I'm Sorry
Chapter 3
Not Here
Check the trash can. There are several crumpled up papers. Sitting back down on the bed, Regina starts to smooth them back out. Two Emma started to write to Regina with more scribbled out like a redacted secret military document so that the remaining words made little to no sense. A third had writing three quarters down the page which would have been legible if some liquid hadn't been spilled on it before it was crumpled up. Tears, a lot of tears. Oh, Emma damn it. And that was it. No more papers. Lets go to the Sheriff's Station. Carefully putting the pages back in the trash can, Regina stands making one more visual sweep before grabbing a pillow off Emma's bed, quickly bringing it to her face and inhaling Emma's scent.
Walking to the station What if David is on duty? What are you going to tell him? Is he going to let you poke around in Emma's desk? Can't have Henry call him, he is supposed to be camping. Cell phone out and dialing, listening for the telltale beeps for the call being transferred to the duty officers' cell. Yes! Out of the office! Quickening her pace Regina turns the corner- no patrol car parked outside.
Another lock defeated another sign no one is here Regina sits down in the Sheriff's chair. The desk top is the usual stacks of paperwork, in basket full as well. Opening the middle drawer slowly, Regina's breath catches. Cell phone. Powering it on, the wall paper photo of Henry laughing identifies it as Emma's. I remember that day, we were picnicking at the park. Pulling the drawer open fully Her badge. Okay. We have the Bug, her cell and now her badge. Where is her sidearm? Pocketing the cell and the badge, Regina checks the three drawers on each side, finding odd and ends as well as a secret stash of bite sized Hershey's chocolate.
The combination locked wall gun safe took a bit more effort as the locking mechanism was more intricate, but it clicked open just the same. Shotguns, rifles, ammunition for each…it appears that at least one box of ammo for the handguns is missing. Or at least there are nice, even stacks of every other kind of ammunition except for the handguns. So Emma has her sidearm, one magazine loaded in the well and 2 spares for reload and a box of ammo. A lot of bullets…what for though?
Retracing her steps back to Granny's, Regina calls Henry.
"Hello, dear. No, not yet. I've been to your room at Granny's and the Sheriff's Station. I am going to pick up our lunch. I'll be home soon and we can discuss other places to look. No, I haven't told anyone else. I thought I might speak with Ms. Lucas. Yes, I love you too. Goodbye, my prince."
Thankfully it is a bit early for lunch and there are only two customers drinking coffee, Regina notes as she makes her way to the counter.
"Regina, what can I get for you?" Cheeky smile and too much cleavage on display.
"Morning, Ruby. I would like a hamburger and fries and my usual grilled chicken salad, to go."
"Sure. So who's the burger for? I thought Snow said Emma and Henry went camping?" confusion rather than interrogation.
"I would like to talk to you about that, privately. Confidentially."
"Okay. Here? Or later?" concerned.
"Emma and Henry did not go camping. Henry is at home. Emma is…missing." Confiding in Ruby is easier than she thought it would be. "I have been to their room here and the Sheriff's Station. I have found her Bug, cell and badge. If Henry is correct, she has been gone over a week. 9 days to be exact. Can you still pick up scents that old?" Cross your fingers for luck.
But Ruby is already shaking her head no. "That is too long for her scent to linger, and even if it wasn't, I would need a starting place. Where she was last, ya know?" Thinking quickly over what Regina has revealed, "Do you think someone did something TO her?" eyes narrowing, hand on the countertop curling into a fist.
"No, I have not found blood or signs of disturbance where I have already looked. I think Emma…" unable to finish the sentence Regina just trails off.
Ruby's eyes clear "This has to do with Emma bringing Marian here, doesn't it. That was 9 days ago. You were, um, shocked."
"Yes, I am afraid so. I think Emma is doing some sort of penance. For taking away my happiness." Funny how that does not make me feel better. Someone doing self-punishment for me. Have to find Emma.
"Oh! Can't you do a, whatcha callit…location spell or something?" hopeful, bright eyes.
"No, I tried that already at home. Where ever she is, my magic does not 'see' her." Regina sighs and hangs her head.
"Well, she didn't go with Hook." Regina snaps her head back up at that. "He was in here all pissed off, trying to find her too. When Snow told him she had gone somewhere camping, he stomped out. I haven't seen him since. That was…a week ago exactly. So, unless he did do something to Emma and then came in here acting upset..."
"No, I don't think he would be smart enough to plant the things I have found." HA! Emma didn't leave with that one handed, eyeliner wearing buffoon! Something to feel good about smirking "Or that good of an actor, for that matter. Besides, I have personal experience fighting with Emma. She could have taken him." While a bland admission for Regina, Ruby looked intrigued.
"No, I will not divulge further information Ms. Lucas" the sting was taken away with a small smile.
"The only thing I can think of is the pier. Emma used to go there to get away from everyone and think. And here's your order. I put it on your tab." Handing over two sacks Ruby added "If I think of anything else, I'll call you. If you want some help, call me. Really. I'd be happy to." Sincerity practically dripped off Ruby's words.
"I understand. Thank you, Ruby."
Back in the Mercedes, Regina starts scrolling through text messages, phone logs. Nothing out of the ordinary. Accidentally tapping the Photos icon instead of Contacts, Regina is surprised by the first one that pops up. It's a picture of me, sleeping…when? Must have been after a dinner at home. That is my couch. Curious now, the next photo is a close up of my face, sleeping. Must be the same time as the other one. Scrolling through the rest of the photos, Regina finds herself and Henry. Although it appears that there are more of me than Henry. What does that mean?
Back at home, lunching with Henry, Regina explains in more detail where she had been. But does not give Henry his letter. Lets look at the pier first. Or that bench that overlooks the water that we sit watching Henry play with Pongo. Yes. The bench. Where else?
"Where else might I look, Henry? Where are her special places? Someplace you two have gone, perhaps?" Yes- calm, cool, logical.
"There was the castle but that is gone. We would go to movies and Granny's. Most of the time you were with us Mom." Frowning Henry worriedly picks at his fries.
"It is okay, I have two more places to check and maybe on the way I will think of someplace else." Cleaning up the remains of their lunch, Regina stands up, kissing Henry's bowed head as she passes to the trash can.
"Sweetheart, we will find her. I know she is here in Storybrooke. Why don't you watch a movie and have some popcorn while I am out?" protecting Henry is second nature but this proving to be difficult for both of them.
The pier is devoid of any clues. No trash, no big X-marks-the-spot-Emma-was-here.
The bench our bench brings back memories. I can see Emma sitting here. Sitting with one leg underneath her, turned slightly towards me but still able to watch Henry and Pongo play, breeze through her hair, big smile, the sun picking out highlights in her eyes. In a word. Gorgeous.
Reining in her memories, focusing on why she is here now, Regina sees ?footprints? on the beach. Almost running down the stairs, onto the beach, she has to slow down. Heels were not a good choice for beach going. Moving carefully to the marks in the sand, Regina can plainly see the marks left from someone walking from the water apparently towards the stairs. The prints fade out as the sand lessens. Going back to the deeper prints I would know the tread marks of those godforsaken boots anywhere. I have cleaned them off my floors to many times not to. But I don't see any going to the water. Just from. Why would Emma have gone into the water with her boots on?