Bones (2005–2017): Season 1, Episode 12 - The Superhero in the Alley - full transcript

Bones happily postpones her stress research contribution to a 9,600 year old Chinese find to help Booth prevent embarrassment to the FBI after the discovery of a boy in rubber costume, despite maggot-consumption, found to be smashed to death before he was pushed from a roof to stage a suicide. He's identified as 17 year-old nerd Warren Granger, who had no social life except Yasutani the Terrible's loony 'clan' of comics superhero fans role-playing self-invented characters in costumes. Warren designed and drew his own superhero comic, in which he starred with fellow member Abigail Zealey alias 'Blue'; the director studies his psychology from the story-text. While 'research reading' introduces Zack to the fantasy world of comics, the sleuths examine the presumably fatal fantasies and teenage group dynamics...

7:30 NOW. COMING UP, A
RECAP OF A DISTURBING STORY...

SKELETAL REMAINS DISCOVERED BY
SIXTH-GRADE STUDENTS IN ANACOSTIA.

THE REMAINS HAVE NOT YET BEEN
IDENTIFIED, ACCORDING TO POLICE,

AND THERE'S NO WORD AS TO
WHETHER FOUL PLAY IS SUSPECTED.

DALE, THE WORD MOST REPEATED BY THE
YOUNG WITNESSES WE SPOKE TO: "HORROR."

AS IN IT LOOKED
LIKE A HORROR MOVIE.

NAH. WE'RE GOING TO BE
GOING FOR ANOTHER TAKE.

I HATE PRESS CASES. YES, SIR.

MORE THAN THREE CAMERAS SHOW UP, SOME
HOMICIDE DETECTIVE KICKS IT UP TO HIS CAPTAIN,

WHO KICKS IT UP TO THE CHIEF,
WHO KICKS IT TO THE F.B.I...

AND YOU... BANG...
KICK IT DOWN TO ME.



WHICH I THANK YOU FOR, SIR... THE
OPPORTUNITY. BOOTH, I WANT THIS CLOSED.

I DON'T WANT TO PICK UP
NEXT SUNDAY'S POST AND READ,

"CHURCH KIDS FIND MYSTERY
CORPSE DRESSED FOR HALLOWEEN.

F.B.I. REMAINS CLUELESS." I
GUARANTEE YOU WON'T READ THAT, SIR.

- OKAY? I-I'M ON IT. BONES.
- A BODY LEFT TO ROT...

GOT HERE AS SOON AS I
COULD. THANKS FOR COMING.

I PULL YOU FROM
ANYTHING IMPORTANT?

A 9,600-YEAR-OLD CAUCASOID
FEMALE SKELETON...

WAS FOUND IN THE KUNLUN
MOUNTAINS IN CHINA LAST MONTH.

AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION IS UNDER WAY.
I'M CONTRIBUTING STRESS MARKER ANALYSIS.

I THINK YOU'RE GONNA FIND
THIS, UH, VERY INTERESTING TOO.

OH.

WHAT THE HELL IS HE WEARING?

IT'S LIGHTWEIGHT. COMPOSITE.



I THINK IT WAS SOME KIND OF SEXUAL
BONDAGE SUIT. AND THERE'S THAT BAG.

IT'S FULL OF MAGGOTS. LOOKS
LIKE CELLULOSE IN THERE,

DEGRADED FROM BODILY
TISSUES AND DECOMPOSING FAT.

AND MAGGOTS.

TIBIAL PLATEAU FRACTURES AND GROUND
DISTURBANCE SUGGEST TOTAL BODY IMPACT.

OKAY. SO DID HE JUMP,
OR WAS HE PUSHED, BONES?

THAT'S WHAT WE
HAVE TO FIGURE OUT.

WE CAN TAKE THE SKELETON IN,

GIVE YOU A REPORT
MAYBE AFTER NEXT WEEK.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SOLVE THE WHOLE CASE.
JUST TELL ME IF I'M LOOKING AT A MURDER.

MAYBE, YOU KNOW,
PULL A QUICK I.D.?

DON'T USE YOUR
CHARM SMILE ON ME.

WHAT? IT'S A MARK OF
RESPECT. THAT'S ALL.

EPIPHYSEAL UNION WITH THE DIAPHYSIS
ON THE WRIST, KNEES AND ANKLES...

SUGGESTS THE VICTIM WAS
BETWEEN 14 AND 18 YEARS OLD.

1.6 METERS TALL, A
VERY SLIGHT BUILD,

SUGGESTING HE WAS AT THE
YOUNGER END OF THE SCALE.

THAT TRACKS WITH THE BAG. THE DEGRADED
CELLULOSE WE FOUND IS A GRAPHIC NOVEL.

- A WHAT?
- IT'S A COMIC BOOK.

I NEVER READ COMIC
BOOKS. REALLY?

I HAD YOU PEGGED FOR
A GRAPHIC NOVEL NUT.

THE FACE AND CRANIAL
VAULT ARE BADLY FRACTURED.

BLOWS TO THE PARIETAL HAVE
SENT RADIATING FRACTURES LINES...

BETWEEN THE MID, FRONTAL AND
ANTERIOR TEMPORAL BUTTRESSES. WHY?

STAR WARS, STAR TREK,

STARGATE, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.

FOCUSING, GENTLEMEN.

BRUTAL ASSAULT KILLED HIM.

HE WAS DROPPED... AFTER
HE WAS ALREADY DEAD.

HIS KILLER WANTED IT
TO LOOK LIKE A SUICIDE.

LET'S GET HIS DENTALS INTO THE
N.C.I.C., SEE IF WE CAN FIND A MATCH.

ZACK, CALL
STOCKHOLM AND BEIJING.

OUR RESEARCH DATA ON THE
OTHER THING IS GOING TO BE DELAYED.

IT'S WARREN GRANGER, AGE 17.

SEVENTEEN. SMALL FOR HIS AGE.

YEAH. WELL, HE WAS HOMESCHOOLED.
G.E.D. OBTAINED LAST SUMMER.

MOTHER AND STEPFATHER REPORTED HIM MISSING
FROM THIS VERY BLOCK TWO MONTHS AGO.

HEY, LISTEN. BONES, YOU KNOW, IF
YOU WANT TO, UH, SIT THIS PART OUT,

HEY, I KNOW YOU GOT SOME
ANCIENT CHINESE BONES WAITING.

NO. I'M ON THIS NOW.

LOOKS LIKE EVERY OTHER
HOUSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVERY FAMILY HAS
ITS SECRETS, BONES.

THIS WAS WARREN'S ROOM.

NO ONE'S BEEN UP HERE SINCE THE
DETECTIVE FIRST LOOKED IT OVER.

THE NEWS SAID THERE WAS
HARDLY ANYTHING LEFT OF HIM.

CAN YOU THINK OF ANYONE WHO MIGHT
HAVE WANTED TO HARM WARREN IN ANY WAY?

HE WAS ALWAYS BY HIMSELF.

NO FRIENDS. NO ENEMIES.

SPENT ALL HIS TIME UP HERE
WITH HIS COMIC BOOKS AND TOYS.

HE WAS A LONELY KID. DIED
BEFORE HE EVEN HAD A LIFE.

I REALLY THOUGHT HE
HAD JUST RUN AWAY.

WE TRIED.

TRIED TO GET HIM OUT OF THIS
PLACE INTO SOME KIND OF REAL LIFE.

I EVEN GOT HIM A JOB
AT THE BOWLING ALLEY.

BUT... HE JUST SPENT ALL
HIS MONEY ON THIS... STUFF.

UNBELIEVABLE.

IT'S QUITE THE COLLECTION
OF COMIC BOOKS.

HODGINS SAID THAT THE
CELLULOSE MASS WAS...

A GRAPHIC NOVEL.

HE SENT IT TO ANGELA FOR
ANALYSIS AND RECOVERY.

- SWEET.
- SWEET?

THIS IS BATMAN #127, FEATURING
THE HAMMER OF THE THOR.

THIS IS WORTH ABOUT 300 BUCKS.

BOOTH, ARE YOU A NERD?

FIRST OF ALL, YOU MEAN
"GEEK." AND NO, I'M NOT.

OKAY? IT'S QUITE NORMAL FOR AN
AMERICAN MALE TO READ COMIC BOOKS.

I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE YOU HAVE
ANYTHING IN COMMON WITH WARREN GRANGER.

OH, YOU MEAN ISOLATED
WITH AN INNER SECRET LIFE?

NO. I'D SAY YOU WERE
MORE LIKE WARREN.

ZACK DISCOVERED SOME SIGNIFICANT HAIRLINE
PARRY FRACTURES ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT ULNAE.

- THAT'S ARMS.
- I KNOW ULNA MEANS FOREARM. I PAY ATTENTION.

I ALSO KNOW THAT PARRY FRACTURE
MEANS THAT THE KID FOUGHT BACK, BONES.

SMALL STATURE, A GEEK,
AND HE FOUGHT BACK.

YEAH. HE ALSO GOT
THROWN FROM A ROOF.

THERE'S NOTHING BUT GAMES
ON HERE. THERE'S NO JOURNAL.

THERE'S NO DOCUMENTS.
NOTHING PERSONAL.

WHAT DID HE DO AT HIS
DESK? I MEAN, THERE'S LIGHT.

THE RUG'S WORN.

HE USED THIS AREA FOR
SOMETHING. WHAT WAS IT?

PROBABLY WHERE HE
READ HIS COMIC BOOKS.

I THINK WARREN SAT HERE...

AND WROTE LONGHAND...
WITH A BALLPOINT PEN.

THAT'S PRETTY RETRO FOR A GEEK.

HMM. WELL, AT LEAST WE KNOW
WHERE HE GOT THE IDEA FOR A COSTUME.

CITIZEN 14.

SUPERHERO.

HODGINS DRIED OUT AND
SEPARATED THE PAGES.

I DIGITIZED THEM AND
ADJUSTED FOR INK SEEPAGE.

WAS THIS PRINTED COMMERCIALLY?

NO. IT'S A PROTOTYPE.
IT'S HANDMADE.

THAT'S WHAT HE WAS WRITING AT HIS
DESK. A COMIC BOOK STARRING HIMSELF.

A SHY ADOLESCENT YOUNG MAN
RENDERS HIMSELF AS A SUPERHERO.

ALONE IN THAT ROOM ALL THE TIME. MAYBE
WARREN GOT CONSUMED BY HIS OWN FANTASY.

DO YOU THINK HE WAS
ACTUALLY OUT FIGHTING CRIME?

WELL, THE BOY GOT
BEATEN TO A PULP...

BY WEARING HIS SUPERHERO OUTFIT
IN THE HEAVIEST CRIME AREA OF D.C.

AS YOU KNOW, BEING A
WRITER YOURSELF, DR. BRENNAN,

WARREN GRANGER'S COMIC BOOK COULD BE INFUSED
WITH HIS REAL-LIFE FEARS AND CONFLICTS.

ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE
OF AN ADOLESCENT WRITER.

- CAN YOU RETRIEVE
ANY MORE OF THIS?
- YEAH, SURE.

FINE. WHAT'S OUR NEXT STEP?

OH, WE'LL GO SEE IF WARREN HAD ANY
FRIENDS HIS MOTHER DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

WAIT A MINUTE. WARREN GRANGER WAS
THE SKELETON CORPSE THOSE KIDS FOUND?

YEAH. SOUNDS LIKE
YOU WERE CLOSE.

HOW LONG WAS HE LAYING
THERE ALL DEAD LIKE THAT?

- WELL, FOR A WHILE.
- HOW WELL DID YOU KNOW
WARREN, MR. ELLIS?

HE CAME IN HERE ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, HE, UH,
KNEW HIS STUFF.

HE WAS A NICE KID.

REALLY NICE GUY.

SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT TELLING US?

- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- YOU SEEM A LITTLE NERVOUS.

WELL, YOU JUST TOLD ME
THAT SOMEONE I... I KNOW...

IS THIS ROTTING SKELETAL CORPSE
THAT'S BEEN ALL OVER THE NEWS.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

- THERE A PARTY UPSTAIRS?
- OH, IT'S THE, UH,

DOOMSDAY GROUP.

I RENT IT OUT THURSDAY NIGHTS.

HEY, WAIT. UM, WARREN...

WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THEM.

OH. WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S
A HANDY THING TO REMEMBER.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU
FORGET TO MENTION TO ME?

NO, THAT'S... THAT'S IT I THINK.

♪♪

♪♪

CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY. WE CAN'T
KEEP BREAKING OUT 20-SIDED...

EXCUSE ME. THIS IS A PRIVATE
FUNCTION. SO GOOD-BYE.

GO AHEAD. DON'T
LET ME STOP YOU FR...

WHAT ARE YOU DOING EXACTLY?

GUYS, THIS IS ACTUALLY
A REAL LIVE WOMAN.

SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE OFTEN.

AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A
PRIVATE FUNCTION. SO...

IT'S THE F.B.I. JUST TURN
IT OFF FOR A MINUTE.

PLEASE. F.B.I.?

I'M YASUTANI THE TERRIBLE.
I SPEAK FOR THIS CLAN.

OKAY. WELL, WE...
WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOU...

A FEW QUESTIONS IF
YOU'RE NOT TOO, UH, BUSY.

THE COSTUMES, THE SOCIAL
AWKWARDNESS, THE ACTIVE FANTASY LIFE.

THE VICTIM WOULD FIT
RIGHT INTO THE SUBGROUPING.

OKAY. HEY, UH, MR., UH,
"YAKITORI THE HORRIBLE."

- WHAT'S YOUR REAL NAME?
- JEREMY KUZNETSKY.

DO ANY OF YOU PEOPLE
KNOW WARREN GRANGER?

- SOMETHING HAPPENED
TO WARREN, DIDN'T IT?
- WARREN'S DEAD.

- HE WAS MURDERED.
- NO. I NEVER SAID ANYTHING
ABOUT HIM BEING MURDERED.

- NEITHER DID THE PRESS.
- WELL, OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU'RE
THE F.B.I., HE WAS MURDERED.

YOU GUYS DON'T INVESTIGATE
PEOPLE GETTING HIT BY A BUS.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME ANY
OF YOU HAVE SEEN WARREN?

- A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WHEN HE LEFT.
- LEFT?

CITIZEN 14 WAS ONE OF US...

UNTIL HE WENT PSYCHO
AND BUGGED OUT.

CALLED US ALL POSERS.
PATHETIC FANTASISTS.

UH, WAS HE WEARING
HIS, UM, OUTFIT?

- HIS IDENTITY. YEAH.
- WHY DO YOU WEAR
THESE IDENTITIES?

- FOR THE GAME.
- HOW SERIOUS
DO YOU TAKE THE GAME?

IT'S ONLY FUN IF YOU
TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

- YOU ALWAYS PLAY HERE?
- YOU KNOW, "PLAY" IS NOT
EXACTLY THE RIGHT VERB. OKAY?

- DON'T EVEN
TRY TO EXPLAIN IT TO THEM.
- SHUT UP! WHO CARES?

- DIDN'T YOU HEAR? WARREN IS DEAD.
- IT'S OKAY, MINNOW!

WHAT'S YOUR NAME? BLUE MINNOW.

OKAY, GUYS. WHEN I ASK YOUR NAMES, I
WANT THE ONES THAT YOUR PARENTS GAVE YOU.

ABIGAIL ZEALY. CITIZEN
14 WAS MY PARTNER.

IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL
WARREN? CITIZEN 14?

CITIZEN 14 WAS MY PARTNER.
WARREN WAS MY FRIEND.

HE WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.

HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY.

I DON'T LIKE TO JUDGE AN
ENTIRE SUBCULTURE, BUT...

THOSE PEOPLE GAVE ME THE CREEPS.

THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE CREEPY.

WHAT I MEAN IS THOSE
KIDS AT THE STORE...

WEREN'T YOUR GOOD OLD
HARMLESS "TUTOR YOU IN MATH" GEEKS.

THEY WERE THE, UH, YOU KNOW,
"SET THE SCHOOL ON FIRE" GEEKS.

DARK NERDS. COLUMBINE NERDS.

COLUMBINE? YOU THINK YASUTANI THE
TERRIBLE'S ACTUALLY CAPABLE OF MURDERS?

I THINK, YOU KNOW,
THEY GET HIGH,

YOU KNOW, THEY PLAY THESE GAMES,
THEY LOSE THEIR GRIP ON REALITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY START TO
BELIEVE THEY ARE THESE CHARACTERS.

YOU MEAN LIKE WARREN,
OUT FIGHTING CRIME.

YOU KNOW, HEY, MAYBE WARREN AND
THAT GUY, UH, THE LEADER, "YASUHAMA"...

YASUTANI THE TERRIBLE.
YEAH. YASUTANI THE TERRIBLE.

MAYBE... MAYBE HIM AND THAT GUY,
YOU KNOW, THEY GOT INTO THIS, UH,

YOU KNOW, MAGIC FIGHT,
AND, UH, IT BECAME REAL.

SO YOU'RE SAYING IT WASN'T
WARREN WHO WAS MURDERED.

IT WAS HIS
CHARACTER, CITIZEN 14.

THEY'RE SO DELUSIONAL THEY DON'T EVEN
KNOW THAT THEY'VE COMMITTED A CRIME.

I'LL GET HODGINS TO SEE IF THERE'S
ANY SIGNS OF DRUG USE IN WARREN'S HAIR.

OH, I MANAGED TO GET SOME OF
THE TEXT BACK FROM THIS PANEL.

CHEERFUL LITTLE TYKE.

WRITER WAS IN PAIN.

AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS PURELY THE
ADOLESCENT ANGST OF THE OUTSIDER.

IN FACT, I'D GO SO FAR AS TO SAY IT
WASN'T MERE PSYCHOLOGICAL PAIN.

HE'S AFRAID OF
ACTUAL PHYSICAL DEATH.

CAN YOU REALLY PULL ALL THAT
INFORMATION FROM A COMIC BOOK?

ABSOLUTELY. ALL WRITERS REVEAL MORE OF
THEMSELVES THAN THEY INTEND ON EVERY PAGE.

I GOTTA TELL YOU. I NEVER
BOUGHT ALL THAT ENGLISH 101 STUFF.

SOMETIMES A RIVER
IS JUST A RIVER.

ALL DUE RESPECT, BUT MY WRITING,
FOR EXAMPLE, IS PURE FICTION.

DR. BRENNAN, I FEAR YOU REVEAL MUCH MORE OF
YOUR WORLDVIEW IN YOUR WRITING THAN YOU REALIZE.

SUCH AS? SUCH AS...

"ARCHAEOLOGISTS MAKE GOOD
ADMINISTRATORS BECAUSE THEY ENJOY TEDIUM."

SUCH AS "ARTISTS ARE DOOMED
TO A LIFE OF LONELINESS...

BECAUSE THEY AREN'T ABLE TO
THINK BEYOND INSTANT GRATIFICATION."

SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, F.B.I. GUYS ARE HOT,
AND ANGELA HERE WANTS TO HAVE SEX WITH ME.

YEAH.

ALL I'M SUGGESTING IS
THAT WHILE DR. GOODMAN...

GOES THROUGH WARREN'S WRITING,

WE SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE HYPOTHESES
THAT ARE CONGRUENT WITH FORENSIC EVIDENCE.

I'M GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
AT WARREN GRANGER'S REMAINS.

IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, I'VE READ SEVERAL
DOZEN COMIC BOOKS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS.

DID HODGINS FIND
ANY SIGN OF DRUG USE?

NO.

THEY'RE QUITE INTERESTING.
THE GRAPHIC NOVELS ESPECIALLY.

AFTER YOU CLEAN THE BONES, LOOK
FOR SCORING ON THE OCCIPITAL CONDYLE...

AND THE INFERIOR NUCHAL LINE.

THEY'RE BASICALLY A
RETELLING OF THE GREEK MYTHS...

WITH ALL THE SUPERHEROES
STANDING IN FOR HERCULES.

HALF GOD, HALF HUMAN.

OKAY. BE VERY CAREFUL HERE.

X-RAY SHOWS FRAGMENTATION
OF THE... CERVICAL VERTEBRAE...

CONSISTENT WITH
SHARP FORCE TRAUMA.

INVULNERABILITY, SUPERSTRENGTH,

HEIGHTENED SENSES, TELEKINESIS.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
SOME OF THOSE POWERS.

WHY?

I... I DON'T REALLY KNOW.
IS IT AN ODD DESIRE?

WHY FANTASIZE? YOU'RE SMART.

IN SOME WAYS MY
INTELLIGENCE IS A HANDICAP.

WELL, FOR ONE THING, I'M WEIRD.

FOR ANOTHER, I TEND TO MAKE PEOPLE
FEEL STUPID, AND THEY RESENT ME FOR IT.

I SUSPECT IT'S THE
SAME FOR SUPERPOWERS.

THE VICTIM WAS STABBED HERE AT THE BASE
OF THE SPINE. THE SPINAL CORD WAS SEVERED.

- THAT'S WHAT KILLED HIM.
- I'LL CLEAN THE BONES...

AND TRY TO MATCH A
WEAPON TO THE DAMAGE DONE.

WHICH WILL MAKE YOU A
REAL HERO IN THE REAL WORLD.

IN THIS RESTORED PANEL FROM THE
SECOND AND FINAL VOLUME OF CITIZEN 14,

WE BEGIN TO SEE A
FEMALE PRESENCE...

BEAUTIFUL, ETHEREAL...

WHICH HE CALLS THE OPALESCENCE.

A GIRL HE LITERALLY
CAN'T APPROACH.

WHAT IF WARREN WAS ONLY,

YOU KNOW, SUPPLYING HIS
OWN MASTURBATORY MATERIALS?

YES. LONELY ADOLESCENT BOY.

BUT THE STORY MOVES
BEYOND THAT DIMENSION.

HERE WE SEE THE IDOLIZED
FEMALE OPALESCENCE...

COWERING BEFORE A DARK MALE FIGURE
REFERRED TO ONLY AS THE TWISTED.

SO CITIZEN 14 WANTS TO RESCUE
THE OPALESCENCE FROM THE TWISTED.

COULD THIS BE WARREN'S
MOTHER AND STEPFATHER?

HMM. THERE ARE ELEMENTS
OF ROMANTIC LOVE.

THIS GIRL, SURROUNDED BY BLUE.

YOU KNOW, THEY DID MENTION THAT ONE OF
THOSE COMIC BOOK GEEKS WAS A BLUE GIRL.

I'D SAY SHE'S DEFINITELY
WORTH QUESTIONING.

BLUE MINNOW... THAT'S
YOUR ALTER EGO.

ABIGAIL ZEALY IS MY ALTER EGO.

DID YOU, ABIGAIL, HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP WITH WARREN GRANGER,

OR DID THE BLUE MINNOW HAVE
A RELATIONSHIP WITH CITIZEN 14?

OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF.

NEITHER. WARREN
HAD A GIRLFRIEND.

- AT CAPITAL BOWL.
- WHAT'S THE GIRLFRIEND'S
NAME, ABBY?

HE NEVER TOLD US HER NAME.

IT WAS JUST A PHYSICAL THING.

AND... AND IT WAS ALMOST OVER.

WARREN AND I HAD A CONNECTION.

HE COULDN'T DENY THAT.

BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED, HE GAVE
ME HIS ENTIRE NEIL GAIMAN COLLECTION.

HIS FAVORITE WORK
BESIDE HIS OWN.

IN HIS OWN WORK HE DESCRIBES A
WOMAN KNOWN AS THE OPALESCENCE.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE YOU?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WE THINK IT'S
ANOTHER GIRL ENTIRELY.

DOES THAT BOTHER YOU?

OKAY.

MAYBE THE OTHERS TOLD
YOU I'M OBSESSED. I KNOW.

BECAUSE THEY NEVER
GOT WARREN LIKE I DID.

HE WAS RIGHT. THEY ARE POSERS.

- BUT WARREN WASN'T.
- WARREN BELIEVED.

HE BELIEVED IN TRUTH. HE
BELIEVED IN DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT.

HE WAS CITIZEN 14.

CITIZEN 14 IS REAL.

WARREN DIDN'T FIT
IN WITH THE OTHERS?

I JUST SAID. WARREN WAS BETTER.

HE WAS A REALLY NICE GUY.

WERE YOU AWARE THAT, UH,

JEREMY KUZNETSKY
AND, UH, KENNETH VERT...

HAD POLICE RECORDS?

YEAH. IT'S NOTHING
INTERESTING THOUGH.

IT'S LIKE VANDALISM
AND TRESPASSING.

YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.

- WHAT? AS CRIMINALS?
- AS ANYTHING.

OKAY. WELL, WHAT WOULD
BE INTERESTING... AS A CRIME?

SOMETHING THAT TOOK COURAGE.
SOMETHING THAT MEANT SOMETHING.

LIKE MURDER?

YEAH. LIKE MURDER.

WARREN GRANGER ON THE NIGHT
HE DIED, WEARING HIS COSTUME.

OKAY. START THE SEQUENCE.

CAUSE OF DEATH WAS A
SEVERED SPINAL CORD.

- WE CAN RULE OUT
ABIGAIL ZEALY AS THE KILLER.
- HOW DO YOU FIGURE?

ABIGAIL DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO
SEVER WARREN'S SPINAL CORD WITH ONE BLOW.

WHAT ABOUT HIS STEPDAD? OR
THE OTHER KIDS AT THE COMIC SHOP?

WELL, IF THE PHYSICALITY OF THE
MURDERER IS BETWEEN 5'10 " AND 6'1",

I'D SAY YES TO THEM ALL,
DEPENDING ON THE WEAPON.

WHAT COULD HE HAVE DONE TO
MAKE SOMEBODY SO ANGRY AT HIM?

ZACK'S CLEANING THE BONES NOW.

MAYBE WE'LL FIND
SOMETHING THAT WE'VE MISSED.

WHAT ARE YOU READING?
I'M DOING RESEARCH.

BY READING A COMIC BOOK?

INTENSELY ALLEGORICAL
MODERN MYTHS.

YOU'RE READING BUGS BUNNY, MAN.

ON THE SURFACE, YES,
BUT IF YOU DIG DEEPER,

THE SUBTEXT BECOMES APPARENT.

THE CONFLICT IS REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE DARWINIAN STRUGGLE...

BETWEEN AVIANS AND
MAMMALS FOR DOMINANCE.

BASED ON BUGS GIVING DAFFY
DUCK A CIGAR MADE OUT OF DYNAMITE?

YEAH.

AND THEN HERE HE EXPLODES.

BUT NOT REALLY.

YOU HAVE A PROBLEM,
MY MAN. WHAT?

LOOKS LIKE YOU
DEGRADED THE BONES.

IMPOSSIBLE. IT'S ONLY A FOUR
PERCENT PEROXIDE SOLUTION.

THEN WHAT'S THAT BUBBLING
AND PITTING ON THE PERIOSTEUM?

A FOUR PERCENT SOLUTION
WOULDN'T CAUSE THAT.

SO, WHAT? IT'S SOME KIND
OF SYSTEMIC DETERIORATION?

THE INTERTROCHANTERIC CREST
IS ALMOST TOTALLY EATEN AWAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS?

THIS KID WAS SICK.

YOU SMELL THAT? YES, I DO.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BONES?

WAX, POPCORN.

FEET, DEODORANT.
THAT IS AMERICA, BONES.

KEEP YOUR BOWLING
BALL IN THE CAR?

OH, YOU KNOW, I FIGURE WE ASK A FEW
QUESTIONS ABOUT WARREN GRANGER,

MAYBE BOWL A FEW FRAMES.

YOU KNOW, NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE
SPORT TO, UH, TAKE THE EDGE OFF OF...

THIS IS NOT A SPORT.
HOW DO YOU FIGURE?

THERE'S NO PHYSICAL BENEFIT.
SO IT'S REALLY LIKE GOLF.

IT'S NOT A SPORT.
IT'S AN ACTIVITY.

YOU KNOW, COULD
YOU PLEASE, BONES,

MAYBE JUST FOR ONCE TRY NOT
TO PISS EVERYONE OFF AROUND YOU.

YEAH. SORRY.

ARE YOU GOOD AT THIS SPORT?

WELL, MY AVERAGE WAS OVER 200,
LESS THAN TWO OPENS PER GAME.

ONE MATCH I HAD 211
STRIKES OUT OF 431 SHOTS.

TWENTY-NINE OPENS IN 39
GAMES. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

MEANS I WON SOME BOWLING AWARDS.

I WON THE MARSHALL H. DIXON
AWARD FOR MY PAPER ON...

GEORGE JOHN ROMANES AND
PHYSIOLOGICAL SELECTION.

MY GOD, IT'S LIKE WE
LEAD PARALLEL LIVES.

- NEED SHOES?
- YEAH. UH,
LOOKING FOR THE MANAGER.

TED McGRUDER. F.B.I., HUH?

YEAH. WE'RE, UH, INVESTIGATING THE
DEATH OF ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES.

WARREN GRANGER. WARREN?

WHEN HE DIDN'T SHOW
UP FOR HIS LAST PAYCHECK,

I THOUGHT HE JUST FOUND ANOTHER
JOB AND DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE NOTICE.

HE WAS WEIRD LIKE
THAT. GOOD KID THOUGH.

BYE, BYE, LUCY!

COME ON. DON'T POUT.

TED, I TALKED TO 'EM, BUT
THEY JUST KEEP GIVING ME LIP.

LUCE, THESE PEOPLE ARE WITH THE F.B.I.
THEY'RE HERE ABOUT WARREN GRANGER.

WARREN? WHAT ABOUT HIM?

- HE'S DECEASED.
- OH, MY GOD.

I TOLD YOU HE DIDN'T QUIT.

I WAS WRONG.

TH-THIS IS MY WIFE, LUCY. SORRY.

THAT'S OKAY. HOW OFTEN
DO THOSE KIDS COME IN HERE?

THOSE JOKERS? WEEKENDS MOSTLY.

BUT THEY USED TO COME IN A LOT
MORE, BUT IN THESE CRAZY COSTUMES.

I TOLD THEM I'D ALLOW IT
ON HALLOWEEN, BUT THAT'S IT.

WARREN'S GIRLFRIEND HERE?

WE WERE INFORMED THAT
WARREN'S GIRLFRIEND WORKED HERE.

WELL, IF YOU EVER MET WARREN, YOU'D
KNOW HE'S NOT THE GIRLFRIEND TYPE OF KID.

THERE WAS A GIRL WHO CAME
BY TO SEE HIM SOMETIMES.

YEAH. YEAH. TH-THAT'S HER.
I... I DON'T KNOW HER NAME,

BUT I DON'T THINK WARREN
WAS ALL THAT GLAD TO SEE HER.

IF SHE CALLED, HE'D ASK ME TO
TELL HER THAT HE WASN'T HERE.

BRENNAN. MAYBE HE WAS
JUST TRYING TO DODGE HER.

EXCUSE ME. JUST ONE
MOMENT, PLEASE. THANKS.

OKAY. SLOW DOWN,
ZACK, AND REPEAT THAT.

HYPERCELLULARITY WITH TOTAL
EFFACEMENT OF THE MARROW SPACE.

OSTEOBLASTS AT 26%.

OKAY. GOOD WORK, ZACK. KEEP
WORKING ON THE WEAPON I.D.

I TAKE IT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE
GETTING ANY BOWLING IN TONIGHT, HUH?

ZACK SAID THAT IF WARREN HADN'T
BEEN MURDERED TWO MONTHS AGO,

HE'D BE DEAD BY NOW.

WHEN YOU SAID WARREN WAS SICK
AS A CHILD, YOU MEANT LEUKEMIA.

YES. BUT BY THE TIME HE
WAS 11, HE WAS IN REMISSION.

THE HYPERCELLULAR ACTIVITY I SAW IS
ONLY PRESENT IN ADVANCED CANCER CASES.

HE MUST HAVE BEEN VERY ILL.

YOU DIDN'T NOTICE?

WE TRIED TO BE THERE FOR
WARREN, BUT HE WOULDN'T LET US IN.

RIGHT WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU'D BUILT
A BRIDGE OF TRUST, HE'D QUIT ON YOU.

HE QUIT TRYING TO FACE REALITY.

MAYBE YOUR SON DIDN'T
WANT YOU TO HAVE TO FACE IT.

HE KNEW HIS SITUATION WAS DIRE, AND
HE DECIDED TO TOUGH IT OUT ON HIS OWN.

YES. HE SAW WHAT IT
DID TO ME THE FIRST TIME.

IT'S NOT THAT HE QUIT. IT'S THAT
HE DIDN'T WANT ME TO SUFFER.

YOU TOLD HER THAT HER SON DIDN'T TELL HER
ABOUT BEING SICK TO MAKE HER FEEL BETTER.

MM-HMM. YOU DON'T
REALLY BELIEVE THAT.

PEOPLE DON'T ACTUALLY DO THAT.

YOU JUST TOLD HER TO
MAKE HER FEEL BETTER? RIGHT.

SO YOU JUST DID WHAT
YOU SAID PEOPLE DON'T DO.

I WONDER WHY HE
DIDN'T TELL HIS MOTHER.

WELL, MAYBE HE WAS ALL CAUGHT UP IN
THE ROMANCE OF BEING A DYING SUPERHERO.

YOU KNOW, ADOLESCENT ANGST,
ALL THAT. WHAT DO YOU REALLY THINK?

THE TRUTH IS I THINK THE BOY
WAS LOOKING HOW TO BE A MAN.

ALL ON HIS OWN WITHOUT ANY HELP.
HE WAS DOING THE BEST THAT HE COULD.

HEROES DON'T WHINE
ABOUT BEING SICK.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. POOR KID.

- DO THEY KNOW
ABOUT THE LEUKEMIA?
- NO. HE KEPT IT A SECRET.

TOUGH GUY, HUH? YOU
WERE RIGHT ON BEFORE...

ABOUT THE KID KNOWING HE
WAS FACING IMMINENT DEATH.

- THIS CHANGES MOTIVATION.
- THE KILLER'S MOTIVATION?

NO. WARREN GRANGER'S.

YOU THINK HE WAS EMBOLDENED BY
THE KNOWLEDGE HE WAS GOING TO DIE.

- HE WENT LOOKING FOR A FIGHT.
- HE WENT LOOKING
FOR THE TWISTED.

WAIT. NO. WAIT.

WE ARE ALLOWING THE COMIC BOOK
STORY TO GENERATE TOO MANY HYPOTHESES.

I ONLY HEARD THE "GO GET
THE BAD GUY" HYPOTHESIS.

- IT'S TOO GENERAL.
- YES. PERHAPS...

THE OPALESCENCE REPRESENTED
WARREN'S BETTER NATURE,

AND THE TWISTED WAS A REFLECTION
OF HIS DARKER SEXUAL IMPULSES.

A THEME I ASSUME IS
COMMON IN TEENAGE FICTION.

AND THE DRAWINGS...

HELLO? BONES?

THE DRAWINGS.

WARREN WROTE THE COMICS,

BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE IN HIS
ROOM THAT HE KNEW HOW TO DRAW.

DR. BRENNAN, I FOUND AN EXTRA
PIECE OF BONE I CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR.

SOMEONE ELSE DREW THE COMIC.

- STEW ELLIS.
- WHAT ABOUT HIM?

LOOK. WARREN GRANGER WROTE THIS
COMIC BOOK, BUT IT WAS DRAWN BY STEW ELLIS.

LOOK. I TOLD YOU I KNEW
WARREN FROM THE STORE, OKAY?

HE WAS A SERIOUS INVESTOR.
DID HE OWE YOU MONEY?

WHAT? WAS IT, UH,
CREATIVE DIFFERENCES,

OR WAS IT YOU JUST
DIDN'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT?

NO. IT WAS NONE OF THAT.

LOOK. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU
WERE PARTNERS WHEN I ASKED YOU EARLIER?

'CAUSE WE HAD A BIG ARGUMENT.

OKAY? I DIDN'T WANT YOU
TO THINK I HAD A MOTIVE.

OKAY. WHAT DID YOU ARGUE ABOUT?

ABIGAIL ZEALY? NO, MAN.
JUST MERCHANDISING.

YOU ARGUED ABOUT
MERCHANDISING? YEAH.

WARREN THOUGHT HE
DESERVED 70% FOR THE CONCEPT,

BUT I THINK, SINCE I DID
THE ACTUAL DRAWINGS, I...

DO YOU HAVE A PUBLISHER? NO.

AND NOW WE NEVER
WILL. LOOK, IF...

IF YOU THINK THAT I KILLED
WARREN, I'M NOT THAT STUPID, MAN.

SO WHO DO YOU
THINK KILLED WARREN?

I DON'T KNOW.
DEFINITELY NOT ME, OKAY?

WELL, YOU KNOW, STEW,
AS OF THIS MOMENT,

YOU'RE THE PRIME SUSPECT
IN WARREN'S MURDER.

WHY? WHY? BECAUSE YOU LIED ABOUT
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WARREN.

SO IF I WERE YOU,
I WOULD THINK...

REALLY, REALLY HARD IF THERE'S
ANYTHING ELSE YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME.

ALL RIGHT. ABBY. ABBY.

TRIANGLE.

LOOK. I HOOKED UP WITH HER A FEW
TIMES, BUT SHE WAS OBSESSED WITH WARREN.

SO YOU DID ARGUE
ABOUT HER? NO, MAN.

WARREN NEVER WANTED ABBY.

OKAY. MAYBE IT MADE YOU
JEALOUS THAT SHE WANTED HIM?

DUDE, ABBY'S CUTE IN A
CHICK GEEK KIND OF WAY,

BUT SHE'S DEFINITELY NOT THAT KIND OF
BETTY YOU GO TO THE DEATH CHAMBER FOR.

STEW, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE ONE OF
THOSE GUYS WHO'S WAY TOO GOOD AT LYING.

DUDE, I'M AN ARTIST.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?

I FOUND THE EXTRA
PIECE OF BONE...

LODGED HERE IN THE
ODONTOID PROCESS OF C2.

I... I WENT THROUGH ALL THE
CHIPPING AND DAMAGE AGAIN,

BUT I CAN'T FIND
WHERE IT CAME FROM.

WELL, IT'S NOT FROM
THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE.

OH, IT'S NOT? IT'S
FROM A LONG BONE.

PROBABLY THE DELTOID
PROCESS OF A HUMERUS.

ARM BONE?

I NEED YOU TO SET
UP THE MICROTOME.

AND GET ME PARAFFIN
AND AN EMBEDDING MOLD.

ARE YOU GOING TO PREP
YOUR OWN BONE SLIDE? YES.

- USUALLY I DO THAT FOR YOU.
- THIS IS A TOUGH ONE, ZACK.

THE PIECE IS SMALL, AND I NEED TO MAKE SURE
THERE'S ENOUGH LEFT FOR A D.N.A. SAMPLE.

WAIT. WARREN GRANGER'S
ARM BONES ARE COMPLETE.

THIS EXTRA BONE FRAGMENT
DIDN'T COME FROM WARREN GRANGER.

WARREN GRANGER WAS THE VICTIM
OF A VIOLENT ATTACK. HE FOUGHT BACK.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
DURING THAT STRUGGLE...

HE STRUCK HIS ATTACKER WITH THE SAME
WEAPON THAT WAS LATER USED TO KILL HIM.

WHICH MEANS THAT PIECE OF BONE
COULD'VE COME FROM HIS MURDERER.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

BREATHING ON THE SAMPLE DISSIPATES STATIC
ELECTRICITY AND MAKES IT EASIER TO CUT.

YOU SEEM NERVOUS.

IF I GET THIS RIGHT, I'LL
BE ABLE TO TELL YOU...

THE AGE, SEX AND RACE OF
WARREN GRANGER'S KILLER.

STEW WAS THE ARTIST. REALLY?

YOU THINK HE KILLED WARREN
OVER ARTISTIC DIFFERENCES?

HE ALSO HAD A
THING FOR ABBY. WOW.

YEAH. FOR A RECLUSE, WARREN GRANGER...
HE HAD HIS THUMB IN A LOT OF PIES.

YOU SAID BEFORE THAT
WARREN REMINDED YOU OF ME.

YOU THINK I'M JUST
LIKE HIM, THAT...

HE HID FROM LIFE BY IMMERSING HIMSELF
IN A FANTASY WORLD WHERE HE FOUGHT CRIME.

AND I DO THE SAME THING, ONLY
I DON'T HAVE SUPERPOWERS. I...

I HAVE SCIENCE.

NO, BONES. YOU DO FIGHT
CRIME. IT'S NOT A FANTASY.

AS FAR AS ANY NORMAL PERSON IS
CONCERNED, YOU DO HAVE SUPERPOWERS.

YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT
TO ME. NO, I DON'T DO THAT.

YES, YOU DO. YOU LIED TO
WARREN GRANGER'S MOTHER...

TO MAKE HER FEEL BETTER.

THAT SEEMS TO BE
YOUR SUPERPOWER.

LOOK. THIS PIECE OF
BONE YOU'RE ANALYZING...

HOW DID IT GET LODGED IN
WARREN GRANGER'S NECK?

IT WAS DEPOSITED BY THE SAME
WEAPON THAT SEVERED HIS SPINAL CORD.

DOESN'T MAKE IT
THE KILLER'S BONE.

ARE YOU THINKING A... A
SEPARATE MURDER VICTIM?

OPALESCENCE. UH, WOMAN HE LOVED.

I DON'T THINK SHE'S DEAD.

WHY? THIS IS AN ARM BONE.

HAS ANYONE WE'VE SEEN ON THIS
CASE BEEN FAVORING HER ARM?

NOT THAT I'VE NOTICED.

THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE
NOT AN ANTHROPOLOGIST...

WITH SUPERPOWERS. HA.

THAT'S GOOD.

OH. HELLO.

ANY NEWS ABOUT WARREN?

WE'RE STILL IN THE INITIAL PHASE OF
OUR INVESTIGATION. MR. McGRUDER,

YOU DIDN'T HAPPEN TO KEEP
THAT, UH, LAST PAYROLL CHECK...

FOR WARREN GRANGER
THAT YOU TOLD ME ABOUT?

- BY LAW I HAVE TO. YEAH.
- YOU MIND DIGGING
THAT UP FOR US?

I APOLOGIZE FOR
THE INCONVENIENCE.

I GUESS. IT'S PROBABLY
IN THE FILE SOMEWHERE.

- WHAT DO YOU NEED THE PAYCHECK FOR?
- - AH, IT'S TECHNICAL.

MRS. McGRUDER, WHAT'S
WRONG WITH YOUR LEFT SIDE?

WHY WOULD YOU ASK ME THAT?

I NOTICED HOW YOU HELD
YOURSELF LAST TIME I WAS HERE.

I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. THOUGH,
VIEWED THROUGH THE CURRENT CONTEXT, I...

- WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?
- SHE WANTS TO KNOW
HOW YOU HURT YOURSELF.

YOU WALK AS THOUGH YOUR LEFT RIBS ARE
CRACKED. ALSO, YOU FAVOR YOUR LEFT ARM.

OH, I, UM...

I... I... FELL ON THE LANES.

THEY'RE VERY SLIPPERY.

FALLING WOULD BRUISE A NUMBER OF
RIBS. YOU'RE FAVORING ONLY ONE OR TWO.

THE TYPE OF DAMAGE
DONE BY A FIST.

LOOK. WERE YOU AND WARREN CLOSE?

HE WAS A NICE KID.

- A REALLY NICE KID.
- HERE IT IS.

YOU TWO WANT TO BOWL A FEW
FRAMES? GOT SOME EMPTY LANES.

I'LL SEE YOU IN THE COMIC
BOOKS, BUSTER. WHAT?

THANKS. I... I'LL GET
THIS BACK TO YOU.

IT'S "SEE YOU IN THE FUNNY
PAGES." OKAY. I TOOK A LIBERTY.

HER HUSBAND BEATS HER. BONES. ALL
RIGHT. TALK ABOUT MULTIPLE HYPOTHESES.

IT'S A LEAP, YES, BUT IT WAS BOUND TO
HAPPEN, ME SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WITH YOU.

I MEAN THAT AS A COMPLIMENT.

OKAY. SO WARREN'S FORMER BOSS IS THE TWISTED,
AND THE BOSS'S WIFE IS THE OPALESCENCE.

GO BACK AND ARREST
HIM. IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

OKAY? FOR THAT WE NEED
SOMETHING JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE REAL.

EVIDENCE. COLD HARD FACTS, BABY.

DR. BRENNAN, BASED ON
YOUR HISTOLOGY AND THE D.N.A.,

THE BONE CHIP FOUND IN WARREN GRANGER'S
NECK CAME FROM A CAUCASIAN MALE, MID-30s.

McGRUDER. WHAT? CAN YOU GET ANY
MORE SPECIFIC? WE NEED THE WEAPON.

I CAN GET A WARRANT, SEARCH THE
McGRUDER HOUSE FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT.

THAT'S THE TROUBLE. WE DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WE HIT A DEAD END TRYING TO REVERSE
ENGINEER IT FROM THE MARK ON THE NECK.

TOO MUCH DAMAGE
AND FRAGMENTATION.

WAIT. YOU SAID THAT IN BOOKS YOU
COULD FIND THE REAL-WORLD VERSION.

YEAH. WELL, I MEAN, IF YOU
KNOW YOU, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS.

WELL, GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE.

OKAY. WELL, IN YOUR BOOK, YOUR
PARTNER'S A FORMER OLYMPIC BOXER...

WHO GRADUATED FROM HARVARD
AND SPOKE SIX DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

IN REAL LIFE, YOU GOT ME.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT REALITY
FALLS FAR, FAR SHORT OF THE FICTIONAL.

YEAH. THANKS A LOT, BONES.

WARREN GRANGER'S SPINAL CORD
WAS SEVERED BY SOMETHING SHARP,

BUT NOT A KNIFE.

OKAY. IF IT WASN'T A
KNIFE, WHAT WAS IT?

THE CLOSEST MATCH I COULD FIND WOULD
BE A CORKSCREW OR A TIBETAN SKULL KNIFE,

BUT NEITHER OF THEM EXPLAIN HOW FOREIGN
BONE WAS LEFT LODGED IN THE VERTEBRAE.

PULL UP CITIZEN
14's WEAPON THING.

IT WAS A BOOMERANG
THING, LIKE A SONIC GUN.

A LASER CUTLASS. THAT THING THAT
ALLOWED HIM TO HEAR THROUGH WALLS.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS A
DRABBER, MORE BANAL VERSION IN THE REAL WORLD.

WELL, WHY WOULD HE BE
KILLED BY HIS OWN WEAPON?

WELL, BECAUSE HE PROBABLY HAD IT ON HIM THE
NIGHT HE DECIDED TO CONFRONT TED McGRUDER.

CITIZEN 14's ARSENAL.

WHAT'S THAT? THAT'S
HIS MAIN WEAPON.

IT'S A THREE-SIDED THROWING
KNIFE THAT RETURNS TO HIM.

BUT NONE OF THEM MAKE THE WOUND THAT RESEMBLE
THE ONE THAT SEVERED WARREN'S SPINAL CORD.

IT'S JUST AN IDEA. BONES...

NO. I... I FELL INTO THE EXACT
THING THAT I WARNED YOU ABOUT:

DEVELOPING TOO MANY
HYPOTHESES NOT GROUNDED IN FACT.

NO. BONES, I KNOW EXACTLY
WHICH DRAB REAL-WORLD THING...

WAS USED TO MURDER
WARREN GRANGER.

THIS KID WANTS TO FEEL LIKE A HERO.
SUDDENLY HE'S FACING A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS.

LUCY McGRUDER IS 10 YEARS OLDER.

NO. IT'S NOT THE DAMSEL PART THAT MATTERS.
IT'S THE DISTRESS THAT APPEALED TO THE KID.

YOU KNOW? I MEAN, LOOK. IT WASN'T ABOUT
THE SEX OR THE ROMANCE. IT NEVER WAS.

HE WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THE WORLD BEFORE HE DIED.

I TOLD YOU HE WAS
MORE LIKE YOU THAN ME.

22705, DISPATCH.

22705.

UNIT SENT TO SUSPECT'S RESIDENCE
REPORTS THE DOMICILE IS EMPTY.

NO ONE'S THERE? WHAT
ABOUT THE WIFE? NEGATIVE.

SEARCH TEAM IS INSIDE THE
HOUSE. IT'S EMPTY. SIGNS OF FLIGHT.

AFFIRMATIVE, UH, DISPATCH.

WHAT? HE BEATS HER, BUT SHE
TAKES OFF WITH HIM ANYWAY?

SPOUSAL ABUSE SYNDROME.

DISPATCH, 22705.

DISPATCH. CAN YOU SEND A BACKUP
UNIT TO CAPITAL BOWL, 1123 SEA BOLT?

DOMESTIC DISTURBANCES
ARE ALWAYS WEIRD, OKAY?

YOU KNOW, THE WOMAN GETS BEAT ON BY HER
HUSBAND. THE CAVALRY TURNS UP TO SAVE HER.

YOU'D THINK SHE'D BE ON THE
SAME SIDE AS THE RESCUERS, BUT...

SOMETIMES... YOU'RE SAYING
WATCH OUT FOR THE WIFE.

ALL I'M SAYING IS
JUST STAY ALERT.

OKAY, BONES? OKAY. OKAY.

TED, WHY ARE WE
DOING THIS? SHUT UP.

YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. LUCY, I
SWEAR TO GOD. IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP...

I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T HURT WARREN.

OF COURSE HE WOULD. YOU
SEE, THAT'S WHAT HE DOES.

- HE LIKES TO BEAT UP PEOPLE
WEAKER THAN HIM.
- WE ARE CLOSED.

WELL, YOU LEFT
YOUR DOOR UNLOCKED.

PROBABLY AN OVERSIGHT
DUE TO YOUR STATE OF PANIC.

YEAH. THE LIGHTS WERE ON. YOU
SEE, WE SUSPECTED A ROBBERY.

SAY, YOU HAVE A BEVEL KNIFE?

- A WHAT?
- IT'S A TRIANGULAR
THREE-SIDED KNIFE.

TO CLEAN OUT BOWLING BALL HOLES.
I USED TO HAVE ONE BACK IN THE DAY.

YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO HAVE
ONE AROUND HERE, WOULD YOU?

YOU NEED A WARRANT. YOU NEED A
WARRANT TO TAKE ANY OF MY STUFF.

LUCY, WE NEED A BEVEL KNIFE.

- WE KEEP ONE IN HERE.
- SHUT UP, LUCY!

WHY DON'T YOU SMACK HER AROUND A LITTLE
BIT THERE, TED? KEEP YOUR WOMAN IN LINE.

YEAH. THIS COULD'VE DONE IT.

SAY, BONES. THAT, UH, BONE CHIP.
UH, SECOND VICTIM OR MURDERER?

WELL, FOR WARREN'S SAKE, I
HOPE IT WAS THE MURDERER.

ME TOO.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT? JUST GET OUT OF HERE.

- IT'D BE HIS LEFT ARM.
- WHAT?

WELL, WARREN WAS RIGHT-HANDED, SO THE
WOUND WOULD BE ON YOUR HUSBAND'S LEFT ARM.

- OH, MY GOD.
- BONES.

NO!

RIGHT THERE.

I GOT HIM. I GOT HIM.
I GOT HIM. ALL RIGHT.

AW, HELL, BONES. LOOKS LIKE YOU
OPENED UP AN OLD WOUND THERE.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. LET'S
GO. YOU KNOW WHAT?

YOU'RE UNDER ARREST. I REALLY
HATE A WIFE BEATER. I REALLY DO.

ALMOST AS MUCH AS I HATE
SOMEONE WHO KILLS A DYING KID.

WARREN KNEW WHAT TED DID TO YOU.

DID YOU TELL HIM? I DIDN'T
HAVE TO. HE SAW ONE NIGHT.

TED HIT ME, AND...

WARREN...

WARREN RAN AWAY.

- WHY DIDN'T YOU
GO TO THE POLICE?
- BECAUSE...

IT'S NOT ALL THE TIME, AND...

I-IT'S JUST WHEN THINGS GO BAD
AND HE'S UNDER A LOT OF STRAIN.

TED HAS A BAD TEMPER.

WARREN WANTED TO RESCUE YOU.

OH, MY GOD. HE PROBABLY JUST
WANTED TO INTIMIDATE YOUR HUSBAND,

STOP HIM FROM ATTACKING YOU.

WARREN STABBED YOUR HUSBAND
IN THE ARM WITH THE BEVEL KNIFE.

TED TOOK THE KNIFE
AWAY FROM WARREN.

IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
HARD. THE BOY WAS VERY ILL.

AFTER THAT, IT'S LIKE YOU SAID.
YOUR HUSBAND HAS A BAD TEMPER.

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WHAT'S THAT MEAN?