It was painfully early as opposed to late in the evening when Jackson, Kendall and Griffin arrived at their hotel in San Francisco; it was three in morning when the cab dropped them off.

The hotel was, however, anything but quiet even at that unearthly hour. There was a rowdy group by the bar partying up a storm; in amongst the self-important men and well-endowed young ladies was the object of their voyage, Nathan Henderson. He looked a ridiculous figure trying too hard to look young, his bleached expensive haircut and bright Armani shirt looking out of place on his scrawny frame. The crowd of hangers-on around him didn't seem to be paying much heed.

Kendall took one look at the much younger women in his company; 'Barbie' 'blonde' and 'plastic' were the first words that came to mind.

"I'm not sure this is going to work." she said with a frown.

Griffin smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"I think you are underestimating your appeal!" he said coyly.

"That would be sweet if the plan wasn't to pimp me out." said Kendall with a laugh.

"I suggest a walk-by to see if he'll take the bait." suggested Jackson. "If we can't lure him one way we can always try something else."

Kendall nodded, resigned.

She took Griffin by the arm and they strolled slowly passed the bar, as close to the drunken group as they dared. Jackson, who was watching from the doorway, smiled when he noticed Nathan, turn his head as they passed. He had clearly noticed Kendall. This was going to work.

…

Quite late the next morning they trailed Nathan down for breakfast, part two of their plan now in effect.

Kendall and Griffin staged a public row in the dining room. Kendall got really in character as the wronged woman. Griffin's attempts to be the thoughtless boyfriend were slightly less convincing but Jackson was pleased to see that Nathan was taking note.

In floods of tears Kendall stormed away to a table in view of Nathan's, not far from where Jackson was sitting. Meanwhile Griffin, his part done, drifted across to the bar.

Nathan watched Griffin leave and then looked across to the quietly sobbing Kendall. There was a flash of indecision on his face before he dropped his napkin on the table and got up from his chair. Kendall held her breath, but Nathan wasn't heading her way, he was walking off towards the bar.

Kendall and Jackson shared a look for confusion. Slowly they got up to follow. From the doorway they watched as Nathan took a seat besides Griffin, and introduced himself.

Griffin after getting over the shock of being the one approached by their target, seemed to relax into an open and friendly conversation.

"I knew I wasn't his type." said Kendall biting back a laugh, "I though you said he was a womaniser!"

"That's what the paper's say."

"So we are assuming he's hitting on Griffin!" said Kendall.

At that point Nathan's leaned closer to Griff and put a hand on his forearm.

"I guess that's a yes." she said answering her own question.

Kendall watched as the conversation at the bar got even more intimate. Griffin looked uncomfortable playing the part but still, with a smile, he took the napkin Nathan Henderson had quickly scrawled his room number on and then he retreated from the bar.

…

"You know this still might work. You bursting in on him and Griffin would have the same effect as him bursting on you." said Jackson, as they reconvened in his hotel room.

Kendall frowned.

"I'm not sure I feel comfortable about blackmailing someone about their sexuality, especially if they want to keep it hidden."

"It will still be more about him having an affair outside his marriage..." corrected Jackson. "Mind you if last night and this morning are any indication I'm not sure he's all that worried about his marriage."

"And in truth he's not the criminal here, his father is!" said Griffin.

He still looked uneasy about the role he was suddenly being expected to play. And after the initial shock of the proposition, Nathan actually seemed like an alright guy… maybe a little self-absorbed and definitely possessing a misfiring gaydar, but their conversation had been pleasant enough.

Kendall rubbed her hands over her face to wake herself up.

"Maybe we need to look at this another way?" she said. "We didn't even considering the option of simply asking him."

"But he is a criminal." Jackson insisted. "At least in aiding and abetting his father in concealing manslaughter."

"Did he though?" Griffin asked. "From what you told me it sounds like his father tried to stitch him up first, and when his son had a watertight alibi he recruited the chauffeur's son instead."

"So what do we do?" asked Kendall.

"Well if you need me to, I'll do it… the set up." said Griffin, although he didn't look comfortable with the idea. "Because it would be very two faced of me to expect if from you and not be willing to take the risk myself… although if you can come in before any actual kissing take place I'd be grateful…"

Kendall gave him a sympathetic smile.

"And that's why I adore you." she said, kissing his cheek. "My hero!"

Jackson looked from Griffin to Kendall deep in thought. After a moment he got up from his chair,

"No, you're are right, Kendall. We should be upfront about this! It's what I would have done before we devised this whole plan on the plane! Have you got his room number?"

Griffin pulled the napkin from his pocket. It wasn't surprising to discover Nathan was actually in the Penthouse suite.

…

Griffin was the one to knock on the hotel room door. Nathan greeted him with a smile, which then dropped when Kendall and Jackson appeared behind him.

Jackson held out his hand to shake, in full district attorney mode.

"Nathan Henderson, I need to talk to you about…"

Nathan wasn't listening and instead was backing into his room with a panicked expression on his face.

"This is a honey trap!" he exclaimed. "Did my father send you? Because I'm not… I didn't… I haven't…"

The man looked petrified.

Kendall hurried forward to calm him.

"We're not from your father." she said quickly, "But we really need to talk to you about him!"

…

When Nathan Henderson finally calmed down they were all sat around on the large circle of cream couches in the middle of the hotel suite.

"I've been blackmailed by my father my entire life. He won't… No, he refuses to accept me." Nathan explained. "He pays me to be 'normal'… one public slip up I lose everything… not just my inheritance; if you catch my meaning. My father is a piece of work! When I told him I was gay he sent in the heavies to straighten me out… no pun intended. I was in hospital for months. Any time he thinks I'm being too much myself he sends round the boys to remind me to stay on the straight and narrow… again no pun. I have no choice but play his role." Nathan gave Griffin a longing smile, "But sometimes it's worth the risk"

Griffin gave an uncomfortable cough.

"I'm sorry, I'm spoken for." he said reaching across to squeeze Kendall's knee.

"Pity." said Nathan with a sigh.

"It sounds like there is no love lost between you and your father." said Jackson.

"The bastard deserves to burn in hell!" said Nathan bluntly.

Kendall gave Nathan a big smile.

"I'm glad you feel like that, because I want to talk to you about what he's been doing to my sister and her girlfriend!"

…