Chapter 7

I am Emma Swan

It was almost dark by the time Henry rode his bike back home and Regina was beyond upset.

"Henry! Where were you? I've been worried sick I called you a hundred times!"

"I'm sorry, I went to see Judy."

"Henry! I told you not to go there unless you were invited. Were you invited?"

"No but please listen, something's wrong. There is a woman pretending to be Judy and she's locked in her bedroom, Judy's bedroom but it's not her!"

"Henry, you need to calm down. Start over, who did you see?"

"That's just it, everyone is different! There's a new gardener, a new maid. He said, "I didn't see Henry the butler and Judy isn't Judy!"

Regina didn't quite know what to say, was her son just running wild with his imagination or was something going on at that estate?

"Okay Henry, come sit down and let's go over everything from the beginning."

"Look, I took pictures." He said to her as he pulled out his phone and showed her, "This is a notebook with signatures, she's trying to sign like Judy and here is the person who is calling herself Judith Cassidy."

Regina studied the picture of the woman, "Th..that's not her."

"I know! That's what I've been trying to tell you!"

"Henry, calm down."

"I'm sorry, Mom but I…I think they mighta hurt Judy or got rid of her? This other lady seemed confused and was really dizzy. I think they might be drugging her food. She thought I was a ghost, and she kept asking if I was real. She was begging me to come back because she doesn't think she belongs there." He explained then quietly asked, "Mom…do you think Judy is okay?"

"I don't know Henry, but you're right, she's trying to forge Judith's signature, and it looks like she's getting there. What did she say?"

"She said that she was Judith Cassidy and that she was told she had a nervous breakdown and isn't well. She said she trusts me, but she didn't at first because she didn't think I was real." He told her, "but I guess that's because I went there using the secret passage that Judy and I would take, and this lady is locked in her room. The maid brought her lunch but a few minutes after eating she felt sick and had to lay down."

He thought for a minute, "Oh! And she ate grilled cheese. She told me that they brought her asparagus and cherry cheese sandwiches before, but she didn't like them. Those are Judy's favourites!"

"I think we should call Archie; he might know what's going on." Regina told him then went to get her phone.


"So, the boy came back again?" Eugenia asked as she looked out the window.

"Yes, and I'm not sure if Emma saw him or not."

"How did we not know about this boy, Neal? I thought we dealt with everyone who knew Judith?"

"I don't think he's from around here he said the other day that he visits during summer vacation or something. I think telling him that Judith wasn't well and not to come back is making him do the exact opposite because he was back talking with the gardener. He's young but not stupid."

"I don't like this, Neal."

"I don't either Mother, but he seems as if he would cause us trouble, he really wanted to see Judith. We need to get rid of him."

"He's only a boy Neal you can't just get rid of a child. You've caused us enough damage already and we're almost ready with Emma now we can't let this distract from our goal, we only have a few more days. Just keep the child away from the house. Simple."

Neal knew his mother wasn't understanding how much trouble this boy could cause. He knew he needed to do more than just keep the kid away from the house.


The next morning Regina was pacing with her phone waiting for Archie to pick up but only received his voicemail. "Archie, its Regina Mills again, listen I think there's something going with Judith, can you call me right away? Please?"

"Still no answer?"

"No Honey there isn't it just keeps going to his voicemail, I'll text him and send an email as well."

Henry chewed his lip in worry then remembered something, he grabbed his backpack. "If they are drugging that lady's food, do you think we should take her something to eat and maybe she'll feel better? I gave her the snacks I had and got rid of what was left of her lunch, here I brought it with me." He asked holding out a small paper towel wrapped package.

"Henry."

"What? I couldn't just throw it in the garbage, the weird maid would've seen it and she kept telling this woman to eat all of her lunch. She was really pushy."

"Maybe we should go to the sheriff about this." Regina mumbled still reeling with shock about this woman and Judith. "Do we have enough for him to even look into it?"

"Mom?"

"Sorry, I was just thinking about our options here. Who would we talk to and if we have enough evidence to even look into it."

"This isn't one of your books, Mom."

"I know that Henry, but if we go to the sheriff without enough evidence, it could cause more harm then good. I'm going to go there alone and ask to see Judith and see what can find out. This all could be a misunderstanding."

"Really? That's what you think?"

"No, I believe you Henry, I do."

"And why can't I come with you?"

"You said everyone there is new?" Regina asked as she paced, thinking.

"Yeah, the husband answered the door, so I don't know if Henry the butler is there, but I don't think he is."

"Okay, okay." Regina continued mulling through her ideas. It may not be one of her mystery novels but it was a mystery and they needed to do things correctly. "I don't want them to know who I am, that I'm your mother that is. I'll say my name is…ah."

"Lana!"

"Lana?"

"Yeah, you look like a Lana, a little exotic when you're dressed up."

Regina frowned at the boy then looked down at what she was wearing, torn jeans and a t-shirt. "Yeah exotic."

"Mom! Just use Lana."

"Okay, all right. Now I need a cover story, hmm I'm a long-lost family member?"

"No, she was an orphan adopted by the Spencer family. Maybe you're a lawyer and have an inheritance or insurance policy that you need to go over with?"

"I don't think so Henry, but I'll think of something, but I need to get changed into business attire."

"Okay, and I'll think of something for you as a cover story."


Emma woke up after a very strange dream although it seemed very real. A young boy appeared in her room and told her that she wasn't Judith Cassidy and then disappeared. The dream stirred something inside of her. It was right there but whatever it was still wouldn't come to her. She got up and walked toward the window. She sat down at her table and looked at the notebook with her writing and signature.

'Why am I doing this? I should be able to write my own name, why do I need to practice?' Emma thought to herself as she flipped through the notebook then picked up the diary she wrote in of the happenings of the island.

She opened one diary and began to read, Monday, May 30th, 2016 - 'I'm so glad that spring is almost over, it rained so much the gardens will never dry out for the roses! I'm not sure what Marco will do but I'm sure he'll come up with something, he's the best.'

Emma rolled her eyes and flipped through a little more when I piece of paper fell to the floor. She picked it up; it was a child's drawing of what seemed to be a little brown-haired boy, a dark-haired woman, and a blonde woman. She turned it over and there was a large 'H' on the back. She looked back to the diary and read the page. 'I cannot wait until the end of June when summer will be upon us, and The Mills' will be here again. Henry is such a wonderful young boy he brightens my day and even getting a grumble from Regina when I spoil him rotten…'

"Henry." Emma whispered putting the diary down onto the table. She got up looked around her bedroom then walked over to the door, it was still locked. She then walked around the room placing her hand on the walls and pushed. Nothing. "Was it a dream?"

With a huff she went back to her bed and plopped herself down when her hand hit something by her pillow. She sat up and moved the blanket back; she saw something blue under her spare pillow. She reached for it and pulled out a plastic container full of snack like foods, crackers, cheese, grapes, orange slices. A tear slid down her cheek, 'it wasn't a dream.'