As Ricky hung up the phone and tossed it back to her, Kendal could only stare.

"What was that?" she asked. "Those demands were nonsense."

"Were they?" Ricky asked. He was still standing very close to her. Kendal stepped back, but Bianca's bed was behind her.

"Yes." she gasped, fear almost making her voice catch in her throat. "Why are you really doing this?"

Ricky smiled and reached out to cup her cheek.

"I think that is obvious."

Kendal turned her head away, but Ricky's hand kept moving down her throat and along her shoulder.

Kendal swallowed.

"If you want me," Kendal stammered, finally finding the strength to look Ricky in the eye. "Let them go." She glanced towards the others still kneeling with their hands on their heads and then at Jackson. As much discomfort as he was clearly in; he was watching the exchanged with concern in his eyes. "Let them go and you can have me." Kendal said fighting the urge to flinch as Ricky's hand slid around her waist.

"Tempting." He said as he looked Kendal up and down. "You have no idea how tempting… but no."

He let go and stepped back although the longing was still clear in his eyes.

"Then what do you want!" cried Kendal in exasperation.

Ricky smiled.

"I want a 1968 Camero, a helicopter, two tickets to Bolivia and a green bag containing two thousand dollars and forty-six cents."

Staring him in the face Kendal felt something change within her. His stupid, stupid face! How she hated it with its constant smirk. How many days and nights had she fantasised about smashing that smug look off his face? She had almost memorised every inch of it so she could detect every flicker of a lie; any tiny tell that heralded a falsehood.

He was lying as clear as anything. What game was he playing? What the hell was Ricky waiting for?

Then she saw it. The amusement in his eyes.

"You're not here because of me." she gasped as realisation struck. "This isn't about me at all?"

Ricky's eyes narrowed.

"Very perceptive." He said slowly.

"But why… Why all the fuss about finding me..?" Kendal asked but then she realised something else. "...You already knew I was here!"

"Maybe." said Ricky his cold smile returning.

"But then why did you shoot Jack?"

"Because it added to the drama." Ricky leaned closer, his nose almost level to hers. "Didn't it add to the drama? And it's always fun to make the great Erica Kane squirm! Besides he irritated the hell out of me in the courtroom and I felt he deserved a little payback."

He smirked in Jackson's direction.

"Not so superior now are you 'Jack'."

"You son of a bitch." Jackson muttered in reply.

As Ricky was speaking a new though struck Kendal. If he really had known she was there, then…

Kendal couldn't stop her eyes flicking to the direction of the bathroom.

Ricky smiled, as he noticed her reaction.

"Oh are you worried about the kids." said Ricky quietly. "Quite frankly I find it hillarious that you thought I couldn't spot them hiding in the bathroom."

"Kids. What kids?" cried Marissa, turning round at the admission. "Miranda and Gabby?"

Ricky coolly pointed the gun in her direction.

"Shut up and face front!" he ordered.

"But why?" Kendal asked, trying to draw his attention back. "Why are you doing all this? And why aren't you dead?"

"Oh I think I've answered enough questions." said Ricky roughly grabbing her arm.

He dragged her with him as he strode over to the bathroom.

"Okay kids, hide and seek is over. You can come out now!"

…