Standing with his hip resting against the wetbar, Sonny drained another double before refilling. His hand shook slightly as the amber liquid splashed in the bottom of his cup. It would've made more sense to use a larger glass, but that would've meant an extra trip to the kitchen. Presently he wasn't up to the task.

Knocking back the refill, his throat still felt dry. A panicked giggle almost erupted from him, when the memory of Elizabeth's foot, just an inch from his throat, skipped through his head. The absurdity of it was almost too much to bare. Quickly remembering the dangerous, almost calculating way she had regarded him stopped him from making a fool of himself. One thing was clear. That wasn't the Elizabeth Webber he knew.

Christ, the girl he knew made fudge. She hated any form of violence. She didn't drop down twenty feet from beams and knock people out.

It went without saying. There was more to Elizabeth than he'd allowed himself to believe. Knowing a when he saw one, he couldn't deny the cold, calculating eyes that had stared back at him belong to someone who could be very dangerous if pushed too far.

But that wasn't the only thing that had left a lasting impression. The scene before they'd left. With the young redhead, how she'd whispered a few unrecognized words and did - that with her hands. It was something he would never forget.

It also brought back memories of his childhood. Of the years he'd lived with his Grandmother in Puerto Rico. A devote Catholic, his Abuela still had strong beliefs in the old ways. Still believed there were things out there that weren't human. Would tell him stories that would scare him as a child. Superstitious to the point she sometimes embarrassed him when he was older with her backward ways.

Perhaps Abuela's stories hadn't been created to keep a rambunctious child in line. What if she had been onto something?

The logical part of his brain wanted to scoff at this new line of thinking. But after tonight, after all he'd seen, how could he not at least keep an open mind? It wasn't natural for a person's hands to glow damnit.

Or for a person to get bitten on the neck.

Thinking of Courtney, Sonny filled his glass again and slung it back just as quick. No. God no. There couldn't be . . .

So how did this all tie together?

The episode Elizabeth went through at the end of their little confrontation was an eery reminder of her earlier spill down the stairs at the pier. Fear had seized his gut when she'd fallen to the ground in a lump of tremors. Her eyes bulging, begging for help. Something had changed in her eyes and demure when she'd whispered Jason's name in a terrified plea. Blood seeped from her mouth and nose. It left him feeling hopeless.

He was man enough to admit that maybe he'd jumped the gun by accusing Elizabeth with treason. Over the years he'd grown used to having everything fall into place just because he said so. It was embarrassing how quickly he'd lost control of tonight. Instead of looming like a force to be reckoned with, he looked like a three year old throwing a temper tantrum.

Tonight had been a wake-up call in many ways. Not wanting a repeat performance, he was waiting for Benny to show up with the additional information on Port Charles's newest guests. He wanted to be prepared for their next encounter. Not only for himself, but for Jason as well.

Stealing a glance to where Jason was staring out the large picture window, he couldn't help but wonder what was going through his friend's head. Dried up blood still streaked his faded jeans, from when he wiped his hands off after being forced to watch Elizabeth being carted away.

Sure he could play mind games and pretend Jason's interests were now directed to his little sister, Courtney. But the game could only go so far. Jason had taken comfort when he needed it most, and his sister had been all too willing to offer it. It would've been nice to have Jason tied legally to his family. Christ, he was guilty of pushing him in her direction on more than one occasion. Thinking at the time that any kind of future between the two rested on one thing.

Elizabeth Webber.

The second she got over her anger and allowed Jason to plead his case, any future with Courtney Mathews-Quartermaine was over. Now seeing the way Jason was behaving, Sonny knew it really didn't matter if Elizabeth let Jason back into her world or not. Courtney never stood a chance.

Moving his eyes over to his other two employees, he watched as Francis and Johnny whispered. Both men looked slightly green. Their large frames were fidgeting in place, while they talked in hushed tones. Occasionally they'd look up to either himself or Jason, before continuing on.

What in the hell was he supposed to say to them? Wasn't he supposed to be in charge? Giving out orders, knowing exactly what was needed to get the job done. At this moment he didn't even know what the job was.

"Whoa." Willow's fingers paused over the keyboard, as she snuck a look over her shoulder to where Angel was talking softly with Giles and Lindsey. Remembering how intense Angel could sometimes get, she was glad she hadn't caught his attention.

"Whoa what?" Nearly jumping out of her skin, Willow shot an evil look toward Xander as he plopping down beside her. Shoving a few chips into his mouth, he quickly scanned the computer screen he choked down the food. "Whoa-whoa."

Lowering her voice to a whisper, Willow looked back at her laptop. "Elizabeth Webber has been one busy -."

"Mob moll." Xander choked out. Ignoring Willow's silent plea for him to be quiet.

"What'd you guys find?" Cordelia's voice startled them from behind. Her eyes scanned the computer and her mouth dropped open. "Holly crap."

Grimacing, Willow copied the page and added it to the growing file she'd been compiling. Her ears wide open, she heard the hushed tones coming from the corner cease. Muttering under her breath, Willow looked sideways at Xander. "Tess isn't going to like this."

"Angel's gonna nut." Cordelia flung back.

"What am I going to do?" Casting a glance toward the couch where Tess was still sleeping, Angel stood behind the threesome. "Find anything yet Willow?"

"Well . . ." Nibbling on her lower lip, Willow looked over her shoulder at Angel. "I found tons of stuff on Jason Morgan and Sonny Corinthos."

"Who?"

"The guys from the warehouse." Xander offered, saving Willow from having to answer. Not looking the vampire in the eye, he shifted uneasily in his chair.

"And." Angel watched as the three stalled for a few seconds. Getting impatience, he raised a brow.

"Well they have quiet the police file." Willow cleared her throat and turned back to the laptop. "Countless arrests, and I mean that literally, but nothing that's stuck so far."

Folding his arms over his broad chest, Angel looked concerned. "Arrests for what?"

"Well there's been a few manslaughter charges. Conspiracy to commit murder. Armed criminal action. Assault. Bribery. Witness tampering. Aiding and abetting, Obstruction to justice." Pausing, Willow glanced over her shoulder at Angel. "Should I go on?"

"There's more?" Looking perplexed, Angel stared at the monitor and shook his head. "Maybe you shouldn't."

"There's one more piece you should know." Cordelia piped in. "In several reports they're referred as 'alleged'," making air quotes, Cordelia gave Angel a serious look. "Mobsters."

Angel's mouth worked for a few minutes, until the vein in his temple started to throb. "You're telling me that Tess got herself involved with the Mob?"

"No. Technically Elizabeth Webber was involved with the Mob." Cordelia happily corrected him. Her million watt smile crumbled under his dark stare. "Actually there's only a mention of ties to . . . you know that facial expression does nothing for you."

Giving Cordelia a sharp look, Angel turned his attention to the studio. The place left a lot to be desired. His first thought as he carried Elizabeth through the neighborhood Lindsey said she was staying was that it was a falling down wasteland. It boggled his mind how anyone would willing live like this.

The staircase was a breeding ground for danger. With it's inadequate lighting and dark shadows, perfect for hiding spots for people and things with unsavory intentions. The only indication that there could possibly be any other occupants was the sparse lights coming from under a few doors.

Not even a self respecting rat made it's home here.

So why was a young woman claiming residency in such a hell hole? If she did have any sort of ties to the mob, why would anyone allow her to live like this? Unless, Elizabeth Webber also had Tess's irritating stubborn streak and refused any sort of hand out.

When they'd first broken down the three inch security door, he'd been shocked to find the inside furnished so sparsely, or cheaply for that matter. The decor did not scream wild woman living on the edge. With the half finished paintings and limited personal items it was more like broke college kid.

So how did a woman who lived like this, end up having anything to do with people who were believed to be members of an organized crime ring?

"What about Tess?" Nothing was adding up. If they wanted to stop the small town from further damage, get Tess the answers she was going to need, and get back to their respective homes they were going to need to get some answers. And fast.

"Just a few things really." Gnawing on her lower lip again, Willow looked extremely uncomfortable. "What we know for sure. She was kidnaped over the summer. She was found by Jason and Sonny in a crypt just outside of town."

"Seems ironic." Cordelia muttered.

"The crypt had some kind of gas leak and went kaplewy seconds after her rescue." Making the mistake of looking over her shoulder again, Willow saw that Angel's grim expression was getting worse. "Moving on. Um . . There's been a few trips to the E.R. A gun shot wound." Frowning at the article in front of her on the screen, Willow quickly clicked through it. No need to get into the details. Seeing that Jason Morgan's named popped up again.

"Oh there was a car accident." Scanning the paragraph before going on, Willow was happy to see that the man's name didn't appear once. "The other driver plowed into her at an intersection. She had a collapsed lung and a few broken ribs. The other driver had a minor head wound. Ahh," Reading quickly Willow stopped when she reached the other driver's name. "Courtney Mathews, sister to Sonny Corinthos."

"Again with the names." Sighing, Cordelia shrugged her shoulders. "Fine, so Elizabeth had a lousy assortment of friends. What does all this crap really mean? So we've pissed off the local mafia." Rolling her eyes, and clearly on a roll, Cordelia pushed up her sleeves. "Like we haven't done worse. What're they gonna do, really?"

"Lindsey saw this Jason Morgan guy and Ric Lansing together at the dinner this morning." Angel replied to a stun group.

"Not following." Xander shook his head. Seeing the smirk on Angel's face, he rephrased . "I was with Cordy up to the what're they gonna do part. But the guys you encountered tonight don't sound like the particular nasties we're used to. If anything they sounded a little shell shocked civilians. How does Tess, the mob, and Ric Lansing fit together?"

"Wait!" Spinning back around, Willow's fingers worked furiously. "Ah-ha! Jason Morgan's being charged with the murder of Luis Alcazar. His wife, Brenda Barrett -."

"Brenda Barrett?" Shoving Willow to the side, Cordelia's mouth dropped open. "She was on like every magazine cover up until a few years ago."

"I don't see how that matters." Angel sighed in exasperation.

"Who's murder is he being charged with?" Lindsey was suddenly at Cordelia's side, his face a grim mask.

"Luis Alcazar." Noticing how close he was standing to her, Cordelia tried to make herself keep still. Instead of taking a step away from his overpowering presence.

Looking thoughtful, Lindsey was soon smirking. "And you said this Jason guy is married to Brenda Barrett?"

Wanting to say something sarcastic, Cordelia swallowed the nasty reply before responding. "Yeah?"

Giving her a smile that nearly curled her toes, Lindsey almost looked happy. "That's the piece of the puzzle that wasn't fitting." Taking a look around at the perplexed expressions, Cordelia was relieved she wasn't the only one who didn't get what Mr. Born again was trying to say. Apparently Lindsey also noticed the expressions and quickly pointed to the screen. "It says here that Luis Alcazar was found dead of a fatal wound they believe was made by a knife. It's absolutely impossible."

"And why is that?" Cordelia asked.

"Because he's a vampire."