The Writer at the Lincoln Memorial

The Dark Parallel Between Fiction and Reality

Over the course of three weeks, over 100 people, including two of Laney's cousins who live in D.C., and who were acquaintances of Laney's in Mississippi, complied to being fingerprinted. While waiting for the 100 plus fingerprints to be analyzed, a profiler was called in to help the Jeffersonian team and the FBI paint a picture of their perpetrator.

The profiler concluded that the killer:

-is a white male

-in his early 20s to mid 40s

-has a history of losing jobs

-has history of being rejected by women

-has an estranged relationship with his mother.

The evidence also suggested that the killer knew Laney. Meredith continued her work by making sure there wasn't anything on the remains that she overlooked, and donned her magnification goggles. In Laney's trachea, Meredith found a single, light colored fiber. Meredith removed the fiber carefully and placed it under an electron microscope, and identified the fiber as tan in color and triangular or trilobal in shape. Trilobal fibers are man made and are commonly found in homes, vehicles, and sometimes offices.

Based on the fiber evidence, Meredith concluded that Laney was either inside the killer's home, vehicle, or office when she ingested the fiber shortly before she died. Hodgins scraped the remnants of Laney's clothes for particulates and other microscopic evidence into Petrie dishes. He placed each Petrie dish under the microscope and found the particulates to be geological evidence— soil. As Hodgins worked on analyzing the soil samples and the other particulates, Meredith sat in Bones' office and finished reading her book— The Bones That Talk. As she reached the 'about the author' part of the book, she realized that the writer was Laney Thompson— the victim. Meredith then remembered that the victim in Laney's book had predicted that she would die at the hands of someone who's jealousy turned into anger and eventually murder. Meredith thought to herself, "Could this be the key to solving Laney's murder? Did Laney write and solve her own murder?" Over in Hodgins' office, the analysis of the sample revealed that the soil was a mixture of various compounds that are commonly found in the soil in D.C and in Natchez, therefore Hodgins was able to prove that Laney was buried in Mississippi and D.C before her remains were discovered at the Lincoln Memorial. Both Hodgins and Meredith then set off to let the team know of their findings.

"Mom, Aunt Cam, Aunt Ange," said Meredith as she rushed up onto the platform. Cam asked, "What is it?" Meredith replied, "I found a tan, trilobal fiber in Laney's trachea and as I finished reading my book, The Bones That Talk, I realized that it was written by our victim, Laney Thompson. The main character predicted that she would die at the hands of someone who's jealousy turned into anger and eventually murder." Hodgins said, "I scraped the remnants of Laney's clothes for particulates and other microscopic evidence and found the particulates to be geological evidence which was soil that contained a mixture of various compounds that are native to both D.C. and Natchez." Angela, realizing what Hodgins was saying, said, "That means that...," "Laney was buried in Mississippi and D.C before her remains were discovered at the Lincoln Memorial," Hodgins and Angela said in unison. Cam said, "Very nice, you two." Hodgins and Meredith smiled and high-fived each other. "I think this calls for a celebratory dinner tonight," said Angela. They all nodded. Bones called Booth and told him about Hodgins' and Meredith's finds and the celebratory dinner. As the team waited for their food to be brought out, Meredith said, "Mom, you know how the word 'THIEF' was written in Laney's blood on President Lincoln's forehead at the Lincoln Memorial?" Bones nodded.

"I was reading Laney's book, The Bones That Talk, and the main character named Emilee Flynn was murdered in the same manner as Laney. Emilee's co-worker at the crime lab in Texas, Lewis Embry, said that Emilee stole the credit for a new technique for rehydrating fingerprints using dishwashing liquid and baking soda, but it was indeed Emilee's technique. Embry became jealous and angry when Emilee got the promotion of senior crime lab technician." Cam said, "I've read that book. Emilee was 23 and Lewis Embry was 36– the same age difference between Laney and her killer. Emilee's remains were found by a group of fifth graders at the 9/11 Memorial. Emilee was stabbed 25 times with a Swiss Army knife." Angela said then pausing, "It's almost as if," "Laney wrote her own murder," Angela and Meredith said in unison. "Whoever killed Laney must have read her book and planned her murder in the same manner as Emilee's murder," said Bones. They all nodded. The waitress then entered with their food. "Thank you," they all replied as they received their meals. The waitress replied, "You're all very welcome. Is there anything else that I can get for you guys?" "I think we're good," said Cam, "thank you." "No problem," said the waitress as she smiled and departed from the team's table. Booth then pondered the facts he was told in his mind.

Booth asked, "So we're possibly looking for a disgruntled coworker with a jealous streak and who read the victim's book?" Once they were done with their meals, the waitress began to clear the dishes from the table, and handed them their respective checks. Booth, Hodgins, and Cam tipped the waitress and handed her their payments. "Thank you. I hope you guys have a wonderful night," said the waitress. "Thank you, you, too," they replied as they exited the restaurant.