'So…' Nigel started after a moment of silence. 'How are you feeling now?'

'I'm feeling good, actually.'

'Really?'

'Oh yeah,' she told him, 'I mean… you know, worried about tomorrow.'

'We'll find her, you know,' he told her, holding her hand in her lap. 'You and me. We'll find her, and we'll bring her home.'

Looking down at his hand, she smiled and replied, 'I know, Nigel. You wouldn't let me not, would you?… I think I'll turn in… we have an early day tomorrow. You're, um, welcome to sleep with me, coz it's a king-size mattress, but just don't expect anything.' Standing up, she smiled lightly and gestured vaguely towards the bedroom. 'I just have to change; I'll be out in a minute. You have pjs?'

'Yeah.' He pulled on a pair of track pants he had stored in a knapsack (he had conveniently 'forgotten' a matching tee-shirt…) as she changed, and pondered over what had transpired. This girl was one tough nut to crack, all right, but, of course, he wouldn't give up: beside the fact that he was really genuinely interesting in finding Jessica, Nigel was really starting to like Alexis. She was so sweet and trusting… and, alright, she was stunning – no denying it.

Interrupting his thoughts, she called out from the bedroom, 'Whenever you're ready.' When he entered (topless), he found her leaning up against the headboard on the right side of the mattress, comforter up to her bare shoulders. 'You don't mind the left do you?'

'The left?'

'Of the bed?'

'Oh, no, actually I prefer the left.'

'Hmm.'

Nigel walked over and gently sat down on the edge of the mattress, swinging his long legs underneath the soft cream cover. Careful not to brush up against her, he laid his head on the pillow, and Alexis switched off the light.

He felt her lie down, and turn her back to him. After a moment, she said, 'I said not to expect anything, but that doesn't mean you can't get comfortable, Nigel.' Surprised, he turned to face her back. Before he could say anything, however, she told him, 'I'm… um, I'm actually a little chilly….'

Taking the hint, he slid over and wrapped his arm around her waist, and rested his head behind hers, careful not to pull her auburn tresses as they cascaded across the lacy pillow, or to push his body too close next to hers. However, she surprised him yet again as she shifted slightly so her back was pressing lightly against his chest. He heard her sigh and felt her chest rise under his protective grip, and smiled to himself as he inhaled a sweet aroma of Japanese cherry blossom radiating from her hair.

'Alexis,' he muttered, rubbing her skin with his thumb.

'Mmhmm?' she replied sleepily.

But as he heard her reply, he knew that there was only one thing he could say to make this moment any better, and neither of them was ready to say it. Instead, he simply murmured, 'Sweet dreams,' and drifted off, holding her petite figure close to his heart.

When Nigel awoke, he was alone. From the bathroom, though, he could hear the shower running. Checking the clock, (it was a quarter past four) he flopped over and slowly made his way out of the warm bed to change. When he heard the water switch off, he heard Alexis call out, 'Are you awake yet?'

'Not really,' he replied, 'but I'm up.'

'I suppose I should've expected that.' Her voice was then drowned out by the shrill cry of a hairdryer. When it stopped, she called out, 'I'm coming out, are you decent?'

'I'm perfection, luv,' he replied, pulling on his leather jacket over a light sweater.

He heard her snort from the other side of the door, and she scoffed, 'That is not what I meant and you know it, Nigel Townsend, now are you dressed?'

'Yes, I'm dressed, Alexis Edwards.' He heard her click her tongue intentionally noisily, and she stepped out of the bathroom in her fully inappropriate outfit. She stopped and looked in mock disgust when she saw the look that spread across Nigel's face. In response, he simply said, 'Luv, you look, fantastic!'

'Wipe that look off your face, Nigel,' she told him, rolling her eyes. 'I may have let you sleep with me last night but if you keep on like that I certainly won't make it a habit.'

'Oh, come now, I'm sure you enjoyed it.'

'Obviously not as much as you… and next time, keep your hands to yourself. When I woke up this morning –'

'-at such an ungodly hour-'

'-your hand had strayed quite far north.' She cocked her eyebrow and chided him, 'I dunno what type of girl you're taking me for, but you have to at least buy me dinner before you get to second base.'

Checking his watch, Nigel laughed, and replied, 'How about breakfast? Or at least some coffee. We should probably get out there to wait for Jessica.'

'Let's go then. Oh, and don't forget we're taking my mini.'

'She'll be here, luv, I promise.'

'But what if she doesn't come?'

'She'll come.'

'But what if she needs extra money or something so she works extra hours?'

'She still needs to eat, luv.'

'Not necessarily, you've seen those girls who're addicted to hard drugs – they're skin and bone!'

'Didn't you hear the waitress? Every Monday like clockwork. She'll be here. Eat something, you look famished.'

'Easy for you to say, you're a guy, you haven't an emotional bone in your body.'

'That's not-'

'I know, but still. I can't eat.' At the sound of the door chime, her eyes flitted to the front of the diner, and Nigel saw her loose all colour as recognition hit her. 'Oh. My. God…' Discreetly, Nigel turned in his seat to look as well. What he saw was a girl, thin as a toothpick and twice as tall, skin pale as anything, wish blonde hair pulled up into a messy bun. Her makeup was dully running down her cheeks, and she had bags under her eyes. 'Oh, Jessica, what've you done…' Alexis muttered as she gripped Nigel's hand under the table.

'You're fine, luv, just remember; we're going to bring her back to the morgue where she'll be safe.'

'Yeah…' she replied faintly, 'just so long as she isn't in a body bag…' She stood, and, swishing her hips convincingly, strode up to stand beside Jessica at the counter as Nigel looked on.

'Es'cuse me, could I get another coffee over here?' Alexis asked the waitress demurely.

'Course hon, coming right up.'

Alexis sat down on the stool next to Jessica's, and looked back at Nigel, who nodded guardedly in encouragement.

Luckily, Jessica started off the conversation.

'I haven't seen you around here before. Where'd you come from?'

Detective Seely had passed on a few tidbits from a friend in Vice, so Alexis was well versed in the goings on of late in the sex trade. 'Russia,' she replied with a slight accent, not making full eye contact.

'Oh. What's it like in Russia?' Jessica asked, looking down at her own plate.

'Cold,' Alexis replied. 'But in Saint Johnathansburg, it is very beautiful at night.'

'Is that where you lived before you came here?'

'No… I lived in Moscow. I used to sit by the river and look across to Novodevichy Convent…' she paused to look over at Jessica and smiled a little. 'Winters may have been cold, but the snow made it shine so nicely.'

'Yeah, I know what you mean. There's lots of snow where I came from, too.'

'You are not American citizen either? Where did you come from?'

Jessica paused, and replied slowly, 'From Canada… I came with my brother, but… I dunno where he is anymore.'

'I am sorry. Maybe he will turn up some day, hmm?'

'Maybe.'

However reluctant the waitress was to interrupt (Alexis and Nigel had spoken to her when they arrived), she could only hold off serving the coffee Alexis had asked for for so long. 'Here it is. Sorry it took so long. Had to make a new pot,' she said, handing the steaming cup over.

'It was nice talking to you,' Alexis purred as she turned slowly back to their table.

'Oh, wait. Are you sitting alone?'

'No. I have a… friend with me. You are welcome to join us. He is nice gentleman. Pay's good later. I'm sure he would like you. He was watching you as you walked in.'

Jessica eyed her warily. 'You don't want to get paid yourself?'

Alexis gave a furtive smile. 'No matter who else he is with, he always comes back to me.'

'… alright. I guess I could use the cash.'

'Ah! Good, I will tell him – he might even give bonus this time. Come sit with us when you get your dinner - he likes his girls to eat.' She strode back to the table and placed the steaming cup in front of Nigel. She sat close to him, and leaned in so Jessica might make her own conclusions. What she was really saying was, 'Smile like you just got the sweetest piece of ass you ever saw – and don't forget – stop being so damn charming. She's coming over.'