'Rudy.' I heard a woman call out from near the house. Her dog had been let out and had run over to where I was standing in the small wooded area close to the house. I was stroking through the dog's fur when Nik nudged me and I rose to follow him towards the woman. 'Come on, it's too hot to make me come looking for you.' It was indeed warm, the Tennessee air thick and humid, making me glad that I had my long hair in braids and that I was wearing denim shorts and a tank top. She was picking dog toys up from the ground and when she turned around Nik and I were standing there and she gasped in shock.

'I am so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.' Nik said in a flawless American accent but I much preferred his British one.

'Can I help you?' She asked, suspicious.

'I hope so. Our truck broke down a ways down the road and this is the first house we've found.' I tell her, being as kind as I can to help put her at ease. 'Could we possibly borrow your phone, to call for a tow?' I ask.

She smiled at me but I could smell the hesitancy rolling off of her. 'Don't you have cell phones?'

'My boyfriend forgot his charger in the hotel and they both died, it really is just our luck, we have the worst time whenever we roadtrip, nothing ever goes right.' I tell her earnestly, and I could tell she was almost swayed.

'Sure.' She turned to walk into the house.

'So, I can come in?' Nik asked still using the accent.

'No. I'm going to go and bring the phone out to you.' She told him and I sighed, this could have went to much easier.

'I thought you country folk were supposed to be more trusting.' He remarked, losing the fake accent.

'I'm from Florida.' She sassed and I rolled my eyes.

'That explains it.' I comment and speed towards her, grabbing her hands and holding them behind her back while Nik compels her.

'Now show my friend and I a little southern hospitality... Sweet Pea.' I didn't like that he called her that even though I knew he was mocking her. She invited Nik in and we entered the kitchen where another woman was cooking.

'I bet you a hundred dollars that dog ran off to a house with air conditioning.' She said before she turned and saw us standing there with her friend. 'What's going on?'

'Your dog was just outside a little while ago so I don't think he ran away.' I tell her and Nik gives me a look that is half amused and half frustrated before he turns back to the woman.

'Please don't be alarmed. I'm told Ray Sutton lives here.' Nik states.

'He's almost never here. He's on the road mostly.' She argues.

'But I expect he makes it home... Once a month.' He hints and the woman glares at him. 'That's what I thought. Where is he now?' The woman remains stubbornly silent.

'If he has to make you tell him, it's going to be much more painful for you, honey.' I tell her seriously. She turns and runs for the front door, opening it only to find Stefan on the other side as we came up behind her.

'I love it when they run.' Nik says with a manic grin.

'He's in Tulley.' She breaks, telling him. 'It's near the border. A bar called Southern Comfort. It's off highway 41.' She elaborates.

'Thank you, my Love.' Nik says. He turns to the blonde in his grip. 'Now, may my friend come in your home?'

She was clearly terrified, shaking as she replied quietly. 'Yes.' Stefan walks inside the house, his usual broody self as Nik passes the blonde over to him.

'Kill them both, make it quick and then search the house for any information about Ray or his pack in case we don't find him.' Nik tells Stefan before he and I exit the house and head back to wait in the car.