"Tony…he knows some guys there! That's all we were doing was visiting his friends, army buddies. We didn't say nothing to the cops about you or the fights," Brennan pleaded in her Roxie accent. She hoped he would buy the story.

He stared at her for a few seconds, and she was afraid he was going to choke or hit her again.

"You're lying," he hissed, and raised a hand to her.

"I swear it's the truth!" she screamed before his hand reached her face. He stopped inches away.

He didn't move, so she spoke again, "Tony has army buddies who work here. Just ask him, I promise that's the only reason we went to the station, to say hi. Don't you think the cops would have been breathing down your neck by now if we'd said something?"

Nick seemed to consider this. He walked away from her, and then looked back at the other men in the room, who were still out of her sight.

"She has a point," one chimed in, "If they'd squealed that last fight probably would have been raided."

"But how do we know they're just not waiting us out?" Nick tested, "How can I trust you?" he said to her.

"Call Tony, he'll tell you," she answered, hoping that Nick would do as she asked.

"It's a good story Roxie, but I'm still not entirely convinced. I think you need some time to think it over, and maybe I'll ask Tony. We'll be back later," he replied. He pulled the bandana from his pocket and retied her gag. Then Nick snapped his fingers and headed to the back of the room with the other men. The lights went out and Brennan was again, left alone in the darkness.

In the dark silence, she allowed herself to sob, hoping that if they called Booth, he would be able to play along with her plan. If not, she was afraid her fate was grim.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Booth hesitantly pushed the send button, on Brennan's laptop, to start a web cam conversation with the squints back in DC. He knew there would be no easy way to tell them about her kidnapping, but he needed their help to find her.

"Hey Booth, what's up?" Angela's face filled the screen. It took her no more than three seconds to pick up on the FBI agent's tired, worried face, and change her tone, "Booth, what's wrong?"

Zack and Hodgins appeared on the screen behind the artist at her words.

"Guys, I need your help," Booth began, "I need you to find out what kind of drug could be slipped into a drink, with no odour or taste, and knock someone out in under twenty minutes. It would also have to last about two to three hours, and leave the victim with nasty hang over symptoms. Then, I need you to find out where someone could get this kind of drug in Vegas."

"Ok, we can do that, but it would help if we had a sample. There are numerous date rape drugs out there that fit into that category," Hodgins replied.

"A sample is not possible right now, not till I can find a secure way to get one to you guys."

Angela shook her head, "Booth, what is going on? Why are you asking us this and where is Brennan?" she demanded.

His head dropped into his hands, not knowing how to face his partner's best friends.

"Booth?"

"Bones and I, we went undercover here, that's how we found out about the illegal fighting. I got involved, and tonight, we were drugged…" he trailed off, not wanting to finish.

"Drugged? Booth what do you mean drugged? Where's Brennan?" Angela's voice raised in pitch, concern growing in it.

"She was kidnapped."

Angela gasped and Hodgins took her hand. Zack looked faint.

"I need you guys to help me. It maybe the only way to find her. I can't do much but wait for the call, or I'll blow my cover. I'm going to send you a copy of the note the kidnappers sent me, and hopefully you can find someone to analyze the handwriting," he kept talking, trying to sound like he had a plan.

"How long has she been gone?" Hodgins asked.

"Almost four hours now."

"Do you have any idea who took her?" said Zack.

"I have my suspicions, but again, I can't do much without blowing my cover, and hers. If they find out she's not who they think she is…" he looked away from the screen.

"Listen Booth, we'll do everything we can from this end. Just keep us updated alright?" Angela finally spoke.

"I will. You will probably be hearing from the FBI here as well. They have an agent named Walt who was also undercover. He's working his contacts right now for us."

"We'll do what we can," Hodgins repeated, "You take care of yourself ok?"

Booth nodded, "And guys…I'm sorry. This shouldn't have happened…"

"We know it's not your fault Booth, we'll get her back," Angela tried to reassure him.

Booth said goodbye and signed off, hoping the squints could find something for him to work on. It was then that the room phone rang.

He rushed to pick it up, knowing that only one other person had the number.

"Where is she?" he demanded as soon as he answered.

"What? Now I don't even get a greeting from the great Tony the Tiger?" a voice Booth knew all to well answered.

"Why am I not surprised that you're behind this Nick? Where the hell is she?"

"I can't tell you that Tony."

"You son of a bitch! I told you I would fight so why the hell did you take her?!" Booth's voice rose with his anger.

"She played dumb with us too, at first, but she smartened up after we persuaded her to tell us the truth. Do you want to know why we took her Tony?"

Booth didn't dignify that with a response.

"Because we saw you two go to the cops. Now Roxie has another story as to why you went, because my men were watching you. I'm calling to see if your stories match up. It's key that they do, if not, then things could get ugly really fast."

"If you so much as lay a finger on her, I'll kill you!" Booth growled.

"I'll be the one making the threats Army. Now tell me why you went to the cops, and maybe she'll live."

The FBI agent clenched and unclenched his fists, pacing the room, trying desperately to figure out what Brennan may have told Nick. He was sick to his stomach thinking about what they might do to her if he got the story wrong. Obviously she had been quicker with a lie than he was, because Nick still believed they were Roxie and Tony, but Booth was worried he wouldn't be as smart or fast. He prayed that Walt had a lead on the investigation, and then it hit him.

"I was visiting a few buddies at the station. That's the only reason we went to the cops. Why would I tell them anything about you? I'm not that stupid," he lied, trying not to convey the fear in his voice.

Nick was silent for a few seconds, seeming to think over what had been said. Finally he replied, "Fine. I'll see you at the next fight Army, expect the call before tomorrow evening."

"What about B-Roxie," he quickly corrected himself, "You have to give her back, I've done everything you've told me to."

"Except fight. You'll have her back then, providing you don't mess up before then."

"I want to talk to her."

"You're pushing your limits Tony. Goodbye."

The line went dead, leaving Booth furious. He shouted obscenities into the dead line before slamming it back down on the receiver. He kicked at the bed, and punched the wall. Pain radiated through his fist and it brought him back to reality. He dropped down onto the bed and hung his head. The idea of his Bones out there somewhere being held against her will, her life possibly in danger was to much for him to handle. He had nearly lost her in the past, and still blamed himself for letting Kenton get anywhere near her, and it killed him that she was in danger again, and it was his fault.

He grabbed his cell phone and punched in Walt's number and waited as it rang. There was no way now that he knew Nick was involved, that he was going to sit around and do nothing. And when I get my hands on Nick…he thought, knowing fully well he would get revenge some way or another.

"Hello?" Walt answered.

"It's Booth. Nick Arno just called me. He's behind this, I knew it. Have you got anything new for me?"

"My guys are going through places where previous fights have been held. We think there is a good possibility that she is being held at one of those locations. Local authorities are checking them out using heat sensors, so we don't spook them if we find them. That's good news that we can link Nick to the kidnapping now."
"What about to the underground fights? Do you have enough to nail him for that as well?"

"He's a slick guy and could easily hand off the blame to other scapegoats, or make the evidence disappear. It's the only reason we haven't busted him yet. If we could get someone working with him to talk, to rat him out, that's really all we need. What did he say about your partner?"

"Not much, just that I'd have her back at the next fight, but I don't trust him. We've got to find her before this next fight. Nick saw Bones and I go to the FBI building here. He thinks we went to the cops, I told him I was visiting army buddies, and apparently Bones told him a story as well. I just hope to God they match up."

Walt sighed, he sounded agitated, "I hope for her sake they do to Booth. Nick's got a reputation as a cruel man if you cross him."
Booth cringed, that was not what he wanted to hear, "I've got Bones' people working on the evidence back home as well. When we find this guy, I'm going to make sure he never sees the light of day outside of prison again."

"We all want that. Listen, I've got to go, but let me know if he contacts you again. We'll find her Booth, I promise."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Nick Arno terminated his call to Tony, and then walked silently across the room, ignoring the curious stares of his men. The stories had matched up, and he wondered if they were telling the truth. Yet something still seemed odd about the whole situation. He went over to the table on which lay Roxie's purse. He opened it up and dumped the contents on the table. There was cash, lipstick, and her cell phone. Nick found it odd that her purse didn't contain any ID, even a drivers license. He flipped open the cell phone and raised an eyebrow when the screen showed the name Temperance Brennan. He then noticed there were a few missed calls and began to scroll through them. He hit a number and called it, waiting for a reply. The person on the other line picked up on the first ring.

"Brennan! Thank goodness you called! We're all so worried about you, especially Booth. Have you talked to him Sweetie? I think he's probably got the entire Vegas chapter of the FBI looking for you! Sweetie? Are you there?"

Angela only heard breathing on the other line and then it went dead.

Nick snapped the phone shut and stalked towards the stairs leading to where Roxie was being held.

To be continued...

Thanks for sticking with the story and for the kind reviews! Sorry for the delay in chapters.