When Booth and Bones finally returned to the hotel, they were greeted by Agent Firth who had just arrived from DC along with the FBI forensic team.
Agent Firth: “Agent Booth I’ve been assigned this case and I will take over from here. Assistant Director Hacker was adamant about this case being handled with kid gloves.”
Brennan: “I used latex gloves to handle the remains; kid gloves would compromise the evidence.”
Booth gave a look at Bones and said. “Never mind Bones.” Turning to Firth he added. “We’ve ordered the body to be sent to the Jeffersonian along with the specimens of the area where the body was found.”
Firth: “Well I’ll change that and in the meantime try not to interfere with this case. Hacker wants to solve this case quickly. We already have ID and all we need is cause of death which looks like an accident.”
Booth: “There is something that you should know.”
Firth: “Agent Booth I understand that the local police asked you for help but now this is my case.” With that he turned and walked away from them.
Booth: “Come on Bones.”
Bones could tell that Booth was upset about this but she remained quiet until they were in their room. When they were behind closed doors she asked. “Booth does that mean we are off the case?”
Booth: “Yes, Bones it does.”
Bones: “You know he thinks that body is the Senator’s son.”
Booth: “You heard him it’s his case.”
Bones looked at Booth not believing he would give up solving this case so easily until he asked her.
“Bones how would you like to do some ‘site’ seeing?”
She looked at him and saw the mischievous look she has seen before like when they went undercover at the circus. She should have known he would not give up. He didn’t give up on the murder of Cleo Eller their second case and he didn’t give up looking for her when she was kidnapped by the gravedigger. So she responded.
“Yes I would like to go sightseeing. Maybe we should go back to the National park area and collect some more specimens.”
“Don’t you mean souvenirs Bones? Remember we are not on a case and so early tomorrow morning we are going to do some ‘site’ seeing and check out some tourist areas.”
That night they had a quiet dinner in their room and went straight to bed. The next morning they rose early even though they had only slept for a few hours. They picked up some coffee to go and headed right out to where the body was found. As they hoped all of the police and FBI had left the area and no one was there. As they were looking over the site one more time, Bones asked. “Booth what are we looking for?”
“Anything that we might have missed yesterday, by the way Bones how did you know that the body was not the Senator’s son?”
“Well the remains were of a man in his late forties or early fifties and so I concluded that it was not the Senator’s son because of the picture you received of him on your phone.”
“Bones don’t you think they will realize their mistake when they get the body back to the lab?”
“Yes but by the time Agent Firth figures it out. You will have solved the case.”
“Thanks Bones.”
They scoured the area where the body was found and were just about to leave when Bones noticed a piece of fabric caught on a branch out side of the perimeter of the crime scene and then Booth saw the crumpled piece of paper under a bush. They put their finds in evidence bags and headed back into town.
In their hotel room they examined the fabric and noted there was blood on it. The piece of paper was a flyer for a local bar which offered special drinks to newlyweds. Bones linked up with the Jeffersonian on her computer to tell Hodgins about the fabric sample.
Bones: “Hodgins I’m sending you a fabric sample with blood and we need the results right away.”
Hodgins: “Dr. Brennan I thought you two were on your honeymoon.”
Bones: “Hodgins we’re just on vacation and we got called into a suspected murder investigation involving a senator’s son.”
Hodgins: “I heard about it but isn’t that case being handled by Agent Firth?”
Booth who was behind Bones interjected. “We were told not to investigate the body that was found and which Agent Firth identified as the senator’s son based on the wallet found with the body but Bones says it is not the senator’s son.”
Hodgins: “I’ll call you with the results. By the way have you seen the falls yet?”
Booth: “Goodbye Hodgins.”
After they disconnected, Booth turned to Bones and asked. “How would you like to go to a local bar?”
Bone: “You mean one that serves special drinks to newlyweds?”
Booth: “Precisely.”
Bones: “Let me take a quick shower and change.”
Booth smiled as he thought of Bones in the shower asked. “We could save time and shower together.”
Bones: “Booth we have a murder to solve and you know what happens when we shower together.”
Booth: “You’re right as always Bones. But promise after the case is solved we relax in that spa tub.”
Bones: “Promise.”
As soon as they changed, they headed for the bar mentioned in the flyer they found. The bar was very dark and it was a maze of booths. Each booth was secluded and had curtains that could be drawn for privacy. As they passed other booths they could hear the occupants doing more than talking and drinking. The waiter who showed them their booth asked if they would like the house special drink. Before they answered Booth showed the man his badge and the picture of the senator’s son he had on his phone when Booth asked. “Have you seen this man in here recently?”
The waiter looked at the picture before he answered. “It’s hard to remember but it is dark in here and most people close the curtains but I believe he is the one who asked for the name of a special hotel.”
Bones: “A special hotel?”
Waiter: “Yes it’s one where you can make a record of your honeymoon experience.”
Booth: “Thank you. We need the name of the hotel you gave him and a couple of those drinks.”
Bones: “Booth how can a hotel make a record of your honeymoon experience?”
Booth looked at her and was amazed how she could be so blasé about sex but had no idea what some people actually do. So he explained. “Bones, they video tape it.”
Just then the waiter had brought their drinks. They each took a sip and put the drinks back down on the table.
Bones: “What is this made of? It tastes like every liqueur in the world mixed together.”
Booth: “This drink will make you forget where you are and imagine if you are a newlywed you could get yourself in some trouble. I think we need to check out this hotel.”
They found the hotel just a few blocks from the bar. The man behind the desk smiled as he asked them if they wanted the honeymoon special room. His expression changed when Booth showed him his badge. Booth then showed him the picture and asked. “Have you seen this man?”
The hotel clerk looked at it and answered. “Most of these young men look the same but I do remember this one because he did not want to stay after I told him about our special rooms.”
Booth: “When was this and do you know where he might have gone?”
Clerk: “That was two days ago and he and his wife may have gone to the amusement area because they had a brochure for it.”
Booth: “Where is the amusement park?”
Clerk: “It’s down near the falls. Here is one of the brochures.”
Booth: “Thanks. Come on Bones.”
They left the hotel and headed for the amusement park. While on the way to the park, Booth’s phone rang.
Booth: “Booth, what is it Hodgins?”
Hodgins: “That piece of fabric is off of an old flannel shirt but not the victims and the blood according to Cam is from three different sources. One of which is female and one the other two belongs to the victim.”
Booth: “How did you get the blood from the victim?”
Hodgins: “You don’t want to know.”
Booth: “Thanks.”
When they arrived at the park they noted that it had typical amusements that you would find on any boardwalk. There was the fun house, the carousel, the ferris wheel, the place where you can have photos made, the tunnel of love and other attractions.
Bones: “Where should we start looking?”
Booth: “Well if you were a typical honeymooner you may want to have a picture taken so let’s head to the photo shop.”
The store clerk greeted them as they entered the shop and asked if she could be of any help. Booth showed her the picture of the senator’s son but she did not recognize it. She said that she was not working on the day he may have come in but she would ask the manager for them. The clerk went to get the manager while they looked around. There were the usual cardboard cutouts and costumes one usually sees in these shops plus a couple of special ones for newlyweds. Bones was looking at one in particular. It showed a very pregnant bride and a man holding a gun on the groom. She then turned to Booth and asked. “Why is the man holding a gun?”
Booth: “Because some men have to be forced to marry when they get a woman pregnant.”
Bones: “Were you being forced to ask Rebecca to marry you when she got pregnant?”
Booth looked at her with a dismayed expression and before he could answer the clerk returned with the manager. As Booth turned his attention toward the manager, Bones realized that she had said something wrong but as usual she didn’t know what it was.
The manager looked at the picture and stated. “He was in here and had a photo taken with his bride. He said he would be back to pick it up later in the day but he never returned.”
Booth: “Do you know where he went?”
Manager: “Well he said they were going to do some rides and go through the tunnel of love.”
Booth: “Do you still have their photo?”
Manager: “Yes let me get it for you.”
Bones: “Booth……..”
Booth: “Bones not right now.”
Bones kept quiet and remembered the time she had upset Booth with her comments about sports.
They left the photo shop and headed for the tunnel of love in silence. The tunnel of love ride was closed for repairs. Booth asked around and discovered that it has been shut for the last two days but no one has been working there.
Booth and Bones went around to the back entrance and tried the door. It was locked. Bones watched with admiration as Booth forced the door open. She loves it when he breaks down doors. Booth with his gun drawn and Bones behind him entered the dark building. They could barely see the path along the waterway for the little boats that go through the tunnel. They edged their way along the path. They passed a number of romantic displays until they came across another door. This one was not locked. As they slowly entered the room, they heard the muffled sounds.
Bones located a light switch and once the lights were on they saw the two people trussed up with duct tape. Booth and Bones went quickly to them and removed the tape. The young man identified himself as Robert Benson, son of Senator Benson and the young woman was his wife of only six days. Robert went on to explain that they had come to the tunnel of love but it was closed. Then this old man approached them and told them he could let them in and turn on the ride. When they got inside the old man had hit him on the head and took his wallet. His bride went on and told them how she tried to grab the wallet but the old man hit her as well. Bones and Booth could see the clotted blood in the gash on the young man’s head and the dried blood on the young woman’s face. They also noted that his shirt was torn and the material was the same as the scrape they had found. Bones and Booth took them to the local police office to report their story where he also gave them their picture he had from the photo booth. .
When they were alone in their room, Bones asked Booth: “Booth, are you upset with me?”
Booth took a long look at her before he answered. “Bones sometimes you say things that hurt. I know you don’t realize it when you do it but it still can be unsettling.”
“Booth you know I would never do anything to hurt you.”
“I know Bones and right now I need a little time.”
“Do you need space as well?”
“No Bones, just time.” He then went into the bathroom and she could hear him turn on the water to the spa tub. She was thinking about what she had said and realized it was the question about Rebecca. She wished she had phrased it better but she was always bad at it like the time she told him she knew how stupid he was. She was still contemplating when she heard him call out. “Hey Bones aren’t you coming in here with me?”
She did not hesitate to answer. “Coming.”
The next morning as Bones was snuggled in Booth’s arms she was thinking that had she known that being married would be so fulfilling she might have done it sooner. But then she thought maybe it is because I am married to Booth. As she was thinking of her marriage to Booth she could feel his lips on the nape of her neck and his hands were starting to caress her breasts. She liked these early morning romps and as she turned over to kiss him she thought of how each night she goes to bed in her nightgown and Booth is in his pajama bottoms and they always wake up with nothing on the next morning.
Later over breakfast they decided that it was time to return back to DC. Booth had received a message from Asst. Director Hacker wanting him to report immediately back at the office.
The day after their return home, Booth was in Hacker’s office. They were waiting for Agent Firth, Bones and Cam to join them. As soon as everyone was in the office, Hacker started in telling Booth and Bones that they had disobeyed a direct order of not interfering with Agent Firth’s investigation. Bones could not contain herself when she retorted. “We were told not to interfere with the investigation of the body found by the falls.”
Firth: “You were told not to interfere with the investigation of the death of the Senator’s son.”
Bones: “The Senator’s son was not dead.”
Firth: “You went behind my back and made me look ridiculous.”
Booth: “We just went sightseeing and visited some tourist spots.”
Firth: “You two are just trying to make me look stupid.”
Bones: “You are stupid.”
Booth: “Bones you’re not helping.”
Hacker: “Enough, I am splitting the two of you up. You will no longer be working together and Agent Booth I haven’t finished with you.
Bones: “I will not work with anyone else.”
Hacker: “You have no choice.”
Cam: “Need I remind you Agent Hacker she works for the Jeffersonian and not you.”
Hacker: “It’s Asst. Director Hacker and when we need her expertise she will be assigned another agent.”
As everyone was glaring at each other, the door opened and the Director of the FBI entered the room along with Senator Benson.
TBC
Agent Firth: “Agent Booth I’ve been assigned this case and I will take over from here. Assistant Director Hacker was adamant about this case being handled with kid gloves.”
Brennan: “I used latex gloves to handle the remains; kid gloves would compromise the evidence.”
Booth gave a look at Bones and said. “Never mind Bones.” Turning to Firth he added. “We’ve ordered the body to be sent to the Jeffersonian along with the specimens of the area where the body was found.”
Firth: “Well I’ll change that and in the meantime try not to interfere with this case. Hacker wants to solve this case quickly. We already have ID and all we need is cause of death which looks like an accident.”
Booth: “There is something that you should know.”
Firth: “Agent Booth I understand that the local police asked you for help but now this is my case.” With that he turned and walked away from them.
Booth: “Come on Bones.”
Bones could tell that Booth was upset about this but she remained quiet until they were in their room. When they were behind closed doors she asked. “Booth does that mean we are off the case?”
Booth: “Yes, Bones it does.”
Bones: “You know he thinks that body is the Senator’s son.”
Booth: “You heard him it’s his case.”
Bones looked at Booth not believing he would give up solving this case so easily until he asked her.
“Bones how would you like to do some ‘site’ seeing?”
She looked at him and saw the mischievous look she has seen before like when they went undercover at the circus. She should have known he would not give up. He didn’t give up on the murder of Cleo Eller their second case and he didn’t give up looking for her when she was kidnapped by the gravedigger. So she responded.
“Yes I would like to go sightseeing. Maybe we should go back to the National park area and collect some more specimens.”
“Don’t you mean souvenirs Bones? Remember we are not on a case and so early tomorrow morning we are going to do some ‘site’ seeing and check out some tourist areas.”
That night they had a quiet dinner in their room and went straight to bed. The next morning they rose early even though they had only slept for a few hours. They picked up some coffee to go and headed right out to where the body was found. As they hoped all of the police and FBI had left the area and no one was there. As they were looking over the site one more time, Bones asked. “Booth what are we looking for?”
“Anything that we might have missed yesterday, by the way Bones how did you know that the body was not the Senator’s son?”
“Well the remains were of a man in his late forties or early fifties and so I concluded that it was not the Senator’s son because of the picture you received of him on your phone.”
“Bones don’t you think they will realize their mistake when they get the body back to the lab?”
“Yes but by the time Agent Firth figures it out. You will have solved the case.”
“Thanks Bones.”
They scoured the area where the body was found and were just about to leave when Bones noticed a piece of fabric caught on a branch out side of the perimeter of the crime scene and then Booth saw the crumpled piece of paper under a bush. They put their finds in evidence bags and headed back into town.
In their hotel room they examined the fabric and noted there was blood on it. The piece of paper was a flyer for a local bar which offered special drinks to newlyweds. Bones linked up with the Jeffersonian on her computer to tell Hodgins about the fabric sample.
Bones: “Hodgins I’m sending you a fabric sample with blood and we need the results right away.”
Hodgins: “Dr. Brennan I thought you two were on your honeymoon.”
Bones: “Hodgins we’re just on vacation and we got called into a suspected murder investigation involving a senator’s son.”
Hodgins: “I heard about it but isn’t that case being handled by Agent Firth?”
Booth who was behind Bones interjected. “We were told not to investigate the body that was found and which Agent Firth identified as the senator’s son based on the wallet found with the body but Bones says it is not the senator’s son.”
Hodgins: “I’ll call you with the results. By the way have you seen the falls yet?”
Booth: “Goodbye Hodgins.”
After they disconnected, Booth turned to Bones and asked. “How would you like to go to a local bar?”
Bone: “You mean one that serves special drinks to newlyweds?”
Booth: “Precisely.”
Bones: “Let me take a quick shower and change.”
Booth smiled as he thought of Bones in the shower asked. “We could save time and shower together.”
Bones: “Booth we have a murder to solve and you know what happens when we shower together.”
Booth: “You’re right as always Bones. But promise after the case is solved we relax in that spa tub.”
Bones: “Promise.”
As soon as they changed, they headed for the bar mentioned in the flyer they found. The bar was very dark and it was a maze of booths. Each booth was secluded and had curtains that could be drawn for privacy. As they passed other booths they could hear the occupants doing more than talking and drinking. The waiter who showed them their booth asked if they would like the house special drink. Before they answered Booth showed the man his badge and the picture of the senator’s son he had on his phone when Booth asked. “Have you seen this man in here recently?”
The waiter looked at the picture before he answered. “It’s hard to remember but it is dark in here and most people close the curtains but I believe he is the one who asked for the name of a special hotel.”
Bones: “A special hotel?”
Waiter: “Yes it’s one where you can make a record of your honeymoon experience.”
Booth: “Thank you. We need the name of the hotel you gave him and a couple of those drinks.”
Bones: “Booth how can a hotel make a record of your honeymoon experience?”
Booth looked at her and was amazed how she could be so blasé about sex but had no idea what some people actually do. So he explained. “Bones, they video tape it.”
Just then the waiter had brought their drinks. They each took a sip and put the drinks back down on the table.
Bones: “What is this made of? It tastes like every liqueur in the world mixed together.”
Booth: “This drink will make you forget where you are and imagine if you are a newlywed you could get yourself in some trouble. I think we need to check out this hotel.”
They found the hotel just a few blocks from the bar. The man behind the desk smiled as he asked them if they wanted the honeymoon special room. His expression changed when Booth showed him his badge. Booth then showed him the picture and asked. “Have you seen this man?”
The hotel clerk looked at it and answered. “Most of these young men look the same but I do remember this one because he did not want to stay after I told him about our special rooms.”
Booth: “When was this and do you know where he might have gone?”
Clerk: “That was two days ago and he and his wife may have gone to the amusement area because they had a brochure for it.”
Booth: “Where is the amusement park?”
Clerk: “It’s down near the falls. Here is one of the brochures.”
Booth: “Thanks. Come on Bones.”
They left the hotel and headed for the amusement park. While on the way to the park, Booth’s phone rang.
Booth: “Booth, what is it Hodgins?”
Hodgins: “That piece of fabric is off of an old flannel shirt but not the victims and the blood according to Cam is from three different sources. One of which is female and one the other two belongs to the victim.”
Booth: “How did you get the blood from the victim?”
Hodgins: “You don’t want to know.”
Booth: “Thanks.”
When they arrived at the park they noted that it had typical amusements that you would find on any boardwalk. There was the fun house, the carousel, the ferris wheel, the place where you can have photos made, the tunnel of love and other attractions.
Bones: “Where should we start looking?”
Booth: “Well if you were a typical honeymooner you may want to have a picture taken so let’s head to the photo shop.”
The store clerk greeted them as they entered the shop and asked if she could be of any help. Booth showed her the picture of the senator’s son but she did not recognize it. She said that she was not working on the day he may have come in but she would ask the manager for them. The clerk went to get the manager while they looked around. There were the usual cardboard cutouts and costumes one usually sees in these shops plus a couple of special ones for newlyweds. Bones was looking at one in particular. It showed a very pregnant bride and a man holding a gun on the groom. She then turned to Booth and asked. “Why is the man holding a gun?”
Booth: “Because some men have to be forced to marry when they get a woman pregnant.”
Bones: “Were you being forced to ask Rebecca to marry you when she got pregnant?”
Booth looked at her with a dismayed expression and before he could answer the clerk returned with the manager. As Booth turned his attention toward the manager, Bones realized that she had said something wrong but as usual she didn’t know what it was.
The manager looked at the picture and stated. “He was in here and had a photo taken with his bride. He said he would be back to pick it up later in the day but he never returned.”
Booth: “Do you know where he went?”
Manager: “Well he said they were going to do some rides and go through the tunnel of love.”
Booth: “Do you still have their photo?”
Manager: “Yes let me get it for you.”
Bones: “Booth……..”
Booth: “Bones not right now.”
Bones kept quiet and remembered the time she had upset Booth with her comments about sports.
They left the photo shop and headed for the tunnel of love in silence. The tunnel of love ride was closed for repairs. Booth asked around and discovered that it has been shut for the last two days but no one has been working there.
Booth and Bones went around to the back entrance and tried the door. It was locked. Bones watched with admiration as Booth forced the door open. She loves it when he breaks down doors. Booth with his gun drawn and Bones behind him entered the dark building. They could barely see the path along the waterway for the little boats that go through the tunnel. They edged their way along the path. They passed a number of romantic displays until they came across another door. This one was not locked. As they slowly entered the room, they heard the muffled sounds.
Bones located a light switch and once the lights were on they saw the two people trussed up with duct tape. Booth and Bones went quickly to them and removed the tape. The young man identified himself as Robert Benson, son of Senator Benson and the young woman was his wife of only six days. Robert went on to explain that they had come to the tunnel of love but it was closed. Then this old man approached them and told them he could let them in and turn on the ride. When they got inside the old man had hit him on the head and took his wallet. His bride went on and told them how she tried to grab the wallet but the old man hit her as well. Bones and Booth could see the clotted blood in the gash on the young man’s head and the dried blood on the young woman’s face. They also noted that his shirt was torn and the material was the same as the scrape they had found. Bones and Booth took them to the local police office to report their story where he also gave them their picture he had from the photo booth. .
When they were alone in their room, Bones asked Booth: “Booth, are you upset with me?”
Booth took a long look at her before he answered. “Bones sometimes you say things that hurt. I know you don’t realize it when you do it but it still can be unsettling.”
“Booth you know I would never do anything to hurt you.”
“I know Bones and right now I need a little time.”
“Do you need space as well?”
“No Bones, just time.” He then went into the bathroom and she could hear him turn on the water to the spa tub. She was thinking about what she had said and realized it was the question about Rebecca. She wished she had phrased it better but she was always bad at it like the time she told him she knew how stupid he was. She was still contemplating when she heard him call out. “Hey Bones aren’t you coming in here with me?”
She did not hesitate to answer. “Coming.”
The next morning as Bones was snuggled in Booth’s arms she was thinking that had she known that being married would be so fulfilling she might have done it sooner. But then she thought maybe it is because I am married to Booth. As she was thinking of her marriage to Booth she could feel his lips on the nape of her neck and his hands were starting to caress her breasts. She liked these early morning romps and as she turned over to kiss him she thought of how each night she goes to bed in her nightgown and Booth is in his pajama bottoms and they always wake up with nothing on the next morning.
Later over breakfast they decided that it was time to return back to DC. Booth had received a message from Asst. Director Hacker wanting him to report immediately back at the office.
The day after their return home, Booth was in Hacker’s office. They were waiting for Agent Firth, Bones and Cam to join them. As soon as everyone was in the office, Hacker started in telling Booth and Bones that they had disobeyed a direct order of not interfering with Agent Firth’s investigation. Bones could not contain herself when she retorted. “We were told not to interfere with the investigation of the body found by the falls.”
Firth: “You were told not to interfere with the investigation of the death of the Senator’s son.”
Bones: “The Senator’s son was not dead.”
Firth: “You went behind my back and made me look ridiculous.”
Booth: “We just went sightseeing and visited some tourist spots.”
Firth: “You two are just trying to make me look stupid.”
Bones: “You are stupid.”
Booth: “Bones you’re not helping.”
Hacker: “Enough, I am splitting the two of you up. You will no longer be working together and Agent Booth I haven’t finished with you.
Bones: “I will not work with anyone else.”
Hacker: “You have no choice.”
Cam: “Need I remind you Agent Hacker she works for the Jeffersonian and not you.”
Hacker: “It’s Asst. Director Hacker and when we need her expertise she will be assigned another agent.”
As everyone was glaring at each other, the door opened and the Director of the FBI entered the room along with Senator Benson.
TBC
