Tommy…

Tommy's heart beat erratically as he looked over the group's heads to peer into Darius's solemn face. The alarm had been sounded at the studio that something might be wrong with Jude, and Darius had immediately called a staff meeting—using the opportunity to question everyone as to where they might have last seen Jude. They hadn't gotten far into the questioning when the meeting had been interrupted by a phone call.

Jude's scream still emanated throughout the room like an eerie echo, and Tom had felt his heart drop literally to his toes. He had never wanted to murder someone more in his life. Sadie's face was pasty white as she lifted her cell phone to call Stewart Harrison, and the rest of the crew just hadn't found it in them to speak as of yet. Darius shook his head.

"We don't have half a million dollars to spare. The company might be worth more than that, but it's just not possible to do that right now without damaging the studio." Darius stated simply as he began to pace. He was good at that—pacing. Tommy just sat down heavily in the chair he had vacated when Jude screamed.

"I have that much money." Tom said quietly as everyone turned toward him, not so much in surprise, as just startled shock. Tom shrugged.

"When he contacts you again, tell him you have the money, D. It's not a question of cost anymore." Tommy reiterated as Sadie began to sob. The situation had just turned from grim to grave in just a matter of hours. That scream. Nobody could get over that scream.

Sadie was sobbing as she spoke into her phone, and Jamie eventually had to leave the room in order to lose what appeared to be the contents of his stomach. It was different from their end of the bargain. They weren't privy to what was going on in that dank apartment. They weren't privy as to what had caused that scream. Tommy's cell phone vibrated and he looked down at it dismissively—still trying to control the unsteady beat of his heart only to feel it stop altogether at the number displayed there. It was Jude's.