Emma looked up over the chimney she was hiding behind, two figures exited from the Handymen's building, the white blond man only slightly taller than his dark-haired companion, she stared forlornly at them as they started walking off. Sensing her gaze Nicolas turned round raising his hand in farewell, Emma ducked behind the chimney so she was fully hidden before Delico spotted her, 'He's amazing,' the jealous thought passed through her mind she still hadn't been able to sneak up on Nic once yet despite the fact that his deafness should have been to her advantage. It had been over a week since her encounter with Delico and the rest of the Monroe family, she absentmindedly rubbed at the last few scabs on her knee from where a bullet grazed her. Whatever the job was that Mr. Monroe had sent the two of them on she didn't like it, she had barely spoken to Nic over the past couple of days, his loyalty and willingness to accept a request from Monroe bothered her, climbing down from the roof she set out in the opposite direction that Nic and Delico had taken waving to Alex at the window as she went by.

The sun shone down weakly but the air had been growing colder over the past few weeks and dark clouds lingered on the horizon, she wandered aimlessly around town avoiding the most troublesome areas. Emma hesitated as she stepped out onto the main street since Nic had to stick to the side streets and alleys she hadn't used them very much either plus it meant she had to leave her sword behind, although he often lurked by the entrance to the alley and directed her and Alex when they went shopping at the market as to what produce to buy. The market bustled with the early afternoon sun encouraging customers to leave their usually business or warm houses, 'The fridge looked a little bare we should probably stock up,' Emma perused the stalls managing to only buy vegetables she liked since no one else was there to complain, thinking it was about time to head back she reluctantly turned her feet homeward.

"Hey kid!" Emma instinctively turned around although they were a lot of actual kids running around the busy marketplace, her shoulders drooped in dismay as she saw Inspector Adkins walking towards her, Cody protesting from the squad car a few feet away. "Why don't we grab a cup of coffee, my treat?"

"I'm fine," she replied, trying to slip away.

Inspector Adkins placed a hand on her shoulder, while she could get away if she wanted to Emma just didn't have the motivation to run from the inspector, it wasn't as if she had done anything arrest worthy, "Cody I'm taking a break."

"We just took our break Chad, come on," the younger man leaned out of the window trying to bring the inspector back in line, Chad just smirked as he lit a cigarette and guided the girl at his side to a nearby cafe.

They sat down in a secluded corner of the busy cafe away from the cheerful chatter of the regular customers, Chad let out a puff of smoke as he watched the Handymen's stray, Emma cleared her throat and pointed to the no smoking sign stuck to the window. "Damn it! Can't a man be left to smoke in peace nowadays?" a small smile crept across her face as the Inspector hurriedly put out his cigarette the world continued to pass by as they waited for their drinks to arrive. The waitress placed two mugs on the table barely saying a word before she had to run off to deal with another grumbling customer, Emma dipped a marshmallow into the mountain of cream on top of her hot chocolate waiting for the inspector to speak. "So, you didn't go with him?" Emma shrugged she didn't feel the need to respond, "it takes quite a bit of balls to turn down an offer from Monroe like you did, it could cause you and the Handymen a fair bit of trouble."

"I'm not Nicolas' minder, he can do what he wants and so can I, besides what's the law worth if its officers don't even stop criminal activity they know is going on?" irritated she bit back rather snappily, the knot of worry had been growing in her stomach since Nic had left but she didn't want to let the inspector know that.

Chad sighed wearily, "Look kid this city is built on the fine balance of the Four Families working together, we keep an eye on them to make sure things don't get out of hand but honestly there isn't much we can do. All the police can take care of is any crime that isn't overly connected to them."

"So what you're saying is you just ignore what they do as long as it doesn't interfere with the general public, and then you let them use you to clean up anything that they can't be seen to handle. Oh, wait no you all get Nic and Worick to do the real dirty work!" Emma seethed with anger as she fought to keep her voice down, "well I don't work for anyone, and I'm not going to be one of those people that says how high when you all say jump, if Nicolas wants to please Monroe let him but it has nothing to do with me." She stared out the window as she tried to hide the angry tears she blinked away from Chad.

He sipped at the steaming coffee, this kid was far more obstinate than Nic was and that was an achievement, "I'm not telling you this to upset you, but do you even know what Monroe sent them to do?" Emma chewed her lip before slowly shaking her head, taking a deep breath he continued, "they're going to steal guns direct from Uranos Corsica's supplier."

Emma choked on the mouthful of hot chocolate her eyes wide in horror, swallowing down the coughing fit she whispered, "For those two that's suicide! They'll be slaughtered on sight if they're caught and war would break out between Monroe and Corsica what the hell is the old man thinking? Inspector Adkins you have to stop them!"

Inspector Adkins slowly placed his coffee back on the table, "You can just call me Chad you know, and I can't if I shut down that supplier then it'll be seen that the police are acting on Monroe authority, I'll never get approval for that."

"So, what we just sit and do nothing while Nic and Delico get themselves killed?" Emma demanded hands slamming on the table drawing a few looks their way.

"I didn't say they would get caught, and I only said I couldn't do anything to help them," Chad sipped at the coffee, a furrow appearing between his brows.

Emma collapsed back into her chair that she'd half stood up from before, "What your saying is that I can go help them right? I'm not someone that would be missed if I disappeared."

Ignoring that last statement he took an envelope from inside his jacket Chad slid it across the table towards her, "They should be at this address."

Emma memorised the address on the envelope but didn't touch it as she stood up, she paused as she left the booth, "You can tell Mr. Monroe where to shove it," she whispered bitterly as she exited the cafe leaving the half-finished hot chocolate and her shopping forgotten on the table. As soon as she reached a side street she began sprinting, Chad sat in the cafe until she was long out of sight then he slowly got up leaving some money on the table, making his way back to Cody he stopped on a corner to light a cigarette determined to smoke this one down to the filter.

Reaching into his pocket he threw the still sealed envelope back into the street, "I won't do that again Danny, you pushed the kid too far." He leaned into the wall unsurprised when a voice appeared just behind his shoulder.

"Now Chad I never asked you to do anything illegal right? I must say though I'm surprised she didn't take the money just to spite me, it looks like the little miss has some integrity." Daniel Monroe slipped the envelope into his suit looking in the direction the girl had run off in amusement.

Chad snorted smoke as the cigarette hung pursed between his lips, "She has more integrity than this entire city put together, you better hope for your sake she comes back alright otherwise I don't think Nicolas would forgive you."

Danny chuckled, "Hmm he does seem rather invested in her doesn't he, I wonder what it is about her."

Chad shrugged, "Well I need to go, your stunt means that I now have to drop off the shopping at the Handymen's."