A/N: Wow, not quite the response I was going for…only 3 reviews! I'm depressed. :-( I hope you guys are still with me…maybe…possibly? Thanks to all those that reviewed and here's chapter 17. I hope you like it and I'm going to be working diligently to get an update squared away for later this week.

Chapter 17

Jude 28, 2008

Jude was arrested two days ago. Tommy hadn't slept a moment and was running solely on desperation and caffeine. He was determined to prove Jude's innocence. He began questioning Mark's family members and friends, trying desperately to find any connection to Mark's murder. They all said the same thing to him. They hadn't talked to him in years and when they did, he kept his private life to himself.

It was beginning to look hopeless, but Thomas Quincy wouldn't back down.

"Tommy, come on, you need to sleep."
"No, Kwest, I need to find a lead." Tommy said, taking a sip of his hundredth cup of coffee in two days. Kwest surveyed his friend. He had black circles around his eyes, he sat hunched in his chair unlike his usual perfect posture and his hair had taken one about 50 too many times of fingers racking through it.

"Dude, Jude would want you to take care of yourself." Kwest said, and winced slightly at Tommy's reaction. The other man's eyes flashed for a moment and glared at his friend. His signs of tiredness were now gone and renewed determination filled him.

"I need to do this Kwest." Tommy said, closing his eyes a moment to keep from getting too emotional. Kwest watched his friend a moment and sighed.

"What do you need me to do?" Kwest asked. Tommy jerked his head up and looked at his friend in surprise.

"I thought you didn't believe that Jude is innocent?"

"I never said she was guilty, I just said you need to start warming up to the idea that maybe she is." Tommy eyed his friend and opted not to comment. After all, Kwest was going to help him.

"Just…anything you can dig up on Mark."

"Talk to EJ?" Kwest asked. Tommy slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand. "I take that as a no." Kwest said, grinning.

"Kwest!" Tommy yelled at his friend, annoyed he wasn't doing anything but watching him in amusement. Tommy leaped from his chair and practically ran out of his office at G Major. Kwest didn't know whether to be amused or sad at the way he acted. He sighed heavily and followed after Tommy, not knowing whether or not EJ and him would tear each other apart.

3 Hours Later

"EJ! I thought you had contacts!" Tommy yelled, getting impatient while EJ made some calls. The asian woman glared at the former boybander.

"Don't mess with me Quincy." She said, holding her cell phone. "I'm the one with the power to destroy your life." She said, her voice firm and her eyes hard. Her phone rang and everyone stared at her, anxiously while she waited for the caller read out and began her conversation. Tommy and Kwest sat on the edge of their chairs and listened intently to EJ's side of the conversation.

"Uh-hu…really…uh-hu…" EJ then let out a loud squeak of excitement. "Arnie, I love you!" She said, and hung up. Tommy and Kwest stared at her anxiously. "Oh, that was Arnie, he got Speidermen hooked up for" Tommy and Kwest were groaning too loud to care what the rest of her sentence was.

"Face it man, it's hopeless." Kwest said, patting Tommy's shoulder sympathetically.

"It's not over until we have solid proof one way or the other." Tommy said, his voice breaking slightly with disappointment.

"Hey, these things take time!" EJ protested and before she could say more, her phone rang once again. Tommy continued to sulk as EJ quickly ran over to her desk and began searching for a pen and paper. Kwest watched her for a moment, wondering what she was doing and handed her a pen that was in his pocket. EJ waved a thanks and wrote hurriedly on her pad and thanked whoever was on the phone and hung up. EJ beamed in pride. "I'm so good." She said, smirking at the boys. Kwest waited for EJ to continue, and both of them looked at Tommy who didn't seem to notice the different atmosphere in the room. EJ and Kwest glanced at each other and EJ handed Tommy the piece of paper.

Tommy seemed to snap out of his funk and looked at the name and address scrawled on the paper.

"Nikki McNickols?" Tommy read, looking up at EJ questioningly.

"Mark Snow's ex-wife. Apparently she's a very bitter woman. Could be your killer." She said, smirking in pride. Tommy stared at the name and back at EJ in awe.

"I told you she'd get us something." Kwest said. Tommy got up from his chair and left the room. EJ scoffed.

"Thanks EJ! That was really nice!" She yelled after Tommy. Kwest patted her on the shoulder and ran after Tommy, determined to keep his friend from doing something stupid.