Chapter 8

Day 185 Cont'd

"What's taking so long?" David pulled out the cell phone Regina gave him. She put her work, home and cell phone numbers in it so he has easy access to calling her. He dialled her work number.

Granny shook her head. "There's no answer at the sheriff's office. I'll try his cell phone." She dialled again.

"Ugh pick up!" It went to voice mail so David tried Regina's cell phone.

"Hello?" Regina finally answered.

"Regina… get down to Granny's right away."

"Why? I'm busy you know."

"But Emma is missing."

Granny finally got through to Graham. He was all out of breath and talking weird. "Uh… Sheriff Graham."

"Sheriff, you need to get back to the diner right away. The mayor's baby is missing."

"Oh… uhm. She is? Uh I'll be there as soon as I can…"

She hung up. "Okay the sheriff is on his way."

"So is Regina."

Regina and Graham walked in at the same time. Graham's hair was all dishevelled and his face was all pale.

Regina went right over to David. "What happened? Where is my daughter?"

"I went into the restroom. Granny was watching her, she got a phone call then she was gone."
"So this is her fault." She looked at Granny.

"The fault lies with whoever took her."

"Well I know who took her, it's not rocket science. It's that nutcase Mary Margaret Blanchard."

He ran his hand through his sandy blonde hair. "Are you sure she would stoop that low?"

"Of course."

"She cares about Emma and wants what's best for her. Life on the run isn't what's best for her."

"She's crazy she'll do anything." She pulled out her phone and dialled a number.

"Was the diner empty all morning?" Graham questioned Granny.

"For the most part. David came in with the baby. Then a few people came in and left. They didn't stay long."

"Okay do you know any of their names?" He wrote on his note pad.

"Mr. Gold. Ms. Blanchard. And a man I've never seen before. And of course yourself."

"Storybrooke Elementary, Mr Barrie speaking."

"I'd like to speak with Ms. Blanchard. It's urgent."

"Ms. Blanchard didn't show up for work. We had to call in a substitute."

"Okay thank you." She hung up. "As I thought, Ms. Blanchard didn't show up for work."

"No, there must be another explanation for that… She wouldn't…"

"Sorry DEAR… I know you're the president of the Mary Margaret fan club but I'm going to look for our daughter!" She went over to Graham who was questioning Granny. "Sheriff we're going to Ms. Blanchard's apartment. I called the school, she didn't show up."

"Alright." Graham turned to Granny. "I'm going to have to ask you to close the diner for the rest of the day. In case I need to look for more evidence here."

She nodded. Graham and Regina headed out.

"No wait. I'm coming." David followed them.

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Regina banged on Mary Margaret's door. They waited. She banged hard again. "OPEN UP MS. BLANCHARD!" Regina put her hands on her hips. "Okay one of you kick the door down."

The two men looked at each other. Graham nodded then kicked the door down. The three of them stormed in. Graham ran up the stairs. Regina went to the right, David to the left.

David picked up a framed picture from the dresser. He slightly smiled at the picture. Mary Margaret was holding Emma. Both looked happier than ever. He ran his hand over the picture.

Graham came down the stairs. "Upstairs is clear."

"Same down here." Regina grumbled. "So she's taken off with her somewhere."

David put the picture back on the dresser and joined the others. "Or maybe something else. Maybe they're both victims in this."

"Oh come on. Our daughter is missing and you're going to stand there defending her captor?"
"It's too obvious. And she wouldn't do this to Emma. She wouldn't give her a life on the run."

"Fine. Come on Graham, let's do our own search if my husband isn't going to make finding Emma our priority."

"She is my priority, but I just don't think Mary Margaret took her."

"Fine, then you're on your own." She turned to Graham. "Let's go."

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David decided to head back to the diner and start from there. He had the uneasy feeling that not only Emma was in danger but Mary Margaret too. He was walking along the sidewalk when a voice called to him from across the street.

"Mr. Mills!"

"Yeah?"

"I thought that was you." Marco walked over to him. "I've heard about you, you're August's father. I saw you with Ms. Blanchard the other day."

"Yeah… I'm sorry but this isn't the best time…"

"I tried calling the police station but there was no answer."

David raised an eye brow. "Why?"

"I saw something this morning on my way to work. Outside Granny's diner."

"What is it?"

"I don't know who else to tell and you seemed to know Ms. Blanchard."

"What is it you saw?"

"Ms. Blanchard… on her way out of the diner. A man came up behind her and placed a cloth over her mouth. She passed out and pulled her into a vehicle. I ran inside my shop to call the police but no one answered. When I looked outside again the vehicle was gone."

"Thank you. Can you tell me anything about the vehicle? What did the man look like? Did he have a baby with him?"

"It was a black car, I noticed a licence plate saying Maine on it. The man had brown hair, I can't remember what he was wearing. I didn't see a baby."

"My baby girl went missing this morning. But this could still be related. Are you sure you couldn't see the licence plate more clearly?"

"Yes it read… something like… MadJeff... or JeffMad."

"Okay, thank you."

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Mary Margaret opened her eyes. She sat up a bit and rubbed her temples. She tried to focus her sight to see where she was. Finally she focused better. She was in a dimly litted room on the floor. She felt really dizzy and nauseous. But she had to find her way out. She tiptoed to the door as quietly as she could and gently opened the door. The hallway was empty and quiet. She slowly crept along the floor when she heard the sound of a gun cocking.

A man was standing there with a gun loosely in his right hand. "Leaving so soon?" He grinned. "But Emma needs her Mommy."

Her mouth dropped. She was scared already but now her fear jumped to a whole new level. "Emma? No…"

Sounds of a baby crying started from the room behind him.

She gestured towards the room but stepped back remembering he had the gun.

"Well?"

"What?"

"Don't you want to see your daughter?" He moved to the side of the doorway.

She looked at him confused then followed Emma's cry. She was sitting on a white table. All these hats surrounded her and bright light shone down on her.

"Emma…" Mary Margaret went right over to her and picked her up kissing her forehead. Emma didn't cry as loudly but still sobbed quietly snuggling into Mary Margaret. "Why? Why would you take Emma? She's only an infant!"

"Oh she is not just an infant. She can give me what I want. And you are going to help her do that."

***Heh, I thought Jefferson's licence plate was funny :D like he would make that his licence plate :D ***