'Is your name Michael Smith?'

The jittery man in his mid thirties swallowed, nodding anxiously.

'Please answer for the sake of the recording' Inspector Jenkings gestured to the tape recorder.

'Y-yes'

'When did you meet Peyton?'

'Er' The man wrung his hands together nervously. 'About nine months ago. At the park'

'The park?'

'Yes, I have a daughter' He clarified. 'A little older than Erin'

Inspector Jenkings looked down at the folder in his grasp. 'That's right, Lydia'

Michael nodded. 'They got on well and Peyton and I hit it off'

'Did you know she was married?'

'Yes a-and at the time I was happily married too but Peyton and I, we had this connection'

'When did your relationship change from being innocent friends to something more serious?'

'You mean when did we first have sex?' He translated.

The inspector nodded.

'The kids had a play-date at her house, I went over there to collect Lydia but you know what kids are like, they begged for a sleepover. Lucas was out of town and once the girls were settled one thing just led to another' He looked down ashamedly. 'We didn't see each other again for a couple of weeks, she couldn't stand the guilt but I had to see her- I went to her work and from then on in we were seeing each other whenever we could'

'Did Peyton ever talk about leaving her husband?'

'From what I could gather he was a good guy and she really didn't want to hurt him. I couldn't carry on though, I left my wife for her, I didn't want to hide with her, I was inlove with her' He admitted passionately, his eyes tearing up. 'It's my fault she's dead' He choked out. 'I should never have made the damn video'

'Did Peyton know about the tape?'

'She knew, she just didn't know I had every intention of giving it to her husband'

'When did you give the tape to Mr Scott?'

'The, the night before P-Peyton's disappearance' He shook his head in frustration. 'I just wanted to do what she couldn't. I wanted him to know so we could start a life together with Erin and Lydia' He gushed. 'I never meant for this'

'Michael why didn't you come forward earlier?'

'I thought I'd be accused of hurting her and I can't afford to be taken away from my daughter. I was scared but I-I loved her so much, if he did this, if he's killed her I just want justice'

The room was silent aside from the clock on the wall that was ticking tauntingly. Although he was very much aware that it were impossible, it seemed that with every passing second it was getting louder and louder, mocking him.

He'd been prescribed with a stronger dose of his usual medication.

He'd fainted shortly after being arrested and the doctors had been quick to decide that this stress wasn't any good for his heart condition and suggested he take it easy.

He found it ludicrous that only an hour later he'd been locked up in a cell, so much for reducing his stress.

Being left alone, isolated in the small room had done nothing but increase his blood pressure, that he was certain of. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her face, he saw Ian Banks with his grimy hands all over her. The footage was engraved into his mind, there was no escaping and these visions only fueled his growing frustration.

It had now been sixteen hours, ten minutes and counting since he'd been put behind bars, another sixteen hours and ten minutes that he'd been with her, that he'd done god knows what to her.

'Luke'

He jumped from the chair as Haley walked into the square visiting room followed by Brooke.

'Oh god' Haley was a mess to say the least, she raced over to him, her arms tightening painfully around his taught chest. 'Are you ok?' Her voice was laced with concern.

'I'm fine'

'God we've tried everything Luke, they won't release you, I, I don't understand, how can they do this?'

He didn't have an answer it was the same question he'd been asking himself all night.

'How can they possibly have evidence of you doing something you haven't done?'

'Perhaps he has done'

'Brooke' Lucas' eyes bore into her. 'You don't think-'

'Where were you?' She demanded, her cheeks flushed. She'd spent days thinking this through and couldn't get her weary mind round it. 'No one knows where you were'

'Brooke' Haley interrupted, her eyes filled with fury. 'Stop it. Lucas didn't do anything' She snapped surely. 'The last thing he needs right now, is his friends questioning his whereabouts, ok'

'I spoke to the neighbours, they said they heard you arguing-'

'Yes' He growled. 'We were arguing and I pushed her down the fucking stairs and then I disposed of the body' He ranted sardonically, his face contorted with rage.

'That's not funny' Haley crossed her arms. 'Just be quiet. They're already looking for motives Luke, you can't let them hear you say things like that' She hissed.

'Well if it was up to Brooke I'd already be in Prison'

'That's not what I want' The brunette sighed, pressing her fingers into her eyes. 'I'm sorry ok? I'm sorry, I just, I need my best friend to be ok'

'And I need my wife to be ok' He exclaimed.

Brooke nodded solemnly. 'I know'

'I would never hurt her, never. I have never hurt her. This is a set up.'

'We know' Haley slid her hand into his, squeezing it reassuringly.

'She's my world' He continued, 'You're her best friend Brooke, you know damn well how much she loves me how much I love her. She's my everything, I love her-'

'I know' Brooke looked at him shamefully. 'I'm sorry, I-I'm sorry'

Lucas pressed his head up against the cold tiled wall. 'Where's Erin?' He almost sobbed out her name.

'She, they' Haley took a breath. 'Social services have taken her' She all but whispered.

Lucas' arm flung out and he slammed the wall, rocking his sweaty forehead against the dirty wall.

'Nathan, Nathan's down there talking to them, they can't keep her Luke. They're just figuring out where's the best place for her to be right now'

'More like trying to get her to tell them that her daddy killed her mummy' He barked.

'Luke' A tear raced down Haley's flushed cheek.

He spun around, his eyes darker than ever before.

'You're her God Mother Brooke' He gripped her shoulders and she shuddered. 'Promise me you'll take care of her, promise me you won't stop until you've got custody'

'I-I promise'

'Swear'

'I-I swear Lucas, I swear'

'Don't you stop until you have her in your arms. You look after her' He demanded, fiercely. 'You look after her like she's your own'

'Lucas' Her hands cupped his face despairingly but he couldn't meet her caring gaze, he pulled away with force. 'I'm going to get you the best attorney' Her voice wavered from it's usual confident rasp. 'You're going to be out of here before you know it'

'You look after her' His tone was threatening but bordering on desperation.

'We will' Haley promised tearfully. 'You know we will'

A warm breeze hit Ian's face and he smiled, he did love being by the coast. He turned his head away from the appealing ocean view to the man hurrying down the barren sandy shoreline toward him.

His tie was hanging loosely, his top button undone, his messy hair ruffling in the sea air and as he got closer the dark sinkholes under his eyes became even more prominent.

'Michael' Ian greeted cheerfully, lifting his black shades and shaking the anxious guy's hand. 'How're you?'

'O-Okay'

'Good, good. Well?'

'It's done' Michael admitted gravely.

'Bravo' Ian clapped his hands together in satisfaction, everything really was going so smoothly, more so than he'd ever anticipated. 'They believed you?'

'They said they'd call me if they had any more questions but yeah I-I think so'

'Good man, Well as agreed, here's the money' Ian held out a shinny black brief case, his eyebrow quirking questioningly when the man didn't take it.

'The, the lady' Michael stuttered. 'She, she's okay right?' His face lined with self-condemnation.

'She's none of your concern Michael'

'She's got a family and friends that are all so, so worried about her'

Ian looked at him, his face hidden with indifference.

'She's got a-a little girl' He blurted ruefully.

'And so have you' He reminded condescendingly. 'A terminally ill little girl. A little girl who needs her Daddy to be a man and provide the money for her surgery'

Michael's already pale complexion transcended a deathly white.

Ian temptingly held the brief case out again. 'Are you going to be the father she needs you to be Michael?'

He remorsefully took the money, his hand shaking with guilt.

'Good Man' Ian squeezed his arm with a smile. 'Your doing the right thing'

He doubted that, but he'd do anything for his child.

'Relax' Ian encouraged with a wide smile. 'You should be over the moon, I think I've been more than generous'

'You have' Michael nodded his head. 'Thank you' He begrudgingly shook his hand one last time.

'I'll be in touch Michael' and with that, Ian turned and breezily made his way up the beach, leaving the sinner behind to wrestle with the unrelenting shame that he would forever be burdened with.

Lucas had spent a infuriating two hours being interrogated. Every question that was asked he answered truthfully, only to have them writing off his honesty as lies. They talked about a man, Michael Smith, they told him things he'd said. He couldn't get his head round it. He'd never heard of the man and he sure as hell knew it wasn't the man in the video. It didn't seem to matter what he said, they had a answer for everything and what hurt most was when they'd insistently asked him where he'd buried her body.

Perhaps it was stupidity and in hindsight was most definitely not the wisest of actions but he'd not been able to contain himself, his anger had taken hold and he'd ended up breaking one of the assisting interrogators nose. He'd been locked back up after that.

He'd figured when an officer had come and got him not even an hour later it was to be taken back to be question, so was surprised when they'd announced he had a visitor, he'd assumed he'd not be allowed visitation rights at all after his lapse of aggression.

Nathan was already in the room when they directed him in and his wrists were left cuffed.

'Nate' Lucas didn't speak until they were left alone.

'How're you holding up big brother' Nathan hugged him.

'I've been better'

'You look like shit'

Lucas forced a weary smile. 'Where's Erin?'

'I've been down there nearly all day, Social services are refusing to release her, Brooke's down there now, she won't leave her Luke. Besides, Brooke Davis can be very persuasive, I'm sure she'll have her out of there soon. They say that considering all the trauma she's been through already they want to make sure that where they put her is going to be a consistent, safe home. They want to assess the situation and said they'll reach a decision in the next couple of days.'

Lucas nodded bleakly.

'Brooke's also been on the phone all afternoon, she's getting you an attorney Luke'

Lucas nodded distractedly. 'I need you to do something for me Nate' He mustered.

'Anything'

'I made a copy just in case, it's in my desk draw'

'A copy?'

'Ian Banks sent me this...' He swallowed thickly. 'This sick video'

'Luke' Nathan's face crumpled in discomfort. 'The inspector, he told me' He shoved his hands in his pockets.

Lucas' eyes narrowed and he stared his brother out.

'You believe them' A laugh of utter disbelief escaped his mouth. 'I don't fucking believe it'

'I don't believe them' Nathan hissed. 'I know you'd never hurt her' He exclaimed confidently. 'But, have you considered that she could have been having an affair?' He tried.

'Nathan' Both of Lucas' palms awkwardly(given the metal bounding) connected with the surface of the table and the legs shook. 'You know her, you're talking about her like she's just some, some girl I've dated for a while. She's my wife. You've known her since high school, you dated her for fuck sake. You know her. You know she wouldn't do that. It's not real. That fucking sick-'

'Ian's dead Luke. I've seen the old newspaper records, he died' Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose. 'All I'm saying is that this hasn't happened for no apparent reason. It sure as hell isn't a coincidence that you are being linked to all this, it's deliberate. There has to be a reason' He took a breath. 'I know you don't want to hear this but it's possible. She went off with you behind Brooke's back who's saying she's not to have met someone'

'We were kids and I was the one that did the cheating. She wasn't in a relationship with Brooke' Lucas cried defensively.

'She was her best friend. She still cheated her.'

'Your one to fucking talk Nate. That's completely irrelevant we were stupid teenagers and that was with me Nathan, cause even then it was undeniable. It's always been her and me, it always will be'

Nathan exhaled heavily.

'Please Nate, I need you to help me. I know that what they're saying may appear true but it's not. I know it's not. You think Peyton would leave Erin? Put Erin in danger?'

Nathan looked down, unable to stand the pleading eyes bearing down on him.

'Please, I've never asked you for anything'

'Lucas I want her found just as much as you do, I love her like a sister' He declared adamantly. 'But this guy that confessed, the police say his story makes sense, he even has a tattoo on his back, of an angel'

Lucas shook his head vigourously. 'You haven't seen the video. Ian Banks is alive. Watch it and tell me it's not him, don't give up on her. Nathan please'

'Ok' Nathan conceded. 'Ok'

'Find Ian Banks Nathan, find him and find her.'