A/N: Dark subject matter. SV, Murder ***Trigger Warnings***

I've never been happy with the explanation that all the interns kept quiet because they were afraid of Jack. Terrified for their reputations. Someone would have come forward. This man raped over ten women and not one of them took it further than Elizabeth Morgan? I call BS.

Also, I wanted to explore Jack and Elizabeth's relationship dynamic. I could see what was in it for him, but what was her motivation? I know in canon Jack had leverage over her, but at some point, didn't the sum of his misdeeds trump a sex-tape? What would cause a woman to procure victim after victim for her lover?

Then I recalled the murder of Tammy Lyn Homolka and the Ken and Barbie Killers, Karla Homolka and her husband Paul Bernardo. Elizabeth and Jack have a twisted relationship that reminded me of this murderous duo. So I gave Hyde and Morgan's characters a reboot. It's dreadful. You were warned.

Chapter 14: The Usual Suspects

- "We have no idea where he is. He hasn't returned to his apartment. His cell phone has no traffic and none of his credit or debit cards are in use. The only reason we got a ping is that he failed to pay last month's rent.

JHPoV (Where did you go, Jackie-boy?)

Another fruitless hunt. Jack was tired of group homes. Just because one of his parents was alive was no reason for him not to get adopted. Sometimes having a parent can be worse than being an orphan. Obviously, someone dropped the ball. His father had died when he was seven years old, but his mother had the luck to survive the drunken car accident that had killed him. She was always strung out or high-strung; it didn't matter. Jack Hyde was screwed either way. His mother could not take care of him at home yet was too selfish to relinquish her parental rights. Day after day, week after week, Jackie watched others get adopted while he was passed over and left behind. However, he had a secret weapon. He kept growing bigger and bigger and smaller children would be eaten by the monster that Jackie had become.

Everyone acted like his father had been such a great person. Why is it that a person is granted sainthood when they die? Regardless of how he lived his life? Did it matter that his father used to beat him? That he was forced to sleep in the same room where his parents had sex? For his parents, no sex act was too deviant. Between the drugs and the fighting, he was surprised his parents' marriage lasted so long. He wasn't even left in care due to a lack of money. His mom managed to survive just fine without working. Between death benefits and life insurance, she wasn't living hand-to-mouth. There was absolutely no reason for him to end up in foster care unless she was just too damn lazy and selfish to act like an adult and take care of him herself. When other kids cried for their parents, Jack would pray for his mother to just die and free him from the quasi-custody which blocked him from being adopted before he aged out of the system.

One day at the Colliers, he'd thought he had a chance. A couple of young professionals came to the home. The man was tall and blonde with blue eyes and the woman was so saintly looking, sweet, and smelling of money both of them, her hair swept into a smooth golden brown chignon. Jackie deserved a family like that; perfect. Unfortunately, they gravitated toward that quiet little thing with copper hair and gray eyes. The stupid fuck couldn't even talk. He may as well have been a deaf-mute. Whenever anyone came in the room, especially if it was a man, he ran and hid under the kitchen cabinets. It was ridiculous. How could they choose that retarded little cretin over him? Didn't they realize it was his turn to be adopted? The kid had just gotten here, for goodness sake.

It wasn't fair. Every weekend without fail, the couple would show up and talk to this Christian kid. He tried to show them that he would be a better son, always smiling at them and coming nearby when they were when they appeared. While they were polite, they generally attempted to ignore him and Jack would not be ignored. He'd show them! Ignore Jack? He'd make that midget bleed! Though the little carrot top was frightened of practically everyone, he always got big smiles from Mrs. Collier and the Grey couple. The little bastard was stealing Jack's family right from under him!

But Jackie was cagey, he'd soon get his own back. Little Chris could go to his forever home, and one day, little Jackie was going to show up at his nice big house, snatch that little sneak-thief right out of his safe little bed, and rip his sneaky little heart, still beating, right out of his goddamn chest! No one crossed Jack Hyde, no one.

A year or two later, Jack Hyde returned to his mother, that sad lonely bitch who didn't know how to survive on her own, who couldn't manage without his father beating her head in and telling her what to do. Jackie boy had grown right into his father's shoes and he could kick with the best of them.

Finally, after years of dead ends, he had found the Greys in the strangest place, more than half a country away from Detroit. It was serendipitous. All those years, and little Christian now Grey had fallen right into his lap.

And wasn't it just fortuitous, he thought snidely, that Elizabeth Morgan was here, too? What a coincidence! He needed someone like her onside. She would do anything for a fix, and Jackie Hyde was her favorite drug. He bided his time and kept his head down, but that didn't stop him from having a few laughs and some fun and games. After all, a man needed his hobbies. He had run through a lot of assistants because good head, um help, was hard to find. None of them were ever a perfect fit for his exacting standards though their resistance made his conquests all the sweeter. A little turnover was a small price to pay.

APoV

I was pissed at Christian. The more I found out, the worse it gets, especially when he's not the source. I hated being blindsided, and these past few weeks have been hit after hit!

"You owed her nothing! You have more respect for the woman who used to beat your ass than the one you made vows with. She's dug her claws into you, using guilt, pity, false friendship, family connections, and finally that fucking business you set her up with. Then you gave it to her. She molested you as a child and made her husband your enemy."

I was infuriated, my eyes blazing. "Is that what I just heard? You planned to give that loathsome bitch more money?!"

Christian is always so jealous. According to him, every man wants in my panties. Hell, some women, too. He claims he's protecting me, but every time he pulls this shit, I only hear that he doesn't trust me. He claims that isn't true, but fuck if he doesn't make me feel like a dirty whore that should stay in his seraglio while wearing a burqa. Never thought a man so determined to push limits would belong to the What was she wearing? brigade, but here we were.

LSPoV

"We're missing something, T. How did Hyde keep all his past assistants quiet? It couldn't have been just fear of exposure and humiliation," I said.

"Fucker's a pansy; Boss owned his ass. He'd have to be fuckin' stupid to take him on," he boasted. "It's one thing to work behind the scenes. According to Welch, these women were petrified."

"That's it!" I exclaimed, hand against my forehead. I can't believe I didn't think of this before."

"What?!"

"Elizabitch Morgan! She was head of HR. She was the gatekeeper in this clusterfuck. We were so busy wondering what fuckhead was doing to his assistants that we never looked into who gave him access to them all," I postulated. "A dozen women and he was the only editor granted interns. Not one of them stayed ninety days. If this was Grey House, Jack and Elizabeth would've been fired after his second assistant. Instead, he had victims on tap."

Taylor rubbed his face roughly in frustration. "Fuck, you're right. HR was in on it."

"She had to be totally complicit, but even worse, IT and Finance had to be involved up to their eyeballs," I explained. Because Welch and Barney had been all over then-SIP's servers and there hadn't been a trail or a breadcrumb. We were damn lucky we'd even gotten the former employees' names.

"Christ on a cracker! Grey is going to go apeshit!"

Taylor was still residing in cloud cuckoo land. He felt secure because he'd been with Grey since the beginning. I've tried to convince him this isn't the boss he's always known. Post-Anastasia Steele Christian Grey is an entirely different animal. Sure, he's still a ball-busting asshole, but he would protect that woman from all enemies foreign and domestic. And imaginary. And if Taylor thinks for a minute Grey won't win the gold in Olympic bus-throwing competition to get out of the shit with wifey, he's fucking deranged.

Our team needed a win. Our asses were all suspended over Ana's bonfire and every fuckup brought us closer to the flames while adding more wood. Taylor didn't realize how perilous our positions were. I overheard Mrs. Grey on the phone with Gia Matteo of all people asking about the feasibility of "restoring" the apartment to a single residence and opening up the space without compromising load-bearing walls.

Now, I know a bit about construction. Grey, upon purchasing the place, had immediately had the staff quarters enlarged, detracting from his own living space, but that was for purely misanthropic reasons. He wanted to discourage do-drops; he didn't want to host his family in his fuckpad. His Escala apartment was decidedly family-unfriendly. He may not be handing Taylor and Gail their walking papers, but they were clearly on their way out of their penthouse digs. Their contract may specify living quarters, but there was no requirement they be adjoining. Happy wife, happy life.

Who could blame Mrs. Grey for not wanting to look at them every damn day? Taylor, who had spearheaded the plot to scare Ana into compliance and Gail who had seemed to favor Leila Wiliams, to the then Miss Steele's detriment? Miss Williams wasn't exactly the sympathetic forlorn heroine of Grey's story. She always knew what she was doing, and Gail broke protocol, stymying our attempts to apprehend her before she could confront the boss's love interest?

Don't get me wrong. I understand. Until Anastasia Steele, there had never before been a woman of the house to disturb the organized machine. Subs came and subs went, rinse and repeat. Because of the transitory nature of the boss's associations, Gail being the only uninterrupted feminine influence had, almost by default, ruled the roost for several years. Despite his rigid adherence to the employer-employee chain of command, even a hardass like Grey couldn't share living quarters with the couple and not feel some affection. So, when Gail immediately aided the interloper after Miss Williams made her "suicide attempt" Grey didn't reprimand her. He was far kinder and more lenient with her than he had been at Mrs. Grey for less.

Even without all the BS, Ana is the mistress of all of Grey's homes. And she can't do it with Gail coopting everything. Without control of the house, Ana's nothing more than a glorified sub. He interfered with her job to the point she can barely work; she can hardly see her friends. What's left but to push Gail and Taylor into their proper roles? It's the only way to give Ana some control and agency. Otherwise, she's just a guest at Escala. Gail should defer to her, not the other way around. And if Ana doesn't know how to handle servants, then Gail should have taught her. She took advantage of Ana's demeanor and age. Instead, everyone who works for Grey treats Ana like a little girl stumbling around in her mother's heels. And assumed she was just as submissive as the other women.

Well, I've seen the light. I'd swallow my pride, bend the knee, and do whatever it takes to get her back onside. Jobs like this don't come around so often that I could afford to lose it. And if Taylor doesn't board the train he'll be ass-out.

APoV

Shopping with Christian was an experience not to be missed. Somehow with him being a billionaire, I guess I expected him to be a better shopper, being able to make that deal. Instead, I got the proverbial kid in the candy store. His eyes were so big, taking in everything. Of course, his eyes tended to land on the most expensive things because, according to him, they were the best.

Store clerks were following us all over the place like ducklings asking us if we needed anything. A chair or recliner if I wanted to put my feet up. One of the ladies even asked me if I needed lunch or a snack. I tried not to take it personally but then again I was in a super baby store, with emphasis on the word super.

It was shocking how fast people would fall all over themselves at the smallest merest hint of unlimited cash waved in their faces. According to Christian, we'd need several strollers. He wanted at least one for each of our homes so Escala, the sound, and Aspen, even New York. Then he decided we needed one for every car. that also went for car seats and pack-and-plays and cribs. Our baby would never lack a place to lay his head, but I guess I was getting ahead of myself. There were two of them so all told we'd probably be leaving this place with no less than 20 strollers or at least the double ones which were actually kind of cute. I'd have arms like Popeye if I had to push them. They looked heavy. I'd better search for something ergonomic before he dug his heels in.

We picked out about 20 onesies each. It was outrageous, ridiculous, and surprisingly fun. I'd never been so happy to spend money. When I closed my eyes and stopped looking at the price tags, I enjoyed myself immensely. Why shouldn't a parent buy the best for their child that they can afford? Thankfully, it's not like the babies could be spoiled at this point. Later on both, regardless of sex, would have chores. Most of all, I wanted our children to be surrounded with family and friends.

I chose at least two dozen receiving gowns, two of which had the most beautiful lace on them, but Christian looked horrified at the idea that a possible son would be wearing some lacy dress to sleep in. I guess he was worried that somehow his newborn masculinity would be undermined. The average size of twins is around six pounds; even if it was a boy, he wouldn't have to worry about his manhood for a long while.

After the cribs, strollers, rocking chairs, gliders, onesies, and receiving blankets, I wanted to find some beautiful one-of-a-kind blankets. For that, I needed to go to the nearest bulletin board because the best were handmade. They would be heirlooms, so price was no object. Christian looked at me askance, surprised I'd be willing to spend so much money, but there was a method to my madness. How often does a woman have twins? Surely this had to be commemorated in some special fashion. If he argued, I'd cite pregnant woman's prerogative.

I was surprised to note that Christian and I had never shopped together unless I counted replacing the submissive special after Leila vandalized it, which reminded me he had taken Leila shopping before. I would need to think about this, especially considering her bold frontal assault on my office, after holding me at gunpoint. She should have been too leery to face me again. Still, she showed me no respect. After dealing with the likes of Jack Hyde and Elizabeth Morgan, I'd be holding nothing back. Scenes like that would never be allowed to happen again, and not because of some arbitrary, highhanded proscribed list, but because my team and I would return such regard with extreme prejudice.

I will be taking a greater interest in our security protocol. None of Christian's former submissives should have been allowed to approach either of us for any reason. Surely the NDAs covered that and if not they should be looked into. I didn't want any more of those crazy bitches dropping in on me. and I would definitely never risk my children. It's obvious that the relationships he had in the past weren't based on family values, but they would all respect me or they would know the reason why.

The first thing I was going to do is make sure he's no longer financially supporting any of them. He's a married man now. He has no legitimate reason to provide for any other woman other than me, his wife. I was also tempted to look at how much he was spending on Mia and all of Grace's charitable causes. Mia needed to find a job, stretch her wings, and blaze her own path. When I think of how close she came to being kidnapped, I shudder. We wouldn't have known because she treated her security in such a haphazard manner.

When I realized what could have happened had their plot succeeded, I'm angry at Mia all over again. She doesn't value what Christian gives her, so perhaps he should stop giving. At least until she begins to understand the value of a dollar. There's no reason why Christian should be buying her clothes and cars and paying for her spa visits. She's grown and the last time I checked she was Grace and Carrick's child. But what might have been cute when she was much younger is unacceptable now. I understand gregarious, but she has absolutely no boundaries.

Then, to Christian's great pleasure, we began to look for things for me. But while I was looking at maternity gowns and jeans, he led me to a section filled with maternity lingerie. Ooh la la, how beautiful all of it was! I was shocked that they managed to find sensual shapewear that looked nothing like the moo-moos I'd envisaged. I especially liked the baby dolls and the French lingerie and they had a very fine selection of thigh-highs and kitten heels. I even snagged two white peacock feathers for no reason at all.

There were even a couple things that look like pregnancy corsets which manage to look beautiful also. All in all, I was very happy with the surprise shopping trip. I was amazed he was taking the pregnancy so well. I worried he would balk, but he had been proving me wrong, which makes me ashamed because I assumed things about my husband that were not true, and my distrust had reignited and reinforced his self-loathing.

But Erica was showing us a different path. A path of communication, honesty, and respect. I liked this road very much.

We couldn't wait until we found out the sexes of the children. If there was only one I'd probably wait to be surprised, but since there were two, we'd probably need two of everything. I wanted to know if we were having two boys, two girls, or one of each. And while I wasn't looking, Christian was showing every intention of buying out the store. And I wasn't shocked when he told me we had two more stores to visit. I'm just glad he's so happy.

I think I saw one of those paparazzi following us, but what could we do? We could attempt to evade, but could only hide so much before they turn into rabid stalkers. I've learned that sometimes we have to feed the animals, but that's life as a Grey. Suddenly, a surfeit of camera flashes bombards me. I feel for Christian's hand.

EMPoV [Stand By Your Man]

"Ms. Morgan, are you sure you don't want a lawyer? There are court-sponsored attorneys that could be called in. As it is, you might be on the hook for several murders and sexual assaults. You're looking at a lot of time if you're found guilty," the detective advises.

"Personally, I think you should save yourself because Mr. Hyde certainly isn't going to do it," added the other detective.

Mr. Good Cop didn't understand anything. Jack and I were one. Together to the end, so it really doesn't matter what this government gumshoe thinks. I'd known Jack for over a decade. Nothing anyone could say would make me turn my back on him. I know what this is: good cop, bad cop, but I would not succumb. Trying to turn us against each other was a rookie mistake.

That's okay though. I'd go ahead and hold up in this cell. and let's just say we were found guilty of the kidnap. All we have to do is keep our mouths shut; the kidnapping wasn't even successful. I had told Jackie it was a terrible idea. We don't kidnap. Abduct maybe, but never with the idea of sending the person back home. 'No Loose Ends' was my motto.

What was he thinking? Five million dollars? That was chump change to a man like Grey. He's lucky that Mrs. Grey didn't think it was a big joke. Instead, I never got the opportunity to make the call. We were apprehended before we left the lot. I still couldn't believe Jack shot at a cop. What about me? He could have died! He couldn't leave me.

All those years at SIP, I had allowed him to have all the little assistants that he wanted. I'd singlehandedly managed to hide the fact that his turnover rate was the highest in the company. At one point, he was going through assistants like some people go through paper, and we worked at a publishing company!

Jackie was a great editor. The clients loved him, but that wasn't enough for him. He needed the chase and I wasn't enough of a challenge for him. But I knew how to give him everything he wanted.

Sometimes it's hard to be a woman

Giving all your love to just one man

The first time he left me, we were in college. He was such a handsome man, but he was easily bored, and it was hard to keep him interested. For the longest time, I didn't know what it would take, but one day I saw him gazing at another woman across the quad. She was young and beautiful, shy but really popular. I hated her on sight.

I had seen her around the campus and it turned out we lived on the same floor in the dorm. It was Providence. I quietly looked into her. She didn't go out much, she didn't hang around a lot of friends, and she didn't date at all. When no one noticed, I reached out to befriend her. We spent a lot of time in my room. Sometimes we'd read books together and a couple times we even went out to the movies.

She was the only child of elderly parents. I felt somewhat ashamed that I was going to take away their only child, but it was the only way. So one night, I planned for us to go to the movies again. I made sure it was the most out of the way theater, so she'd have to take the bus. I had arranged to meet her there. While I waited for her outside the theater, Jack used the key I had slipped him to thoroughly wipe down her room. I wanted no proof that I had ever been there.

During the movie, I made sure to keep her thirsty, by giving her lots of candy and popcorn, and when she looked the other way, I slipped something in her drink to loosen her up. By the time the movie was over, I had to practically carry her out of the theater. Jamie was so slight, that was easy as pie.

I put her in my car and drove to a nearby park. The wooded area was dark and deserted, and even better, there were no cops doing rounds. Surprisingly, it wasn't even a make-out spot though if it was, it would have been very popular. There was no one around for miles. Jack met us there.

"Hey Jack," I whispered, "Here's that friend I wanted you to meet. Jamie, meet Jack. I'm sure you'll like each other very much."

Jack just laughed that husky, dark laugh that I loved so much as he took her out of my arms, her body weak as she tried to resist. Her feeble struggles seemed to turn him on. She tried to push against his chest but instead only lightly fisted his shirt until he shoved her and she fell to the ground.

"You like it rough, do you? That's alright. I can be just as rough as you want," he said as he began dragging her deeper into the woods and off the path. I followed closely, but gave him enough room for whatever it was he had planned. I was sure that he was very happy with my surprise. I could tell that he was amazed that I brought her of all people. He expected me to bring someone, but surely not his dream girl.

Jamie always wore skirts. She was such a good girl. It made it much easier for him to hike it up before ripping off her stockings and panties. She was crying with distress and she sought to get away from us both and she looked at me with accusation in her tear-filled eyes. "No," she said in a whisper. She was drugged and barely coherent, as Jack dragged her to an abandoned outcropping.

When he began to unbutton and unzip his pants, I felt the first burst of dismay but I put myself in check and waited in silence until he motioned me forward.

"Hold her down," he commanded. "I'll need her still for this part."

I did as instructed as he worked her over.

"Oh yes," he groaned. "this is great that's it just like I like it tight and a virgin? What a good girl you are. Thank you, Elizabeth, for your wonderful gift."

You'll have bad times

And he'll have good times,

Doin' things that you don't understand

After Jack finished, he was still mighty chuffed. "It's not every day a woman gets to experience the wonder that's Jack," he boasted.

I was seeing an entirely different side of Jack, and I didn't think that I liked it, at least not directed towards someone else. Jack was mine. Jamie had only been a proxy, an hors d'oeuvre. I'd let her borrow Jack, but he'd be coming home with me. I put a lot of time into getting her where I needed her to be. I would not be denied. After this, Jack owed me and I'd be careful how I cashed in.

But if you love him you'll forgive him,
Even though he's hard to understand

It was hard to understand why he needed this, why I wasn't enough. But if I did not provide, someone else would, someone else I could not control, and he couldn't leave me. Ever. So I would do this today and he would be happy, and he would stay. From outside myself, I was impressed at his endurance, control, and technique. The fact that he was utilizing it on the unworthy notwithstanding.

And if you love him oh be proud of him,

'cause after all he's just a man

He had taken sadistic glee in her slight moans and whimpers, and failed attempts at escape. She'd be no good to anyone. It was just as well that I didn't intend to return her home. She was all used up.

Stand by your man,

Give him two arms to cling to

She'd arrived at the theater shiny and new. She wouldn't be shiny anymore. I'd make sure of it. No-one was allowed to come between me and Jack.

And something warm to come to
When nights are cold and lonely

The night had become very dark and cold and her body was becoming clammy.

Stand by your man,
And show the world you love him

So when the officer, the detective or whatever he wanted to call himself today made me the offer, all I remembered were Jamie's dead, empty eyes as I wrapped her in the tarp and buried her in the forest where I'd already dug the hole.

Keep giving all the love you can
Stand by your man

I would say nothing and stand by Jack to the end. And as the last breath left my body, I'd forgotten one important thing. My journals. Fuck!

Happy Day 5 of NaNoWriMo! According to my chart, I should've written a total of 16,666⅔ words by midnight. For those of you who might be wondering why my target is so high, it's because I have two NaNoWriMo 'projects' this year. Goals, y'all!

E/N: If you leave me reviews on FFnet and belong to FB, please drop your handle in your review. If you leave feedback, I may reply in an author's note.

Thank you for reading.

Nichole Stewart FB