Brennan, nodding a greeting to the security guard, finds Hannah in Cam's office, right where Angela said she'd be. She feels an irrational wash of relief.
Nothing can happen to Hannah inside the Jeffersonian.
Hannah looks very intent on what she's working on. Brennan knocks lightly on the doorframe, not wishing to startle her.
Brennan sighs and gives Hannah a look that pretty much says, Why am I not surprised?
She can tell that Hannah is scared. And she wishes that she didn't have to exacerbate that, but scary information is better and more useful than spotty information, or no information at all.
"Howard Epps has, that we know of to date, murdered or has been linked to the murders of six teenage girls," she says, matter-of-factly. "He also killed a firefighter in the course of his escape last night."
Her jaw clenches, betraying some tension. "And he made contact with us a short time ago. A phone call."
"He's intelligent, and feels the need to prove it by attempting to outwit us. Ultimately, it will make him much easier to catch than if he did the rational thing and simply disappeared. And we will catch him."
There's a big 'But' coming here.
"He knows about you, Hannah," Brennan says bluntly. "He saw you walking into work with me this morning. Which means until he is caught, you are not leaving the Jeffersonian."
"That's......actually not a bad way of putting it," Brennan replies. Appointing himself her arch-nemesis was essentially what Epps had done.
"There's something of a personal history between me an Epps--at least as far as he's concerned."
Brennan nods. "Security at the Jeffersonian has been heightened. You'll be safe here. If Epps is determined to play his usual games, it shouldn't take the authorities long to recapture him."
She didn't think she'd be doing that anytime soon.
"I'll be working here in the lab for the moment. Epps left us a clue--a vial with some sort of organic matter inside. But I may be called out with Booth to follow up leads."
"Stick with Angela. There won't be call for her to leave the Jeffersonian."
Nothing can happen to Hannah inside the Jeffersonian.
Hannah looks very intent on what she's working on. Brennan knocks lightly on the doorframe, not wishing to startle her.
"Hannah? Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Reply
"About the creepy serial killer?"
Reply
"Yeah. About the creepy serial killer," she says.
"How much did Cam fill you in on?"
Reply
"There's a lot more on Google, though."
Hannah turns the laptop so Brennan can see the screen.
"Teenaged blondes, huh?"
She's trying very hard to be composed and casual about this. She's close to pulling it off.
Reply
She can tell that Hannah is scared. And she wishes that she didn't have to exacerbate that, but scary information is better and more useful than spotty information, or no information at all.
"Howard Epps has, that we know of to date, murdered or has been linked to the murders of six teenage girls," she says, matter-of-factly. "He also killed a firefighter in the course of his escape last night."
Her jaw clenches, betraying some tension. "And he made contact with us a short time ago. A phone call."
Reply
She's also confused, now.
"He called you? Why? Shouldn't he be off vanishing into a new and equally creepy identity?"
Reply
And he really likes to play them with Brennan.
"He's intelligent, and feels the need to prove it by attempting to outwit us. Ultimately, it will make him much easier to catch than if he did the rational thing and simply disappeared. And we will catch him."
There's a big 'But' coming here.
"He knows about you, Hannah," Brennan says bluntly. "He saw you walking into work with me this morning. Which means until he is caught, you are not leaving the Jeffersonian."
Reply
"So he's appointed himself your arch-nemesis? And he knows about me? I guess that explains the security guard.
"So I'm . . . staying here?"
It's kind of an odd place to keep her.
Isn't it?
Reply
"There's something of a personal history between me an Epps--at least as far as he's concerned."
Brennan nods. "Security at the Jeffersonian has been heightened. You'll be safe here. If Epps is determined to play his usual games, it shouldn't take the authorities long to recapture him."
Reply
She'll assume Brennan knows best about this sort of thing.
"So you're gonna go all Holmes on his Moriarty. Is there anything I can do to help? From safely within the Jeffersonian?"
It's not comfortable, being threatened by a serial killer. Doing something is better than doing nothing.
Reply
She shakes her head regretfully. "We're all going to be very focused on this for the duration. We mainly just need you to sit tight."
Brennan smiles sympathetically. "Which is difficult, I know."
Reply
"Do I have to stay in this room?"
Does she have to take her security guard to the ladies room with her? 'cause awkward.
Reply
"No, but I'd like you to stay around the lab. There are plenty of guards, not to mention Angela, Cam, and the others. Stick close to someone."
Not that Epps can get into the Jeffersonian--not now. But Brennan will worry a lot less if she knows that Hannah will not be left alone.
Reply
"Dr. Addy?"
Then she sobers.
"Are you staying here, or . . . ?"
Reply
She didn't think she'd be doing that anytime soon.
"I'll be working here in the lab for the moment. Epps left us a clue--a vial with some sort of organic matter inside. But I may be called out with Booth to follow up leads."
"Stick with Angela. There won't be call for her to leave the Jeffersonian."
Reply
"Well, I guess Agent Booth will look after you, right?"
Reply
Leave a comment