'So what are we going to do when she comes over?' Nigel asked, watching Jessica slide off the stool and into the restroom.

'We aren't going to do anything,' Alexis replied, 'but you are going to invite her out for sex. Then, you'll drive us both to my hotel room, and then we'll call Detective Seeley. And then I can bring her back to Canada.' She stopped.

'What's wrong?' Nigel asked, petting her cheek.

'It's… it's the beginning of the end, isn't it?'

'Wha - oh.' She was right, of course. Now that they had found Jessica, it was only a matter of time before Alexis went back to Canada, and then back to England. She had no reason to stay in Boston. There might be some legal problems in getting Jessica out of the country with dealing with Johnathan's murder, but Alexis could get that rectified in a few days, and even then she'd be busy with legal work, and with getting Jessica prepared to go home. 'Well, we've had a good run, haven't we?' he asked her, 'and it's not like I'll never be in London.' Nigel continued, smiling unconvincingly.

'Yeah, I guess…'

'So what should I call you, by the way,' Nigel asked, not wanting to think of the looming end to their relationship.

'Sonya. Do I look like a Sonya?' Alexis asked, setting her head against his shoulder and smiling.

'No, you look like a Alexis. But you could pass as a Sonya.' He placed his arm around her and stroked her waist.

'Isn't it going to be obvious to her that we've – and I've – not had sex before?' Alexis asked, looking up at Nigel, grinning.

'Not necessarily. We've slept together… and in my mind we've already had sex.' Alexis, mouth agape, smacked him playfully, and he continued, 'You're supposed to not care, anyways. It's not emotional, just business.'

'I thought you said you never picked up street girls, Nigel?'

'I don't-' he started, but just then, Jessica came out of the restroom, her makeup clean and deliberate.

'Here we go, then,' Alexis said, laying her back against Nigel.

'Don't get jealous when I start flirting with your best friend, eh?' he told her as he slung his arm again over her hips.

'Yeah, yeah. Don't be so into yourself. Besides, I could just flirt with Seely or Hoyt to get back at you.'

'You wouldn't dare.'

Looking up to meet his gaze, she smiled audaciously and told him, 'Try me.'

'Hey there,' Jessica murmured, sliding up to their table seductively.

'This is the girl, darling. She is from Canada, she says,' Alexis told Nigel, Russian accent returned. 'You are always going for the foreign girls!'

'The foreign girls are always the most fun,' Nigel laughed, motioning for Jessica to come and sit beside him. 'Now, what's your name, luv? Sonya here hasn't told me yet.'

'That is because I do not know myself,' Alexis replied, smirking haughtily at the frightened-looking girl before her. 'So?'

'Uhm, it's Jessica,' she said, sitting down demurely and sliding slowly over to Nigel.

'She is shy!' Alexis laughed, reaching over Nigel and pulling Jessica closer.

'Don't mind her,' Nigel told Jessica, flinging his arm around her, 'Is there anything I can get you before we head out, luv? I've got awhile before my plane leaves, and I refuse to take you away from your dinner.'

'Um...' Jessica started, not sure of the right answer.

Alexis saved her, though, by saying, 'Thomas, darling, I would absolutely love a chocolate milkshake.'

'And for you?' Nigel asked, waving the waitress over.

'I was actually waiting for a burger and an order of fries...'

'My treat, Jessica. Don't worry,' he added, 'I never deduct pay.'

He didn't hear him approach, but Nigel felt Jessica's body tense, and heard a quiet, deadly tone murmur, 'Jessica, are you heaving fun with your new friends?' The man's voice came out as a hiss.

'Hey! Tyler, hey. No, not – not friends. Well, friends, but… hey.' Jessica replied nervously, standing up.

'Hello, mate. Is there a problem?' Nigel asked, smiling smoothly up at the stranger.

'I don't know. Is there?' he asked, looking down his nose at Jessica.

'No! No, no problem. We were just leaving, actually,' Jessica told him, smiling nervously up at him.

'Leaving, huh?' Tyler asked, shifting his cool gaze over to Nigel. 'Where're you bringing her?'

'My hotel downtown,' Nigel told him warily. 'Who are you to ask, anyways?'

'A concerned associate. And I'm concerned that a man of your standing might try a cheat a lady such as Jessica out of her fair yield.'

'Thomas, darling, please, just pay the man so we can go back to the hotel room, hm?' Alexis said sweetly, looking down under the table to Nigel's lap and back up to wink at him. Feeling her hand run across his lap, he noticed his pocket felt fuller; heavier than before.

Nigel nodded, and told Tyler, 'Look, mate, I dunno what kind of bloke you think I am, but I never skip out on a bill. I'll even pay for the taxi to get her home. C'mon. How much an hour?'

'How much are you willing to pay?'

'Good faith of…' Nigel started, looking down at the roll of bills Alexis had put into his pocket. Trying to hide the shock at the amount of money he had, he continued evenly, 'five hundred. Another thousand when she's on her way home, plus taxi and… say, fifty an hour. Eh?' He peeled five bills of the roll and held them out for the thug's inspection, hoping that was an appropriate price.

Tyler looked down at the bills. When he pushed Jessica back towards the table, Nigel glimpsed an ornate tattoo on his wrist. Then, with only a stern look at Jessica, he turned around and left. Thanking any higher power which was listening, Nigel began to stand up, pulling Alexis along with him. He then dropped a twenty onto the table, linked his arms through both women's, and steered them out of the diner, into the brisk Boston morning.

When they arrived back at the hotel, the three of them crossed the foyer quickly, as odd, distasteful looks were being shot in their direction. When they reached the hotel room, Nigel reached into his pocket again and found Alexis's key card nestled amongst a few stray bills.

Nigel ushered the two women into the room, and Alexis said, 'Jessica, head into the washroom and run a bath. I will be back in a moment.'

Jessica nodded, and headed into the back. Once they heard the water running, Nigel said, 'Well, luv, what now?'

'Now,' she replied, 'we call Seely. Get Jessica home, I guess.' She stopped. 'I'll… I'll miss…'

'Me too,' he replied, circling her protectively in his arms.

When they heard the water stop, they sprung apart, Alexis heading into the bathroom, and Nigel heading to the phone. It had barely rung twice when Detective Matt Seely barked, 'Seely. What do you want?'

'Hello to you too,' Nigel replied, checking that the girls were still in the bathroom.

'Nigel? Hey, sorry. You got the girl?'

'Yeah, Matt, we got her. Can you send someone over to bring her in?'

'Sure, there're two officers standing by in the lobby, they'll be up in a minute. Did her friend recognize her?'

'No, she didn't,' he replied, 'so… I don't know if she wants you to arrest her, too…'

'I'll have one guy bring Jessica in; the other'll linger with you and Alexis. That good?'

'Perfect, Matt, thanks.'

'Don't mention it… unless you want to mention it to Miss Edwards –'

'Stay away from her, Seely.'

'Just thought I'd try, Townsend. Talk to you soon.'

With that, the line went dead, and all he could do now was wait.

Alexis came out to the front, and found Nigel hanging up the phone. 'Thomas, darling, what is taking you so long?' she asked, raising her eyebrows and shaking her head questioningly.

'Sorry, luv. Phone call. Where's the lovely Jessica hiding?' Nigel asked in reply, nodding at the door and motioning it would be mere minutes until the cops Seely sent up would arrive.

'I made her have a shower, and now, sit on the couch, darling, and you'll get what you are paying for.' Alexis sat down on the couch and patted the seat beside her. Obliging, Nigel sat down close beside Alexis. She put her lips close to his ear and murmured, 'Look. I know. This is going to be weird, but don't worry. Just imagine it's me…' At this, Nigel's eyes snapped towards Alexis's, and he saw laughter dwelling there. Grinning, Alexis called out, 'Come in, Jessica!'

Jessica, in all her leggy glory, saché'd into the room. Just before she could straddle Nigel, however, there was a knock on the door.

'Mr Townsend? This is the Boston Police. Open the door,' called a deep male voice.

'Shit,' Jessica spat, jumping back into the coffee table. 'Shit, shit, shit…'

'You are telling me,' Alexis contributed. 'What is going on, Thomas?'

'Um…' Nigel began, slowly pushing himself up. 'You two head into the bedroom, I think – '

But before he could finish, two police officers came in (using a key Alexis had provided earlier), their guns raised. 'Hands up, Mr Townsend. And who're your guests?'

'No one, they're no one,' he replied. He raised his arms slightly and looked over to the two girls who were still by the couch.

'What is going on here?' Alexis asked, still lounging on the sofa. 'I thought in America you are told what the charges are.'

'Something tells me you're not from America, Miss,' one of the officers told her.

'Neither are you,' she replied, bored. 'The only peoples native to your country are just that – the natives. You are no more pure blooded American than I am!' Jessica watched this exchange with a blatant fear. She seemed to be trembling. 'Just look at her!' Alexis said, gesturing to Jessica, 'You wouldn't accuse her of being foreign, but she an illegal is from Canada. You'll barely penalize her.'

'Canada?' the other asked.

'…yeah,' Jessica replied shakily.

The taller of the two said to his partner, 'You take her in. I'll deal with these two. The others should be coming up the elevator as we speak.'

'Alright, Joe.' He stepped forward and pulled out a pair of shining silver handcuffs. 'What's your name, miss?' he asked as he cuffed her and led her out the door.

'Jessica Whithall…'

'Jessica Whithall, you're under arrest for…' he began, but their voices stopped carrying when the doors of the elevator shut.

'And she's gone,' sighed Alexis in her regular voice, leaning back onto the cushions.

'Thanks, mate, I'll take it from here,' Nigel told the officer, turning to sit beside Alexis.

'I'll let Detective Seely know that everything went ok?' he asked, holstering his gun.

'Yeah. And let him know we'll be down there soon?' Alexis asked, looking up at him. 'Thanks for your help,' she added, smiling.

'No problem, Miss Edwards,' the officer said. 'Good working with you.' With that, the officer left, and Nigel and Alexis were left sitting together on the couch.