AN: Told you this chapter would be up soon, didn't I?
Before I begin, I want to give a shout-out to AlyssaLLBlack13 for noticing the Harry Potter reference. Many stories I write contain references to other movies and shows. If you look closely, you'll also notice I have references to Full Metal Alchemist, Roger and Hammersteins' Cinderella, Rush Hour, It Takes Two, and The Wedding Planner. (Good movies)
The alleyway was as dark as sin. Shadows cast their sinister light over everything. Mimi hugged her leopard-skin-patterned coat closer to her, her eyes darting around nervously, toying with the idea of backing down. No. She couldn't turn back now. This was something she had to do, and she knew it.
A small noise behind her made her jump slightly. Turning, she found herself face-to-face with the one person she never had intended to see again.
"Well, look who's back!" the Man grinned in his usual greasy manner. "What's the matter, Marquez? Lover Boy ran off on you again?"
"Save the speech," Mimi spat. "You got the goods?"
"Anything for my favorite customer," the Man replied, holding out the powder-filled baggie. At that moment, the entire alleyway was illuminated by flashing lights, as three or four squad cars appeared in the street. The look of triumph on Mimi's face confirmed The Man's suspicions. She had set him up. "Filthy bit-h!" The Man raised a hand to strike her, but someone grabbed him from behind and shoved him into the brick wall hard.
"If you ever speak to her like that again, or even think about hurting her," Roger growled into his ear, "I'll fu-king castrate you." Roger kept The Man pinned until a group of cops had cuffed him and escorted the drug dealer into one of the squad cars, the Man glaring at Roger in pure hatred the whole time. As the squad cars drove off, Roger led Mimi out of the alleyway, rubbing her arms comfortingly. "You did great, baby," he whispered, kissing her temple softly.
"Are you quite sure he's the one to tell us what we need to know, Mr. Davis?" Officer Kurtz, who had been waiting outside the alley, turned to the musician. Roger nodded in response.
"Yes. The Rat Fangs originated from a drug ring after all. And they're looking for the formula for a drug, one Emily's dad stole from them. Who else would know where they were hiding, but another drug dealer?"
The Bohemians all stood silently, watching the interrogation behind the two-way mirror. Officer Kurtz was trying to convince The Man to talk, but to no avail.
"If it's retaliation from the Rat Fangs you're worried about," Officer Kurtz announced, "then I can assure you we will do what we can do offer you protection, even placing you into the witness relocation program." The Man did not reply, and continued to scowl.
"Can't they just force him to talk?" Maureen whined.
"He's exercising the right to the Fifth," Joanne replied. "He doesn't have to talk if he doesn't want to."
"But he has to talk!" Maureen went on. "Penny might already be…"
"MAUREEN!" Mark cried, instinctively placing a hand on Emily's shoulder, who was now looking at the drama queen with a mixed expression of fear and frustration.
"Oh! Emily, don't worry!" Maureen quickly tried to ease her friend's tangible anxiety. "I'm sure Penny's gonna be okay. Sure it's been quite a few hours and all, so there's no telling what they might have already done, but there is still a chance Penny's not…."
That did it. Emily let out a grunt and half-sprinted out of the room. "Hey, Emily, wait!" Mark called after the photographer to no avail. Seconds later, she appeared in the interrogation room.
"Miss Goodhall, you know you don't belong in here!" Officer Kurtz reprimanded. Emily, however, ignored him, and walked right up to the Man, pulling out a photograph of Penny and showing to him.
"Please!" she begged. "This girl. That's all I want. She could die if you don't help us now."
"He's not going to listen to you, Miss…" Officer Kurtz began, but Emily cut him off.
"Officer Kurtz, we're running out of time, and your way isn't working very well," she shot out before turning back to the Man, who continued to study the young girl appraisingly. "Please!" Emily continued to plead. "She's my girl. I'd give anything to get her back. You don't even have to say anything, if you're worried about the Rat Fangs coming after you for betraying their location." Emily reached into her pocket and took out a map of Manhattan, spreading it out on the table. "You can just point. That way, you're not even saying where they are, so you technically wouldn't be ratting out. You can just point to where they are, and that'll be enough. Please. I don't care about them. I don't even care about you. I just want the little girl."
From behind the two-way mirror, the others watched as Emily pleaded with the Man to help as the drug dealer continued to stare at Emily, his face vacant of any expression.
"He's not going to help," Roger shook his head. But then, to everyone's surprise, the Man, very slowly, extended a hand, his eyes never leaving Emily's mournful face, and pointed to a section on the map in front of him.
"Pier 92, Hudson River Park," Officer Kurtz announced, looking at the map. Smiling, Emily backed out of the room, mouthing a tearful 'thank you'. Once back in the hall, she was greeted by her friends.
"How… how on earth did you get him to do that?" Joanne blinked in wonder.
"In the words of Marion C. Garretty," Emily replied with a smile, "'Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible'." At that moment, Officer Kurtz walked out.
"Miss Goodhall, a word?" Emily nodded obediently and moved further down the hall. "You know what this means? Us finally catching the remaining members of the Rat Fang Gang?"
"It'll be over," Emily responded. "There will be no need to worry about what's going to happen to me anymore."
"Yes. You can finally live a normal life. Zack should have been as lucky."
"So, what's the plan?"
"Normally, I'd just send out two squad cars…"
"But given the situation," Emily pointed out, "it might be best to take a page out of Zack's book, and use the covert approach."
"Right. This isn't like last time. They have a hostage as well, so things are a little more complicated. That's why I think the best course of action is to get someone in, undetected, and wait until they get Penny out before we move in."
"Exactly. And that person is me."
"Absolutely not. It's too dangerous."
"And that's my daughter," Emily insisted.
"You do realize that Penny's not legally your daughter yet, don't you?"
"Since when do you need a legal document to be someone's mother? My mom never had one. Does that mean she wasn't really Zack and my mother?"
"Miss Goodhall, please. If anything happened... Zack would never forgive me if anything happened to his sister on my watch."
"Uncle Kevin, these are the people who are responsible for my mom and dad's deaths, the people who indirectly brought about Zack's as well. They've taken everything. My family, my childhood, and they might even take Penny now. This is one of the only things I have left, the satisfaction of getting them in jail where they belong. Don't take that from me." Officer Kurtz remained silent for a long time before replying.
"You really are Zack's sister. There's no doubt of that. All right, Miss Goodhall. Be back here in one hour to prepare."
"Count on it," Emily replied, turning to walk off.