None of the characters are my own.

A/N: Although I've been in NY a few times and I am fond of the entire east coast in general, the only knowledge I have of 1PP is from countless times watching L&O SVU and one or two random google searches lol. If you are actually familiar with it all, feel free to drop a comment/review. SN: I relocated to the Midwest a few months ago. With the recent tornadoes and the present snow/ice, be safe fellow Midwesterners! :)

Dear Santa Chapter 4: A 'Random Coincidence'

Emma was running late. She did not pop awake until her alarm went off after the third time she hit snooze. She did not understand why she had to be there in the first place; she had contracted as a civilian with the police department to crack into the safes. When there was a safe the police could not get into during a raid, they would call her in to open the safe once they cleared the scene. It was not her fault that yesterday's raid was a bust. As soon as she exited the last subway station, she texted her friend Graham to save her a seat in the meeting. She was glad to have at least one close acquaintance on the team.

Emma made her way through the Police Headquarters building to the room where her meeting was. Once she located Graham with her eyes, he pointed to the empty seat next to him. When she sat down, he began a whispered with her, "I swear this lead detective just loves to hear himself talk. Of course, what happened yesterday was not his fault."

Emma sighed, "I am not surprised."

"Oh, what do you have planned for the day?"

"Well before this lovely inconvenience, I had just planned on taking care of things with my small locksmith business. Why?"

"There is a case I decided to work myself, and I would like you to come take a look."

"You decided? And sure, what are friends for."

"Yes. Someone robbed a nonprofit. You and I both know the file would be collecting dust before the case took priority with an actual detective. It is nothing insurance won't cover, but still."

"Someone actually robbed a nonprofit? What is wrong with people these days?" Emma whispered a little too loudly.

The detective leading the meeting stopped and glared at Emma, "Is there a problem Ms. Swan?"

"No, sir. No problem," Emma shook her head and smiled nervously. She and Graham returned to pretending to give the detective their undivided attention until the meeting ended.

Once the team filed out of the meeting room, Graham told Emma, "Meet me by the flex desks in the squad room in a few minutes. I have to go take care of a couple of things."

"Okay," Emma replied. She decided to make her way outside to get some fresh air when she noticed a woman with brunette hair who looked both breathtakingly gorgeous and out of place. If the woman did not appear to look lost, Emma could have easily mistaken her to be an assistant district attorney with the immaculate and professional way she was dressed. Normally Emma would be ready to peel out of that place, but since she had to wait on Graham, she decided to take a chance and see if she could help the woman. Emma approached her with a smile, "Hello, I'm Emma. Can I help you with anything?"

The woman returned her smile, "Hi, I hope so. I am looking for an Officer Graham. Do you happen to know where I can find him? My name is Regina by the way."

"Well you're in luck Regina. I am supposed to meet him in a few minutes. You can follow me," Emma began walking them towards the squad room.

Regina frowned, "Oh you are? I certainly hope I didn't mix up the times I'm supposed to be meeting with him."

Emma thought for a second. "Are you the owner of the nonprofit that was robbed?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"Graham told me there was a case he wanted my help on. I'm so sorry your organization got hit. There used to be a day when there was a code among thieves. Now people are just so mean-spirited taking from the needy."

Regina gave a genuine smile, "I don't think there was a 'code among thieves' since Robin Hood. But, thank you, I appreciate the sentiment."

Just as Emma and Regina reached the squad room, Graham walked towards them and said, "Oh good Emma, it looks like you have met Ms. Mills. We can get going to the scene of the crime and talk on the way."

All of a sudden Emma looked like she had seen a ghost, "Em, are you okay?" Graham asked her.

"Yes. Did you just say Mills?" Emma sputtered.

"Mills is my last name," Regina answered. Just then her phone began to ring, "I'm sorry, I will have to take this quick call." She walked a few feet away to answer her phone, "Hi Henry. Are you okay?"

Even with Regina standing a few feet away, Emma could not believe what she was hearing. This is not happening. Santa is not real, she thought to herself.

"Earth to Emma. Are you sure you're okay?" Graham asked her again.

"Which nonprofit did you say Regina runs?" she asked him quietly.

He gave her a puzzled look, "I didn't, and it's NYC Kitchen. Really great place."

She started turning ten different shades of red, "I think I'm going to have a panic attack. I can't help you with this case."

He reached for her hands, "Breathe, Em, breathe. Take a deep breath and tell me what is going on."

Emma took a deep breath to ground herself, "Long story short, I think I randomly and coincidentally came across her kid's letter to Santa."

Graham was still perplexed as to how a child's wish list for Santa could have his friend freaked, but he would take her word for the moment. "Well, I just need you take a look at a damaged safe from a botched job at the place. After that, you never have to see her again as far as I'm concerned."

"Okay, I can do that," Emma said.

Regina returned her phone to her purse and walked back towards Graham and Emma, "Sorry about the delay Officer Graham." She shrugged, "I'm a single mom and my son comes first. Shall we get going?"

"Not a problem Ms. Mills, I understand. Yes, we should get going now. I will fill you and Emma in on the details on the way," Graham began leading them out to his squad car.

Ruby and Neal are going to love hearing about this, Emma thought as she trailed behind the two.