Agent Flair was getting frustrated. After two days, the search for the missing truck and driver had yielded nothing. Officially, the investigation belonged to the local police, but in practice she had pulled rank and brought it under her wider investigation into Helmsley. Unfortunately, without that evidence, and with all three suspects refusing to answer questions, there was currently no hope of charging them with murder. A kidnap charge was possible, but only a phone call and a grainy, computer-enhanced CCTV recording provided evidence of Becky Lynch and Kevin Owens being at the truck stop. It wasn't much to go on in terms of convincing a jury.

"What did they do with that fucking truck?" Flair asked, banging a hand on her desk angrily.

"I wish I knew," Agent Corbin said from behind a desk on the other side of the small desk. "I'd like to think it will turn up, but with someone as well connected as Helmsley, it's possible someone has disposed of it for him."

Agent Flair's phone started to ring. She snatched the device from her desk and answered it without looking at the display. "Flair."

"Agent Flair, this is Assistant Director Jarrett speaking," said a voice she had never heard before. The name was of course familiar to her.

"What can I do for you, sir?" she asked, putting respect in her voice.

"I'm calling with regard to your investigation into the Reigns killings, the Helmsley family, and Zelina Vega."

"Yes, sir," she acknowledged, thinking that was pretty obvious.

"The investigation is being terminated, effective immediately."

Flair was dumbfounded. "Excuse me?"

"I said the investigation is over. Make preparations to leave. You will receive a new assignment shortly."

"Sir, I'm on the point of pinning a murder on three people associated with Helmsley," Flair objected. "Once I have a body, the case will be a slam dunk. One of the suspects I have in custody is virtually a guarantee to flip on Helmsley in order to cut a deal."

"Agent," the Assistant Director tried to cut in.

"The whole web surrounding Helmsley is going to unravel," Flair persisted. "All I need is to find the body of the missing truck driver and I can give you Hunter Helmsley, Stephanie Helmsley, their closest employees, and probably Ronda Helmsley as well. I can put all of them away once I flip this suspect."

The voice on the line grew impatient. "Agent Flair, you have two ears and one mouth. Use them in that ratio. Your investigation is over. Your suspects are to be released, and you are to make preparations to receive your next assignment. Are any of those instructions unclear?"

"Wow," Flair said, her anger at the rug being pulled out from under her close to boiling over. "Helmsley has that much clout, huh?"

"Watch your tone, Flair, or you'll be losing your badge as well as your case," Jarrett threatened.

"Yes, sir," Flair spat contemptuously before hanging up on him. "Fuck!" she screamed, swiping a stack of documents off her desk in a rage.

"What's going on?" Corbin asked, although he knew the basics from her end of the call.

"Helmsley has fucking got to someone. He's got an ally in the FBI or something, I don't know. What matters is that we're being shut down, effective immediately."

"The Governor," Corbin said immediately. Hunter Helmsley had been under surveillance when he had gone to Chef's Table, and had been seen leaving only moments before Governor Tessa Blanchard.

"Yes, you're probably right," Flair said, her face like thunder. As infuriating as the situation was, though, someone of her rank had absolutely no power to disregard an order that came from an Assistant Director. The investigation was over, and the three detained suspects would have to be released. "Corruption, that's what it is, Corbin. As furious as it makes me, there's not much you or I are going to be able to do about it. It's not the first time I've encountered this kind of bullshit; serious crimes being swept under the rug because of behind the scenes connections or politics."

"So, we have to let them go?" Corbin sighed.

"Yes, unfortunately we do."

Bayley was back living in the Helmsley man mansion for a while. Being at home without Becky around had been unbearable. In a rare display of compassion, Ronda Helmsley had invited her to stay at the mansion, leaving Bayley with the impression that deep down her boss actually did care, at least a little bit.

Even making coffee was something that Bayley was cautious about doing in the mansion's kitchen. The sleek marble surfaces and stylish silver fittings made it look like it had cost more than Bayley and Becky's house. It probably wasn't far from being true, either, she thought, shaking her head slightly.

Outside in the entrance hall, the phone started to ring. Bayley had never been told she had permission to answer it, so she didn't react. In any event, she heard Samoa Joe's voice only moments later. While stirring sugar into her coffee, she listened to his end of the call.

"Helmsley residence."

"Hello, Sheriff, this is Joe."

"Really? That's great news. When can we send someone down?"

"Okay, I'll pass that on to Hunter. Thank you."

It sounded like very good news to Bayley. Forgetting the coffee, she left the kitchen in time to see Joe heading into Hunter's office, where he was working. Stephanie was at work at the food processing plant.

"Boss, that was Sheriff Deville," Joe said. "She says the FBI investigation has been called off, and the charges against our three people have been dropped. They're being processed for release."

"She came through," Hunter said under his breath, smiling. He was referring to Governor Blanchard.

"She sure did," Joe said with a smile. "Deville said we can send someone down to pick up Alexa, Becky and KO from the station."

"I'll go," Bayley said immediately, hovering in the doorway.

"Are you sure?" Hunter asked, playing with her a little.

"Yes! If Becky is being released, I want to be there."

Hunter couldn't hold his smile back any longer. "Take one of the SUVs," he instructed.

"Thank you!" she cried, hurrying from the room.

Having driven to the police station as quickly as possible without running red lights or picking up a speeding ticket, Bayley walked into the police station a short time later. She walked up to the front desk, which was being manned by a young male officer.

"Help you?" he asked as she approached.

"I'm here to pick up Becky Lynch, Kevin Owens and Alexa Bliss. They're being released."

"Have a seat. They shouldn't be long," the officer told her.

Bayley walked over and sat on one of the cheap plastic chairs. Having to wait was killing her already. All she wanted was to give her girl a great big hug. The awful days and the sleepless nights spent worrying were over, thanks to the strings that Hunter had been able to pull.

The officer's idea of not taking long proved to be somewhat different to Bayley's. Nearly half an hour went by before the door to the main body of the police station opened. Kevin Owens walked out, being escorted with a female officer.

"Hi!" Bayley cried, getting up to go over to him.

"I suppose I've had uglier taxi drivers," he said, as ever finding a wisecrack for every occasion.

Bayley giggled, wrapping her arms around his large frame in a brief hug that he returned with much enthusiasm. He clearly wasn't a hugger. "I'm so glad you're out."

"Me too. But it wasn't as if they had anything on us," he said for the benefit of the officer behind the front desk.

"Where's Becky?"

"She'll be out in a minute. They're just finishing up with her and Alexa."

Typically, Alexa was the next one to come through the door. Bayley barely knew her, so she didn't offer a hug. A smile was enough. "Hi! I'm so glad they're letting you out."

"Me too. I haven't had a decent meal since I set foot in this shit hole," Alexa said. Her sass was coming back quickly.

And then the door opened again. Becky came out, walking with her usual swagger. To Bayley she looked so hot in her leather jacket, hair pulled back in a ponytail. "Hello, lass," Becky said. It was something of a longstanding joke between the couple.

Bayley laughed as they rushed into each other's arms, holding each other like they never wanted to let go. "I missed you so much," Bayley said.

"Not as much as I missed you," Becky replied.

"Well isn't this cute?" a woman's voice said, her tone suggesting that she had the exact opposite opinion.

Becky's expression turned into a scowl as she let go of the hug and turned around to face the taller woman who had walked into the reception area. "Agent Flair. I guess this is the last time we'll see each other," she said smugly, trying to push Flair's buttons, as if she didn't look pissed off enough already.

"If you're lucky, it will be the last time you see me," Flair snarled. "But I'll tell you one thing for a fact: You fucked up once, and I nearly had the three of you put away for life. Helmsley will fuck up again, and when that happens, you won't get off like this again. You're on borrowed time."

"I'm employed as a driver, Agent Flair. Until they make that illegal, you're going to have to go and spend your time harassing actual criminals." With that, Becky turned and marched towards the police station's entrance, leading the group outside.

Bayley went after her girlfriend, feeling full of pride. "That was badass," she said quietly once they were safely outside. "I love the way your attitude has changed since we've worked for Hunter."

Reaching the car, Becky stopped walking and ran an affectionate hand through Bayley's new shorter hair. "I'm not the only one." She leaned in, and they started kissing.

Owens got into the front passenger seat of the SUV without a word. Alexa, however, couldn't help herself. "Can that wait until we get home? I need a meal, a shower, and some proper sleep."

"She's lucky I don't put her to sleep," Becky muttered to Bayley, making her laugh.

When Bayley and the three newly-released individuals got back to the mansion, the rest of the Helmsley family and crew were waiting for them in the hallway, with the exception of Stephanie, who was still at work.

Joe, Orton and Ronda hung back as Hunter stepped forward, first to greet Owens, one of his closest and longest-serving employees. "Welcome back," he said, offering a handshake.

"Thanks, boss," Owens said, showing rare warmth as they shook hands. "I don't know what strings you pulled, but I'm glad you had them to pull."

"I'm glad too," Hunter said, not elaborating.

Next, Becky stepped forward. She too received a handshake. "Welcome back," Hunter said.

"Thank you for getting us released. I didn't say a word to any of those FBI dopes," she was pleased to announce.

"I'm sure you didn't. You've proven your loyalty before now," Hunter said with some affection. Saving the man's daughter from getting her head blown off was something that wasn't going to be forgotten.

Last to come forward was Alexa. Faced with Hunter, her attitude was being kept in check again. "I kind of screwed up big time, didn't I?" she asked, her gaze dropping to the floor so as not to have to hold eye contact with him.

"Big time," Hunter confirmed. "You and I are going to have a serious chat later today. But for now, we're going to celebrate the three of you being released. We're going to break out some of the best wine in the cellar, and we're going to order a bunch of pizzas in. God knows there's nothing worse than police station food."

"Amen to that," Owens said.

Greetings and congratulatory welcomes started to be exchanged with Orton and Joe, until Ronda's voice cut into the celebrations. So far, she hadn't gotten involved, simply standing there with a characteristic scowl on her face. "There's one thing everyone seems to have forgotten about with all this bullshit going on."

"What's that?" Hunter asked, looking at her.

"Someone's been selling green meth on Vega's turf."

THE END

A/N: Thank you to everyone who read this one all the way through, and special thanks to those who took the time to leave reviews.

As the ending suggests, we may see the Helmsley family again some day for another story.