Last Chapter Synopsis: Will gives an interview revealing Gianna's situation to the public. Elizabeth tries to escape Wickham's clutches.

*Author's suggestion: review chapters 17, 18 and the 1st paragraph of 34 before reading this one.

Chapter 45: Lure

She looks like a fish out of water, flopping around like that. It's just so…pathetic.

Greg Wickham had stood watching Lizzy attempt to wriggle the knife under the tape binding her wrists for a full five minutes before walking calmly down the stairs and kicking the knife away from her hands. The effort it took to simply lift the knife off the floor made her legs flare out like some awkward sea urchin, and the sight had been all too hilarious to not enjoy for a few moments. It wasn't like he was going to have Lizzy with him forever; in fact, time was already starting to run short.

But he had more important things to do.

Lifting the tiny television onto the writing desk, Greg placed both hands under her armpits and swiftly lifted her back into a sitting position over the tarp covered mattress. The icy glare that emanated out of her hazel eyes was villain-worthy, but her silence was deafening. She's finally learned to keep her mouth shut. Shame. I almost miss that feistiness.

It didn't matter, though. This whole fiasco was coming to an end, and soon. "I have something for you to see."

"I'm not interested in seeing anything you have to show me, thank you." Her button nose turned up high in indifference to him.

"Not even if it involves…Will Darcy?"

He couldn't miss the look of hope in her eyes that she quickly tried to mask. However, she still said nothing and continued to keep her gaze averted.

"You could say 'no'; I would show you anyway. Enjoy it Lizzy." Snapping on the television and hitting the playback on the DVR, Greg watched as Will Darcy's interview from that very morning filled the screen.

It was an interesting play his foe had decided to make; one Greg was sure had been beneath him just a few months ago. Exposing Gianna to public disgrace and ridicule? Absurd. It simply never would have happened.

But now it had. And although such an endeavor might have messed with his plans a few months ago, Greg Wickham couldn't think anything but this rash act on Darcy's part as too little, too late.

The bottom line was that there was no one to give him up; no one to turn him in. Well…except her…his inside man, his partner in crime…his Bonnie.

Of course, her motivations had been entirely different than his; but it only required his good 'ol Wickham charm to bring her into his fold. She had been invaluable to his cause, as he had made sure he was invaluable to hers. Although he was sure that this ploy by Darcy would make her think, Greg Wickham was positive that he had won her over enough to ensure that he had no chance of discovery. As strong as she thought she was, she too had been played like a fiddle, and that type of conditioning does not get broken easily. He was safe, and Darcy had lost.

A voice wafting from the television recalled his attention back to the moment. Elizabeth was glued to the television and hanging on Will's every word. It's funny, I'm fairly certain I looked exactly like that when I watched this part the first time. She's in for a treat.

He even remembered the exact tone of the interviewer's voice as she asked the question; playfully digging for some juicy morsel to be divulged for the sake of ratings, "So…Will, who is Elizabeth Bennet and how exactly does she tie into this drama?"

The cold Darcy mask was in full effect for the answer: "Elizabeth Bennet is a woman who I first met professionally, but later came to know personally. I know that she has ties to Wickham, but I do not know how or in what way she is involved with him. However, I consider her a friend, and I have reason to be concerned about her well-being at this time. That is why it is imperative that we find Greg Wickham, and find him now."

"Isn't it true that Elizabeth and you are romantically connected?"

"Is everything you read in the tabloids real?"

Greg chuckled at the interviewer who was too stunned to speak and had turned bright scarlet at his reply. Greg shook his head; such typical Darcy – absolutely no finesse with women. Or anyone, for that matter.

Darcy continued, "Then you have your answer."

The woman knew that there really was no coming back from her faux pas. "I want to thank you for sharing your time William. I do hope that Wickham is found and that your sister is fully exonerated." She rose to shake his hand as the camera pulled back and the commercial break began.

Greg glanced over to Lizzy, who stared frozen at the now black screen. He would let her stay like that for as long as she wanted, allowing the helplessness of her situation to fully wash over her.

Just like the waves of the Hudson would do in just a few short hours.

He's so well spoken. I just can't believe what he's saying.

The face of the man she used to daydream daily about was being broadcasted over every station, and his story was truly celebrity gossip for the ages. It was a story she had been a part of, even; but absolutely not in the way that she had originally thought.

Her fascination with Will Darcy had begun at their first meeting. His sense of style, his debonair, his eyes; all had worked in tandem to draw her in like a fish to a lure. He had always been courteous to her, and she knew it was all a pretense for when he would finally ask her out and make their relationship official. To themselves. To the world.

Except…he didn't. He went out with one fashion model after another, mixing in a few actresses for good measure, none ever lasting longer than a few weeks. She was certain it was just something he had to get out of his system; that it wouldn't be long before the phone call came for her to take her rightful place on his arm.

But until then, she had to wait. Women like her weren't supposed to wait, mind you, but men like Will Darcy were among the few you would make an exception for.

And just when she was starting to get anxious, she met Greg.

Oh Greg. Just when Darcy's good looks and aloof personality traits had begun to grate on her patience, the golden boy had been at her side to cheer her up. He could never be her equal…hell, she couldn't even be seen in public with him…but the heart she thought had been completely enchanted by Will Darcy slowly but surely became enamored of Greg Wickham…and his stories.

She'd be lying if she said the stories hadn't made her feel a little bit better. Stories of how Will had mistreated Greg when they were younger. Stories of how Gianna had used Greg's feelings for her to take advantage of him. Stories that made her recognize Will for what she had always known him to be: a billionaire. Powerful. Self-centered. Strong. Masculine. It didn't matter, particularly where fame and fortune where involved, but it was less insulting to think that Will Darcy was just the average man of extensive property, with a little dick and even less awareness of what was actually good for him - and that would explain why he hadn't yet acknowledged how perfect she was for him. In her, he would eventually recognize his equal and power couple they would still be.

But in the meantime, here he was - her golden boy - taking care of her. Making her feel good. Making her feel oh, so…desirable. Although she would eventually get Will – it only made sense for her status in life - Greg Wickham made an excellent consolation prize for the time being.

So of course, when he asked, she helped him.

She had to help him keep an eye on Gianna. She had to help him know Darcy's every move. Isn't that what friends do? Isn't that what you do for someone you love? Especially someone who can only have most of you, but not all of you? You help them. She bit the inside of her cheek when she acknowledged her true motivation: Particularly when helping them allows you to stay close to what you really want. Greg's seemingly innocent obsession simply paired so nicely with her own.

But then, there was that night. She remembered it like it was yesterday. Ella lounge, with that sexy white dress she was sure would finally get Will's attention off of that dark and puny Elizabeth Bennet and back onto her where it belonged.

Greg had told her that he would be meeting a friend there that night, and she had chosen to lie. She had chosen to keep it a secret that she would be there too. That Darcy would be there. That she still wanted Darcy. And that Darcy wanted Elizabeth.

He couldn't know any of that, because if he did, he would want to be involved. This was her night – her chance to win back Will after seeing him fawning over Lizzy at Charlie's. She couldn't make a move for Will in front of Greg. Besides, the chances of seeing him at the club were slim – hundreds of people, multiple floors and costumes made it highly unlikely they would recognize or even run into each other.

That hadn't stopped her from drinking like a fish to get the nerves out of her system, however.

And then, of course, his friend was Elizabeth Bennet herself.

Karma had thrown a huge curveball in her direction, but before she knew it, the storm had blown over. Alcohol allowed it to seem that almost everyone had vanished instantaneously before her eyes without so much more than a hiccup. At least, or so she thought, until she met up with Greg the following day.

That was the day she had learned never to cross Greg Wickham. The anger she had witnessed when he realized that she had failed to tell him anything about Elizabeth and the specifics of their Halloween outing was something she never wanted to experience again. He didn't seem to realize her motives, but it didn't matter; she had disappointed him and she was surprised to discover that his disappointment mattered to her.

Of course, when his anger quickly transitioned into a strong focus on separating Lizzy and Will from each other, she was all ears. As always, his goals for Will's life were aligning with her own, and she would take all the help she could get to make sure that Lizzy Bennet never became Elizabeth Darcy. They were a match, made in heaven or hell it didn't matter, because the end goal would be the same:

Elizabeth Bennet would NEVER get her man.

But now….this information was new; what Will was saying was well…it was almost preposterous. She had already taken a Xanax after watching the interview the first time; she was now on viewing 43. She had never imagined that Gianna had been on house arrest. That Greg had framed her. That Greg, in fact, had already caused more trouble than she ever could have imagined to the Darcy family.

But most importantly, that she had unknowingly helped him do it. That to her horror, she had been...used.

He had always been so believable…so innocent. So…golden.

Anger temporarily trembled her hands as she acknowledged that she had been had. That was all that could be said. It wasn't like Will had ever informed her or Charles regarding Greg for her to know any better. And at least she was certain that she had done nothing illegal; all she had ever done was help Greg keep tabs on Will's whereabouts. What exactly could be illegal about that?

Most importantly, perhaps, here was her chance; if she could help Will exonerate his sister, maybe he would finally see her as more than just a family friend. He would owe her, for certain. And besides, don't people always fall in love with their hero?

Her cell was still cradled in her hands. Multiple mis-dials and half finished attempts to call the number mentioned in the interview were documented in the call history, beckoning her to find the courage to finish the task. She had no way of knowing the truth of the matter, but now that she did…she had to do what she had always pledged to do.

She had to have her man's back. She had to be the woman she aspired to be. After all that had happened, it might be her only chance of ever getting him now.

Carefully dialing the number, she finally found the courage to hit send.

Detective Forster had never seen William Darcy like this. Dark, brooding, pensive…agitated but eerily in control of himself. Elbows balanced precariously on the edge of his desk, forehead resting on a pyramid of fingers formed in front of his eyebrows. Forster couldn't actually be sure if he was thinking, praying…or both.

It was a strange tale, this one. Not so much the drugs; those were a daily nuisance. No, it was the story of Wickham according to Will; a man seemingly crazed with the singular concept of ruining another man's life. It wasn't something you saw everyday, and the dastardly twists the tale took, if they had all happened exactly as Will said, certainly took on a character of pure obsession and evil.

The interview had occurred this morning, and except for a few leads that had resulted in dead ends very quickly, the current lack of a ringing phone made it painfully clear that the trail on Wickham had literally gone silent.

The public interview had been a brave attempt, and he couldn't fault Will for trying it. Anyone would have done the…

A wide eyed Will was now staring expectantly at him. Raising his eyebrows in return, Forster reached over and grabbed the suddenly and surprisingly ringing receiver.

"Detective Forster speaking."

A commanding female voice responded to his greeting. "I believe I have information on the whereabouts of Greg Wickham. He has a boat, and lives on it for the most part."

"How do you know this?"

"I've seen it. I know him. He keeps it docked near the Liberty Harbor RV park."

Forster repeated the address she gave back to her to make sure that it was correct.

"Do you know for certain he is there now?"

"I think there is a very good chance."

"Well, thank you for this information miss. Can I have your name and contact information so that we can follow up with you if necessary? Ok, let me just…that's C – A – R – O…"

When the call was finished, Detective Forster replaced his receiver and evaluated the information he had in front of him. He then looked up to see nothing but the spinning, empty office chair that Will Darcy had already left behind.

A/N: The big reveal is finally out in the open. I do reserve the right to tweak this chapter over the next week or so, but I am pretty sure it is where I want it to be!

As always thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your Reviews, Follows, Favorites and PMs. Please keep them coming! Until next time. :)