***Note: This is my first Fanfic. The main Ship for this will be SwanQueen but it may take a few chapters to get the story there. I want it to be as realistic as possible but I do plan to have some Mature scenes and Fluff ahead. Please leave me any comments and constructive criticism. Thanks guys :D
Shades in Magic
Introduction
"Yes. Sure, sure, fine come down to my office and I'll hear you out. I still think that's a crazy amount but come on down anyway. Yeah 3 o'clock." Emma hangs up the phone shaking her head at the rather irritating man. That's the third time he's called me about this case. I would really prefer to stay in Boston and run down the usual suspects and NOT go to Maine but I can't really afford to pass up $10,000. That's more than I make in two months, two really good months at that.
A quick succession of knocks come on the door "Come in..." Emma says staring at the clock. 2:15 I'm pretty sure I said 3:00 but ok. He's really eager about this... maybe I can squeeze a few more bucks out of him for this one,she thought.
The man sat down in the old leather chair across from her desk. He was kind of tall with darker hair and bluish eyes. Not altogether a lost cause she thought. "Ok Mr... um what did you say your name was again?" "Booth... August W. Booth" he said. Ok obviously a fake name but whatever I'll worry about that later. "Emma Swan. Nice to meet you Mr. Booth" she said leaning across the desk to shake his hand. "Ok so how can I help you. You came to me, so obviously you either can't go to the police or they can't help you. And you've called me three times to get this appointment so it must be important..."
With a smirk on his face he nodded. " You are correct. I need the set of skills only a Private Investigator can give... and you're right I didn't deem it necessary to go to the police either. And there are reasons for that BUT what I will tell you is that this case has extreme significance to me and it will involve some effort on your part to complete the task at hand. You do recall I said it was in Maine...?" "Yes I do ... I recall all of that. What I am missing however is exactly What it is I'm going to be doing there." she said in am exasperated tone.
"Well that's what I'm getting to Ms. Swan." He smiled and reached into his left breast pocket of his jacket and pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it on the desk. It was a crudely drawn map with an X marking an indistinct area in the wilderness. Pointing towards the map he said "This is what I want you to do." "A map... How does a map tell me what to do?" she said reaching for it and bringing it closer. "Simple Ms. Swan. I want you to go to the spot marked on the map at precisely 8:15 am."
Now Emma was really confused. Here sat what seemed to be an intelligent man asking her to go to Maine, using a map he drew mind you, for $10,000. "And then what? You do realize I just find people. I don't kill them after I find them... I just find them...?" "Yes I realize that. Which brings me the next part of the deal. When you get to this location you will find a town called Storybrooke. In fact, I mean to meet you there at the town line, and we will enter this town together to find the person I am looking for."
Ok so he is looking for a person; but why pay me $10,000 if he is just gonna go there too? "Why pay me to find someone if you are just gonna come with me-" "No no not with you, I just said I would meet you at that marked location." "Oh-kay... Let me ask you Mr. Booth ... is this your way of asking me out on a date because I don't see how this whole proposition makes sense any other way..." she said with a hesitant smirk. "Haha. No Ms. Swan this is not an attempt on my part to go on a date with you. My request may be strange but I am offering an inordinately large amount of money for exactly this task and nothing else."
Though it seemed too good to be true, Emma didn't sense any danger from this man so reluctantly she agreed. "Ok then. We have a deal Mr. Booth. I will meet you at this location say... five days from now at 8:15." "Yes exactly 8:15 Ms. Swan you must be there by that time." "Ok 8:15 it is then..." she said looking at him strangely. A little anal about punctuality much? she thought. Emma shook his hand sealing the deal and August W. Booth went to the door, opened it to leave and paused at the last second. He tilted his head towards her and said "Oh but um if I'm not there at 8:15 feel free to go on into the town without me. There is a little diner there named "Granny's" and I will meet you there."
What? You make a big deal about the time I get there but you might be late. That doesn't make any sense. But before she could protest, out the door he went and he was gone. "Well ok sure that's fine" Emma said to herself as she looked at the map one last time before she folded it up and put it in her coat pocket. Storybrooke. Odd name for a town but it looks like that's where I'm going... Oh crap I forgot to ask him when he was planning on paying me. He better meet me there on time because I'm not doing anything without half up front. Man, I've got a bad feeling there is more to this than he said. Oh well I better get packing and prepare for this thing. I hope this doesn't take more than a couple of days. And out Emma went too not knowing that this trip would take a lifetime.