Standard disclaimer: I don't own Glee or these characters, but gosh golly if I did...

Hi y'all. Thanks again for the follows, alerts, favorites and comments! No, the officer isn't Sam haha, sorry to disappoint, but they'll meet... soon :) Truth be told, I'm anxious for it to happen too!

And I know, things are really bad for her right now, but it'll get better I promise - just not yet :)

"Why aren't you listening to me?" Mercedes yelled, frustrated with the man behind the plexiglass.

"Ma'am, you need to calm down. I'll let Offi-."

"CALM DOWN?! Are you –"

"Miss Jones?"

Mercedes looked up at the sound of her name and saw Officer Abrams walking over to her, a cautious smile on his face.

"How are you?"

"I need to speak with you. Now." Mercedes skipped the pleasantries and got right to it.

Officer Abrams looked at her for a moment and nodded briskly. "Of course. Right this way."

He walked her over to an empty room and closed the door.

"What can I do for you?"

"I think I know who murdered Nick."

Officer Abram's eyebrow shot up and he clasped his hands, nodding for her to continue.

"Last night I woke up at around four and noticed that the window in my living room was open. I didn't think much of it and figured that I must have forgotten to close it. I've been so out of it these past few weeks..."

She paused, collecting her thoughts. Office Abrams nodded encouragingly.

She took a breath. "Today I went into my office and overheard a conversation between Jesse St. James, the new president of the company, and a man whose voice I recognized from Nick's house."

"What did they discuss?"

She explained what she's heard –the missing money, the suspicious client, the files and a furious Jesse.

"Then they started talking about me and how they searched my office and apartment, but couldn't find anything." Mercedes shuddered as she thought about the invasion of privacy. "That man was in my house last night."

A look of anger flashed across the officer's face.

"Wait here for a minute."

Mercedes nodded as Officer Abrams left the room. She felt her phone buzz and reached into her purse, sighing with relief when she saw Kurt's name appear on the screen.

"Can't talk now. Text you in a few," she quickly messaged him.

When Officer Abrams returned to the room several minutes later, he was all business and had a folder in his hand.

"Miss Jones, the information you just gave us may be the break we need." He paused. "We've been digging into some business records and it seems that your boss wasn't quite who he said he was."

She looked at him, silently begging him to continue, but terrified of what she would hear next.

"Were you aware of what industries his clients dealt in?"

Mercedes shook her head. "Like I said, I knew some of the clients through schedules and whatnot, but I didn't have any background on them."

The officer nodded. "Do you recognize this man?," he asked as he slid a photo across the table to her.

She looked at it, trying to put pieces together in her mind. Nothing clicked.

"No. Am I supposed to?"

"That's the most ruthless drug and human trafficker in the country."

Mercedes looked from Officer Abrams back to the photo of the smiling gentleman with salt and pepper hair. She raised her question filled eyes and found the officer staring intently at her.

"What does he have to do with anything?"

There was a pause before he answered.

"You mentioned that Mr. Clemmons had a meeting with Donovan scheduled? The gentleman you're looking at is Klauss Donovan Mitchell. We have reason to believe that Nick was helping him keep profits from his businesses off the records. It seems that Nick got a little greedy and decided to cushion his own pockets along the way."

Mercedes' eyes widened as she listened. "And Jesse?"

"Still working on that, but based on what you said, it seems that Mr. St. James is trying to replace the missing money before Mr. Mitchell finds out."

Mercedes sat back in her chair and let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding.

Officer Abrams was silent before he began again.

"Miss Jones, do you have a place you can go until we get this all sorted out?"

Mercedes looked back at him.

"Go?"

He nodded. "You said these men were in your house. Given the nature of the situation, I think it's best if we remove you from the situation as soon as possible."

Mercedes started to panic.

"I… I can't just leave. My whole life is here!"

"I understand that, but we ne-"

"No! You don't understand. What am I supposed to do? Just uproot everything and look over my shoulder for the rest of my life? I don't have anywh-" her voice broke. There was no way she was returning to Lima, especially if she was in danger. She wouldn't put her family at risk.

Officer Abrams pushed out his chair and walked around the table to crouch beside her.

"Miss Jones… Mercedes."

She blinked at his words. He had never called her by her first name before.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you, okay?"

"And if I refuse?"

"I'm sorry?," he asked confused.

"What happens if I don't go? What happens if I tell you to fuck off and that I'm not involved any more? I haven't done anything wrong."

Officer Abrams was silent for a few moments.

"I know you don't believe you know anything, but I'm not convinced. You may have seen or heard something that didn't seem significant at the time, but could be the answer to everything. And if we think that, there's no doubt that Mr. St. James and Mr. Mitchell will think the same thing too. They've already searched your home and office. It won't be long before they come for you directly. You have the right to refuse our assistance, but if you do, there won't be much we can do to help."

Mercedes listened to his words, a sense of dread washing over her.

"When do I have to go?"

"As soon as possible. I've called in a few favors." He reached over and picked up the folder he brought in the room.

"In here is a one-way ticket to Nashville. Your plane leaves tomorrow morning at 4:57. There will be a police detail waiting at your apartment as you pack and someone at the airport to meet you when you land."

Mercedes looked at him. "Tomorrow?"

He nodded.

"And what am I supposed to tell people? My boss stole some money from a drug lord and now I have to skip town because there's a chance he may come after me?"

Officer Abrams shook his head.

"It's best if you don't mention the case to anyone. If you have to tell your loved ones about your whereabouts, just tell them you're going on a vacation."

Mercedes looked down at the ticket in her hand. They sat in silence until finally she stood up, gathered her things, and walked out of the room.