-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."
