"How did Gold get this?"

Regina checked her rearview mirror while changing lanes.

"I stopped asking that question a long time ago."

Gold was a procurer specializing in the dubiously legal; it was why he practiced actual law so seldom. He was more of a man to provide and facilitate than enter the arena himself. Emma's increased concern over the file was piquing her curiosity.

"Did you read this?"

"Only what was pertinent, why?"

"There's stuff in here from before I was eighteen, hospital stays, tax records."

"It is shocking to think you've ever paid taxes."

Emma finally broke focus on the file to roll her eyes, "Not the point. This is my whole life, who has this kind of stuff?"

"A man you should be happy is on your side. Where am I dropping you off?"

The way Emma sat in her car always bothered her, she made a point of pushing the passenger's seat nearly as far back as it could go and then slouching.

"Just drop me off at the bus station. I'll have to leave my car here for awhile"

Hitting a red light Regina hit the breaks with unnecessary force causing the car to stop abruptly. Emma, without a seatbelt, was nearly thrown up against the dashboard and came out of it looking at Regina like she was crazy.

"What the hell?"

The car beside them rolled up slowly, unaffected.

"The bus station?"

"You didn't honestly think I was going to stay in town when they're trying to convict me of murder?"

"Are you asking me if I think you're an idiot?"

"I thought that was why we left the police station."

"We left the police station so they couldn't force you to confess to anything. Which would have made you case even more impossible."

"So what do you want me to do?"

Emma had closed the folder and tucked it into the slot on the inside of the door; she was upset and uncertain but more than that she was afraid. This question was not rhetorical. She needed Regina's advice. Charged with panic she continued speaking.

"Look, I'm me, and with the evidence they have…even you thought I might have done it. If someone's trying to frame me then they're doing a hell of a job and I've spent enough time in prison to never want to go back."

Regina hadn't hands were tight on the steering wheel, her arms nearly straight as she stared out the windshield with her lips pursed, waiting for Emma to finish, "You're done?"

Emma scowled.

"You want me to tell you what to do? Don't run, I thought criminals knew that? They will catch you and when they do, not even I will be able to help you."

"So what?" Emma swallowed, "I'm supposed to just wait around until they decide to throw me in prison."

"No, you're supposed to trust me to do my job."

Emma looked down to at floor mat and the car behind them honked, without either of them noticing the light had turned green, Regina gunned it into the intersection causing Emma to grab the handle above the door for support.

"Now, where am I dropping you off?"


Emma had picked a downtown hotel where she claimed to have parked her car but Regina didn't believe her. Getting out of the car Emma had looked back and thanked her with the tone of an apology, in all likelihood she was already across the state line and regardless of how badly she wanted to, there was nothing she could do. The urge to keep Emma from making a stupid decision and screwing up her future was balanced by the knowledge that she was a grown woman, capable of making her own decisions even if they were terrible ones. The line between the work of a good lawyer and entangling her personal affairs with her professional was a thin one. Anything other than being as divested as possible, in her mind, ran the risk of appearing clingy and from a fiscal standpoint Emma's resolution to go unrepresented meant that she avoided a tough case that would no doubt commandeer more of her time than she could spare. Then there was the matter of payment; Emma's assets were inconsistent at best and at worst completely confiscated. There was nothing practical to gain from trying to help her; yet as soon as she'd returned to work she'd set to making copies of the police records and put in a request to Gold for Graham's dossier which he'd met with a smug expression of awareness. He had said it would be a ' top priority.'

"Don't suppose you could use a hand?"

The copy machine had jammed part way through her duplication of officer accounts, which had required her to open one of the massive front panels in search of the problem. At first she'd thought it was Ruby trying to score points with her but the accent said otherwise, Belle who was smiling at her from the doorway.

A long time ago she'd asked Gold for a machine in her office but he'd refused the idea, saying she'd be even more unapproachable if she had an excuse to never leave her office. Regina had responded by ordering one herself, but the thing had a mysterious tendency to fall in to disrepair. That was to say, Gold kept sabotaging it as punishment for her disobedience.

This was a prime example of why she needed her own things.

"I can take care of it, if I didn't know how to clear a copier I wouldn't have made partner."

She smiled for the sake of politeness, but it didn't sound like a joke. Belle's expression faltered at the overt animosity.

"Mr. Gold told me you wouldn't be nice."

"I'm assuming he also told you not to get your hopes up for us getting along."

"Something similar."

Regina extracted a particularly crumpled and ink-smeared piece of paper from the copiers innards and shut the front panel with a sharp snap.

"My first and only piece of advice as your mentor is to heed his advice"

She tossed the piece of paper into the nearby trashcan.

"I bet you say that to all the interns."

Whatever Belle's intention she was only succeeding at getting on Regina's nerves and while she appreciated her dedication to being as irritating as possible in the interest of not being ignored it wasn't how Regina did business. If only her copies would print a little faster. This was typical, it had happened with interns before though none had yet been so bold to try it on their first day at the firm. Anyone who knew her name was inevitably aware of her reputation and any interest in it was best culled early. She turned from the copy's steady shuffling hum to better punctuate her point.

"Ms….?"

"French."

"Right," Emma smiled venom, "Don't delude yourself into thinking I don't know my reputation or what is said about me and definitely don't think that you knowing about it makes you any different from the dozen of other interns that have tried this with me. Also, while I'm flattered by your fascination with me I think we'll both be happier if you mind your own business."

There was the sound of footsteps and Ruby appeared in the doorway as if she'd just jogged from her desk, she stopped dead at the tension of the room, "Everything okay?" Belle looked away from Regina as reassurance that nothing even remotely hostile had been taking place.

"Of course, what's up?"

"Someone's here to see Regina from the police department."

"Did you ask what it was about?"

She was surprised when Ruby nodded, asking for context before letting people waltz up to Regina's office was a mistake she was prone to making.

"She wouldn't say but she's not in uniform."

Regina had expected fallout for taking Emma from the police station; she had made a point not to inform any of the officers and only notified the clerk as a formality hoping to delay detection. It was a risky decision to make but being that she didn't think the police were considering actual justice a priority she thought it best to get Emma away. It was better than them harassing her until she said something they could use; Regina had little faith in the police force's integrity, especially when a dead police officer was involved. Honestly, she had expected a phone call and getting a visit from a detective didn't bode well for Emma. The woman standing in front of Ruby's desk had fantastic posture, she hadn't bothered to sit down or feign trying to look comfortable. Instead she stood a foot or two back from the desk waiting to be addressed as if she'd been frozen. First impression said military family, maybe Chinese heritage, very serious for a young woman.

"Regina Mills?"

"Yes."

There was no immediate inkling of expression at this; instead she pulled out her badge and identification.

"I'm Detective Mulan Hua, I'm here regarding Emma Swan."

"Of course, we can speak in my office if you'd like."

"That's fine, this won't take more than a few seconds."

"If you say so."

Detective Mulan Hua, she noticed, was dressed in what might have been considered men's attire. The button-up shirt she wore was not fitted to pull in at the waist in hopes of complimenting her chest and her shoes were not the slightly heeled boots sometimes typical of women in her profession. The ensemble was well tailored and fit but of a marked style. Regina didn't blame her, female detectives were on the rare side and having spent even the minutes she had in the police station earlier that day she could see the benefits.

"Earlier today you removed Ms. Swan from police custody?"

"As was my right, she wasn't under arrest."

"The intention had been to place Ms. Swan under arrest, the officer you spoke with didn't see fit to inform you but didn't expect you to leave the premises."

"What crime is my client accused of?"

"For involvement in the murder of Detective Graham Humbert."

"Do you have a murder weapon or motive?"

This caught Mulan off-guard, though Regina wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't been looking.

"I can't give you details on an ongoing investigation, at least not until I have Miss. Swan in custody. That's why I'm here, do you know where she is?"

"I dropped her off at her hotel a few hours ago."

Mulan nodded as if expecting that to be her answer, Ruby returned from the copy room and took her seat at her desk,

"What hotel was that?"

"The Prestwould, downtown."

This too, Mulan had expected.

"We ran her credit card statements and checked with the hotel, it doesn't look like she's actually staying there. Is there anywhere else she might be?"

The implication that Emma was on the run was causing Regina's chest to tighten.

"Not that I know of, she hasn't been in contact with me."

"Not that you would have to tell me if she had."

Regina's eyes narrowed at the accusation.

"I assure you detective, I know what's in my client's best interests."

"Of course, but I do have to ask if there's any possibility she's at your residence?"

From the corner of her eye she saw Ruby look up from her computer screen to take interest in the conversation. Great, that was exactly what she needed. Mulan maintained eye contact, the message was clear: the police force knew they were involved and intended to use it. This fact gave Regina pause, it was uncomfortable to have the authorities aware of her personal affairs.

"There's no possibility of that."

"Are you sure? Does she have a key?"

"I am sure and no, I'm the only one with keys to my house."

No she wasn't, it was more than possible that in Emma's brain hiding out in her house was a completely acceptable strategy and it wouldn't be the first time she'd broken in.

"That's all I needed but if it's okay I'd like to leave you my card? Just in case she contacts you."

Regina took the offered business card and forced a smile.

"Of course, you'll be the first to know."

Mulan didn't look like she bought that even for a moment but did seem to appreciate her cooperation and made a point to thank Ruby for her help before leaving.

Regina waited for Ruby to ask why a police detective had reason to believe that Emma might have a key to her house but the awkward introductory particle never came. Instead Ruby had returned to her work and only looked up at her when she lingered longer than she'd meant to, "Did you need anything else?"

"No, thank you."

Ruby smiled, "Let me know."


Regina had hoped, if only because it would be easiest for everybody, that when she opened her door that evening Emma would be asleep on the couch or sitting at the island in the kitchen looking like she thought she'd done something clever but she wasn't there. Regina came home, as she always did, to an empty house. To stave off the silence she opened her briefcase, she'd brought home all of the affidavits she copied from the police records as well as Graham's dossier (which Gold, true to his word, had delivered before the end of the day). Strategically, the affidavits were the sound choice to go over first being more relevant to the case but after pouring herself a glass of wine it was Graham's file that she selected. He had been, apparently, exceptional. Good-looking and laden with commendations for police service, no doubt the shining pillar of community concern and exemplary law-enforcement, if she squinted she could see the appeal. Her attempts at remaining unbiased were not succeeding and her tendency to check herself diminished with each sip of wine. The awareness that Emma, who had been sleeping with this man, did not seem to have trusted her proportionately increased.

This was a waste of time, familiarizing herself with Emma's preferences felt a lot like torture but she read compulsively: He was a top-ranked marksman on the force, he had a large pet dog, he'd been born in the UK.

This was pointless. Emma didn't want her help.

Emma had chosen to run, Regina turned the page and found herself looking at the crime scene photos. The coroner reported the cause of death as a single gunshot wound to the chest, stopping his heart if not destroying it. Crime scene photos no longer bothered her, they were common in her profession and squeamishness could cost you a point of view on one of the mot important aspects of what you were defending your client against. Whoever had shot Graham they'd been further away, there were no burn patterns from gunpowder and the entry wound was clean. If this was an escalated lover's quarrel, a crime of passion, it was much more likely that the deed would have been done close up. Even the use of a gun pointed towards a stranger but that had two possible interpretations: that Emma was not the perpetrator or that she had no feelings for him that would have inflamed enough to lead to murder. Regina didn't know which she preferred. There was no alibi in his time of death and the door hadn't been forced open implying that he knew his attacker. By her third glass of wine she'd spread the pieces of paper across the coffee table and was trying to convince herself that Emma's running was a good thing as the case was impossible.

She had no hint to Emma's motives, if she was going to run why did she even bother to come back? The question occurred at first in anger and then in actual curiosity. Emma's whole reason for 'bothering her' had been in anticipation of needing a lawyer and running didn't fit with that. As this dawned on her there was a knock at the door and she filled with a sudden hope, so much so that she nearly ran to answer it. On her porch was Emma with a large paper bag looking like she was bracing to be yelled at. Regina hid any hint of excitement.

"The police are looking for you."

"I know," She offered the bag, "I brought Chinese, figured you hadn't gotten dinner."

"Chinese?"

Emma smirked but remained cautious, "I thought it was more romantic than McDonald's."

"I don't care about the food, where have you been?"

Without invitation Emma stepped over the threshold and past Regina, pulling the thick folder Gold had on her out from behind the bag of Chinese food.

"If you're going to represent me I have to be honest right?"

"Ideally."

"Then we're going to talk."

"How long will this take?"

Emma furrowed her brow at what she perceived was Regina being impatient with her serious emotional revelations.

"I don't know. Do you have some important thing to get to?"

"No, not that. The police know about our…situation. Today I had a detective ask if I was hiding you, I wouldn't be surprised if they had surveillance on my house and now that I'm doing exactly what I told them I wasn't we won't have a lot of time."

"Wow, okay," Emma nodded then realized something, "Regina I'm so sorry."

"I was complicit, don't think you did this to me. The point is, if you want to run you should probably start."

Instead of bolting for the backdoor Emma moved into the dining room and set the bag of food down on the table, she opened it and started unpacking.

"I'll give you the short version, come on I want to eat before I get arrested."

"So you have a son?"

Emma was scarfing down chopstick loads full of Lo Mein between tidbits of intimate personal information, Regina was reading over a birth certificate.

"Uh-huh," She talked through a mouth full of food, "When I was eighteen. In jail and before you ask the father's out of the picture. I gave him up for adoption but he ended up in the foster care system."

"Which one?"

"This one, he lives at a group home downtown."

Regina looked up from the file, "You've visited him?"

"I volunteer, he doesn't know. I grew up in the system. I just wanted to make sure he had someone looking out for him."

"That's illegal."

Emma shoveled another large portion of noodles into her mouth before switching over to the sesame chicken.

"Right, sorry, forgot career criminals don't do illegal things."

"What's his name?"

"Henry."

Regina looked at her as if she'd said something she recognized.

"Did you name him?"

"Nope, I don't know who did, why?"

"That was my father's name."

"Shit."

Emma put down the chicken and finally seemed to swallow.

"Anyway, that's where I've been. I figured if I was getting arrested I wanted to go by and tell him I might not be around for a while."

"How long has he been at the group home?"

"Too long, big surprise the system isn't working," She paused, looking forlorn, "But Regina he's so smart."

Regina didn't make eye contact; she kept rereading the same line of text in the folder. No wonder Emma had been concerned with her having read the entire file, she had a son to whom she couldn't confess her identity and who was going through the familiar experience of being failed by the foster care system. Even she could empathize.

They were interrupted by another knock at the door that let them know they were out of time. Emma looked to the door with poorly concealed fear and stood up to get her jacket. Regina wiped her mouth on a napkin before getting up to answer it. She had been expecting Mulan but on the threshold was a young man of what appeared to be a much less serious disposition, he even smiled when she opened the door.

"Sorry to bother you Ms. Mills, I'm Detective Phillip Samson, you spoke with my partner earlier today."

His smile, while well natured, begged her cooperation, behind him was a patrol car with an officer in the front seat.

"I think you know why I'm here."

Regina moved out of the way to give access to Emma who stood in the foyer in her leather jacket, awaiting her fate.

"You wouldn't begrudge her the privacy of doing this inside."

Phillip, apparently more agreeable than his counterpart, actually seemed to feel bad about the situation and stepped inside.

"Good evening Ms. Swan."

"Hi."

From his belt Phillip produced a set of handcuffs.

"Is that really necessary?"

Emma didn't seem as opposed to the idea as Regina did, she had already started to raise her hands, complying on instinct.

"With all due respect, Ms. Swan spent the better part of her day evading arrest."

Regina knew it was protocol, she'd only said something for the sake of arguing. Even knowing it wouldn't make a difference she couldn't keep her mouth shut for the sake of trying. Seconds away from being restrained something occurred to Emma, "One more thing?"

Phillip stayed the handcuffs.

"Can I get my fortune cookie?"

She nodded her head to the dining room to indicate the remains of their meal; Phillip might have chuckled, "Of course."

Emma walked over to the table, selected one of the fortune cookies from the bag and came back with her wrists up, ready to cooperate.

"Okay."

Phillip talked as he secured her, "Emma Swan, you're under arrest for the murder of Graham Humbert. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law, you have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford an attorney one will be provided for you."

He looked from Emma to Regina.

"Though it doesn't look like that will be a problem"

Regina's face was set in stone.

"No, it won't."