A/N: You all should feel deeply privileged. I'm updating this against my better judgment. Mostly because I haven't had a moment to review the post and I personally feel like crap. I think I may be coming down with a mild cold or my allergies are starting up again. Who knows for sure. I also think I might be allergic to chalk dust…long story, but moral of the a/n, I apologize if anything inadequate, I'm not feeling my best and I hope you guys like the chapter. I'll try to update once again during the weekend…hopefully I'll at least loose the headache by morning.

Chapter 18

Tommy and Kwest left the studio and headed for Nikki McNickols's home. She lived across town from G Major and it took Tommy only 10 minutes to make a 45 minute trek. They found the house with no incident and they got out of the Viper and walked briskly up to the house. Tommy glanced over at Kwest, took a deep breath and raised his fist to knock on the door when it opened. Tommy and Kwest started and so did the woman on the other side.

"What do you want?" She asked, sounding annoyed. Her eyes surveyed Tommy and Kwest, but her eyes lingered on Tommy for a long moment. They took the moment to study the woman before her. She was in her early 30s, roughly the same height as Jude and had long black hair pulled up in a pony tail. Her chocolate brown eyes were filled with annoyance. She stood with a hand on her hip and the other held a lit cigarette. She was dressed in a business suit and an overcoat.

"Ms. McNickols, we wanted to ask you a couple questions." Tommy stated and she rolled her eyes.

"You cops?"

"No."

"Than I have nothing to say to complete strangers." She said, closing her door behind her and pushing past Tommy and Kwest. Tommy and Kwest shared a glance and jogged down the porch and followed her.

"It's about your ex husband." Kwest said, and Nikki stopped in her tracks.

"What about him?"

"Surely you've heard of his untimely death." Tommy stated and Nikki's eyes burned a moment.

"What a shame." She spat, her voice anything but sympathetic. Her tone was bitter-filled and pinched with anger. Her hands clenched into fists at the mention of her ex and Tommy thought there might be some relief in sight for Jude. "If you excuse me, I have an appointment." She said, taking a long drag on her cigarette and flicking it into the yard. She then pulled her keys from her purse and began walking towards the car parked before Tommy's. Tommy glanced at Kwest a moment and then walked up to her, flashing her his trademark smile.

Kwest balked at Tommy's display. He began to shamelessly flirt with the woman and she was getting into it. Kwest gaped as Tommy's arm circled the woman in a very suggestive way. Mid-conversation, she glanced at her watch and ran off suddenly. Tommy made no move to follow her. Kwest continued to gape at his friend.

"Kwest, pick up your jaw."

"You were flirting with…" He trailed off unable to say the rest.

"Yes, I was." Tommy stated and grinned triumphantly at Kwest. Kwest still looked confussed. Nikki's black sedan drove past them.

"But Jude…"

"Kwest, what kind of guy do you think I am?" Tommy scoffed. At Kwest's silence Tommy shook his head. "You have no faith in me." He then held up his hand, showing Kwest a cell phone that was obviously not his.

"You stole her cell phone!"

"She dropped it." Tommy said.

"You stole it!"

"She dropped it." Tommy insisted, smirking and flipping it open and scrolling through the recent calls.

"That's….invasion of property!" Kwest argued. Tommy shrugged.

"I doubt there's anything incriminating on here, but at least we got a way to get her to meet us again." Tommy said, walking over to the Viper. Kwest continued to gape and followed his best friend.