew just located the rest of the body." "I didn't think you'd have time to read my book." "You have time to write it; I have tie to read it. Besides, you know, can't avoid the damn thing. Your book is everywhere."
My eyes were closing as Booth stopped me as a man says, Okay, bring it up." I open my eyes and notice something else off and familiar, "Booth?" "Yeah." "Look. Body on the anchor?" The man nods, "Yeah, tied to the chain. Body's not tied with rope. The divers said they used..." Temp finishes, "Red tape." The body is out of the water as we see the victim wrapped in red tape. The man asks, "How'd you know?" Temp then says, "Because that's how I wrote it." We looked at each other knowing that this was going to be a unique case. I then say, "When I wake up fully I am going to be so mad." I finally let sleep take over as I close my eyes and start falling back as Booth catches me and sighs, "Why here?" He throws me over his shoulder again as we head back to the car."
I finally got a good amount of sleep as we were back in the lab with Zack and Cam as I say, "Victim was male, mid-40s. Estimated time of death is five days ago." Cam then asks, "Only five days? This is an extreme rate of decomp." Hodgins then comes and says, "Blue crab season. They'll feed on anything, dead or alive." I add, "Vegetation, fish, flesh..." Cam then says, "ugh, opportunistic little bastards." Zack then says, "Elliptical wound on the frontal bone with the reverse beveling. He was shot." Temp then asks, "Is there a bullet?" "No. Irregular exit wound on the occipital. Looks like a through and through." Cam then asks, "Dr. Brennan, exactly how similar is this situation to your book?" Temp then says, "The victim in my book are bound and gagged with red tape, shot and then fed to various animals." "Cheery." Hodgins adds, "I love the symbolism of the red tape. Perfect way to dispose of bureaucrats." "Thank you."
Zack then adds, "The first body in the book is tied to an anchor and dropped in the water at a marina." I nod also thinking of the same thing as Temp says, "I prefer not to jump to conclusions." Hodgin adds, "I don't think it requires a jump. Just a little hop. Little teeny..." "In this lab, we are concerned with science, not fiction." We all look at each other that says otherwise.
Booth, Temp, Hodgins, and I are at Angie's office as she puts up the sketch on the screen. "This is a sketch based on tissue markers on the skull." Hodgin then says, "PCB's and lead we found in the collagen mean the victim's from the north end of the Chesapeake, probably outside Annapolis." "Did you have to whisper that in my ear?" "Just seemed right." Booth and I look at each other as he smirks and also whispers to them, "Okay, check the image against the DMV photos from Maryland." I chuckle as Angie does what he says. Booth and I move over as he calls Temp out, "Bones... How you holding up?" "What do you mean? Fine." "You know, something like this, it's understandable if you're upset." "It's probably a coincidence." I then add, "I was more upset then her. But I am all good now... for now."
We then hear someone coming in as we see it was Sully, "Hey, how's it going?" Temp then asks, "What-what are you doing here?" Booth says, "Uh, yeah." Sully then says, "Well, I heard we had a copycat killer using your book as a- " Temp cuts him off, "That hasn't been established." Booth adds, "Yeah, I've got it covered here, Sully." "Well, two hands are better than one, Booth." Booth laughs, "Well, last time I looked, I have two hands, see? Thanks." I look between the two as Angie says, "testosterone spill on aisle four." I elbowed Temp to say something as she says, "We don't know that my book is the cause. So far what we do know is..." Sully finishes for her, "Someone died exactly the way described in your book. Do you keep any of your old fan mail?" "No. I don't read it." I then pipe in, "I do." They all looked at me, "What she is required to do it but doesn't, so I take it upon myself to read it and answer a few for her... and since I also help her on her books, I also needed to read my own... they sometimes get intense..." I shiver a bit thinking about it and say, "Even so everything is with her publicist."
Booth then says, "Yeah, I mean, why are you asking, Sully? I'm in charge of this investigation." "Well, Booth, I was a profiler for two years. I have a lot of experience with these cases. This could be someone showing what a big fan he is, or someone trying to get close to them, too close." Temp then says, "We don't need to be protected." Both Booth and Sully answer at the same time, "Yes, you do." Temp and I look at them kind of freaked out as I start pulling her back a bit as Sully looks back at Booth, "Look, you still call the shots. I just think I'd be an asset to the team." Temp and I look between them as Booth then says, "Okay, fine. We send all the fan mail to Sully in his office." Temp nods, "Fine. I'll call Ellen." I was about to remind them that I already read all the ones up until now as Booth covers my mouth as Sully then says, "We could be dealing with a real sicko here." Angie finally got a match as she says, "Jim Lopata. Not the sicko. The sicko's victim." We walk over to her computer as I say, "43, married, no kids. From Glen Burnie outside of Annapolis."
Temp and I were in the bone room with Zack as he asks, "Is the FBI aware of the situation?" Temp asks, "What do you mean? Booth and Sully are both working the case." I then say, "I think he means the other murders in the book." He nods and adds, "The marina victims is the first of three." "Let's... please concentrate on the remains, Zack." "It's just the last dump site are far less specific. How could the FBI prevent... " Booth then comes over to us, "Because we're the good guys, Zack. Don't you forget that, okay? Possible motive for Jim Lopata's murder..." He hands Temp the file as she looks at it, "Connie Lopata's medical records?" "Check out the ER visits." I look at them and read them out loud, "Broken rib, concussion, severe bruising. Someone was abusing her." Booth nods, "Her husband." Temp then says, "So the wife's brother Greg knew about it and killed the husband to protect is sister." "Made it look like a copycat to cover his tracks."
I nod as Hodgin comes in, "I got more info on the red tape. It's a thermosetting silicon adhesive with glass cloth backing. Secures materials under high temperatures. Mostly used for electrical and industrial applications." Zack then asks, "Is this Greg person an electrician?" "Hey work at Reagan National Airport. He's a baggage handler." I then say, "Glass tape is used on aircraft, too." Hodgins then says, "To secure cargo holds." We all looked at each other as Temp, Booth and I left to go interview the brother.
I was on the other side of the interview as Greg says, "Didn't take a genius to figure out he hit her." Temp then says, "You wanted to protect her." "She's my sister. 'Course I did. I tried to get her to leave him, but she was so... I don't know. It was messed up." Booth then says, "So you decided to handle things your own way." "What meaning what, I killed him?" He scoffs, "No way. I'm not saying I didn't want him dead, but I never touched him. Swearing on my mother's grave." He raises his right hand as I see that Temp saw something as Booth laughs, "Sorry, Greg, but that particular oath is no longer recognized in a court of law." "Listen if you are going to charge me with something, do it. If not..." "Where you were last Wednesday when your brother-in-law was killed?" There was a bit of silence when Greg decided to answer, "In the mountains. I went camping." "I'm assuming you were alone?" "There were other people at the campground. If you can find the other people..." "All right, you know what? Just stay close, all right? Don't go anywhere anytime soon. All right, Greg?"
We walked inside Booth's office as Temp says, "Booth. Ven." "Yeah?" "Yes?" "Did either of you see his right hand?" I shake my head as Booth says, "Sure. Well, not really. Why?" "His third and fourth phalanges, they're fused together. Greg has syndactyly." Booth nods, "Syndactyly, yeah, of course. Is that relevant?" I chuckle a bit, "Yes, it is Ranger as it could indicate the presence of other birth defects. We would need to look into that." Booth then asks, "Would he be able to shoot a gun?" Temp then asks, "What?" "Well, if his fingers, you know, we-were fused like that, would he still able to you know, pull the trigger?" "Yes. I don't see why not." "Okay. That was good enough for me." Temp then says, "If it's not him, Booth... There are two other murders in the book." I looked at Temp seeing that she wasn't feeling somewhat regretful as Booth says, "I know. Hank."
We turn around and see Hank as I first say, "Hey, nice to see you again." Temp then says, "What are you doing here." "Ellen sent me out. She said you needed all your old fan mail. Plus she needs a half-caf soy latte every day at 10:00. A half-caf soy latte with a dollop of foam and a sprinkle of chocolate shavings every day..." We just watch him as he then says, "Um..." He chuckles and says, "I'm looking for an Agent Sullivan." I then pipe in, "He's down the hall, in his office." He nods and leaves as I turn back around seeing the two look at me as Booth asks, "You know where his office is?" "Yes... Just in case." "In case of what?" "He breaks Temps heart, I would know where one place he could be at." Booth nods as Temp shakes her head. Booth then gets a call as he picks it up, "Booth. Yeah... Yeah." He hangs up not very happy as I ask, "What's wrong?"
We are at the crime scene as the officer explains the situation, "Someone must have broken in Saturday night. Store's closed Sundays and Mondays. Clerk comes in this morning, gets an eyeful of this." We follow him around the aquarium tank and see our next victim inside a big empty tank being eaten by the rats. I looked disgusted as I say, "This is how the second victim was killed in the book." Temp nods as I say, "Let's get all the evidence and sample we need then... after someone takes out the rats." They nod agreeing.
After identifying the name and other things Temp and I went back to Booth's office. We enter as Temp says, "Sadie Keller, 28, lived in Chevy Chase." Booth looks at us as she puts down the file on his desk, "Wow, that was fast. Her face was chewed off." I nod and say, "Aside from bite marks on her parietal and sphenoid bones, skull was intact enough for Angie to do a facial reconstruction." "Yeah. Uh... Sadie Keller- recently married Ashton Keller, 29. No work history. Went to some pretty fancy schools, though." I then say, "She was rich." "Great. So we got a dead traveling salesman and a prep school socialite. What the hell's the connection?" I shrug as Sully comes inside, "Not Greg Braley. His story checks out. He was camping the night Lopata was killed. Two rangers recognized him." Booth then says, "Oh, great. So the only connection we have is the tape and the fact that they were both fed to animals." Temp then says, "So we're back to us." I shake my head as Sully says, "No. Your book." "I can only deal with what's before me. Two discrete cases. Physical evidence." I sigh as Booth says, "Look, Bones, I know it's probably easier for you to believe that the cases, they aren't linked..." "No, there's nothing that would make the loss of two lives easier for me, Booth." "I'm sorry, but..."
Temp continues, "I'm not burying my head in the sand here. I want to catch whoever did this as much as you guys do." I then put my hand on her shoulder as she looks at me as I give her a reassuring smile as I say, "But you have a method." She nods as I continue, "Don't worry we would never change that method Temp. Let's go back to the lab and figure this out the usual way." She nods calming down a bit as we both leave, I look back at the two and give them a small wave.
We are back in the lab as up on the platform as Hodgin says, "Got some Phaenica sericata stuck in the tape. Means she's been dead less than two days." Cam then says, "Rat's sure made quick work of her. So, all the victims in Dr. Brennan's book got eaten?" I nod as Hodgin says, "Yeah, it was part of the metaphor. The victims were all corrupt politicians who'd been feeding for years on the goodwill of the people, so..." "I got it. Lots of gore with a splash of social commentary. No wonder it's a bestseller." I chuckle, "I knew you would get it Hodgins, I suggested that just for you." "Sweet." Cam then says, "Ohh, good. Lots of tissue left over here." Zack then says, "There's no exit wound." "So we've got a bullet?" "I don't see it. The tissue was too badly scavenged." I then say, "If the bullet was still inside Sadie Keller when her body was dumped in the cage..." We all then look at Hodgin as he turns to us realizing what we might have to do. I then say, "Let's just X-ray some of the rodents."
We were in Hodgin lab as Angie was in there with Hodgin, Zack, and I as she looks the two scanning the rats. She then says, "They are cute for rodents." Hodgin then says, "Don't grow too attached. These little guys are destined to be snake snacks." I shiver at the word snakes as Angie says, "But now that we've confiscated them, shouldn't they be safe? I mean, they're material witnesses." "It's not like they know sign language, Angela." I chuckle as Zack then says, "In grad school. I developed a more efficient method for killing rats prior to dissection. It involved a warm dish of water and the clever use of a ball-peen hammer." Angie was about to say something when Hodgin cuts in, "Uh! Found something." We all looked as Angie says, "Wow. Now what?" I then stand, "Warm water sooths them like a bubble bath." Zack then says, "Then..." Angie cuts him off, "Can't we just wait until nature takes its course?" We all look at her as Hodgin says, "Do you have any idea how tight a rat's rectum is?" We all look at him as Angie says, "Please tell me you don't."
Cam then comes in, "Locate the ammo thief?" I nod, "Yup, but there is a bit of debate on the retrieving end of it." "Well, I fed them all a mixture of extra-strength laxative and soft tissue dilator when they arrived, so... shouldn't be long now." We all looked wide eyes as we look down at the rats as Hodgin says, "She fed all of them laxatives?" I then say, "Angie and I need to discuss some things at her office now that I remember." Angie nods, "Yeah, your right. Thanks for reminding me." Before we leave, I then say, "Whoever stays get's one thing from me." Both boys looked at each other in debate as Angie and I leave. We then see Hodgin leaves meaning that Zack would be getting something.
I was in Temps office as she and Sully had that romantical moment... I don't think they remembered me there as he leaves the room. I then say, "That was romantic." Temp looks at me and shakes her head as Zack comes in, "We have the bullet." Temp and I get up as she leaves first as I stand right in front of Zack, "All right Zacharoo, what do you want?" "I want a kiss. But not on the forehead, cheek, or nose." I nod, "All right I understand, bend down a bit. He does what I say as I lean in and give him a peck on the neck. I then leave him astonished as I figured out another way.
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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.