Thank you, everyone for your feedback. I really, really wish I could post more than one chapter a week. As it is, I was up late last night finishing this one. I don't get paid to do this; I do it as a hobby because I love these characters and really love HH. Plus, all the positive feedback really inspires me to keep going. Many have asked when Leddie is getting back together; I promise we are working towards the end of this storyline, but a few things have to get revealed. The fun of the journey isn't just the arrival but how you get there.

Follow me on twitter amd6841. Thanks everyone for reading!

AD

"You . . . you can't do that," Loren cried in a whisper. "You say you love me; how can you kill me?"

"I was told . . . "

"So you follow this person no matter what?" Loren said. She had to keep him talking. She had to get through to him. Her life was not ending this way. She refused to believe that she would never see Eddie again, or her mom, or Mel.

"You don't understand the power he has over me," Santos said. His whole body shook and beads of sweat were coming off of his forehead. Loren wondered about his sanity. He seemed to be losing touch with reality.

"So break it," Loren said. "Break the power he has over you. Start by telling me who he is."

Santos shook his head, "I can't. He'll kill me for sure."

"Then let me go," Loren said. "Say I got away or you can even say you killed me. I'll hide until this person can be found and you're safe."

Santos let out a humorless chuckle, "Do you really think 'Loren Tate' can go into hiding? You're everywhere. Especially now with this story and the fact that Eddie Duran is looking frantically for you."

"We all thought Eddie was dead a few months ago; he went into hiding. It can be done."

"No!"

"Santos, you can't kill me," Loren pleaded. "You wouldn't do that. You couldn't kill somebody you say you love."

"It's beyond me," Santos said. "Actually, this is all his fault anyway. You can thank your boyfriend. He couldn't follow simple instructions." He turned his face away as he started to cry, "I don't want to kill you."

"Then don't," Loren said standing up. She knew he still had a gun in his hand, but she needed a closer connection to him. She had to convince him to let her go.

Loren wanted to scream in frustration. How did Santos know what Eddie was doing? Were there pictures out? How was Santos getting his information? Her heart tightened at the thought of Eddie desperately looking for her. She wanted to be with him now more than anything. She missed him in a way worse than even when she thought he was dead. Now she knew that if she didn't make it back alive, he would be heartbroken. Her own pain she could handle; being the source of his pain she couldn't.

"Let's figure a way out of this together," Loren said as she walked up to him. She gently placed her hand on his arm. His head turned towards her. His eyes looked distant, but she continued anyway. "No one can have control over you unless you let them. We can get through anything."

"You don't know how badly I want to believe that," Santos said. "But he has a hold on me that can never be broken. I've tried everything. I must do what he says."

"I'll help you," Loren said. "I will do whatever it takes."

"I have to think," Santos said shaking her off and walking around the room. "The thought of killing you makes me sick."

"I don't want to die," Loren said.

"And I don't want to kill you," Santos said. "But I don't see a way out."

Santos walked across the room with his head hanging. The gun was still in one hand and his phone was in the other. His back was to Loren, and she looked over at the backpack he always kept with him. It was within her reach. There had to be phones in there. She needed to reach one. Slowly she walked over to where it lay on the ground. Santos was talking to himself and didn't seem to be paying attention to what she did.

The backpack was unzipped. Several phones were in the bag within her grasp. She bent her legs and grabbed one quickly hiding it behind her back. She padded in bare feet back over to the desk and gently opened the top drawer and dropped the phone in just as Santos turned.

"I'm sorry Loren," he said. "He'll kill me and you. All I can do is die on my terms."

He leveled the gun at her. Loren didn't have time to scream or cry. All she thought about was Eddie. He was going to be in pain, and she would be the cause of it. She held her breath and closed her eyes.

"I love you Eddie," she whispered.

Loren waited for the bang, but it never came. Instead she heard the beep of Santos' phone.

She opened her eyes, and he was looking at something that had come to his phone. A smile broke across his face.

"Perhaps I won't have to kill you right now after all," Santos said.

"What are you talking about?" Mitchell asked.

"You know exactly what we're talking about," Ian spat out. "She confirms it," he added pointing to Haley. "She was told to go to the Foundation Room at the Hard Rock; you took Eddie there. Don't insult us and say it was a coincidence."

"Look, I don't know who she was talking to, but there's one thing that everyone knows about me," Mitchell said looking back and forth between Ian and Mel. "I always go to the Foundation Room when I'm in Vegas. My high school buddy works there. We've been best friends for years. I don't ever go anywhere else in Vegas."

Ian crossed his arms, and Mel turned away from Mitchell.

"Look it up," Mitchell said. "Any story about me in Vegas will be at the Foundation Room."

"So you want us to believe you had nothing to do with this?" Ian asked.

"I was drugged too, remember?" Mitchell said.

"So you say," Ian countered. He looked over at Mel who was looking out the window. "Mel, you've been quiet."

Mel turned, "It's hard to believe this is all a coincidence. I mean, if you hadn't have gone to the Foundation Room Tuesday, those pictures wouldn't have been taken and Loren wouldn't have been alone so the stalker could kidnap her."

Mitchell's eyebrows rose.

"I told you; Loren is important to me," Mel said.

Mel caught the hard glint in Mitchell's eyes. She had already shown her hand that she believed him behind the kidnapping, but maybe he thought something had changed when they kissed. Perhaps Mel had held out hope that he wasn't involved, but Haley's information made that hard to believe.

"I have been with you the whole time," Mitchell said.

"Not the whole time," Ian said.

"How could I have Loren somewhere? I flew back with you," Mitchell said.

"So you have someone working for you," Ian said. "With your money and connections it wouldn't be too hard."

"You have it all figured out don't you?" Mitchell said. He looked over at Mel, "I don't know anything about this."

"Ian," Mel said. "I asked Mitchell earlier if he was involved, and he said no. He sounded convincing."

"So he tells lies here on the couch and you're going to believe him?" Ian said.

"Actually, we were at his place," Mel said.

"What?" Ian asked as his head snapped around to her. He then turned back to Mitchell. Mel noticed the smirk on Mitchell's face and knew Ian was angry.

"Do you need me anymore?" Haley asked breaking the silence.

"Yes," Ian said. "I'm sure Max's detective will want to talk to you. Let me text Eddie."

Ian glanced at Mel. She knew he wanted for her to follow him into the kitchen, but she wanted to talk to Mitchell first. Ian gave her a look of disappointment before he turned and sent Eddie a text message. Mel wondered what he was thinking, but then thought it best that she didn't know.

Mitchell walked up to Mel who was still standing by the window looking out and said in a low voice, "So which is it? Do you think I'm involved or not?"

Mel knew all signs pointed to him. He had the means to hire someone to do his dirty work. His argument that he had been with them the whole time didn't hold water; however something nagged at her. Even if he had someone working for him, that would leave a loose end. This person could end up blackmailing him. Would someone so determined on revenge allow that?

"You were once best friends with Eddie," Mel said.

"Yes. We were best friends."

"So if he did something to hurt you, then it would have been hard to get over."

"It was," Mitchell agreed. "We went years without speaking. My sister was the only sibling I had. I mean, I have other family, but she was . . . my sister."

"See," Mel said. "That look right there."

"What about it?"

"That look in your eyes," Mel said. "The look of loss, of deep sadness . . . you can't fake it. I believe that you feel that."

"I think in a way I'll always feel it," Mitchell agreed.

"It's that look that makes me think you had something to do with this."

Mitchell pursed his lips as he thought about what she said. "But why would I hurt Loren? I don't even know her. And now that I know you, there's no way I could hurt someone that means so much to you."

"Yeah, except," Mel said as she leaned in closer, "You hadn't met me until a few days ago. Something elaborate like this would have been planned for weeks."

"This is true," Mitchell said taking his cue from Mel and leaning in also. "But having gone through such unimaginable pain, why would I want to cause anyone else who didn't deserve it to feel it?"

Mel shrugged, "Collateral damage?"

"Hmmm, that would be almost diabolical," Mitchell said.

"I agree," Mel said.

"I don't mean to interrupt," Ian said walking back into the living room. He was speaking to Haley but his eyes pierced into Mel's. His lips were stiff as he spoke. "Eddie and Max should be here in a few minutes, Haley, if you wouldn't mind waiting."

Haley cleared her throat, "No, that's fine. I want to set this right."

Mel needed to get away for a few minutes. Things were getting more and more complicated.

"I'm going to check on Nora," she announced. She didn't wait to see if anyone acknowledged her; she simply walked out.

Adriana couldn't stop herself from walking down to the kitchen for the fourth time today. This baby demanded food around the clock. Her mind was thinking about the pint of chocolate ice cream in the refrigerator, so she didn't notice anyone else was there.

"Funny how a pregnant woman changes in only a few day," Trent said.

Adriana jumped and let out a little squeak. "Whoa! I didn't know you were back."

"I came by to drop off my stuff, but I need to head back," Trent said.

"Back to Vegas?" Adriana asked.

"No," he said. "Something's happened to . . . "

Adriana saw the hesitation in Trent's face. There was actual worry in his eyes.

"Is it Loren?" Adriana asked.

Trent hesitated, but then finally said, "It's nothing for you to worry about."

Before Adriana could ask more questions, his phone rang. He let out a large sigh when he looked at his phone.

"I've gotta take this," Trent said. "Tell Vivian I may not be back tonight."

Trent walked out of the kitchen, but instinct told Adriana to follow and see what she could find out. Trent walked into the office, but didn't close the door all the way. All she could hear was Trent's end of the conversation.

"I'm a little busy right now, Daphne. What do you want?" he asked.

"I think he's a little busy with his son's girlfriend being missing right now. Maybe you should put your little 'plan' on winning Max back on hold for now."

"Don't you worry about me," he continued. "I'll get her to play at the MGM one way or another, but first we need to find her."

"Yes it's true," Trent said. "She's been kidnapped. But don't go opening your mouth about it. Look, hold off on everything until we get her back safely."

"Of course I'm worried about her," he insisted. "I am dead if I don't get a deal worked out for her to perform at the hotel. The investors won't fund the capital for the new arena without a musical act as part of the deal. I promised I could get Loren and Eddie. I have to at least deliver Loren or they're going to leave me out entirely."

Adriana backed away from the doorway and hurried up to her room. She couldn't believe Trent's only concern was what Loren could do for him. The thought rushed through her head that she didn't know which was worse; a parent who leaves you and doesn't want you back, or a parent who leaves you and only wants you back when he realizes he can profit from you.

Eddie gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles were white. The negotiations at TMZ had worked, but Loren was still missing. The story was coming off the web site immediately for now in exchange for an exclusive sit-down interview with Loren and Eddie at a later date. Eddie didn't think anything would convince them to take down the story, but Max made it happen.

"Thanks, Joe," Max said. "We'll see you in a few. Joe's on his way to Nora's," Max said as he hung up the phone. "He'll talk to this girl and see what she knows."

"Thanks, Pop," Eddie said.

"No problem," Max said.

"I wish you would have let me drive by myself," Eddie said. "I've been doing it long enough."

"But not under these circumstances," Max said. "I wish you would let me drive. You have enough to worry about right now."

"No, things are looking up," Eddie said. "And now with this woman showing up at Nora's explaining what happened Tuesday night, I think we'll find Loren soon."

"Yes," Max said. "We need to end this and bring those responsible to justice."

"Right now I can't think about that part," Eddie said. "I just want Loren back."

"So if Mitchell's involved – "

"Pop, I'll worry about that later," Eddie said as he pulled into Nora's driveway. "Right now we need to see about this latest lead."

"Okay, you're right," Max conceded.

Eddie's phone beeped with a text message. He pulled out his phone, and once he read the text, he pounded his fist on the steering wheel.

"Dammit!" he cursed.

"Eddie, what is it?" Max asked.

"This psycho says I have to be at MK for a press conference in two hours."

"What the hell?" Max said. He thought for a minute. "Let me call Grace and see if she's heard anything. What does this bastard want to do to you now?"

"Humiliate me, obviously," Eddie said. "We have two hours to come up with something."

"Daniel, I promise as soon as Eddie gets a break in his schedule, we'll set up a meeting," Jake said. He looked over at Kelly who was on the phone trying to put out another fire.

"I don't know when," Jake said. "But you are the first meeting he takes, Daniel. He's dying to get talking about the tour and the album." After a pause he said, "I know, I know, but if you fight for Eddie, he'll appreciate it. He would like to know you're in his corner."

Jake said goodbye and hung up the phone as he let out a big sigh. Kelly had finished her call and threw the phone down on the couch.

"How long can we keep this up?" Kelly asked in frustration. "Everyone knows there's something going on, but we can't say anything. The lies can only stretch so far."

"Then we have to make them stretch further," Jake said. "Eddie and Loren's careers depend on it. Eddie has enough to worry about right now; we need to make sure they still have a career to come back to."

"Jake, what do you mean by that?" Kelly asked.

Jake hesitated. He didn't know exactly how much he should reveal to Kelly. Daniel from the record label had been putting pressure on Jake, but he didn't want to let anyone know yet how dire the situation was turning.

He saw that Kelly was going to let this drop for now. It's funny how Jake had learned Kelly's moods. He spent so much time with her he had come to know her well. Jake didn't know what was going on between them, and he was sure Kelly didn't either. Now was not the time to start discussing it though.

"Have you heard anything about Loren?' Kelly asked confirming to Jake that she had dropped the previous topic.

"So," a voice said from the doorway, "There is truth behind the story TMZ had up then took down."

Kelly and Jake both looked to the doorway and saw Lily standing there with a smug smile on her face.

"Not now," Jake said.

"Look, I'm doing you a favor by trying to come to the source," Lily said. "There are hundreds of rumors swirling around twitter right now. Loren left Eddie; Loren and Eddie got married in Vegas and are trying to throw everyone off the story; Loren is in a hospital after getting into a fight with Eddie . . . shall I go on?"

"None of those are true," Kelly said.

"So then tell me the truth so I can get it out there and kill these rumors," Lily said.

"If I thought for one minute that you actually had Eddie and Loren's best interest in mind," Jake said, "I might consider it. Now please leave."

Lily's phone beeped and she looked down at it while Jake and Kelly impatiently waited for her to go back the way she came in. Jake was considering calling security. He really couldn't worry about anything else right now.

"This is unbelievable," Lily said. She looked up at Jake and laughed. "You just sent me a text."

"Lily," Jake said, "I've been standing here in front of you the whole time. How could I send you a text?"

"Well you did," Lily said. "This text is from your phone number telling me you've called a press conference at MK in two hours. Eddie will be there with a major announcement. Care to comment?"

"What?" Kelly said. She walked over to Lily and grabbed the phone out of her hand. "It's from your number, Jake," she said as she looked down at the screen.

"I didn't call a press conference," Jake said. "I'd be crazy to do that now."

"Text spoofing?" Kelly asked. "Like what happened to Loren a few months back."

"Looks like it," Lily said. "Which story do you want me to run with?" she asked. "The mystery texter sending out messages as you or the 'source' that tells me the press conference is a hoax?"

Jake looked over at Kelly who shrugged her shoulders. He knew that Lily was going to run with some type of story; he had to try and control it as best he could.

"What do you want?" Jake asked.

"Tell me what's going on." Lily held up her hand as Jake started to protest. "Let me finish. Tell me what's going on, and I won't report on it until you're ready. Do that, and I'll let everyone know that the press conference is a hoax."

"Jake," Kelly warned, "We can't say that the press conference is a hoax."

Jake knew Kelly was right. If Lily told everyone right now that the press conference wasn't going to happen, the stalker would know and could hurt Loren. He had to believe that the press conference was still going to happen.

"I'll tell you what I can right now," Jake said. "And you won't have to do anything other than keep the secret about the mystery texter. We need . . . everyone to think that the press conference is going on as scheduled, and it might."

"I don't understand," Lily said.

Jake looked over at Kelly who nodded her head. There was no other way out of this.

"You're about to."

Eddie and Max walked into the Tate house. Nora was in the kitchen making tea. Eddie noticed tension in the air between Mel and Ian that wasn't there before. Mitchell was leaning against the table, arms crossed with an unreadable expression on his face. Eddie looked over at the couch and saw a blonde sitting with her purse in her lap clutching it for dear life. This was the girl he was photographed with Tuesday night. He wanted to hate her. Because of her, all of the other things were set in motion including Loren's kidnapping.

"What do you know?" Eddie insisted walking up to Haley.

"I've told them," Haley said standing up. "I didn't know. I was told a lie."

"Who told you?" Eddie asked.

"Eddie," Max said. "Let's wait for Joe to get here. He'll know what to ask."

"We don't have a minute to waste," Eddie said. "Two hours and then who knows what's going to happen at MK."

"MK?" Nora asked.

"I'll explain later," Max said.

"Then tell me this," Eddie said, "Do you know Sawyer Huxley?"

"Wait; who?" Mitchell asked.

All eyes turned to Mitchell. He walked further into the living room and stole a quick glance at Mel before looking back at Eddie.

When Eddie didn't answer Mitchell asked, "What name did you say?"

"Sawyer Huxley," Eddie said.

"Who is he?" Mel asked.

"He's the name that the fingerprints came back to," Max explained. "It was his apartment where we found Loren's shoes."

Mitchell let out a big sigh as he shook his head. "I should have known."

"What do you know?" Eddie demanded.

"Sawyer Huxley is my cousin."