We all stand and watch Marcus head towards the elevators. I turn back to Brian. He is deathly pale and his hands are shaking slightly. His eyes are wide with shock and he looks like he thinks he’s gonna wake up from this nightmare any minute. I sigh and reach out to touch his arm. He flinches as though my touch is red hot and I let go of him quickly.
“Brian, I…” I start but he cuts me off with a look.
“Don’t Ali. Just don’t,” he turns and walks back to his room with Kevin in tow.
“Fuck,” I rub my eyes hard and reach for Nick’s hand. I need some comfort right now but he steps away. “Nick?” I look up at him and he shakes his head slowly.
“Ali, you were into DRUGS?! And you didn’t tell me? I thought we agreed – no more secrets!”
“I’m sorry but I didn’t know how to tell you,” I whisper. “And I haven’t used them for a long time Nick. I promise you that.”
“You promise?” he stares at me. “And your promises really mean a lot don’t they?!”
“Nick?” I stare at him.
“Ali, I can’t believe you sometimes! Jade could be in SERIOUS trouble because of you! How many people do you have to hurt before you stop lying to everyone?!”
“Nick, please!” I beg, tearfully. “I know I was wrong but I need you to help me. I’m so scared for Jade!”
“I am too. So is Brian. God, can you IMAGINE how he is feeling right now?!” Nick yells. “He needs me a helluva lot more than YOU do.” He marches over to the door and pulls it open. Marcus is standing there with another guy.
“Nick, we need to talk to Ali,” Marcus tells him.
“Go ahead,” Nick says angrily and turns to look at me as the two men step into the room.
“This is Alicia McNamara, Ali this is Paul Truro from NYPD,” Marcus introduces us and we nod at each other.
“Can I come sit down for a minute?” the detective asks.
“Sure,” I walk over to the couch and sit down. They sit opposite me. Nick stays standing by the door.
“Ok, Alicia, I understand you know Jacob Flurry?” starts Truro and I nod slowly.
“Yes. I lived in Brooklyn until I was 17 then my parents sent me to Atlanta. Uh, when I was 15 I got involved with Jake… Uh, I mean Flurry. He was real charming and we started to date a little. A few months down the line, it was my birthday. I’ve always hated my birthday. Ever since I walked into my best friend’s room on my 15th and found her dead. She’s committed suicide. Kinda kills the whole birthday thing dead,” I say dryly. “Well, my 16th was hard cos it was only a year later so Flurry gave me a little cocaine – to help numb me he said. Worked a treat and soon, I needed it round the clock. So he gave me more and then hit me with a huge bill. ‘Course I couldn’t pay it so he got me into whoring for him.” I glance across at Nick. He’s staring at the floor with his hands clenched by his side. I sigh and carry on talking. “That lasted until my parents finally sent me away. I kinda left Brooklyn without telling Jake. I figured he’d never find me in Atlanta and I was right. I never saw or heard from him again. Until yesterday.”
“What happened yesterday?” asks Truro.
“I took Jade to visit my old neighbourhood. We went to this old store I used to hang out in. I wanted to try and see this guy, Eddie. I got talking to the clerk and he said Eddie was murdered a few years back. So I turned around to get Jade and found her talking to Jake. He charmed her a little I think. Anyway, I went right over and told her to wait outside for me. Jake basically asked for his money and said he still owns me. I told him to go to hell and left with Jade.”
“Eddie,” Truro repeats slowly. “Was his name Eddie Lomas, of Lomas Stores?”
“Yeah,” I stare at him. “Why?”
“We think Flurry killed him.”
“Jake did?!” I exclaim.
“Eddie told him he was going to tell the police about his activities. Flurry just shot him.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you arrest him then?!” I yell.
“No evidence,” Truro spreads his hands out. “We had him in for questioning several times but we never had enough evidence for the CPS to take him to trial.”
“I don’t BELIEVE this!” I exclaim angrily.
“Alicia, we will catch him and Jade will be ok,” Truro says as he stands up. “I need to see the boyfriend. I presume he’s the one Flurry is calling?”
“Yeah,” Marcus nods and stands up as well. “Brian in his room?”
“Yup,” Nick says. “You going to tell him about Flurry? About the murder?”
“I don’t think it would help,” Truro says as he walks out of the door.
“Nick?” I murmur as he turns to follow the two men out of the room.
“No Ali,” he says without even looking back.
I sit back on the couch and close my eyes. I just don’t know what to do. I am so scared for Jade, especially as I know exactly what Jake is capable of. Brian hates me. Nick hates me. The other Boys probably hate me too. This is all my fault. I hate me too.
“God this is a fuckin’ NIGHTMARE Kevin,” Brian says as he paces the room for what seems like the hundredth time. “Where’s Marcus and that detective guy? What’s goin’ on?!”
“Just calm down a little bro,” Kevin says. “You gettin’ all worked up like this is not helping Jade.”
“Nothing I do can help Jade right now,” Brian mutters as there’s a knock on the door. He throws it open and stares at Marcus and the other guy. Nick is just behind them. “You’re the detective right?”
“That’s me,” Truro says shaking Brian’s hand. “I’m Truro.”
“I’m Brian Littrell. Jade is my…”
“I know. Marcus filled me in,” Truro crosses the room to shake Kevin’s hand.
“I’m Kevin Richardson. Brian is my cousin.”
“Ok, hello Kevin,” Truro sits down. “I’ve just heard the story from Alicia. Is there anything you can add?”
“Uh, well… She called me at about 10am and said she was in a black car with Jake, somewhere in New York City. She didn’t know where she was going or anything. She told me the guy wants $50,000 and he will call me in two hours with instructions. She also said he has a gun.”
“Ok. Nothing else?”
“No, I think he made her hang up.”
“Ok, did the call come through her cell?”
“Yes cos her name flashed up on my caller ID.”
“And it was to your cell phone?”
“Yes,” Brian sighs. “Look, what are you doin’ about this?”
“I’ve called my partner and he’s comin’ right over with some other detectives. Flurry is calling back in...” he checks his watch. “Roughly thirty minutes right?” Brian nods. “We’ll be listenin’ in.”
“Flurry, is that his name?”
“Yes, it is.”
“He’s known to you?” Brian asks carefully, scared of the answer.
“Yes, he is,” Truro admits. “Brian, it’s gonna be ok. You did the right thing telling us. We deal with this stuff all the time.”
“But it doesn’t involve my girl all the time,” Brian says angrily.
“She will be ok,” Nick tells him, reaching out to squeeze Brian’s shoulder gently. Brian stares at him.
“How the fuck would YOU know?! It should be YOUR girlfriend out there not Jade! Jade hasn’t done anything to deserve this!”
“I know,” Nick admits. “I am so mad at Ali right now too.”
“I guess she lied to you too,” Brian says, calming down a little. “And it’s not fair to take it out on you. Sorry. I’m just so scared…”
“I know,” Nick gives him a hug.
“Uh, why would this be Ali’s fault?” asks Kevin.
“The guy who took Jade is Ali’s ex pimp and drug dealer,” Nick says quietly.
“He is?!” Kevin exclaims. “But why did he take Jade and not Ali?”
“Because Ali introduced him to Jade,” Brian says angrily.
“Fuck,” Kevin mutters.
“What the fuck is goin’ on here?!” yells AJ as he walks into Brian’s room, closely followed by Howie. “I’m all ready for our TRL thing and then Marcus tells me it’s cancelled.”
“He didn’t say why?” asks Kevin.
“No, I guess I’m not important enough to know. I’m only one fifth of the damn group!”
“AJ, calm down,” Howie says as he realises how pale the other three guys look. “I’m sure there’s a good reason.”
“Yeah? I’m all ready to hear it,” AJ glares at Kevin.
“AJ, please calm down,” Kevin sighs. “It’s Jade. She’s been taken by a guy who wants money.”
“Ya mean, KIDNAPPED?” asks Howie with wide eyes.
“Who by?” asks AJ, sitting down by Brian.
“Uh, long story,” groans Kevin. “But basically it’s a guy Ali used to know when she lived here. Her ex-pimp slash drug dealer.”
“Ali was on DRUGS?!” yells Howie.
“How much does he want?” asks AJ.
“$50,000.”
“We can pay that,” AJ says. “We’ll get her back.”