A/N: This is going to be a quick one with a lot happening, but I wanted to wrap this one up. Hope you enjoy!
Dead Again
Prompt: Hamish meets with Gaston Baker to find out what he knows about the Strauss murder and trial; the real killer is revealed; and a fast forward to the future. (Rated T for violence and character death)
He had spent the better part of that evening buried deeply in his cups.
And a couple good bottles of scotch.
No matter what… Hamish couldn't forget what he had seen. In fact, he was avoiding any mirror or anything that could reflect back his image. He was afraid he would see Isabelle Strauss standing there and not Hamish Gold.
Even worse.
Seeing Isabelle Strauss with scissors lodged in her throat.
Unconsciously, his hand rubbed against the tender flesh as he tried to imagine what it was like for her (for him) when she realized she was dead. And if he was the murdered wife… then Belle was Rupert, the alleged murderer.
Lacey! His head screamed, reminding him that she was no longer Belle.
But even now, he could not wrap his mind around Belle being a killer. Not even a half-crazed jealous husband. It didn't make any sense.
Swallowing another mouthful until the bottle was empty, Hamish tossed it over his shoulder. It wasn't long before he put his head down on the couch that he was lost to the world.
xxXXxx
The next morning he woke up with a rampaging hangover, but Hamish managed to put himself together to get ready for his appointment with Gaston Baker, former reporter and alleged adulterer with Isabelle Strauss.
Just the idea alone had him running to the nearest wastebasket.
But Hamish had to remember who he was and that Isabelle Strauss was not going to be present in this interview.
Well, in a way she is, he thought wryly. But not in that way.
Slipping on a pair of sunglasses, Hamish got into his car and drove out of Storybrooke towards Boston where Mr. Baker was residing in one of those assisted care living facilities. It was pretty fancy looking and awfully bright white when he pulled into the drive. Obviously, Mr. Baker did very well in the journalism gig even though he had stopped writing after the court decided Rupert Strauss was guilty and sent to the electric chair.
However, in his mind's eye he saw Belle being led to the chair and the bile began to rise.
Thankfully, Hamish swallowed it back as he approached the reception desk.
It took a couple of minutes but a nurse arrived to escort Hamish to Mr. Baker's room. As they walked, the nurse who Hamish decided to christen as Nurse Buzzkill explained the rules of the house.
"No getting the patient excited, no opening the window unless a nurse is called to be present, no loud noises, no alcohol, and certainly no smoking."
"How about sex? Is that against the rules too?" Hamish asked, jokingly. Nurse Buzzkill glared at him, not finding his humor at all humorous, and Hamish had to look away lest she should burn a hole between his eyes.
"Here's Mr. Baker," she announced finally. She gave Hamish one more garish look before she left him on his own.
Feeling suddenly nervous, Hamish rubbed his hands against his pants before mustering the courage to knock on the door. He heard a raspy voice replying to come in and Hamish took another deep breath before pushing inside.
He was instantly smacked with the strong scent of disinfectant and bleach and something underlying that it was trying to mask...
Old age and misery.
For a swanky joint it was depressing to be in one of the rooms.
Gaston Baker was sitting in a wheelchair that was facing a window, which had a view of a manmade lake.
This place may be expensive but it has all the cheap fixings, Hamish thought. "Uh, Mr. Baker? We had an appointment."
The snow white head turned and Hamish's eyebrows rose over how much Baker had aged. Of course the man was pushing his eighties but he looked a lot older than he appeared. He also looked as if he hadn't had a decent night's rest these last fifty years or so.
"I know we do. I might be old but I'm not senile," Gaston snapped. "Sit down Mr. Gold."
Hamish did. "Thank you again," he said. "Did my colleague tell you the reason for my request?"
Gaston nodded wearily. "Isabelle and Rupert Strauss. That's all anyone wants to know."
"Well, there is some new information that has been brought up regarding the murder and trial. I do know that Rupert Strauss wanted to see you before he was executed. Why was that?"
Gaston shrugged as he looked away. "Beats the hell out of me. I went because I wanted to know that Isabelle would be at peace with her murderer gone. What is this new information anyways?"
"There is some fact-checking that needs to be done and it is mostly alleged information, but I wanted to hear from your perspective. Did Isabelle and Rupert have a happy marriage?"
"In all appearances… yes." Then a strange expression passed over Gaston's face before he corrected himself. "Actually, they were happy. Very much in love."
"But the papers… They said Rupert had a temper on him."
Gaston nodded. "Indeed he did but not with Isabelle. To be honest, you should never trust what the papers say. A lot of that crap was to stir up the pot. Make the story interesting."
"So what happened?"
"I am older and I know I won't have that many years left so I'm going to tell it to you straight. Everyone speculated that Isabelle and I were having an affair, which sparked Rupert's jealousy and led to her murder. The truth is… the feelings were one-sided. Mainly me. Isabelle never had any romantic inclination towards me. To her I was a friend. Not a very good one, I'm afraid. I tried to talk her out of marrying Rupert, and when that didn't work, I tried to talk her into getting a divorce. I even told her the truth about where Rupert's fortune came from."
"His first wife…" Hamish murmured, a distant memory coming forward.
"Milah Gold died while crossing those mountains despite her heart condition," Gaston went on. "I wanted Isabelle to think that Rupert could have killed Milah and hoped those doubts would lead her into leaving him. It didn't. So when I couldn't persuade her… I thought the only way would be Rupert himself."
From there, Gaston revealed how he would insert himself into situations where he was always at Isabelle's side. During one party (the night where he and Strauss did end up fighting), Gaston had pulled Isabelle off to the side to plead with her about leaving her husband. He even got to his knee, taking her hand to beseech her. Then Gaston saw the anklet and ran his fingertips over the jewels.
Rupert had seen what looked to be an intimate gesture and immediately confronted Baker about it. This led to accusation after accusation and both men were throwing punches at each other. Isabelle tried to break them apart, begging them to stop, but neither man would be satisfied until the other was beaten to a bloody pulp.
Eventually, some of the other guests broke them up and Isabelle and Rupert left. That was the last time Gaston saw Isabelle alive.
"I spoke to her on the phone that night," Gaston continued. "The night of her murder. It had been storming and she called me to tell me she no longer wanted our friendship to go on. I tried to reason with her but she hung up and that was the last of it. I didn't know until the next morning that she was dead."
"Do you believe Rupert was capable of it?"
"Yes, no. Who knows? He never confessed to it nor did he speak on his defense. That morning of his execution I went hoping to get a confession out of him. Instead he leaned over and kissed my cheek. Afterwards, I stopped writing altogether."
Hamish was shocked to say the least. "He—he kissed you?!"
Gaston sighed. "Strange, I know. But he seemed content, happy. As if he was going to see her again. I know it's not the type of ending you were looking for, but that's all I can say."
"I recall that Rupert Strauss said his house was broken into and the thief must have killed Isabelle."
"Oh yes… the breaking and entering story. Rupert told that to the police soon after he discovered Isabelle's body. The only thing missing was her anklet—the one encrusted with diamonds and rubies. It was never found but people assumed Strauss hid it somewhere to cover up his tracks. Of course he never mentioned the anklet again or brought up the breaking and entering. It was why people assumed he had to have killed her."
"What do you believe?"
"I thought the bastard was guilty. I wanted him to be guilty. But… Isabelle was the kind of woman that didn't back down from anyone. She would never allow a man or anyone to control her. She was independent and bold and stubborn. If Rupert was the extreme jealous sort and was abusing her, then Isabelle would have kicked him to the curb. In fact, she would have been in the news for murdering him."
"I have to agree with you on that one," Hamish told him with a knowing smirk.
"But people can snap. Those we don't believe are capable of violence could potentially become lethal. Then again, Rupert was devoted to his wife. I suppose if anyone knew—I mean really knew—about the nature of their marriage it would be the housekeeper."
"That's right… What's her name?" Hamish frowned.
"Zelena Hart. That one… what a pistol. Fiercely loyal to Rupert until the murder. Helped him and his first wife flee Germany when things got heated. I guess loyalty has it limits."
"I guess. Where can I find this Zelena Hart?" Hamish asked.
"She's in Storybrooke. The last I heard about her was that she opened some kind of antique store. Flying Something."
Hamish's head whipped up so fast, dots appeared in front of his eyes. "The Flying Monkey?!"
Gaston snapped his withered fingers. "That's the name. Between you and me, I had a feeling that she was in love with Rupert. I think when it became clear that he didn't return her affections… she sold him out to the police."
Hamish's mind was working overload as he knew Diane Madsen was in charge of the Flying Monkey, but was it possible that Diane and Zelena were one and the same? And if she was…
"Oh no…" Hamish whispered in horror. He had to find Belle. Now.
xxXXxx
It was funny how nervous she was, even though it was kind of ridiculous to be nervous over an apartment. Belle felt like she was intruding on a stranger, not returning to her home. She couldn't even bring herself to call it such.
Thankfully, Jefferson and Diane were there to help. Belle insisted on calling the older woman to come with her. Diane had such a calming influence, and without her, Belle knew she would be lost still.
"Lady's honor," Jefferson chirped as he held up the key to her apartment.
Belle looked at it oddly, but took it, noting that it did not spark any recognition. Shrugging to herself, Belle turned the key in the lock and pushed it open.
At once she was bombarded with various images and forms of her "artwork."
Covering her mouth with her hands, Belle could not take her eyes off every artistic style used to create the object of her nightmares.
Paper mache, pottery, oils, pastels, acrylic, chalk, miniatures, and statues.
Scissors.
Scissors done realistically, abstractly, pop art, surrealism, cubism, the list went on.
They covered every inch of the walls, floors, tables, everywhere!
As Belle walked around, she happened to notice a rather large sculpture of a pair of scissors spread opened as they were propped up on a panel of glass. She gingerly touched the cool blade, jumping away as it was made of actual metal.
Belle's chest suddenly tightened and her hand instinctively went to her throat. She wanted to flee but Jefferson was behind her and Diane was watching her closely. She felt she had no choice but to stay in this bizarre hell-hold.
Jefferson let out a shrill whistle. "You sure have a scissor fetish."
Belle laughed weakly. "I guess."
"Well, here's your stuff," Jefferson said, putting down her suitcase. "Do you need anything else?"
"No."
"I'll see you around then. Goodbye Lacey!"
Jefferson saluted her before he left, leaving Belle with Diane. The older woman continued to watch her keenly, but she sensed what was disturbing her.
"It reminds you of Isabelle."
Belle nodded. "I know it happened a long time ago but I can't help this uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. Almost like I could be in trouble."
"I understand dearie."
Belle frowned, wondering why that word sounded familiar. Then Diane reached into her purse and pulled out a small handgun. Belle did a side step away, yet Diane insisted she take the gun.
"For your protection."
Eventually Belle did. She cradled it in the palm of her hands. She didn't know what to do with it other than setting it on a table where it couldn't do any harm. Diane was already gone and Belle was finally alone. Alone with the scissors.
Sleeping tonight was going to be difficult.
Hours later Belle was stepping out of the shower to an alarming knocking on the door. Hastily she put on her robe, tying it tightly, and as she was rushing to the door she paused where she put the gun. The knocking continued followed with her name being shouted.
Hamish.
Belle slipped the gun in her pocket and twisted the dead-bolt to unlock. She opened the door a few inches before Hamish burst through, almost knocking her backwards. Startled, Belle immediately put her hand in her robe pocket, feeling the ice cold gun, as Hamish began to furiously pace the floor, his hands moving about with excitement.
"I'm really sorry to disturb you but this can't wait. I spoke to Gaston Baker and I have reason to believe that Rupert didn't murder Isabelle. He wouldn't. They loved each other and on the night of the murder… Rupert was working on his new opera in a different part of the house. He was nowhere near Isabelle when the murder took place. Isabelle was in their bedroom when she called Baker to tell him their friendship was over and to leave her alone. She was thinking about what to do with another concern of hers—one that involved the housekeeper. Isabelle suspected Zelena Hart was in love with her husband and was trying to drive a wedge between them. Rupert had been acting strangely and he was constantly asking her about Baker, which Isabelle had told him that Baker was a friend from school. They weren't close and she would speak to him on occasion, but it was nothing more than polite conversation. Yet Rupert was acting like there was something more to it. Isabelle had reason to believe that Zelena was listening in on her conversations, but Rupert kept refusing to fire her. She knew Zelena helped him escape Germany, but Isabelle felt there was something more to her loyalty than Rupert would admit.
"Her husband was never unfaithful. Zelena was beautiful but Rupert never noticed her when she entered the room unless she directly addressed him. Rupert always had eyes on Isabelle. In fact, Isabelle was going to talk to Zelena when Miss Hart came into the room in a rage. She wanted Isabelle to leave Rupert and when Isabelle refused… Zelena came up behind and as Isabelle turned to demand her to leave… the scissors were in her hand. Zelena killed Isabelle."
"Wait… How do you know this?" Belle's mind was in a tailspin. First, Hamish was ignoring her and now he was here spouting about the murder as if he had a first-hand account of it. Of course, it was impossible since it happened almost a half century ago, but Hamish really seemed to genuinely believe what he was saying.
Suddenly, he stopped pacing and grasped her shoulders.
"I know this because I'm Isabelle," he stated as bafflement and shock covered her face. "Don't you see? Don't you get it? I was never Rupert. You're Rupert. And Zelena… she's Diane Madsen."
"What…? Hamish, you're not making sense."
"Belle," he said firmly. "Zelena murdered Isabelle out of jealousy. She stole the anklet and blamed Rupert for everything. She changed her name for what reasons I don't know. And I don't know why she sought you out other than she must have thought you were Isabelle. All I know that is no good will come from being around her. She is dangerous."
"But she helped me," Belle said, confused over the whole thing. "Why would she help me only to hurt me?"
"Look, I don't have all the answers. All I know is that Diane is bad news and you're not safe. At least not alone you're not. Come with me back to my apartment. We'll think of something to stop her."
"Hamish…" Belle was uncertain about everything he had said. It was so surreal and crazy but yet… it made sense. It would explain her memories of the past. Though, just to be certain, she had to ask. "You're absolutely positive that Rupert didn't kill Isabelle?"
"Yes!" Hamish exclaimed. "They loved each other just like I love—"
"Well done Mr. Gold!"
They turned to find Diane—no, Zelena—in the doorway with a wild manic look in her eyes. Gone was the comforting and matriarchal figure. Instead a horror was in her place.
Belle took out the gun and pulled the trigger. To her astonishment nothing happened.
Zelena laughed. "Did you really think I would give you a gun with actual bullets?" She had her gun out and motioned the couple to move. "I never thought I would come face-to-face with you again, but it seems fate has led all three of us together."
"So it's true," Belle said. "Everything Hamish said."
Zelena nodded. "Yes. Rupert was a fool not to see Isabelle wasn't worthy. No matter how many times I insinuated she was cheating on him… he never did anything. At least he didn't leave her like I wanted him to do. They fought about it. But then one look was all it took for all to be well and I was force to realize that nothing was going to be done unless I did something about it."
She had Hamish and Belle backed up against the wall with a queer smile stretching on her lips. "This is going to be very simple and tragic too. First, Belle shot poor old Mr. Hamish Gold." Zelena aimed the gun at Hamish and fired.
Belle screamed as Hamish's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he fell to the floor. Zelena was soon in her face as the older woman sneered, "It is a pity about your lost memories and how you didn't get over your fears. You thought Hamish was going to murder you like Rupert did to Isabelle. Especially since he had these in his hands." Zelena reached into her suit jacket and the gold-plated scissors were being waved in front of Belle's eyes. "You shot him just as he stabbed you with these. Sadly, no one survived."
As Zelena raised the scissors, she didn't notice Hamish twitching until Belle closed her fist and jammed it as hard as she could into Zelena's nose. The woman dropped both weapons as she shrieked in agony. Belle scooped up the gun as Hamish rose on shaky legs and tackled Zelena.
Belle tried to train the gun on Zelena but Hamish was in the way. She glanced down to see the scissors and had an idea.
Running to the big replica she created, Belle steadied it as Hamish and Zelena got to their feet. The former saw what Belle was doing and shoved Zelena as hard as he could as she fell back and impaled herself.
Another object fell from Zelena's hand and Belle could not believe it was the anklet that had been missing this whole time. She seized it and ran over to Hamish to make sure he was all right.
"I'm fine. The bullet… just grazed me. Not even close range and old age mix well," he joked as Belle sighed in relief.
"We need to call the police," she told him.
"I am the police but I think you're right."
She rolled her eyes. "If you're Isabelle, then I should return this." She held up the anklet but Hamish shook his head.
"No. These are for you," he said. "The rubies will clash with my suit."
xxXXxx
It was hard to believe that a year had passed that the incident with Diane Madsen, formerly Zelena Hart, occurred. With Hamish and Belle's unusual story, no one seemed to believe there was truth to it until the Flying Monkey was searched and everything about Isabelle and Rupert Strauss was found in her home. Even after their deaths long ago… Zelena still obsessed over them. Apparently, she anticipated that the lovers would return one day and she was waiting for Hamish and Belle. The resemblances were naturally uncanny and the news spread in Storybrooke.
As for the rest of the missing gaps to the story, they were filled thanks to the Isabelle and Rupert's memories courtesy of Hamish and Belle. They went under hypnosis again (this time by an actual expert Dr. Hopper) and revealed what had not been told.
Isabelle confronted Zelena in the bedroom. She demanded to know if Zelena loved her husband and if she had something to do with Milah's death. The accusation slipped out but there was no denying the look on the housekeeper's face that confirmed she did. When Isabelle started to run away to get Rupert, Zelena stabbed her with the scissors to keep her from calling for help. As Isabelle lay dying, she felt Zelena take the anklet, then darkness.
Rupert was done working on his opera and headed to his room when he found his beloved. Running to her, Rupert held her as he cried for help, but only Zelena came. She told him about the burglar and how she tried to stop him, but it was too late. Isabelle was dead. She told Rupert she was sorry for this terrible event but they had each other at least to get through this pain. At that moment, it clicked with him that what his wife had said was true. Zelena did love him. Caught up in his grief, Rupert told Zelena that Isabelle was the love of his life and without her he would rather die. It was no surprise that with his rejection that she turned him into the police. Rupert didn't care. He was going to be reunited with his Isabelle and that was all that mattered.
Happy that Rupert Strauss was vindicated, Belle wasn't sure what to expect. Neither did Hamish. The detective didn't think she would want to see him anymore, but Belle told him to shut up and kiss her.
Now, her name was officially changed (she couldn't be Lacey. That life was gone) and they were getting married. She fell in love twice and in this lifetime… she and Hamish were going to have their happily ever after.
Next… we will wrap up the Ghost Whisperer prompt.