Summary:
Emma goes to her help from a bails bond friend she knows in New Orleans, while Regina attends a charity bachelor auction.
Chapter Text
Five minutes earlier.
Emma had only been driving around the town of Evergreen for about five minutes when she spotted an old truck parked outside an art gallery. It was the same colour the old woman had described, and Emma would bet her salary that it belonged to Regina. She parked right behind the truck, blocking it in, and got out her rental car, locking it before heading towards the art gallery. She was exhausted, after a night of travelling, and hoped to dear God that she would find Regina here.
She entered the gallery, looking around at all the fine art on display. She was the only customer and was soon greeted by an elderly gentleman who appeared from a back office.
"Yes, Miss. Can I help you?"
"Yes. My name is Emma Swan. I'm looking for a young lady whom I thought I saw enter your gallery. Her name is Regina Mills."
"I have a young lady in my office, she's looking for a Kandinsky lithograph. She is very particular. But she hasn't told me her name."
"Particular? I think that's her middle name. Can you take me to your office, please?"
"Oh, umm, yes, right this way, Miss."
Emma followed the man to his office, but it was now empty. She quickly noticed a side exit door was left open. Regina must have heard her and made a quick escape. Dammit. She quickly ran out the door just in time to see Regina reverse into her rental car, pushing it out the way and completely wrecking it. Double dammit.
She ran towards the truck shouting after her. "Regina! Stop! Let me help you!" I believe you! She shouted the last sentence out in her mind but wished she had actually said it as she watched Regina reverse into her rental car again. Damn, that was a write off now.
Emma started running after her at full speed. "I believe you, Regina! I believe you!" Because she really did. Something in her gut, now, told her that Regina was telling the truth. She couldn't understand why now, but a woman that determined must be innocent. She kept running until she felt stitches in her tummy and was out of breath. She stopped, bending over as she rested her hands on her knees, trying to get her breath back.
"She seemed so refined," she heard the art gallery owner say as he caught up with her.
"I would like... to know what...that woman wanted... in your gallery," Emma said, still panting as she watched Regina get away from her yet again.
"Yes, well, if you follow me back to my office, we can find out together," the man said as he walked back towards his gallery.
Emma gathered her strength back before following the gallery owner, her breathing still heavy as she walked back through the side door leading into his office.
The man sat down at his desk and looked at the computer screen. Regina had left the tab open in her hurry to escape, and the screen held all the information on an art collector by the name of Leopold White, including his address in New Orleans. He printed out the page and handed it to Emma.
"Who the hell is Leopold White?" She asked as she read it over.
"Well, that young lady was very adamant on owning a 1911 Kandinsky lithograph, but the one she wanted was sold to a museum in Munich. She asked me to find out who sold it, in case they had more. The seller was this gentleman here," the man tapped on the printout he just handed to Emma. "Mr Leopold White. Seems she really wants that lithograph."
"It says he lives in New Orleans. Dammit, I have to go there, now!?"
"Why are you after that lady, if you don't mind me asking? Are you with the police force? Is she in trouble?"
"Something like that. I'm with the Washington department of corrections. I'm just trying to help her, sir, but she's very stubborn. And if I can't help her, then yes, she is in trouble. Could you please print out a picture of the lithograph she was so desperate for?"
"Certainly, Miss." The man quickly went back and printed out the picture of the painting, handing it to Emma.
"Thanks for your help," she said as she looked at a painting that looked like her five-year-old self could have created.
"You're welcome. I hope you find her, then, Miss. Good luck."
"Thanks," Emma said as she walked out of the gallery.
She got her cellphone out to book an Uber to come to collect her and take her to the airport. She would have to get dropped off at the airport's car rental building to let them know about the damaged rental - thank goodness she had taken out insurance on it. And then she'd have to try to get a flight to New Orleans. She could hear her credit card creaking under the weight of her expenses over the last 36 or so hours. Regina better damn well pay up after all of this is done. Especially since she knew she'd probably not have a job after all of this fiasco.
SQSQSQSQSQ
Regina had managed to get a flight from Colorado Springs to New Orleans, with one stopover in Dallas. She was exhausted but managed to get some sleep on the flights.
The address for Leopold White was actually a hotel which he seemed to own, but she had booked a room at a nearby bed and breakfast instead. Once she had settled in and gotten a shower and change of clothes - she had been able to go back to get her things from the bed and breakfast she had checked into in Evergreen, before escaping to New Orleans - she made her way to Robin's hotel. Or rather, Leopold White's hotel. It was called Hotel Monteleone, and when she entered the lobby, she had to be impressed. It was quite grand, indeed, and she had to wonder if she had found the right man. Looking around, she spotted a sign for a charity event, where women could place bids to win a date with bachelors to raise money for some noble cause. Yep, she had the right man. Robin was always raising money for charity, as long as he got something out of it.
Regina walked over to the reception, where a woman looked up at her with a professional smile.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Leopold White," Regina started.
"Mr White is out right now. He'll be back tonight for the party."
*Well, is Henry here?" Regina asked, hopefully.
"I don't believe I know you, ma'am," the woman said cooly. "Maybe you'd like to leave a message."
"It's fine, I'll come back for the party tonight," Regina said as she walked away.
She didn't walk too far before she heard the same woman greet a hotel guest.
"It's certainly a pleasure having you stay with us here at the Monteleone, Mrs DeVille."
"Thank you. My suite has a view?" Mrs DeVille asked, hopefully.
"Your room has a lovely view."
"Good, good. And I need a masseuse."
"I'll send Isaac right up."
Regina watched as Mrs DeVille left and then she heard the receptionist pick up her phone and speak again.
"Isaac? Room fourteen twenty for Mrs DeVille."
SQSQSQSQSQ
Regina quickly made her way to the boutique shop she had spotted as she entered the lobby.
She had a look at some of the evening gowns - this party was a black-tie and evening gown event, so she needed to play the part. She was browsing through a rail of classic black dresses when she heard a snooty voice behind her.
"Hello. I'm sorry, are you… lost?" The snooty voice asked, which just made Regina bristle before she turned to face the saleswoman. Then she put on one of her fake smiles.
"No. Actually, I'm found. I just had an hour with Isaac."
"Oh! Isaac. I've heard that he is marvellous."
"He's fabulous. I haven't felt this good since my husband died. So, I've got something for tonight, but I think I need Armani."
"Yes. Very good, Mrs…:
"DeVille. Suite fourteen twenty," Regina said, still smiling as she looked through some dresses.
"Of course."
"I'll be charging it to my room," Regina added.
"Hmm. Now, Mrs DeVille. I would say that you are a size... four?"
"A two," Regina said, pretending to be affronted."
"Of course," the saleswoman said as she brought up Mrs DeVille's details on her computer system. She found the information she needed and then went to help her customer choose her dress for the evening event.
SQSQSQSQSQ
"There's a hot chick waiting for you in your office!"
"Thanks, Marco," the man said as he entered his office. He saw the blonde and stopped in his tracks. "Emma?"
Emma turned, then got up from her seat and smiled as she went to give the man a big bear hug which he returned. "August. It's good to see you."
They hugged for a few moments longer before releasing each other.
"You too! What the heck are you doing here, sis?"
"I'm looking for someone, but I can't go to the police with this… yet. I'm hoping you can help me?"
"You mean this isn't a social call?" August asked, pretending to sound hurt.
"Sorry, August. Maybe after I find her."
"Her? This isn't a lovers quarrel, is it? Looking for your girlfriend?" August teased.
"No, man," Emma said, swatting his arm. "I'm with the Washington department of corrections now. I'm a parole officer and this woman, Regina Mills, got away from me. I'm trying to find her before she does something stupid."
August offered Emma a seat, and sat down himself before she went on to tell August everything about Regina and everything that's happened since Regina arrived into her care."
"So, you believe her?" August asked her seriously.
"I do, August. I really do. I need to find her quickly. Here's a picture of her," Emma said, handing August a photocopy of Regina's mugshot. "Maybe you could get some of your guys to help me look for her? In the meantime, I'll go to Leopold White's address and see if she's showed up there."
"Okay, Em. But after this. You better come spend some time with your big brother. I miss you, kid. We haven't seen each other since the funeral. I didn't even know you left the police force."
"I… I know, August. It's just hard, you know. I promise to fill you in. I might need a new job, anyway… long story. But first I need to find Regina," Emma said, standing up to leave.
"I'll get Marco on this pronto, Em. You better keep your promise kid," August said from his seat behind his desk.
"Thanks," Emma said, turning back to him as she got to his office door. "By the way, did you catch that thing?" Emma pointed at enormous fish hanging on August's wall. August just smiled proudly. "What the hell did you use for bait?" Emma asked.
"I caught that big bucket-mouth son of a bitch off an old rebel lure my girlfriend's daddy left me."
"You have a girlfriend?" Emma asked, shocked.
"As I said, it's been a while, Em. Will tell you all about it when we catch up. Now go look for your girl," August said, smirking.
"She's not my girl, August. I'm just making sure she is okay. Otherwise, she will have to be sent back to prison."
"Oh, I'm sure you'd wait for her to get out. She totally looks like your type."
"Oh shut it," Emma chuckled as she left his office to go find this Leopold White guy.
SQSQSQSQSQ
Regina was dressed in a gorgeous slim black evening gown, with silver sequins covering it entirely, paired with black four-inch Jimmy Choos and a black clutch bag. Her hair was styled at the hotel's salon, which was also put on Mrs DeVille's tab, and her makeup was impeccably done there too. The only thing she didn't wear was any jewellery, but she didn't need it.
As she approached the entrance to the hotel, she could hear a couple of doormen asking to see invitations. Regina saw a couple walking just ahead of herself, so she attached herself to them as she spoke to the woman.
"What a remarkable wrap. Where on earth did you find that?" She asked, showing as much enthusiasm as she could.
The woman smiled brightly as she replied, "the first lady asked me the same thing when we stayed at the white house. And I wouldn't tell her either," she laughed.
Regina laughed along with her as she stayed as close to the couple as possible. She then heard a doorman speak.
"Your invitation, sir?"
"I've got it right here," the woman's partner said, showing their invitation.
"Enjoy your evening."
Regina just walked right on in, nobody stopping her to ask for her invitation as they thought she was with the couple. That was easier than she thought. Now she needed to find Robin.
She could hear a live jazz band playing in the background as she made her way around the venue. She ended up outside where a large dance floor and stage were set up. A waiter passed her with a tray filled with champagne glasses, so she helped herself to a glass.
Finally, when the band finished playing, she heard someone clink their glass to get everybody's attention.
"Good evening, mesdames and messieurs" an old gentleman greeted everyone over a microphone.
"Good evening!" The crowd chanted back.
"We're delighted to have you with us this evening on this very special occasion. As is the custom in New Orleans, since before the war of northern aggression…"
The crowd laughed here, and Regina played her part, laughing along with them.
"We offer the ladies of this fair city our first bachelor to be put up on the auction block: our host, Leopold White!"
The crowd roared and applauded, but there was no sign of the host which made Regina nervous. Had he seen her and escaped?
"Where is that man? Where is that man?" The elderly gentleman asked?
Finally, someone was heading towards the stage and Robin appeared. Regina gasped as she was actually seeing her "dead" husband right there, in front of her. She was beginning to think that maybe, in her desperation, she had only imagined hearing his voice on the phone, all those years ago. But no, she hadn't. Here he was, in the flesh. Wearing a white tuxedo and waving around a cigar.
"Hey, Leo! You made it!"
"Thank you, Louis," Robin said in a very posh British accent which was very fake to her ears. Sure he was British, but his accent was never that posh.
"Are you all having a good time?" Robin asked and everyone cheered. "Now then, ladies, what you see before you is a moderately presentable man in his 30's, given to unhealthy thoughts and a dissipated lifestyle. With - and this is what's gonna cost you the really big money - absolutely no redeeming moral virtue," Robin said as he removed his tuxedo jacket and handed it to Louis.
The crowd laughed, but Regina just scoffed. She could certainly attest to Robin having no redeeming virtues. She just rolled her eyes at him.
"Five hundred!" a woman shouted out.
"Dear woman, my cufflinks cost more. Do I hear a thousand?" Robin asked.
"A thousand!" A different woman bid.
"Thank you," Robin said.
"Two thousand!"
The crowd oohed and aahed as the bids increased.
"All right, now, did I just hear the voice of the charming Miss Monroe? 'Cause I was just starting to worry. Beginning to think you didn't care."
"Twenty-five hundred!" Regina shouted out and she rejoiced in watching Robin pale as he looked around at the crowd. He still recognised her voice. Good.
The crowd cheered as they tried to find the new bidder.
"Twenty-five hundred. We have a new bidder. Twenty-five hundred," Robin exclaimed.
"Three thousand," Miss Monroe bid again.
"Five thousand," Regina said, increasing her bid.
The crowd cheered.
"Fifty-five hundred," Miss Monroe countered.
"We have fifty-five hundred. Will, uh…" Robin stopped talking to look around at his audience. He then looked in the general direction of Regina. "Will the lady take us to six?"
"Ten thousand dollars," Regina called out. She could go on all night. It wasn't like she had the money to bid. She just needed to get him alone, but putting him in an awkward position was a bonus.
"Well, see, at last, someone who knows my true value!" Robin joked and the crowd laughed along. "Now, miss Monroe, I believe the bid is to you at $10,500," Robin started.
"Well, you can have him, honey," Miss Monroe said as she looked in Regina's direction. "Believe me, he ain't worth that much. I know from personal experience."
The crowd oohed here, and there were a few chuckles.
"Yeah. Thank you, honey," Robin grumbled. "All right, going once. Going twice. Sold to the woman in the back. Ten thousand dollars."
The crowd cheered and applauded Regina's contribution to the charity.
"Would you like to come forward and claim your prize, young lady?" Robin asked.
The crowd parted, to let Regina come forward, and when she finally appeared before Robin, he was as white as her bedsheets. She wondered if anyone else noticed his new complexion.
"Hello, Robin."