Part 26:
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"I'll say it again...what the hell did you threaten him with now??" AJ
yelled.

"There's no need to raise your voice Alex. We're simply having a little
business discussion. Aren't we Howie?"

"Yeah, business." Howie said taking a long gulp of his water. "J I think
we're done here."

"So get back to me in a few days on that proposal. I know you and Ty will
probably have to talk it over." Lou said as he got up and escorted them to
the door.

Numbly Howie nodded and walked out, AJ hot on his heels. "What did he
threaten us with now??" AJ questioned.

"Not here J, wait till we get home."


Shan walked blankly around the cabin, all she kept seeing was the photos
of Brian with Cassie and the look of shock on Brian's face when he'd seen
them. She groaned as she fell back onto the couch and covered her eyes
with her hand. All she knew was she needed answers, maybe if she tracked
this Cassie woman down she could finally get them.


Howie looked around the house anxiously, Ty's car wasn't in the driveway
or garage so he figured she was out for the day. He vaguely remembered her
and Jenn making lunch plans the night before. AJ stopped in front of his
friend, "Howie?? Look are you gonna talk to me or am I gonna have to beat
this out of you?"

Howie took a deep breath and sat down on the couch, "He wants to control
us again..."

AJ played with the sunglasses in his hands, "Isn't he all ready? He's
practically screwed up three marriages...Killed our careers..."

"Thats it, he thinks we can be big stars on our own...with his help. He
wants to manage our solo careers."

"WHAT??"

"That's his condition of silence for keeping the money laundering to
himself. If we all sign with him the papers will vanish..."

"So its either live in hell with him or you go to jail?"


Neither man noticed Ty standing in the doorway listening to their
conversation. The words money laundering kept floating through her head
and she leaned against the wall to steady herself.


"I can't go to jail J, I'm not going to leave Ty and our baby..."

"So your just going to keep lying to her?"

"Why not?? It keeps her safe...you saw how this affects them. Its the same
reason you haven't told Jenn."

The sound of something crashing caused them both to jump and Howie tore
out of the living room. "Ty??"

She stood near the open door, "Don't come near me!"

"What?? Ty honey what happened..."

"You lying...sick son of a...I don't want to be near you."

He went to walk towards her but AJ held him back, "Let her get it out
Howie."


Alec tossed her suitcases in the back of her car and was about to slam the
trunk when Ty pulled up in the driveway. "Where you going?" she asked,
rolling down the window.

"Kentucky. I need to get away..."

"Can I join you??" Ty pleaded getting out of her car and slamming the car
door.

Alec studied her friend's face. "Sure, hop in." she unlocked the doors and
they both got in, a minute later they were speeding away to the Orlando
International Airport. "So do you want to tell me why your suddenly
joining me?"

Ty played with her wedding ring and watched the buildings pass by.
"Howie's been lying to me."

"That's going around a lot."

"Why are you going to Kentucky?"

"I'm doing a little investigating. Which reminds me, I need to call E. See
if she can help."


E grabbed the ringing phone as she flipped through the channels. "Hello?"

"E its Alec."

"Hey! I was just going to call you this weekend."

"Guess its good I called now then. I'm going up to the cabin in Kentucky."

"Why?" she asked, suddenly worried.

"Kevin...I need to do some investigating into some things. I was wondering
if you could come up and help??"

"I uh...yeah why not?" she said, David could handle things on this end for
awhile she figured. 

"Great. You know where the cabin is right?"

"Have it written down somewhere."


Slamming the door behind him, AJ walked inside his house and shook his
head, fighting a war inside himself. He'd seen how lying had effected Ty
and he stopped in the living room, seeing Jenn sprawled out on the couch
listening to her discman. "Hey."

"Hi J. Nice touch slamming the door."

He smiled softly and smoothed back her hair, "Just wanted to let you know
I was home."

"Well I kinda figured that since I heard you talking to yourself." a
surprised look crossed his face, "More of the mumbling variety but I do
know my own husband's voice."

"Good." he glanced around. "Guess I should pack later. Want to help?"

"Your actually thinking of something other then stuffing a pile of
clothes into the suitcase?? Wow this is a surprise."

"Haha, nice sarcasm Jenn."

"I try." she looked up at him, "Everything okay?? You looked worried."

He sighed, "I went to a meeting with D..."

She nodded, "And?"

"There's just some shit going on. Hopefully it'll clear up soon."

"You know if you want to talk...I'm here." she looked intently into his
eyes and he nodded. 

"Maybe we should."

"Okay." she moved over so he could sit down. "What's going on?"

He took a deep breath, "A lot. There's so much stuff going on around us
right now I'm not sure where to start."

"Does it have to do with the group?"

"With everything, the group, the wives...the breakup." he rested his head
on his hand and looked at her. "Jenn we're in trouble..."

"What?"

"We're all being..." the ringing of his cell cut him off and he pulled it
out of his jacket. "Hold on...Hello?"

Jenn watched as he held a conversation with whoever was on the phone, she
was too distracted to be paying attention to what was being said. They
were in trouble? How? 

"Jenn?" he said waving his hand in front of her.

"What?" she asked confused.

"That was Howie, he can't find Ty...I'm going to go see if I can find her
anywhere."

"Why's Ty missing?"

AJ rubed his temples and stared at his wife for a minute, "She found out D
was keeping some things...some kind of uhm important things from her."