Chapter 24: Distressed
Snow wakes early and leaves for the Booth Estate. She knows Cora will help her find her daughter. Cora has always held a fondness for Emma. In this moment she couldn't be more thrilled. Snow's carriage arrives and she is greeted by Enith.
"Please, come in. Is Mrs. Booth expecting you?"
"I'm afraid not, this visit is unexpected."
"Follow me to the dining room. I was about to let her know breakfast is ready."
Snow trails behind Enith. She knows the house well enough not to need an escort.
"Please take a seat, Mrs. Nolan. Mrs. Booth will be with you shortly."
Snow sits and she feels lost. She needs to find her daughter. Why would anyone take Emma?
"Snow, good morning," she leans for a side hug and a kiss, "what brings you to visit so early?"
Snow wastes no time. "Emma is missing."
Cora stares at Snow and fakes being surprised. "What do you mean she is missing?"
"She was taken and we have no idea why. I was hoping that you would use your connections to help us get her home."
"Get who home?" Milah asks as she enters the dining room followed by August. "Aunt Snow, who are you trying to get home?" she repeats her question knowing the answer already.
"Emma, she was taken. She was on her way to visit us and she never showed up. Your uncle and Archie are going to go talk with the Sheriff."
"Why? Emma is the sweetest person. Who would do such a thing?" Milah asks as her voice cracks and she rushes to her aunt's side to hold her in a comforting embrace.
"And her husband, what is he doing?" August asks.
"He is asking around to some of his less reputable connections to see if they have heard anything."
"It was probably because of those connections that Emma was taken. One of the many people he has wronged before. They are most likely using Emma to get to him. She is missing because of him." August's seething words do little to give Snow hope.
"I don't care why I just want my daughter back."
"Mother," August says, "I will go meet Archie and Mr. Nolan at the Sheriff's office. I will ensure he knows that this disappearance should be his main focus." He turns to face Snow. "We will bring your daughter home safely." August storms out of the room not paying attention to anyone.
Milah tries to reassure her Aunt, "I'm sure she is alright, Aunt Snow. Maybe August is correct and her new husband is at fault." I wouldn't have had her kidnapped if Killian hadn't married her, Milah thinks bitterly.
Cora says to her daughter-in-law, "Milah, do you mind giving me and your aunt a bit of privacy?"
"Of course, I will be in my room." Milah is so happy her twit of a cousin is gone, maybe she should go visit the poor distraught husband Emma has left behind.
"Snow, I will happily help to locate Emma and bring her home. All I ask is that you keep your suspicions about her husband being my husband's bastard son. Obviously, I'm not offering you help in exchange for your silence, but it would be appreciated."
"I could care less right now if he is Brennan's son or not. All I want is my daughter home safe, so yes, I will not utter a word about it. I accept your deal." Snow has mentioned it to Milah already, but she doesn't care, all that matters to her at that moment is getting her daughter back.
Archie arrives at the Nolan Estate to meet with David as previously planned so they can go see Sheriff Nottingham. Archie is worried for Killian and hopes he is not coping with Emma's disappearance by drowning in endless amounts of rum.
David eagerly opens the door. "Archie, let's go, the carriage is ready." They both get inside the carriage and head to the Sheriff's office.
"David, Emma will soon be home. I know she is strong and smart. She knows we are all fighting to get her back."
"I know my princess is strong. I think a lot of it has to do with Killian. He lets her embrace her strength. Not a lot of men would."
"Speaking of Killian, I'm worried about him. He seems so lost without Emma."
"He will be fine Archie, he is strong too. It is strange how they feed off each other, I mean they give each other a strength that is rare."
"You mean their love gives them strength."
"Yes, I would have never thought that my daughter would find true love in a pirate. That fact still amazes me."
Upon their arrival to the Sheriff's door, they are greeted by an office that flaunts riches a man in his position wouldn't be able to afford. The obvious display causes pause to David and Archie, but sadly they have to find Emma.
"Good afternoon gentlemen to what do I owe the pleasure."
David speaks first, "Sheriff Nottingham we are in need of your assistance."
"How may I be of help today to two of Misthaven's finest?" He waves for them to sit but the two remain on their feet.
"My daughter, Emma, she was taken."
"Is she the one that married August Booth?"
"No, that is my niece Milah. Emma is married to Captain Jones." David explains, hoping it is enough. He's hesitant because of Killian's previous disclosure of the Sheriff's distaste for him which resulted in his absence in their current quest.
"As I was saying, my daughter was on her way to visit with her mother and me but she never showed up."
"Was there any sign of a struggle?"
"We believe she was taken on her route to our house. Her husband went to escort her home only to find out she never arrived. We went to their home and the house was empty. No sign of a struggle there."
The Sheriff's disinterest is obvious to both David and Archie.
Archie speaks loudly enough for Nottingham to hear. "David, once Liam arrives we will have the help we require. It is obvious that Sheriff Nottingham only shows interest with the right incentive. Liam will be here and he is a highly decorated officer, I'm sure he will move heaven and earth to help find Emma."
"Mr. Hopper, I never said I wouldn't help. There is nothing to go on. Did anyone see anything? Is there a ransom letter? I hate to say this Mr. Hopper, but you are starting to show similarities with your pirate friend."
"You just sit there and act as if we are only here to bother you. Is the lack of involvement because Emma is Killian's wife, the pirate's wife that you have failed to best? Just know that if you fail to act in the young woman's well-being, it will be heard. She may not be married to August Booth but she is still part of his family. We leave you with this question; will the most powerful family in town still support your office if you don't help bring Emma back?"
Sheriff Nottingham looks between the two men.
David wants to punch the idiot man in front of him. "Nottingham, I have no idea whose favor you gained that led you to become Sheriff; I still have connections in high places. The Booth's aren't the only family that can make or break you. Listen to me carefully, if you do not investigate my daughter's disappearance because of whom she married, I will bury you." He storms out with Archie hot on his tail.
"David, please wait, I know you are upset and you have every right to be. That man doesn't deserve the office."
"I didn't want to believe Killian was right, but he was. My daughter is missing and the first question that stupid man asks is if she is the one that married August Booth. What the hell was that?"
"We should stop by Killian's house and inform him of the visit. If we have to wait for Liam to arrive we wait."
"Don't you think we should have received a note or something by now? The not knowing scares me; I hope she is alive and well."
"I know it feels longer than it has been but you have to know she is alive. Hurting her cannot be an option for her captors. They have to know that keeping her healthy would be the best choice."
August arrives at Nottingham's office not long after Archie and David are gone.
Killian had been restless since Emma's disappearance. They had yet to receive the ransom letter everyone had expected. He would scours the docks and he frequents the taverns daily ,in hopes to hear anything. The silence is killing him.
He thinks of his love and decides to retrieve Tink. He knows Emma wants her out of the convent. He will explain the rules and conditions to her. Emma wants her to study and if she objects she will stay at the convent.
He also wonders about the visit his father-in-law and Archie are taking to the Sheriff. He hopes not attending works favorably.
First, he will go to the convent and depending on Tink's answers he will decide whether to leave her longer or take her home. Then he will go to the Nolan's to find out what happened with Nottingham.
Killian arrives at the convent and is quickly invited in. He asks to speak with Tink and he waits for her presence. He had asked if it was acceptable to wait outside by the little area that he had found Emma the last time he saw her at the convent.
"Killian!" Tink rushes to his side as she hugs him, "I thought you had forgotten about me."
"Tink, you should know better than that."
"So, where is the new bride or did the good girl tire of the bad pirate already?"
"Tink, as much as I care for you, do not speak of my wife that way. I'm only here because of her. Shall I leave?"
"Killian," she grabs his arm, "what is wrong? I know you well enough to know something is terribly wrong. Where is Emma?" She looks into his eyes and sees the pain that resides in them.
"Tink, first thing, I love you dearly but not in the way you wanted me to. I'm in love with my wife."
He waits for her reaction and when she waits intently without arguing, he continues, "It was Emma's idea to come get you but there are conditions. You will study, be it with a tutor or with Emma. You will learn to be a proper lady."
Tink couldn't help but burst out laughing. "I don't know Killian, I'm not lady material but I'm willing to try if it gets me out of here."
"Good, I spoke with Mother Superior about you continuing your studies but living with us. Once Emma is back she will tutor you."
"Once Emma is back? Where is she, Killian?"
He takes a deep breath. "She is missing, she was taken."
"I'm sorry, Killian." She rushes to his side and hugs him. He cannot stop himself and allows the tears to shed. "I didn't mean it. Killian, I'm sorry. I admit I was hurt by your marriage. Emma knew of my feelings and I felt betrayed by my only girl friend."
"Tink, she loves you and because she knows that you are not happy here she had convinced me to come get you. It was her idea for you to come live with us. She knows of our past and she doesn't care about it."
"You really do love her don't you?"
"I do love her and she loves me. I still don't understand the reason she was kidnapped."
"Killian, I hate to say this, but do you think it could be someone out to hurt you?"
"Aye, I have thought that. I have gone to the tavern to see if anyone has any information but all there is silence."
"Do you know of anyone that might want to hurt her?"
"My Emma is an angel but you weren't the only one upset because of our marriage."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you remember that last job I went on, the one in Arendelle?"
"Yes, that is the one that landed you in prison. What of it?"
"What I never told you was the reason for it. I wanted to make enough money to be able to settle down with a woman I had met. I thought I was in love and it turned out I was not enough for her. This woman married someone else in my absence, someone with power and honor."
"So you wanted to marry her too. You truly never wanted to marry me, it was never going to be me."
"I'm sorry love. I had hoped that my intentions were clear."
"They were, I just didn't want to see them." She smiles sadly. "What does that woman have to do with Emma?"
"She is Emma's cousin."
"Are you talking about the same hateful woman that married her betrothed?"
"Aye, she is the same one." He continues wistfully as his memory is fills with his first encounters with Emma. "You know, Emma and I didn't fall in love at first sight or maybe we were but we were too bloody stubborn to admit it. I fear we have lost so much time."
"Do you truly think she would do this to Emma?"
"Milah has proven to be a very deceitful person. She has tried on several occasions to cause trouble, and failed. I hope I'm wrong because Emma's parents love her and if it is discovered she had a hand in the disappearance, it will break their hearts."
"Then for Emma and her family's sake I hope she is not at fault."
"Thank you; Tink, do you accept the terms?" he asks with a watery laugh.
"I do, I'm sorry Killian. You will find her and then you two will boss me around."
"There will be no bossing around. She loves you as much as I do. You are part of the family. Now go get your things and let's go home. We need to make sure everything is taken care of for Emma. I want her to come home to a well-maintained home."
Nottingham is still sitting in his chair looking over some documents when he heard his door open. He looks up and is met with a very angry August Booth. He stands up so quick he would get whiplash.
"Mr. Booth, how may I be of service today?"
"I was wondering if Mr. Nolan and Mr. Hopper have paid you a visit."
"Yes, they did. They left not long ago."
"Yet I found you sitting on your ass instead of looking for my wife's cousin."
"Sir, to be honest, I don't believe there is a chance of retrieving the girl."
"Why not? She hasn't been gone that long."
"I believe this is the outcome of her becoming a dirty pirate's wife."
"Dirty pirate's wife or not, she is still family. I suggest you get off of your ass and get looking for her. I imagine you like your job, don't you? Are you familiar with my mother? Keep this in mind Sheriff, my mother is very fond of Emma."
"Mr. Booth, if I had known the family was so eager to marry the poor girl, I would have volunteered and saved her from a lowly pirate."
"Sheriff Nottingham, you're under the impression that being in this office makes you a good match for someone like Emma but from my point of view, you are no better than her current husband. I know the kind of man you are and it doesn't matter to me as long as you do your job. Get her home!" With those last words, he turns and leaves.
August decides on one last stop before heading back. He stops at the old church. He married Milah there and Emma married Killian. He swiftly enters the old weathered building in search of the priest.
"Good day, Father. I was wondering if you could spare me a minute."
"Good day to you too August, how have you been? Are you here to reserve a date for a christening?"
"I'm afraid not, I'm here to see if it would be possible to annul a marriage?"
"I don't understand, annul a marriage. I thought you were happy with Milah."
"I am extremely happy with my wife; I was hoping to annul Emma and Killian's marriage."
"I don't understand. There is no reason for an annulment. Besides if that is what they wanted, shouldn't one of them be here inquiring about it?"
"Emma is unable to be here. I believe she was coerced by Killian into the marriage."
"That may be grounds for an annulment but they would have to come in seeking it."
"I understand, I will get Emma to come and request the dissolution herself." August stands and walks out of the old church as the bells ring throughout the streets.
Without realizing, he heads to Killian's home instead of his own. He is on automatic; he gets to the door quickly and knocks loudly. A young blonde with big hazel eyes opens the door.
"I'm sorry, is this not the Jones residence?"
"It is the right house. Killian is in his room."
"I'm sorry are you the maid? Should you be addressing your boss by his first name?"
"First of all, I'm not the maid. I have known Killian most of my adult life and I'm friends with his wife, too. That is why I call him by his first name, not that it is any of your business. Who are you to come and lecture me about the way I address my friend?"
August smiles at the spitfire in front of him. "My name is August Booth, I met Killian a long time ago and his wife is my wife's cousin. That makes us family. May I come in?"
Tink opens the door and invites him in. "I will go get him." She guides him to the living room. "Sit down."
Tink knocks lightly on Killian's bedroom door and opens it slowly. He is sitting on the floor with his flask in one hand and a white as snow nightgown on the other.
"Killian, I'm sorry to bother you but you have a visitor."
"If it is not my father-in-law or Archie, I don't want to see anyone."
"He said his name is August Booth."
"Fine, I'm coming, I would rather tell the wanker to fuck off but my Emma will scold me good if she ever found out of my poor behavior."
He rises from the floor and gently puts the nightgown on the bed. He quickly reaches the living room and finds August sitting.
"August, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?"
"I came to inform you that all the Booth power will ensure Emma's prompt return. I paid a visit to Nottingham and encouraged him to do his job."
"Are you telling me this in hopes of a thank you?"
"I'm here to ask you to let Emma go once she is safe. After all, it is because of your ill reputation that she is in danger."
"She is my wife and will remain so unless she wants to go. I'm not forcing her to be with me."
"Then you will have no problem letting her walk away, do the right thing for her safety. I doubt this will be the last time your past catches up with her."
"We love each other dearly but if she chose to leave I would not stop her."
"Then I have your word that should she choose to end this marriage you will not object."
"I would honor her choice."
"Alright then, soon she will be home."
"Before you go August, how did you find out of Emma's disappearance?" Killian has a clue but wants to make sure.
"Your mother-in-law went to the estate to ask mother for help."
"I see, and you couldn't stop yourself from being a knight in shining armor."
"Look, Killian, this is not personal, I just believe Emma will be happier without you in her life."
Tink had been eavesdropping on the whole conversation. "Hey, Mr. Rich and Powerful, how about you leave and don't bother coming back. What kind of nobleman are you to come here and kick him when he is down?"
Tink walks toward August and not so gently guides him to the door and slams it behind him.
"Killian, please do not listen to him. Emma will be home safe and you two will have your happy ending."
"Tink, I truly hope so."
Emma Jones sits in her little cot. She has been getting to know Rufio better and Killian at the same time. It truly feels like she has been separated from her family far longer than she actually has. She shares her meager meals with Rufio as they talk. Their talks seem to halt every time Felix walks in and scolds Rufio with a simple look. She is also confident that they don't mean to physically hurt her which is a blessing.
Rufio smiles sadly at her every time he has to rise from his seat to leave her alone. She still has no idea what it is they want from her or how long they plan to keep her. As she pondered her next move, she hears voices just outside her door. Hushed murmurs, she has to strain her ears to make out the words. "Soon your little friend will be gone and you will be forgotten." It was obvious Felix disapproved of her growing friendship with Rufio. She knows her plan is working, even if slower than she had hoped.
She will find her way back home to Killian. She cannot lose any more time. "I'm working my way back to you."