It was very early in the morning when Mrs. Lovett was dragged from her corner. She let out a gasp of surprise. She hadn't even been aware of falling asleep, her vision leaving off from their frigid stone reality and translating into dreams. The two burly policemen had returned, and had her by the arms. In the opposite corner of the tiny room, Sweeney Todd was pressed against the grimy wall, his arms petulantly crossed while a third bobby had a rifle levelled at him to prevent his escape.

Mrs. Lovett was still blinking the sleep from her eyes as the manhandled her down the ill-lit hallway to the same investigation room in which they'd demanded an explanation the night previous. It wasn't as brightly lit as before, but dimly illuminated through the barred window. Sir Blunt sat at the table, a plate of fish and chips piled high and steaming before him.

Having not touched food in over two days, Mrs. Lovett eyed the plate with longing. She was sat down in an uncomfortable wooden chair by the guards. Blunt smiled at her.

"I'm so glad you've decided to cooperate with us, Mrs. Lovett."

"Who said anything about cooperating? You've got it in for me, too, same as Mr. Todd," she said nervously, licking her lips as she watched the steam rise off a piece of white cod.

James frowned, putting on a great show of sincerity. "Now who told you that?"

"T'would have to be stupid, I would, not to figure...that..." Lovett trailed off, her mouth watering.

"There's a very good chance you could come out of this, Mrs. Lovett, if you give us what we want," Blunt said conversationally as he popped a chip into his mouth. Patronizingly, he licked the remaining grease off his fingers.

"What do you want?" Mrs. Lovett asked weakly.

"Nothing much," Blunt said as he appraised his fingertips. "Just the truth."

"Mr. Todd! Mr. Todd!"

The youthful voice clamouring outside his cell door was a familiar one. Todd scrambled to his feet and went to the door.

"Mr. Todd, you have a visitor." the guardsman outside drawled. The normally bright face of Anthony Hope peered through the bars, pale and drawn. Clearly the events of the last few days had taken their toll on him. Todd was making up his mind as to whether he cared when Anthony began to speak.

"Oh, Mr. Todd, why have they locked you up? I told them I could vouch for your good character..." Anthony trailed off and he must've turned to the guard, for his voice was plaintive. "Sir, will you open the door and let me in? I'm in no danger from him."

"My orders-"

"DAMN your orders!" Anthony roared, surprising both Todd and the guard, who quickly opened the door to the cell. Todd didn't bother making for the door again. Instinct told him that escape would be aided now by subtle methods and not brute force or strength of will.

"Anthony," Todd began urgently, trying to suppress a villainous smile. "They're saying I'm the cause of all these disappearances, but you mustn't believe them! Someone..some man, some vile and corrupt man has been framing me all along for his crimes."

"I knew it!" Anthony declaimed, and took his friend's hand. "Is there no way justice can be done upon him?"

"None that I know of. Anthony, I am innocent and they are determined to hang me. There's but one way out of this fix, and I need your help."

"It was you who gave me and my dear Johanna quarters during that awful night. I'll do anything I can to help, Mr. Todd, anything!"

Todd allowed himself one, small smile. A fool, but a useful fool.

"Excellent. Now, listen closely..."

Anthony had since departed, and it was past noon when Mrs. Lovett was returned to her cell. She bore signs of mistreatment: in addition to the necklace of bruising from Todd's attempt on her life, she also wore the faint red shape of a hand print across her left cheek. On one hand, such impropriety made Todd bristle. On the other, he ought to take savage delight in seeing her brought so low. As it was, he felt strangely divided on the subject.

Additionally there was the matter of the planned escape. Mrs. Lovett was presently the unknown quantity. If he brought her with him, he'd more than likely have to kill her later. If he killed her before Anthony arrived, he would have to explain her death to him, something he did not particularly relish. Anthony may not have been the brightest star in the sky, but eventually he could put two and two together with the aid of some damning gossip. As much as it would satisfy his lust to revenge Lucy, killing Mrs. Lovett would be an inconvenience, not an aid.

Shouldn't indulge yourself, you know.

Those mocking words rang in his mind as he watched her cringe on the floor. She had told him that once, after his very first. He remembered having thought the woman simply had no compunctions at all. And it hadn't bothered him one bit. Considering recent events, why should it bother him now? Her object, as it were, was his affection. It shouldn't have surprised him when she lied. In some ways, he really did admire her total lack of virtue. Her transcendence of the laws of mortals. They were equals on that plane. They fit well.

With a small hiss, Sweeney Todd flung that thought from his mind. What did it matter what they had in common? She had betrayed him...she had wronged him, and she would pay, just like the Judge, just like the Beadle. It wasn't a matter of if he would kill her, but when.

But for now, he needed her alive and complacent in order to convince the sailor. He needed her to trust him again, if he was going to escape this gaol.

Mrs. Lovett wheezed slightly, holding a hand to her ribs.

"The truth, they say. And when I try to tell it..they..."

Her hair had come undone and was flowing down her back in a twisted mess. It had the effect of making her look younger, closer to the 40 years that she was rather than the 50 she generally looked with flour in her granny knotted hair, and the crows feet at her eyes. Exhaling a heavy breath, Lovett leaned against the stone wall, her hand still clasped to her side.

Todd pursed his lips, and then crossed the room in a single step. Her watery eyes widened, and she immediately slid away from him.

"No, you don't. Don't you come near me, d'you hear?" she growled, trying in vain to suppress a note of fear in her voice.

"I just want to see. If they've broken any ribs, I can set them," he said matter-of-factly, tilting his head to the side. "If you'd rather go on with them, suit yourself."

Mrs. Lovett inhaled to fuel another retort, but let out instead an anguished moan. Still clutching tightly to her abdomen, she sank to the floor, tears of pain flowing down her cheeks. Taking it for assent, Todd cradled her pathetic body in his arms as he undid her worn leather corset. She opened her mouth to protest vehemently, but weaker plaints reached his ears.

"You've still got it in for me. I remember," she raised a hand to touch the ring of bruising at her neck, but winced instead.

"I seem to recall similar sentiments from you, Mrs. Lovett," Todd said as he tapped the half healed slash on his cheek. Heaving a sigh, he pulled her corset away from her body and gently laid a hand over her cotton shift. She fought the urge to cringe as his fingertips lightly explored her rib cage, finding no broken bones.

"Badly bruised, I think. But try not to exert yourself. In fact, I think it's best you sleep."

Todd's words fell on deaf ears. She had fainted, verily, sprawled across his lap like a penny dreadful damsel. Grimacing, he carefully lifted her body and set her down in the bed of straw. He would wake her again when they brought the bread and water.