Family Dynamics

Brennan’s life had been much simpler without family.

Just a year and a half ago it had all been clear-cut and straightforward; her parents were gone, presumed dead for over a decade, and she and her brother, Russ, hadn’t spoken in years.

No family, no complications.

Then, her mother’s remains had surfaced and everything had changed.

Now her father is in jail awaiting trial for murdering a deputy director of the FBI. Russ, wanted by the authorities for violating his parole and as a witness in the murder case, is in hiding and only their father knows where. And Russ’s girlfriend, Amy, is in town in the hopes that Brennan can help her contact him.

Brennan would not say that her life is worse for having family again. But it is definitely more complicated.

She knew that Amy’s younger daughter had health problems—Russ had told her as much the last time she had seen him. That is why Amy is so anxious to get in touch with Russ; the little girl’s condition has taken a downturn.

That much at least, Brennan could help with. One phone call to a friend, and Amy’s daughter had been placed in the care of the country’s premier authority on Cystic Fibrosis. Brennan knows that she was under no obligation to help—Amy and her daughters are not family, technically, legally or otherwise. But Russ loves them and that is enough.

But Amy’s request? That Brennan ask her father to get a message to Russ? Somehow that is harder to address.

You look my baby in the face and tell her that she can’t see her father because you’re mad at yours.

Amy’s argument is logical. But Brennan family dynamics made the Widow’s Son case look simple.