A/N: Hello Lovely Readers! I hope you are enjoying the story so far. I appreciate those of you that took the time to comment or review for me. I'm going to try to keep updating regular as the story firms up for me. I'm so happy to be back to writing this one. I've missed them.
Ch. 7
Emma pulled open her car door and hoped she still had a plastic bag lingering in the back from a previous take out order. Sure enough, she did. She grabbed the bag and slammed the door in frustration. This was either going to be a onetime thing or a problem. She wrapped the bag around the knife and fabric before pulling it from the tire. She took the evidence and set it down, so she could pop open the hood of the bug.
She was about to grab the spare tire and jack when she realized that the front of her car was even, she looked to the left side of the car and it was not only one tire but both front tires that had been slashed. "Damn!" she shouted as she slammed the hood.
She pulled the phone from the back pocket of her jeans. She was about to dial when she felt someone approaching at her back. She slipped her hand around her gun and almost drew it as she turned around but luckily, she stopped before pulling it on an officer. Even if it was Humbert.
"Something wrong Emma, I thought you'd be well on your way by now?" asked Graham.
"My tires were slashed." She said flatly.
Graham's eyes went wide. "Any idea who would do this?"
She picked up the bag and showed him the knife and fabric. "Looks like my new Scottish friends."
"Ah, well this is what happens when you mess with the mob, Emma. You should be careful about who you piss off." He scolded.
She pursed her lips. She really didn't need a lecture from anyone, especially him. "I need a tow."
He smiled and pressed the button on the microphone attached to his shoulder. "Hey this is Officer Humbert, I need a tow truck for a yellow VW bug outside of the sorority house on Bell street. Yeah, belongs to Emma Swan. Someone slashed her front tires."
Her phone rang almost immediately after he mentioned her name. She looked down and saw Killian's name flash on her phone causing her heart to jump a little. "Hey." she said.
Killian's voice sounded urgent. "What's going on? I just heard on the radio that your tires were slashed. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm here at the sorority house doing interviews. I came out and my front tires were slashed. Looks like it was retaliation for picking up that Scottish thug yesterday." Explained Emma.
"Do you need a ride? I can come pick you up." asked Killian.
"Humbert's here. He made the call for me. He actually let me work with him to interview the sorority girls for the case."
"Humbert. Great. I'm glad he could help."
She could hear the sarcasm in his response. "Yeah, he's actually been ok."
"Emma, can I give you a ride? We are going to the same place." Called Graham.
"Looks like Humbert can give me a ride. I was planning to go interview Tiana's ex and his friend Al." said Emma.
"Ok. If you need me to pick you up after, give me a call. I'm happy to get you and if you need to use my truck, it's yours." He replied.
"How did I get so lucky? I'll call you after and let you know if I need a ride."
"Emma, be safe." He said softly.
She felt the warmth in his voice. "I will. Talk soon." She heard the soft click and turned back to see Humbert eyeing up her car.
"They will be here soon, we don't have to stick around for the tow. They will take your car to Wally's garage in town. Wally's will call you once they have the tires replaced." Said Graham.
"Ok, let me grab a few things from my car and we can go. Thanks for your help." said Emma.
She grabbed her bag, the evidence that she pulled from her tire, and a few other valuables from her glove box. She tucked them into her shoulder bag and quickly moved to join Humbert in his car.
"Where to?" He asked.
"9756 Goddard Lane. It's an apartment building." She said.
"Ah, Bachelor Party Arms. I know it well." He chuckled.
"Bachelor Party Arms?" she asked.
He started the car. "It's the closest thing to a frat house off campus. These apartments attract young male college students."
"Just males?" she asked.
"You can just smell the testosterone coming from the place, no woman in her right mind would rent there." He joked.
"Great, Can't wait." She mocked.
Killian reluctantly hung up the phone and let out the nervous breath he'd been holding since her name came up on the radio.
"Everything alright mate?" asked Robin.
Killian nervously tapped his fingers on the table in front of him. "Aye, Emma's alright. Someone slashed her front tires. She said it could be retaliation from a perp she tagged yesterday."
"Oh, that doesn't sound good. Who'd she tag?" asked Robin.
Killian grimaced. "One of the Scots."
"Oh, mate. Didn't anyone warn her about that lot?" asked Robin.
"Emma's a grown woman. Have any of our previous warnings stopped her from doing her job?" asked Killian.
Robin chuckled." No, she seems to run to danger rather than cower from it."
David walked into the room hearing the tail end of his sentence. "If you are talking about Emma, you've got her pegged. She's one of the bravest people I know. What's she gotten herself into this time."
"She messed with the Scots." Said Robin using his best Scottish accent.
David stopped shuffling papers. "Please say she didn't."
Killian ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "Wish I could mate, she tagged one yesterday. Right before she met up with your wife for lunch."
David shook his head." Those punks are dangerous."
"Aye, and now one of them has slashed Emma's car tires."
"Is she alright?" asked David.
"She's fine. Humbert was there to give her a ride." Said Killian.
"Humbert! You didn't mention that git was there before." Said Robin.
Killian shook his head and frowned." Yeah, I'm not too crazy about it. He always acts like she owes him something for even doing the slightest work. I can't imagine how he's acting right now."
"I know how he likes to get under your skin." Said Robin.
"The bright side is that he is a cop, even if it is Humbert. Hopefully that will be a deterrent from any further mischief in the short term. We should get together and talk about this though. Emma's going to have to be careful." Said David.
"I thought about lending her my truck for a while but maybe I'll rent a car for her. She should be inconspicuous for a while, at least until the Scots calm down. This will keep them guessing." Said Killian.
"How do you suppose they knew where to find her car in the first place? It's not like she was in their part of town. She was at the University." Said Robin.
"They have eyes and ears everywhere. That group can be like roaches." Said David.
Killian wasn't quite so worried before his mates reminded him that he should be. He had to remember that Emma wasn't the type to require a rescuer, so he would have to tread lightly with his suggestions.
"I'll talk with her tonight when she finishes her interviews." Said Killian.
"If you need a place to stay for a while you are both more than welcome to stay with Mary Margaret and I." said David.
Killian pat him on the back." Then the four of us would be walking around like zombies."
David raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Davie is doing much better sleeping, well at least Mary Margaret and I have been. Our plan seems to be working for now."
"Thank you, but if anyone of those punks even thinks about stepping into our home they will be sorry." Said Killian.
"OK, but if you change your mind the offer stands." Said David.
Killian nodded. He went to the computer to look up a rental for Emma. He'd at least get her transportation until her car was ready or longer if she needed it. He knew she didn't need his protection but that didn't mean he didn't want to do it. He loved her and hopefully she would be on board with this plan.
Tiana sat frozen in place as she heard noises moving towards them. She could hear Lottie whimpering lightly in the room. She wanted to cry too but she had to stay strong. She had no idea who had them or why they were taken. Well, she knew she was nabbed because she couldn't stay out of Lottie's business even if she tried. At that moment she couldn't help wishing she didn't love Lottie so much. She hated feeling selfish, it wasn't who she was; but she couldn't help feeling that if she didn't chase after her that she wouldn't be sitting in the dark, tied to a chair, frightened for her life.
There were muffled voices outside of the room that sounded like they were arguing. They were slowly approaching, and she could make out more of their words.
"This is your fault. Why'd you take the other girl? We didn't need her. Now what?" grumbled the voice.
Her body shook at the sound of a large bang somewhere near them. "She was snooping around. Look, just stick to the plan." Boomed the other voice.
She could hear Charlotte whimpering louder. "This is all my fault Ti , I'm so sorry."
"Hush, Lottie. Just Hush."
