Richie placed the phone call to Detective Mulloy for the tenth time today. He'd been hounding the police constantly for updates on the investigation and Raiden's whereabouts.

In the meantime, he'd been in touch with his lawyer in regards to legally adopting Raiden as soon as he's found. He refused to believe that he would never see Raiden again, alive or otherwise. The thought of that made his stomach churn. He had to hold onto his faith that he would see him again and soon.

He'd woken this morning with a monster headache, curled up on the sofa in the Shoe Inn with his head in Jon's lap. Richie lay still as he took stock of what had happened yesterday and he felt his heartbreak all over again.

Sometime after he'd fallen asleep, Jon must have linked their hands as they used to do as he felt a familiar warmth around his fingers.

Jon shifted in his sleep and let out a soft moan that sounded suspiciously like his name. Richie snorted softly at the insistent growth coming from behind his head as he lay there. He smiled and squeezed Jon's fingers.

He was about to roll over and relieve Jon of his predicament when he heard his phone from somewhere behind him, the vibrations tickling his lower back. He sat up quickly causing his head to spin and his stomach to lurch as he searched for his phone.

"Hello?" he said.

Jon woke beside him and stretched, blinking at the morning light streaming through the windows.

"Mr. Sambora? This is Detective Mulloy returning your calls. I'm sorry I couldn't call sooner but we've been busy this morning piecing events together."

"Do you have any news on Raiden? Did the pictures help?" Richie asked, standing and pacing in the small pub. Jon reached for his cigarettes and lit two, handing one to Richie on his way past.

"We don't know where Raiden is yet, no. But we're following a lead at the moment. Following the crash investigation, they found the brake lines were cut in Ms. Brockman's car."

"Can you hold a moment, I'm just going to put you on speaker." Richie pressed the appropriate button on the screen then said, "Okay, Detective, you're on speaker. Jon is here too."

Detective Mulloy continued with the findings. "There's been a team at the Bryan residence too investigating the fire and we have reason to believe Lexi was conspiring with her husband. Charred remains of photos with Raiden and Natalie were found in the fireplace along with a fake driver's license, psychiatrist evaluation, and vehicle manual. Mrs. Bryan's thumbprint was on the photos."

"Fucking bitch!" Richie swore. "Always thought there was something not quite right with her."

"Detective," Jon spoke, his morning voice husky from sleep, "Were you able to tell if the child was alive in those photos?"

"Unfortunately no. The photo is too distorted. Our forensics team is working to try and enhance the photos. They also found a partial fingerprint on the break line. It's smudged and doesn't match Mrs. Bryan. We're waiting on Mr. Bryan's passport application to compare his fingerprint to the partial."

"Thank you, Detective," Richie responded, "I'll be in touch if we think of anything else."

"Hold on a moment," the detective requested. Richie and Jon listened and could hear him speaking to someone in the background. "When? To Kennedy? Have them pick her up. Who did she call? Okay...Call the airport and stall the plane. Do not let her leave...Mr. Sambora, you still there?"

"Yeah, I'm here, we both are," Richie said.

"Do you know a Jenna Hatfield? I'm going to send you a photo. One moment please," Mulloy said.

Richie frowned as he searched his memory for that name. He had alarm bells ringing distantly but couldn't pinpoint it until the phone buzzed with the forwarded photo.

"Oh fuck!" he said as a face he thought he'd never see again popped up, on his screen. The face that was the downfall of his engagement with Natalie. He groaned and sat heavily on the couch behind him. "Yeah, yeah I know her. What's she got to do with all of this?" He could see Jon looking at him quizzically.

"Mrs. Bryan called her. IT was able to track her phone and she's heading towards Kennedy Airport. There were several text messages between the two women. Do you know if Mrs. Bryan was divorcing David?"

"They've been on and off so many times over the years, it's hard to tell," Jon spoke for the first time in a while, "Who is she and how does she fit into all of this?"

"She was who Nat found me with," Richie said, looking up at Jon.

"She is also in a romantic relationship with Mrs. Bryan. We have police dispatched to pick them both up and bring them in for questioning,"

"So you think they were in this together? From the start?" Jon asked.

Richie rubbed at his sore temples as all the memories of that night were dredged up and making his head spin. Fuck, it's all his fault. Was it all a set-up from the start? What did he ever do to Lexi? He hardly gave her the time of day after she tried to seduce him one night. If he hadn't slept with this Jenna woman, then ultimately, Nat would be alive. It was like a sick fucking domino effect or something.

"I can't say. Right now, there's nothing tying Ms. Hatfield to any crime. I need to go but I'll call with any updates." The line went dead. Richie and Jon stared at the phone in silence.

"This?? This is who you slept with?" Jon asked after a period of silence, "She doesn't even look like Heather? You must have been seriously fucked up that night, Rich? Thought you had better taste than that."

"I'm not proud of it, Jonny, but yeah, it happened," Richie said. "Can I use my old room for a shower? I can't remember the last one. We can talk more afterward. Please?"

"Sure, babe. I'm sorry, Rich, but it's gonna be a fucking serious talk this time," he said and followed Richie out of the pub, setting the alarm before closing the door. He stood watching a dejected Richie wandering toward the big house before he jogged a little to catch up.

*~*Lexi*~*

Jenna smiled as Lexi's car pulled up to the tarmac, her slim blonde lover stepping out into the sunshine. "About time, baby. Thought I'd have to go on vacation alone," she teased.

Lexi greeted her with a kiss. "Oh shush. I've been waiting for this day."

"There's a delay with takeoff but drinks are waiting...and so is the bed," Jenna teased and hauled Lexi against her. The two giggled and boarded the private jet. "Got everything I assume? You know you won't be able to go back to that house."

"No worries," Lexi replied and opened her large Louis Vuitton handbag, showing Jenna the collection of gold and diamond jewelry. "We're good. Everything else is in my suitcases."

"My my...you have been spoiled," Jenna giggled, taking out a diamond necklace and holding it up to her large breasts. "How's it look?"

Lexi smirked and reached out to fun a finger along the soft flesh. "Delicious."

"How long till take off?" she purred to the passing flight attendant.

"Not much longer, madam," the attendant answered and hurried off. Lexi rolled her eyes and sat in one of the plush chair, picking up a glass of champagne and raised it to her lips. She was just admiring Jenna's mini skirt when sirens rang from outside.

"What the..." Jenna gasped. "David doesn't know, does he?!"

"He couldn't..." Lexi shook her head. The side door opened and the stairs folded out. They watched three officers approach the jet, guns drawn, and ascend the steps. Lexi wrapped an arm around Jenna's waist and kissed her shoulder.

"Mrs. Lexi Bryan?! You're under arrest for suspicion of the murder of Ms. Natalie Brockman, extortion, arson, tampering with a vehicle resulting in death and kidnapping," the eldest officer called out as the other officers converged around Lexi.

"That's ridiculous! I have no idea what you're talking about," Lexi protested disdainfully. As she was pulled forcefully from her seat, she yelled, "Get your hands off of me!"

Jenna lunged for Lexi but was stopped by another officer. "Jenna Hatfield, you're also under arrest for conspiracy and accomplice to extortion."

"Like hell I am!" Jenna spat at the officer.

Lexi, however, saw no more as she was dragged from the jet and pushed into a squad car. She watched the airport disappear and leaned forward to the officers as they pulled onto the highway. "Come on, I haven't done anything. Just let me out and I'm sure we can come to an agreement."

"Are you attempting to bribe police officers, ma'am?"

"Of course not," Lexi simpered. "I'm just saying we can make an arrangement we'll all be happy with."

"How about you just sit back and enjoy the ride before we add more charges against you!"

"Do you even know who I am?!"

"Mother Theresa?" he asked with a straight face before both officers roared with laughter at their joke.

Lexi scoffed at their ignorance. "My husband is extremely rich. David Bryan of Bon Jovi. Perhaps you've heard of them before?! This is no way to treat a rockstar's wife!"

"Phht...has-beens! Listen, Mrs. Rockstar, your husband is currently being sought after by the FBI so he, and his money, won't be any use to you."

"Why is he being sought out?!"

"Just sit back and shut up."

Lexi grumbled and threw herself back into the seat, the gears in her head-turning. No way am I going down for this. She caught the driver's eye in the rearview mirror and smirked, spreading her legs to show clear up her skirt. She winked and licked her lips.

"If you've got so much money, lady, then why are you acting like a $10 hooker? Do you think we haven't seen it all before? Seen plenty better than yours."

"It won over a multi-millionaire--"

"Thank god we're here. I've just about had enough of this entitled bitch," the officer in the passenger's side complained. The car pulled into the police station at that point and she was hauled unceremoniously from the back of the car into one of the interrogations rooms. She rubbed at her chafed wrists after the handcuffs were taken off and paced furiously in the confined space.

The detectives stood outside the room, observing her through a one-way mirror and combing through the case file. "Who released her from the hospital?" Mulloy asked his partner.

"She checked herself out," Howlett replied and took Lexi's bag from the officer. "Looks like she was ready to clean out her husband's accounts. Checkbook, cash, credit cards, jewelry...appears she grabbed some of his rings too."

"Sounds like she wasn't planning on coming back. Disappearing with the girlfriend?"

"Appears so. From text messages, Mr. Bryan was waiting for her. She and Ms. Hatfield were heading overseas."

"What was the motive? I can't put my finger on it," he frowned.

Howlett shrugged. "Guess we need to find out from her...if she's willing to talk."

Mulloy nodded and took the handbag and case file. He entered the room and smiled at Lexi, setting her handbag and file on the table. "Mrs. Bryan...Detective Mulloy. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Hmm...finally a man with taste. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" she sneered and inspected her nails nonchalantly.

He sat in his chair and motioned to the one across from him. Lexi reluctantly sat down. "I think we'll save a lot of time if we agree not to lie to each other. Would you agree?"

"Do I look like someone that lies?" she asked, quirking her eyebrows at him.

"Looks can be deceiving. Prove me wrong. You're a woman that loves a challenge, don't you?"

"I've been known to go after what I desire, yes."

Mulloy smiled and leaned in, steepling his fingers. "And what is it that you desire, Lexi...may I call you Lexi?"

"You may...Officer..? I'm sorry, I don't remember your name. I have such a bad memory."

"Detective Charles Mulloy. Call me Charles," he replied. "Was your husband a challenge? What attracted you to him?"

"Oh no, David was so terribly easy. What attracted me? His money. His looks and the sex. The sex, in the beginning, was wild...amazing, shame it took a sudden turn."

Mulloy slid out a photo of Natalie and faced it to Lexi. "But a challenge did arise with David, didn't it?" He took out another photo, this one of David and Natalie together.

She barely spared the photos a look. She'd seen them all before, or a variation of them. She rolled her eyes with a long sigh, "A minor inconvenience."

"Maybe even...a threat? One female who held the power to take away all you'd worked for..."

"That bitch was no threat to me! I hold all the power over my husband. He answered only to his Mistress," Lexi snarled, voice dripping with venom, then suddenly snapped her mouth shut as soon as she realized what she'd inadvertently given away.

The detective smirked and showed a photo of David and Natalie in bed, kissing. "Your husband started an affair with a woman half your age. A man would only do that if he was...bored with his partner..."

"I had been otherwise occupied at the time. I had let control slip momentarily," she shrugged.

"Perhaps he was tired of being controlled..."

"Oh no. He always came back, begging for more when he needed a firm hand," she said, "His...assistant...couldn't give what he needed."

Mulloy smiled and showed her a photo of Raiden. "Until she gave him a son. Something, according to medical records, you were unable to do. Did your husband know that? I bet that pissed you off, didn't it? This younger woman waltzing into your home...seducing your husband...giving him a son..."

"She was put in her place...as instructed," Lexi said, a small pout graced her mouth.

He stood and walked around the table, sitting one ass cheek on the metal and grinned down charmingly at Lexi. "How so? C'mon...just between us..."

Lexi looked up at the detective from beneath her false lashes, fluttering them a little and shifting so that he had a clear view of her breasts, "She was paid handsomely to remove herself from my husband's life."

Mulloy reached for the case file and dropped photos of the brake line and thumbprint in front of her. "Ms. Brockman's brake line that was cut...and a thumbprint we found..."

"I think we're through talking, handsome. How about I call my lawyer and you two can...hash out the details? Your questions tire me."

"But we were doing so well, Lexi. A friendly conversation. If you had so much control over your husband then--"

"I said we're done talking, Detective," Lexi said as she sat back in her seat and folded her arms across herself, "Unless...unless we can work out some kind of deal."

"Why would we give you a deal instead of arresting you for obstruction?"

Lexi crossed her legs and simpered, "Why would I help if I get nothing in return?"

Mulloy took a deep breath and excused himself to call the prosecutor, during which time Lexi's lawyer had arrived demanding his client be released. "She's not going anywhere. Lexi agreed to talk."

After receiving clearance only for immunity to the murder and kidnapping charges, he returned to Lexi with the lawyer. "We can do partial immunity to the murder and kidnapping charges under the condition you testify against your husband...and you're able to lead us to him."

"Surely you can do better," the lawyer piped in. "You have nothing connecting my client to any murder."

"She can admit to her part, if any, or rot in a jail cell during a trial," Mulloy stated and smiled at Lexi. "5 to 15 years rather than a life sentence. That's the deal. Take it or get locked up."

Lexi exchanged whispers with her lawyer before nodding to the detective, who pressed record on a mic.

"Was the explosion at your home set up?"

"Heating system was faulty. Gas leak or something. Any spark could have set it off," Lexi replied.

"So you lit the fireplace?"

Lexi smiled and answered, "I was cold"

"You realize you've killed 2 innocent people?" Mulloy asked.

"Collateral damage," Lexi shrugged.

"Was Natalie collateral damage too? She was raped. Did you know about that?"

"Nothing collateral about that bitch. She got what she deserved."

"So was it you or David who cut her brake lines?" Mulloy tapped a finger over the brake line photo.

"I don't know much about cars."

"Does your husband?"

Lexi laughed. "Vroom vroom, Hunny."

"David was institutionalized, wasn't he? After serving time in jail?"

"Yes."

"How is he doing now?"

"Medicated."

"Is he still taking that medication?"

"As far as I'm aware."

"Does the medication make him more pliable to you...persuasions?"

"It certainly doesn't hinder."

"Then why did his pharmacy report he hadn't filled those medications for several months?"

"I'm not his mother."

"Where is your husband, Mrs. Bryan?"

"His favorite place. St Tropez. Waiting for me," Lexi sighed. "On our yacht."

"Who else is with him?"

"His kids. His bastard son may or may not be alive. David has a little temper."

"When did they leave the country?"

"The morning before the..."

"The what, Lexi?"

"Before the most unfortunate accident. Give my condolences to the family."

"What accident are you referring to?"

Lexi's eyes go wide and realized the detectives never mentioned Natalie's accident. Her lawyer placed his hand on her arm to caution her in what she says next.

"I'm waiting for an answer."

"Well...you said her lines were cut...so I assumed..."

"Ms. Brockman was killed in a motor vehicle accident this morning, Lexi. Her brakes failed. Now, who cut her brake lines? You said you were always in control. His Mistress. Was it your mentally unstable husband? Did you order him to cut the brakes so the homewrecking bitch would be gone for good?!"

Lexi smiled coldly at Mulloy. "She would have been fine if she'd stayed away from David."

Her lawyer groaned and tapped his pen in frustration.

Mulloy slammed Lexi's phone on the table. "Call him. Find out where he is. And for your sake, you better pray that the child is alive."