AN: I wasn't sure I should reveal the identity of the kidnapper, but it'd make this chapter really difficult to write if I didn't. So here you go.

Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star, but I wish I did. Enough said.

Chapter 14: …Two Steps Back

Jude awoke to find her temples throbbing, and her body aching all over. She groaned as she opened her eyes to see the bright lights shining directly into her eyes.

"Good, you're finally up," Nicole remarked. "I was beginning to get a little bored."

"Who- Who are you?" Jude stammered in confusion.

Nicole laughed, then became serious once again. "That's the million dollar question, isn't it? Everyone knows who I'm with, but no one knows me. Now it's my turn to be famous…"

"Did Eden put you up to this?" Jude said, still groggy from being beaten into unconsciousness.

"Eden? No, she couldn't stand being this cruel. Even she has her limits." Nicole mirthlessly laughed again. "But I, on the other hand, have had plenty of time to get my revenge, and I decided to start with you."

She walked over, bent down to Jude, who was lying on the floor, then grabbed Jude by her hair and pulled her into a sitting position.

Jude winced, and Nicole asked, "Not so strong after all…"

"Huh?" Jude didn't see what she was getting at.

"The question to your song, 'How Strong Do You Think I Am?'" Nicole said, as if the answer was right there in front of Jude. "I know, let's do something fun…Let's test how strong you really are." She laughed coldly as she shoved Jude back down, and kicked her repeatedly.

"Why are you doing this?" Jude cried out, whimpering in pain and trying to curl up into a ball to avoid getting even more hurt.

But Nicole only laughed in response.

--

Back at the abandoned house, Andrew had called a few more detectives to get in on the case. He quickly filled them in on everything, despite Tommy and Kwest's insistence on keeping the events surrounding Jude's disappearance a private investigation.

Then Mike, another detective who'd been on the force for over 20 years, and been a detective for over 10, had said he had an idea about setting a trap for them. The idea he came up with stood a good chance of being successful, and he told them he'd been thinking of how to make even better.

He suggested that they do a simple 'submit to their demands', but have a team of police officers ready and waiting to make the arrest. Of course, Mike told them that that kidnappers usually think there's some trap involved (which there was going to be), but if Tommy and Kwest waited a little longer to give them their ransom money, they'll second-guess themselves into thinking that there isn't any trap at all, and come right out to claim the ransom money. As soon as they touch the briefcase with the ransom money in it (which will actually be filled with real money), the police can make their arrest, and the police can find out who was behind it all.

Kwest listened carefully to what was being said, then asked, "How do we get in touch with the kidnapper?"

"That's easy," Mike told them. "They always contact you, and you can set up the meeting time and place, saying you'll agree to their terms. Then it's a simple bait and trap from there."

"What if someone gets shot?" Lisa asked worriedly, hoping Kwest wouldn't be injured.

"We'll have an ambulance nearby, in case anything goes wrong," Mike said, wondering which of the two men she was with was the one she was interested in. "Are you OK with this?" He asked them.

Tommy and Kwest emphatically said, "Yes!", while Lisa echoed their answer a split second later, and not as firmly as they did.

"What do we do now?" Tommy asked.

"Now? We wait," one of the other detectives said, as if this was the most obvious answer.