Chapter Forty-Six: Dirty Sheppard

- I'm telling you, this guy is clean! – Zelena said – Or at least very good at hiding his track.

- It has to be something that we can use – Regina said – We both know this guy is dirty.

- Yeah, but the investigators didn't find anything.

Emma heard the conversation between the sisters when she walked in to take a glass of water. She was in the middle of a game with Henry while Regina and Zelena were working on their case. The kitchen island was a mess of papers and the floor was full of file boxes. Emma stood up on her tiptoes to take a look at the papers on the Island, hoping she could somehow understand what was happening there. She couldn't wait for the day she would be able to discuss cases and strategies with Regina. She knew the case was about sexual harassment and that the family hotel was involved somehow, but that was about it. Zelena and Regina were talking legal terms now and Emma could hardly understand a word they were saying. She was just about to leave them to it and go back to her match with Henry when Regina moved a paper and Emma saw a familiar face on it.

- Hey, what is dirty Sheppard doing there? – Emma asked.

- Excuse me? – Zelena asked back.

- Dirty Shepard – Emma said again – I mean, David Nolan. What is he doing there? Does he have anything to do with the case?

- Emma, do you know this man? – Regina asked eyes wide pointing at the paper.

- Yeah, he was a regular at Mr. Gold – Emma said - He always had preference with the new arrivals, but, he had one girl that was his regular. Mary Margaret. We knew she had gone his way when she showed up at the agency all dressed up as Snow White. It was his kink.

Regina and Zelena looked at each other, both of them with eyes and mouth wide open. And then they smiled at each other, the kind of smile that was almost wicked, one that made Emma's whole body shivered.

- Emma, darling – Zelena said – Have a seat!

- Okay… - Emma said – So, what is going on?

- I'll tell you in a second, but first – Zelena said and then pushed the photo of the man in Emma's direction – Are you absolutely sure you know who this man is?

- Yes! I've seen him a few times – Emma answered.

- When you said seen… - Regina started to say.

- At Mr. Gold. I never slept with him! – Emma said quickly.

Regina smiled shyly at Emma who did the same back. It was still a bit awkward to mention Emma's past. As much as she knew Regina was okay with it, she supposed it would be awkward with anyone. Except, maybe only for this exact moment, for Zelena. She was smiling wickedly, as she rose from her seat and walked to the fridge pouring herself a generous glass of wine.

- Really, Zelena? – Regina said – It's three in the afternoon!

- This call for a celebration, sis! – Zelena said – Want some?

- Oh, what the hell! Serve me a glass – Regina said.

- Babe? – Emma said – What's going on?

- What is going on, my dear – Zelena said – Is that YOU just gave us a fighting chance to win, this damn case.

- Why is that? – Emma asked.

- Emma, I'm going to tell you all about the case, but, you need to know that this is strictly confidential – Regina said – You can't talk about this to anyone!

- Okay… - Emma said – It's not like I have anyone but you to talk about anyway!

- And we need you to tell us everything you know about David Nolan – Zelena said after.

- Yeah, I can do that – Emma said.

- Six months ago – Regina started to say - Mr. Nolan was staying in one of the family hotels here in Boston. During his stay, the police raided the hotel. They had a warrant to search his room.

- In the room – Zelena continued – He was found with two girls. One of them was underage at the time of the…incident.

- - Mr. Gold doesn't work with underage girls – Emma said firmly.

- That's good to know – Zelena said – Anyways, as you know, he is a Sheppard, and being caught with two prostitutes in a hotel room didn't look good with the congregation, so…

- He is accusing the hotel of sending unsolicited girls to his room – Regina said - And claiming that the hotel runs a prostitution scheme.

- The whole chain is under investigation now – Zelena said – It's slowly ruining our reputation. He wants a settlement of fifty million dollars to drop the lawsuit he is moving against us.

- Wow – Emma said – But if it's not true, why are you guys so stress? The police will find out it's a lie, right?

- Yes! But these things take time – Regina said – And he is spreading the word with his congregation. They are organizing all sorts of protests in front of our main hotels. We lost a few investors already and the hotel booking is at its lowest.

- We couldn't find any dirt on him to strike back – Zelena said – Until now!

- How can I help? – Emma asked.

- We need to prove that he has solicited girls before, specifically when not staying in our chain.

- Mr. Gold keeps a record of all clients. Especially for regular clients. But he would never give it to us. Unless the price is really good. – Emma said.

- What about your friend? Snow white? – Zelena asked.

- Mary Margaret – Emma said – I'm not sure she would testify. It doesn't look so well in our…field.

- Can you talk to her? – Regina asked.

- Yes, of course. I can set up a meeting with you guys.

- Emma? – Regina asked.

- Yeah?

- Does...Does Mr. Gold has a file on me? – Regina asked.

- He did, but, I took care of it. Both of you! – Emma said.

- Excuse me? – Zelena said.

- I called in a favor and asked for your files – Emma said – I burn them. You guys don't have to worry about it.

- Can you just call in another favor to get Mr. Nolan's file? – Zelena asked.

- It's not that easy. Mr. Gold keeps a very close tab on them, it's like his way out if anything goes wrong. He has some big shots customers, Shepard is one of them. These files, he keeps very close to him. He would totally notice if it goes missing.

- Maybe not! – Zelena said – He didn't notice ours went missing, did he?

- No offense, but, you two are small fishes in comparison with some of the clients he has – Emma said – Trust me!

- I trust you! – Regina said – Let's take one step at a time, shall we? Emma, can you call your friend?

- Yep! I can do that right now!

- Excellent! – Zelena said.

Emma rose from her seat and left the kitchen. She went up to Regina's room and took her phone from the nightstand. She searched her phone for Mary Margaret's phone and pressed the little green button on the screen. It didn't take long before Mary Margaret picked up. They talked for a while, catching up with life events. Emma asked her for the meeting and she agreed to it, but only after Emma promised she wouldn't get her in trouble. Emma gave her word and arranged for the meeting for Monday night at her apartment. When she walked downstairs again, Zelena was already emptying the bottle of wine she had open earlier. Emma told them about the time and place for the meeting. Regina thanked her while Zelena complained about de delay, but eventually (And after a scold from Regina) she thanked Emma too.

For the rest of the day, they both milked Emma for more information. She tried to be as helpful as possible, but, she had never been in any contact with the man. The only thing she knew was what her friend had said to her. Zelena left after dinner, as there was nothing else they could do until the meeting on Monday. Later that night when they were both in bed, Regina asked her about the girl. Emma told her that she was very sweet, even though her cheerful attitude could make one want to punch her in the face from time to time. Regina laughed and then she asked:

- Why didn't you tell me about the files?

- I didn't want to freak you out.

- Yeah, I believe I most likely would – Regina said – What was in it?

- Nothing much. You didn't even have a real file, yours was just a sheet inside Zelena's file.

- Oh? I bet Zelena would love to hear that.

- Oh, yeah – Emma laughed.

- Thank you – Regina said.

- For what?

- For taking care of this, I…I wouldn't….I wouldn't like to have my name associated with…

- I know – Emma said.

- When did you do it? – Regina asked.

- What do you mean?

- Was it before or after we started dating?

- Before. I call in the favor after that night in the diner.

- You know what? – Regina said moving on top of Emma – This calls for a celebration.

- What kind of celebration? – Emma asked, moaning as Regina's lips touched her neck.

- The kind that shows just how thankful I am. – Regina whispered in her ear.

And just like that, Regina reversed the game and Emma was the one thanked her over and over and over again through the night.