The darkness of the room was only intensified by her fears. Dakota could not stop thinking about what Hamilton's associate had said about her parents. She knew her mother was irrational and emotional, but she never imagined that her mother would leave her father. Dakota could only hope this was temporary. Her life has been so completely different just a few short weeks ago. Hamilton was an abusive man, who seemed to enjoy taking his anger out on her. The door swung open and Hamilton entered her room. Dakota shrunk back. She hated when he'd come in. She never knew what to expect from him. He sat down next to her.

"I'm not a monster you know," Hamilton stated. Dakota resisted the urge to snort in response. Hamilton was the very definition of a monster. "I can see you don't believe me. But I had a good life. Ever heard if Cleo and Josette? They were my stars. I gave them fame and fortune, then what do they do? They disappear! I need to find them!"

"What does that have to do with me?" Dakota asked.

"Nothing," Hamilton sighed. "You are simply a tool to get information." Dakota eyed Hamilton warily. She had never seen him this way before. He almost sounded apologetic.

"So then what?" Dakota asked. "You kill me?" Hamilton's eyes grew wide. It was clear he hadn't thought of the aftermath yet. Hamilton looked at the young girl. He wasn't sure if he was capable if killing anyone.

"I haven't thought that far," Hamilton admitted. Dakota wasn't sure why her captor was being so forthcoming, but she decided to take advantage of it.

"What did your friend say about my parents?" Dakota asked.

"My friend?" Hamilton asked. He looked at her with an odd look on his face. "I have no friends my dear girl." He sighed, and cupped Dakota's cheek. She shivered in revulsion. This man made her skin crawl. She regained her composure, and sat stiffly, hoping he would answer her question. "Your parents, they're collateral damage."

"What?" Dakota asked. Her voice raised a bit. It seemed to snap Hamilton out of whatever mood he was in.

"That's enough for now," Hamilton stated. He pressed a kiss on her forehead then left the room. Dakota was confused by this man who was her captor. At times he acted almost fatherly, then there were times where he would not be so fatherly. He would at times beat her, then other times tend to her wounds. She was furious at his explanation that her parents were collateral damage! She wished she hadn't been so forceful. Maybe she could have gotten more information out of him. Dakota sighed and settled into the bed, tears streamed down her face as she thought about her parents.

OOOOO

Jill eyed her sister, smirking. Claire was humming a tune that their mother used to hum. It was a beautiful melody that their mother said had summoned their father to this land. Claire usually only hummed it when she was extremely happy. Over the past few years, that rune had been absent from Claire's lips. As she did her farm work there seemed to be an extra spring in her step. Jill wondered if it had anything to do with the handsome blacksmith that had visited their house. She knew he had become a friend to her sister, but Jill wondered if there were more there.

"You're cheerful today," Jill remarked.

"It's just a beautiful day," Claire replied. Her cheeks had a slight flush to them. "Who wouldn't be cheerful." Jill raised an eyebrow at Claire. She knew when her sister was not telling the full truth. "Okay so maybe there's more to it!" Claire giggled and flushed even harder.

"You going to share?" Jill asked.

"I have a crush," Claire admitted.

"On that hunky blacksmith?" Jill asked. Claire nodded. "Well he seems nice enough."

"He is!" Claire exclaimed. "I don't know what he thinks about me though."

"Just take it as it comes," Jill advised. "If he doesn't like you too he's an idiot, and not worth your time." Claire smiled. Jill always knew what to say. She used to be a bit envious of that trait, but as she grew older, she appreciated her differences from her sister.

The sisters continued to toil on their farmland. This type of work was so much more rewarding than prancing around on stage half naked. Claire thought of the handsome blacksmith and his crystal clear blue eyes. He was so shy and reserved. He had admitted to her that most people saw his shyness as being rude, but Claire saw something else. She sighed wondering what he thought of her. Jill was right though, she'd have to just take it as it comes.

OOOOO

Karen awoke to find herself in the clinic. She felt a bit disoriented. Karen remembered very little from the night before. The last thing she remembered was arriving at Jack's house. She shifted a bit, feeling uncomfortable. She hated being rejected. At that moment she heard a slight snoring noise. She looked over to her right to see the farmer in question sitting in a chair sleeping next to her. She felt quite touched that he was still there. Perhaps last night's encounter had lot been completely worthless. The man slowly started to wake up. When he saw Karen sitting up in her bed he glared.

"Good morning," Karen replied cheerily.

"Goo you're awake. You can now clear up what happened last night," Jack grumbled. Karen looked at Jack confused.

"What do you mean?" Karen asked.

"Oh you know, you coming to my house drunk, and passing out after hitting your head on the door jamb, please explain this so I can go home," Jack mumbled. It was at that moment that Karen saw that he had been handcuffed to the chair. She sighed in dismay. So he hadn't stayed for her.

"Quite frankly," Karen stated. "I don't remember what happened last night." At that moment the doctor came into her room.

"Good to see you awake," he replied.

"Morning Trent," Karen greeted. Trent was one of the people she used to sleep with. He hated how informally she addressed him, but said nothing.

"This man didn't do anything to hurt you did he?" Trent asked.

"No sir," Karen informed. "In fact, he's going to be my next boyfriend!"

OOOOO

Dirk watched the tape that Chase had given him over again. He wasn't sure why Dakota's kidnapper wanted information on someone from the island. But his best and only less was that woman. He'd need to research that woman on his own. He'd already sent the name over to his partner back in the city. He poured over the case file he'd put together so far. He knew that missing girls rarely came back home to their families. If they did come back, it was rare there would be a happy ending. It didn't help that the mother was not being cooperative. This would often happen, one parent would be cooperative, while one would take the kidnapper's threat of not contacting the police to heart.

Dirk looked up to catch the woman behind the counter staring at him. She had introduced herself as Ellie. He smiled. Ellie looked to be a few years younger than he was. Back when he was younger, he would have jumped on the opportunity of a woman's company. As he grew older, he found it more complicated. Older women were not looking for a quick fling, most wanted a relationship. Ellie was a beautiful woman. She definitely had aged well. If things were different... He couldn't think that way. He was here to solve a case, nothing more. He turned back to his files.

He was so absorbed in the case, he didn't notice when Ellie approached him with a cup of coffee.

"You look tired," Ellie replied. Dirk looked up appreciatively.

"Thanks," he stated. He smiled at the woman. Ignoring her might be harder than he thought. Ellie made her way back to behind the counter. Dirk could feel her eyes on him. He took a large swig of coffee, burning his tongue. He decided to leave town hall for some fresh air. When he stepped outside, he saw a letter on the ground addressed to him. Dirk slowly bent down and picked up the letter. He had a feeling that this would be no good.

"Stay out of this, or the girl dies."

The note was simple and chilling. Dirk rubbed his face with a large hand. This case was getting more complicated by the moment.