Once Upon A Time: The Devil's Next Step, Part Thirteen
By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki
Emma flopped down on her bed, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She had just taken a long hot shower after covering all the mirrors in the apartment. She knew she would have to explain to Mary-Margret, David and Henry when they got home but was pretty sure they would understand why. After all, Mary-Margret and David had to deal with it in The Enchanted Forest and Henry probably knew from the storybook.
She felt emotionally drained, wanting to do nothing but sleep. Deep inside, she hoped the whole day had been just one long nightmare and she would wake to everything being somewhat normal. She knew that was impossible though, the events of the day being painfully too real. She lay there for a long time, wanting nothing more than to sink into the bed and relax.
When it didn't happen, she opened her eyes and looked at the clock. She was certain Mary-Margret and Henry would have been home by the time she got out of the shower but the apartment was still quiet... too quiet. The market wasn't that far and Mary-Margret only needed a few things for dinner. Emma sat up, deciding just to quell her anxious mind and give Mary-Margret a call.
She had left her phone downstairs so she had to get up. Since she was alone, she decided it would be fine to go down in her towel. She descended the steps carefully, going to the bar that divided the kitchen from the living room. She went cold when she found her phone where she had left it but it was in pieces, the metal meat tenderizer laying on the counter next to it.
It was then she got the feeling she was not alone. She looked at the land line phone on the other end of the counter, moving towards it. She reached for it, picking up the receiver only to find the line dead. She looked down to the outlet on the wall, finding the cord had been cut in half.
The receiver fell from her hand, crashing to the floor. ~I got to get out of here... ~ The thought passed through her mind as she took two steps back.
" Well, well, well. It's about time, " The dreadfully familiar voice sent a jolt of fear through Emma. " I thought I would have to come up there and get you. "
" Jefferson, " Emma breathed, gripping the towel tighter around her body. A split second later, she could feel him standing right behind her, the smell of freshly brewed chai tea and Old Spice reaching her nose. " Why are you here? "
" I need your help, " Jefferson replied. " But we can't talk about it here. You need to come with me. Right now. "
" I'm not going anywhere with you, " Emma replied sharply though her insides were trembling. Jefferson was unstable and dangerous. There was no telling what he wanted her to do.
Jefferson let out a bit of sarcastic chuckle, " I knew you would say that. If only you cooperated... "
Emma didn't have the chance to think as Jefferson put his hand over her face, the smell of chloroform overwhelming her seconds before everything went black...
Mr. Gold stood in the corner of Belle's room. He had come to see what was wrong with her and found she was a shaking sweaty mess. He had found her in the bathroom actually, huddled close to the toilet. From the smell in the room, he could tell she had been sick more than once and gotten sick again as he entered the room.
When he was almost certain she had nothing left, he cleaned her up before calling Frederick in to carry her to the bed. That was where she remained, her tremors wracking her body. She sobbed, pleading for them to stop but they did not obey. He had tried to do what he could but nothing worked, leaving her in a heart wrenching state.
He frowned, his anger towards Regina growing even more. He still could only imagine the things Belle had been subjected to for her obedience but he was certain in was quite torturous. What he was witnessing now even made him feel some empathy for her in spite of the treachery she had engaged in. It lent more weight to the theory she was not acting on her own yet being controlled.
He closed his eyes, trying to sense how Regina's influence was even able to penetrate the house after he had placed a protection spell on it. He thought of the mirror but it was broken, something that would have cut Regina off. He then wondered if Regina had given an agenda of things Belle needed to do, perhaps when Belle left to 'find' her father. It was beginning to look like that had just been a cover story to hide her true intentions of fleeing the house.
He knew Regina wasn't so narrow-minded to just use one way to get to him so there had to be something else she was doing. He concentrated harder, an image coming to his mind. Again, he saw the night Belle escaped and how the car had pulled alongside. The vision was stronger now with the hindrance of the shards gone.
He could make out the driver, his frown becoming deeper as he recognized someone he knew rather well. He watched as the person gave Belle the hand mirror and explained to her how to use it. He opened his eyes before walking to the door, opening it. Frederick was leaning against the wall next to the room but stood up straight. " Yes, boss? "
" Could you please call Jasmine? I need... to have a word with her, " Mr. Gold tried to keep his voice even though his anger was raging within him. The girl had been his maid for years and now he knew she was spying on him the entire time.
" Jasmine? " Frederick's brow furrowed in confusion.
Mr. Gold nodded, " Yes. Call her. Tell her whatever you think will get her here. "
" Right, " Frederick nodded. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the maid's number. He put it on speaker phone but she did not answer. Frederick ended the call, " What now? "
" Try her again in a little while, " Mr. Gold said. " When Emma gets back, I'll have you go look for her. "
" Right, " Frederick nodded. He looked over Mr. Gold's shoulder at Belle, looking worried. " What are we going to do about her? "
Mr. Gold sighed, " I have no idea. I tried everything I could think of. We just have to ride it out until Emma returns. She may have some ideas of how to help. "
" Do you think she will? " Frederick asked. " I mean, Belle did try to... "
" I know, " Mr. Gold cut him off. " But she's a good person. She won't let Belle suffer, regardless of her feelings. She saved Regina from that fire after all. "
" She did, " Frederick nodded. He again furrowed his brow, " But when will she back? "
" As soon as she can, I'm sure. I know her... " Mr. Gold's voice trailed off, the sense of something ominous washing over him suddenly. It was like when Emma was with Belle in the study. He could feel she was in some kind of danger but he wasn't for sure what it was just yet.
" Boss? " Frederick asked quietly after he had been quiet for a long time.
Mr. Gold glanced at him, " I feel something in the air. Danger. "
" Who is in danger? " Frederick asked.
" Emma, " Mr. Gold replied. He sighed, " Please go. I need to be alone. "
Frederick nodded, " I'll be right out here if you need anything. "
" Oh, " Mr. Gold said. " I probably will. "
Emma regained consciousness, feeling like she was laying on a bed. She took a sharp breath and forced her eyes open, looking around the room as her vision slowly cleared. From the looks, she was in Jefferson's house... perhaps even in his bed. She panicked for a moment then realized he had done nothing to her except put her there, not feeling like she had been molested in any way. She sighed a tiny sigh of relief but it soon faded when she realized she was naked, her bath towel gone and her body only covered by a black satiny sheet.
" You're awake, " Jefferson's voice startled her. After another quick scan of the room, she could see he was sitting in a shadowed corner not too far from the bed. The shadows were so deep, all she could make out were his legs. " Good. "
" What the HELL are you doing? " Emma hissed, her head still swirling from the chloroform. Damn, she hated that stuff. She was beginning to hate it even more now it had been use twice on her in the same week.
" I told you, " Jefferson replied. " I need you to help me. I made a mistake. "
" Oh yeah you did, " Emma said. " I'm going to kick your ass for kidnapping me again. "
Jefferson chuckled, " No, dear. That's not the mistake I mean. "
" Well I'll put it on the list, " Emma said. A thought occurred to her, " Are you talking about Belle? "
" Give the lady a prize, " Jefferson replied as he stood up. " She guessed right. "
Emma sneered, " I'm not in the mood. "
Jefferson approached the bed, his expression in the dimly lit room changing in the blink of an eye. " You're no fun. I guess I'll have to be serious then. "
Emma took a scoot back on the bed as he sat down on the edge. His proximity made her skin go cold and her heart race. He was so unpredictable, she didn't know what he was about to do. He had tried to strangle her the last time he had been as close as he was now.
He took a breath then sighed, locking eyes with her. " Belle's under Regina's influence. "
" I already knew that, " Emma said, sliding her left hand backward, trying to gauge just how much bed there was left for her to scoot on. The last thing she needed was to fall off the bed and be put in an even more vulnerable position.
" But do you know how? " Jefferson glared at her.
Emma moved a little more, " No I don't but I have a feeling you do. "
Jefferson reached out suddenly and grabbed her by the right wrist. He growled, " Stop scooting away from me. I'm trying to talk to you. "
" Tell me what you know, " Emma tried to sound threatening though the look in Jefferson's eyes was scaring her.
He sighed as he kept his hand on her wrist, " Not until you agree to what I want from you. "
Emma's stomach knotted, afraid of just what he had in mind. Her mind went to the fact she was naked in a bed. Was he so twisted that he would demand such a thing from her or even go so far as to take it if she didn't cooperate? She found her voice, though it was quiet. " What do you want from me? "
Jefferson seemed to read her thoughts and let out a rather hard laugh. He let it taper off and then smirked wickedly, " Oh no, no. It's not that though I find it intriguing your mind would go there. I need you to make me another hat. Regina... took my other one. "
" What happened to the other one I made you? " Emma arched an eyebrow. She relaxed just a smidgen at the fact he didn't want her in the way she was afraid he did.
Jefferson frowned, " It didn't work. "
" So why do you want me to try again? " Emma asked. For a time she had believed it did but the vision she had at the police station showed her it really hadn't.
" Hello, " Jefferson said sarcastically as he motioned to a nearby window. " The magic is back. It will work this time. "
" But what if it doesn't? " Emma countered.
Jefferson clenched his teeth and hissed, " It WILL! "
" Fine, " Emma tried to scoot again but he tightened his grip on her wrist. " Ow! You're hurting me! "
" I said stop scooting away! " Jefferson snarled. " All I want is to go home and take my daughter with me. You're still my only hope! "
" And what if I do make this hat? " Emma said sharper than she had intended. She was trying so keep her fear hidden but her control was slipping. " What are you going to do for me? "
" I'm going to show you to where Regina keeps some of her most precious things. Things she brought over from The Enchanted Forest, " Jefferson explained.
" Why would I even care about that stuff? " Emma frowned. " What good would it do me? "
" Oh, you'll care but I'm telling you nothing more until you make the hat, " Jefferson let go of her wrist. He looked away, " Besides, I have to help you after what I did. "
" After what you did? Releasing Belle... " Emma began.
Jefferson silenced her with a look, " I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about something else. I thought she would honor her deal but she didn't. "
" What deal? " Emma was getting confused. " What are you talking about? "
Jefferson looked at her for a long time then sighed, " I helped her get the apple. "
Emma's fear quickly turned to white hot anger at the words clicked in her mind. " The apple... The apple that nearly KILLED MY SON? " She shouted the last part.
" It was meant for you, " Jefferson said sharply. " I never meant to hurt Henry. "
" But you would have gladly hurt me? " Emma couldn't believe her ears. If she weren't buck naked, she would have lunged out of the bed and tried to strangle Jefferson. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her hands around his throat and watch his life slip away. She wasn't going to pounce on him in the state she was in though for if he got the upper hand somehow, she would be in a very bad position and he was just crazy enough to take advantage of it.
" Regina couldn't kill you because the curse would have been broken, " Jefferson said. " She wanted to put you to sleep because there's... "
" There's what? What are you going to say? " Emma cut him off sharply.
Jefferson held his tongue for so long, Emma was sure she wasn't going to get an answer. He took a breath and looked away, " Because she thought there's no one who loved you enough to break the sleeping spell. "
Emma went cold as she looked down at the bed, knowing it was true. She had never had anyone that loved her that much. There was a slim chance that Henry's kiss could have worked but she wasn't even sure if his love for her had grown to that level. She looked at Jefferson, " But the curse killed Henry. I thought the Dark Curse would break if I died. "
" Magic here is unpredictable, " Jefferson sighed. " It wasn't a part of this world so there was chance strange things would happen. I can assure you Regina never meant to kill Henry. She loves him too much. "
" But what would have happened to me? " Emma asked.
Jefferson shrugged, " Not sure. But you're a grown woman. You probably would have tolerated it better. "
" Probably? " Emma arched an eyebrow. " How can you even say that? "
" Look, Emma. I don't know, alright? I can't tell you what would have happened. I just know what did and I know now I should have refused. At the time, I was just looking for a way to get my Grace back and leave this place, " Jefferson sounded like he was getting agitated again.
Emma's anger was still strong but she wasn't so stupid to challenge an obviously crazy man. Just the look in his eyes told her he wasn't going to react well to being pushed. She had to ask though. " So you were going to sacrifice me to get it? "
" We all have to make them, Emma. Besides, I was sure someone here loved you enough but I wasn't going to say that to Regina. Someone could have done it. Perhaps Henry or perhaps even Mr. Gold, " Jefferson smirked as he said the last part. It was a knowing one that sent another chill through Emma.
" You know? " Emma whispered.
" I do, " Jefferson replied. He smirked gain, " Everything. "
" You sick bastard, " Emma fought the urge to scoot back, knowing he would hurt her this time if she tried. " You WATCHED us? "
Jefferson chuckled, " Of course I didn't. He keeps his upstairs curtains drawn. But I do know your car was parked outside all night. It's doesn't take a genius to figure out why. "
Emma felt sick again, what she had feared earlier in the day being true. He knew and there was a chance he had told Regina. She then thought about what Mr. Gold had said in the bathroom. He had explained to her his reasons why he needed her so badly and it all seemed more like a matter of desperate need than love.
" So what did he tell you? " Jefferson brought her out of her thoughts. " What did he says that convinced you to sleep with him? "
" That's none of your business, " Emma replied sharply.
Jefferson sighed, " You're right. It's not but you know what? I'm pretty sure whatever it was, it was a lie. "
" You know nothing, " Emma replied.
Jefferson frowned, glaring at her, " He's Rumplestiltskin. All he knows how to do is lie. He told you whatever you wanted to hear, I can assure you. "
Emma was silent. Everything Mr. Gold had told her sounded truthful. He had a certain look when he was being completely honest or at least she thought he was. He had it the entire time they had talked earlier in the day.
" You don't know him like I know him, " Emma said, fighting a lump in her throat. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a little voice was whispering doubts and she just wanted it to shut up. She had seen so much more of him than probably anyone had in a long time but now she was wondering if he had been acting the entire time. She pushed the thought away, their connection was enough proof that there was some shred of truth to it all.
Again, her mind when to how she had been drawn to him when he was in trouble. That was before they had exchanged the blood and it made her wonder just what it was. She decided it had to be the sliver of his magic that resided in her, just enough of him to keep them tethered to one another. She then wondered if he knew she was in trouble or if he would if things got too dangerous.
" That got you to thinking, didn't it? " Jefferson's voice had a sarcastic edge to it. He smirked again, " Beginning to think you made a mistake now? He slowly gained your trust so he could make you his and use you as his puppet. "
" Shut up, " Emma said. " You don't know anything about it and you never will. "
" Oh, you forget. We're from the same place, him and I. I know him all too well. He's the devil incarnate, " Jefferson said, his tone deadly serious. " All he wants to do is own your soul and use you for his own purposes. "
Emma frowned, " Is that why you released Belle then? To distract him away from me? "
Jefferson shook his head, " No. I released her because I knew it would make him angry enough to kill Regina once he found out what she had done. That was before I knew I had been tricked into it and she brainwashed Belle into helping her. "
Emma's breath stopped sharply, " So she is... "
" Yes, " Jefferson cut her off. " She's was supposed to get you away from him and seduce him back into loving her. Once he was blinded by his emotions, Belle was to trick him into going to Regina. "
" And you know all of this how? " Emma thought it was odd he knew so much.
Jefferson sighed, " I overheard Regina talking to her through a mirror. "
" So you know where Regina is? " Emma's eyes grew wide.
" I told you I do, " Jefferson nodded. " I was looking for my hat in the last place we used it and I heard her talking to Belle. I heard the whole plan and got out of there as fast as I could. I've been waiting to catch you ever since. "
Emma blinked, " So where is this place? "
Jefferson put up his left index finger and waved it in Emma's face. " No. No. Hat first. Then I'll tell you. "
" How I am supposed to make you a hat when I have no clothes? " Emma arched an eyebrow. She hoped the hat would indeed work. If it didn't, there was no telling how Jefferson would react.
Jefferson stood up, going to a dresser across from the bed. He opened a drawer and pulled out a white dress shirt. He went to the next drawer and pulled out a pair of slacks. He carried them to the bed and smiled, " These might fit. Put them on and meet me in the hat room. "
Emma took the clothes with her left hand then gave Jefferson a sideways look, " And you think I won't try to escape? "
" If you do, " Jefferson leaned down so his face was just an inch from hers. He stared deep into her eyes and smirked, " You'll be sorry. "
His breath on her lips sent a shiver through her, the way he had made the statement letting her know it was a promise and a threat. " Are you going to at least leave me so I can get dressed? "
" I said I would, " He replied then backed off. " You have five minutes or I'm coming back for you. "
Emma relaxed, glad he was no longer so close to her. She waited as he left the room, letting the sheet fall from her chest when she was sure he was gone. She quickly pulled on the shirt, buttoning it with no regard to if the buttons were going in the right holes. She wouldn't put it past him to be peeping in on her and she wasn't about to let him see too much.
She got the pants, glancing at the door before throwing the sheet off and getting them on as quickly as she could. She stood up, pulling the pants up past her hips before buttoning and zipping them. The clothes were loose but they covered her enough that she felt almost decent. She could have used a bra and underwear but that would have been too creepy if he had those handy.
She ran her hands through her hair, smoothing it down. It had been wet when Jefferson had taken her from the apartment and was now in loose curls from being air dried. She walked to the door and opened it, relieved to find the hallway was empty. She walked down the hall, trying to recall just exactly where the hat room was at.
She hadn't really paid that close attention before since she had been dragged to it before. She padded down the hall, opening doors and peeking inside. A chill ran down her spine when she looked into the room where Mary-Margret had been tied up, finding it was still a mess from the fight that occurred in it. The only thing that was different were the boards that covered the broken window on the outside wall.
She pulled the door closed, deciding to move on. " Forget where you were going? " Jefferson had slipped up on her again. She startled and turned to face him. He smirked, " Got dressed in a hurry I see. Your shirt is crooked. "
" I want to get this over with, " Emma frowned. " Where's the hat room? "
" Come with me, " Jefferson put his right hand out to her.
" I don't think so, " Emma eyed it warily. She didn't trust him at all and she was not going to touch him.
He scoffed when she didn't take it. " Alright then. Have it your way. "
Emma followed him, things suddenly becoming familiar. They walked through an open door at the end of the hallway, Jefferson waiting for her to come into the room before he shut and locked the door. She was overcome by a sense of deja vu, recalling how he had forced her to make the last hat at gunpoint. He walked over to the table in the middle of the room and pulled out a chair, " Sit. "
Emma furrowed her brow, " If you want to stop Belle, why are we wasting time doing this? "
" Well, " Jefferson said. " I'm hoping that you will stop stalling and get a move on. The sooner you make the hat, the sooner we can go find Regina and maybe stop Belle from hurting your precious Mr. Gold. "
" But why Regina? " Emma asked. " Isn't there something we can do to break her hold over Belle without going to go find her? "
" We have to, " Jefferson replied. " The key to stopping Belle is in Regina's possession. "
" And what's that? " Emma arched an eyebrow.
Jefferson frowned, pulling a gun from his coat pocket and aiming at Emma. " Make my hat first and all will be revealed. "
Emma swallowed hard, walking to the chair and sitting down. Everything she needed to make the hat was laid out in front of her. She tried to keep her hands from shaking as Jefferson sat down across from her. She glanced at him as she reached for the black velvet and the scissors, " You better keep your word. "
" If this works, I will, " Jefferson said in a quietly threatening tone. " Now start. "
Mr. Gold sat on the edge of Belle's bed, watching her as she rested. Her shaking had subsided and she had fallen into a fitful sleep. The noises she made let him know she was having nightmares but he was reluctant to see what they were about. If they were of Regina and the things she had done, he knew it would only serve to make him angrier.
He was also fighting the feeling that Emma was in trouble but all of his attempts to positively locate her had failed. All he could see was that he was in a large mansion. What disturbed him was the fact it looked like the same place she had been held when she was kidnapped. The vision was unclear but he could tell she was in a bed and unconscious.
Just knowing that much caused deep concern in him. He did not know why she was in the state she was in, unable to see enough details of her location or just who was holding her captive. She remembered Emma's tale of being taken by the man named Jefferson but he had yet to see him. He knew of him though, recalling his identity from where it had been buried deep in his memory.
Jefferson had been one of Regina's lackeys back in The Enchanted Forest, a man said to be in possession of a realm jumper in the form of hat. The realm jumper had been appealing but he had decided not to pursue it. Jefferson's association with Regina was enough of deterrent to make him look elsewhere. After doing a bit of research and asking around, he decided it wasn't worth the risk.
Mr. Gold also remembered that Jefferson had tried to break his ties with the Evil Queen, choosing to live a humble life. It was a hardscrabble existence but it was said Jefferson chose it because he wanted his daughter to grow up in a better environment than Regina's castle. That hadn't lasted long, Regina tricking him into helping her one last time and stranding him in another realm. It was said he had lost his mind because of the grief he had felt over being separated from his child.
Mr. Gold felt little sympathy for him though. He had made a mistake getting involved with Regina in the first place. He thought back to the association and was fairly certain that it carried over to this world or so it seemed. This Jefferson person had now fired across his bow by kidnapping Emma for what seemed like a second time and he was not going to tolerate it.
He could do nothing though. He couldn't get enough information from his visions to do anything at all. That was not helping his sense of foreboding at all, making him more sure that she had been taken. He wanted to go look for her but he couldn't bring himself to leave Belle's side, not the way she was suffering.
He wanted to scream but knew it wouldn't help anything. He would just have to wait until he could see something and be able to send Frederick out in his place. He got an idea, getting up and going to the door. He knew Mary-Margret phone number and decided to call her to see if she knew anything. It was a long shot but he had to try everything he could.
He opened it, finding Frederick was standing there with his hand up ready to knock. He had his phone in his hand and held it out to Mr. Gold. " It's... Mary-Margret Blanchard. "
Mr. Gold furrowed his brow, surprised that she even had Frederick's number. He took the phone, " Miss Blanchard? "
" Yes, " Mary-Margret sounded scared and very panicked. " Do you know where Emma is? "
" I do not, " Mr. Gold said. He frowned, " How did you get this number? "
" It was on Emma's phone, " Mary-Margret explained. " We came home and we couldn't find her but her phone was here but it was smashed to pieces. Henry did something and got the numbers off of it... something about some card he put in my phone. I don't know... I just... "
" Calm down, " Mr. Gold said firmly when heard tears creep into her voice. He really didn't understand much of what she was talking about because she was talking so fast. " When did you see her last? "
" This morning, " Mary-Margret said. " I talked to her this afternoon too. She said she had something to do and she was going to be home before me. I just barely got home though... my tires... "
" Please, Miss Blanchard. Calm down. You're not making any sense and I cannot help you if you are babbling like a fool. "
" Here, give me that, " Mr. Gold heard David Nolan's voice. He could tell the phone was being handed off then David got on the line. " Hello? Who is this? "
Mr. Gold took a deep breath, " It's Rumplestiltskin, Prince Charming. "
" What have you done with my daughter? " David asked sharply.
Mr. Gold's frowned deepened, " I have nothing to do with Emma's absence. I have not seen her since she left here this afternoon. "
" She was at YOUR house? " David sounded shocked at the revelation. " Why? "
" I do not have the time to explain myself and we have a more pressing situation at the moment, " Mr. Gold said flatly. " Tell me what is going on over there and I will try to help you as much as I can. "
David took a deep breath, " Alright. I got off of work and I got a call from Mary-Margret. She said she was at the store and someone had slashed all four of her tires. I had to go take care of that. That made us late getting home and when we got here, Emma was missing, her phone was smashed and the land lines were cut. "
" I had nothing to do with it. I've been here all day, " Mr. Gold said. " She left here hours ago but I couldn't tell you what time. I was... too occupied to pay attention. "
" Occupied with what? " David sounded confused.
" You wouldn't understand even if I kept it simple, " Mr. Gold replied just as sharply. He didn't know how David would react if he knew what had happened or what had been going on. Emma had kept her family unaware of everything that had been going on. Frederick made a motion to get his attention and he glanced at him, " What is it? "
" It was almost three when she left, " Frederick offered. " I looked at the clock. "
" Three? " Mr. Gold furrowed his brow then looked at the clock in the hallway. It was nearly six-thirty. " She left here over three hours ago, Charming. "
" But where did she go? " David's tone was pointed and demanding.
" I have no idea, " Mr. Gold replied. " She told me she was going home when she left here. "
David let out a frustrated growl, " You better not be lying to me, Rumplestiltskin. "
" I am being completely truthful, " Mr. Gold said. " But perhaps if you give me the chance, I can do something to locate her. "
" You better, " David said. " Call us back when you know something. "
" I will but I suggest that you begin looking for her as well, " Mr. Gold said. " Perhaps more eyes will help us find her quickly. "
" I'll go down to the diner, " David said, talking like he was thinking of a plan. " I'll round up some people there to help. "
" Sounds good, " Mr. Gold nodded. " Round up as many people as you can but make sure you ask Ruby. She has quite the sense of smell. "
" I know that, " David replied. " She was at the top of my list. "
" I would come but I have other obligations at the moment. Perhaps when I know something concrete, I will send my man Frederick to assist in the search, " Mr. Gold glanced at him. Frederick nodded, letting him know he understood.
David sighed, " Alright. But when this is over... "
Mr. Gold took the phone away from his ear and pressed the 'end' button. He handed the phone back to Frederick, " If he calls back, don't give me the phone. Tell him I'm busy. "
" Right, boss, " Frederick looked at the phone and then at him, " So when do you want me to leave? "
" As soon as I can locate Emma. I've seen her but I do not know where she is being held. It seems to be a large mansion but I have no idea where it is, " Mr. Gold explained.
" Oh, " Frederick nodded. " I guess that's a problem. "
" Yes, " Mr. Gold nodded. " However, I'll keep trying until I can see something. I'm quite certain if whoever has her takes her outside, I'll have better luck. "
Frederick frowned a bit, " But what if he doesn't take her outside? "
Mr. Gold narrowed his eyes, " Keep the questions for me to ask. You just be ready to leave at a moment's notice. "