LAX Nine Days Ago…

Billie stood at the head of the metal interrogation room table, her eyes narrowed and shining in the bright fluorescent light that bounced off the stark white walls of the interrogation room. The thirty year old man in front her merely gazed at his fingernails as she stared him down with one of her trademark looks. He was ugly, by her standards, with sharp facial features, badly trimmed facial hair, and a polyester suit that made her think of the 70's. He smelled like he hadn't bathed in weeks, and there must have been at least a gallon of gel in his black hair. In her hand was a folder with several sheets of paper, outlining every single charge that AFT had against him.

"Xavier Rousseau, you've been a very naughty boy," Billie taunted as she threw the folder down on the table and let it slide to him. "Trying to smuggled guns out of the US; that'll get you a good 25 to life."

Rousseau glanced at the folder momentarily before looking back down at his fingers. "I know that is not why I am here," he replied in his thick, sophisticated French accent, not bothering to even look up at her as he spoke. He had been in this position many times before. It didn't faze him anymore. In fact, it made him just a little more careful every time he got caught. It also made him all the less loyal to anyone who tried to corner him.

"You're a smart man, Xavier," she said, a vicious smile crossing her cherry red lips. "I know what you want, and you know what I want." Billie knew she was crossing dangerous ground with what she was about to ask him to do. Xavier Rousseau was loyal to almost no one, including the police. If she could pin him just right, maybe he'd fold just the way she wanted him to and get the last laugh in the end.

Rousseau chuckled. "I want what every criminal wants, a, how do you say, get out of jail free card," he retorted, his muddy brown eyes finally looking up at her. It made Billie's skin crawl, the way he looked at her. She wanted to throw up as his eyes scanned her scantily clad figure approvingly and a smile appeared on his thin, pale lips. "Now, tell me, what do you want?"

"Give up your boss and I might give you that get out of jail free card you want," Billie answered, placing her hands on the table in front of her to look as menacing as she possibly could. But it didn't seem to work with Rousseau. He folded his arms over his chest and continued to stare at her, a look of contemplation registering on his face.

"How about you also give me a ticket back to France as well?" Rousseau tried to deal himself a little more than what she was willing to give him.

"How about I put you back in a cell and make you someone's prison bitch?" Billie shot back. It was the most intimidating thing she could say to get her point across. She wasn't dealing anything else. There was no way she'd give him a free ticket home. If she had to twist he leg, she'd make him cooperate. "That would be very interesting. I think the boys in Chino would have a lot of fun with you. You do know what happens in prison, don't you, Xavier? Because if you don't, I'll make sure you get a lesson you'll never forget."

And with that, she had him. The sheer look of terror on Rousseau's face put a smile on her own. He'd heard enough stories about what happens in American prisons not to ever want to be in one. "Fine," he quickly answered. "His name is Drayden Abney."

"That's a good start," Billie replied, taking a seat across from him. "What else?"

"He is in the United States looking for more weapons," he explained.

Billie had finally found the perfect way in. "Alright, this is what I want you to do. You're going to give him my name and tell him I have the goods he's looking for." Rousseau nodded his head. "I want you to set up a meeting, and once that's done, I'll take it from there." And with that, he was dismissed, allowed to go free, but that didn't mean she wouldn't keep her eye on him. Billie knew Rousseau's kind. He was a snake that could easily slip out of her hands and bit her in the ass. She'd have to watch him very closely.

First, I wanna thank everyone who's reviewed. You guys rock! Thanks for keeping my muse alive! Second, I wanna say I'm sorry I didn't continue with what's going on in Aspen. I just thoughta little background info was needed before hand. But don't worry, I will continue with it soon. As always, please read and review. I really do appreciate all of you for doing it. It makes my day to see there's an email in my mailbox with someone's comment on my story. Thank you sooooo much!