Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue, kiddies. :) Title's not really inspired by any song in particular but if pressed, I believe there was a song in the Little Mermaid or one of the spin-offs where Sebastian says 'hook, line, and sinker."

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews guys! You're amazing, hope you enjoy the next bit of the story! It's a bit longer than usual and hopefully this trend keeps up. It's also in first person, I managed to remember that much. :P

Chapter 13: Hook, Line, and Sink-him

It took everything in me to keep from screaming but the voice rang out next was far from what I was expecting.

"Miss? I'm sorry but you're going to have come with me." It was none other than Detective Lucas.

My heart was on overdrive but I managed to offer him a smile but was met with a disapproving look.

This apparent wasn't a social call.

"I don't understand, sir, I-"

"I received a report that the store was broken into and I have to take you down to the station." The reply was clipped, but I felt relief wash over me. They must have gotten someone earlier and needed me to make a statement or something.

Maybe they caught the kill-kidnapper. I swallowed thickly, before moving on.

"Sure, but I don't know if I'll be much help in identifying anyone." At this the detective looked at me in surprise. His face turned more irritated if possible and he let out a great whooshing breath.

"I'm here to arrest you."And then he continued on to read me my rights as he slapped a pair of metal handcuffs onto my wrist. He was fairly gentle though, I was glad about that, but my mind was whirring in confusion, what was going on?

"I don't understand, I didn't do anything wrong!" I cried out desperately.

He continued despite my protests, and only once he finished his duty bound speech did he turn back to meet my gaze.

"What could you possibly arrest me for?" I asked, each word coming out measured and slow.

"Breaking and entering." He replied finally, after gazing over me speculatively.

"Wait, what? This is my mother's store, Detective." He eyed me curiously at that.

"The owner has reported a break in and I'm simply following the law." He looked away now.

"When?" My voice turned desperate, had he heard from my mother? Was he taking me to her? I wished I could sit down, my knees were starting to feel the effects of all of today's excitement but for now, learning forward against the counter would have to suffice.

"I'm not at liberty to answer your questions." He supplied before pulling me upright and turning me towards the door.

"No, wait! When did you hear from her? Is my mother okay?" At this he flipped me around, letting go of my wrists.

He looked weary and unhappy and generally discontent.

"Listen, kid, I don't know where you parents are."

"But you know something?" My voice came out higher than normal but I coughed trying to hide my eagerness. He had to know something. Even if they were dead, especially if they were dead, he'd have to tell me.

He looked at me for a long moment, his face calculative. I waited, anticipation grating on my nerves, which were frayed rather thin by this point. But he was silent; he said nothing.

I waited.

And finally, he shook his head apologetically.

"Sorry, kid." He shoved a hand through is cropped hair and adjusted his coat before standing up.

He reached over to take hold of my wrists before pausing. He then gestured before him, at least I was saved the humiliation of being dragged out by a police officer.

A chilling thought occurred to me. What if the report was forged, what if someone impersonated my mother and reported me? Apparently, someone didn't want me looking around. I was going to find out who it was.

I had to.

Despairingly, I turned my head back to the counter; I never got the chance to turn over the rug, or look at the bottle of hand sanitizer.

I turned around to face Detective Lucas. My bag was heavy against my shoulder and I had an idea.

"I was supposed to send an invoice for my mother before-well before." He nodded and I continued, gaining confidence as I continued to talk.

"It was really important, and I was wondering if you'll let me email it before we go to the station."

He started to say no but I barreled ahead.

"I know, I know you're not supposed to, but I just-I don't know where they are and I need to- to make sure." Letting my voice break and a few tears out was less than simple after everything I'd been keeping bottled up today. I dropped my face to complete the act before letting out a great, hitching breath. I shook my shoulders as if to compose myself and then looked up at him again.

Time to go in for the kill.

"Please, please, sir, I've already lost my mother, don't let me tarnish her memory by letting her life's work-go-go…" And at this I completely lost it and I heard him clear his throat uncomfortably.

I let myself go for a few more seconds before starting to calm down slowly.

One.

Two.

Three.

"Okay, but make it quick." Bingo.

"Thank you so much!" I gave him the most grateful smile I could muster before, pausing.

"I don't have all day."

"Sure, sorry, it's just-" I let my breath catch, once again for good measure.

"Do you think you could…" I trailed off, shifting my cuffed wrists and straining against the bonds.

He reached into his pocket and then started patting his person rather vigorously before cursing.

"The key's in my car." He said sullenly and I could practically feel the debate going on in his head.

On one hand, I probably painted an incredibly pathetic picture, while if I made a run for it while he went to get the key, he'd get in even more trouble.

"I need my hands." I said softly, before looking at him pleadingly.

He stepped closer to me then, his eyes searching the walls for security cameras.

"If I go get them, will you promise to stay here until I come back?"

"Absolutely." But I must have spoken too quickly because he took a step back before offering an alternate solution.

"Or you can come with me to the car."

I grimaced at that option but I knew it was my best bet.

"Okay." I looked longingly behind me at the counter but there was nothing I could do until I got him to leave me alone for a second or at the very least out of these cuffs.

He guided me out, a hand on the small of my back, his slightly rotund form conveniently covering my wrists, which were shackled together in between us.

His car was parked a few yards away from the store but it wasn't anything drastic. Still, I kept my eyes peeled. I suddenly regretted that text I'd sent Jared. The last thing I wanted him to see was me getting arrested, that would open the door to all sorts of questions I didn't want to answer.

And quiet honestly, quite a few I couldn't answer.

We reached his car and he shoved open the door before pulling the chain between my hands into one of his own and then reaching into the central console with the other.

I heard him rummaging around for a few seconds before he emerged from the vehicle triumphant. The key glittered silver in the slowly sinking sun and looked almost pretty.

I couldn't have been more excited to see it.

He locked the car before leading me in.

At the counter, he unlocked my hands before motioning for me to go forward and finish my task.

He leaned against it comfortably and crossed his arms; I gathered from his face that it was a gesture that was meant to be imposing. I was unimpressed.

I obediently turned to the computer before kicking the sanitizer bottle with my shoe and cursing softly. He started to turn around but I quickly supplied an excuse.

"Sorry! Just knocked over a bottle. Can I pick it up?" I supposed it didn't hurt to ask. But he just scoffed.

"Just hurry up."

I replied quickly in the affirmative before dropping to the ground and slipping my cashmere sweater over my wrist.

The marks Nina had left on me were darker now, and I felt almost wistful. I'd thought that was complicated but right now I'd give anything to return to a few hours ago and far away from Detective Lucas.

But wishing wasn't helping anything, besides I was wasting precious time.

I flipped up the edge of the rug, being careful not to leave my finger prints behind, but it was identical to the front, there was nothing there.

I groaned in disappointment.

Picking up the hand sanitizer bottle gingerly, I placed it on the table so that I could so the majority of it, but the bottle was also clean. At least to my eyes but I couldn't exactly pull out my UV light while Detective Lucas was less than three feet away.

I logged into the computer quickly before another idea struck.

I checked my mother's email and opened up the sent folder. The folder was strictly for mail for Mark and so I could only access it from the store. She'd pass protected the account from non-Mark affiliated wireless up the wazoo.

There was an email sent out yesterday.

I was just about to open it up when he swung around. I minimized the document.

"Done?" His voice was impatient and he tapped the counter, drumming his fingers in at an uneven staccato.

"Almost."

"Thirty seconds." He flipped back around and I quickly forwarded the email to myself before shutting down the computer.

"Okay, done."

He re-cuffed me before pushing me ahead. Apparently I'd used up all my favors because now he was pushing me forward by my neck, one hand on my cuffs.

I succumbed as gracefully as I could.

We stepped outside and for a second I paused and took in the sky, its vast reaches painted in various hues of dusky rose, cyan and a brilliant yellow. But the detective just shoved me forward harder.

"Keep moving." He commanded, his voice official and authoritative.

"Sorry." I mumbled. On a whim, I turned to him and he raised an eyebrow.

"Who did you say reported this?" I queried.

"The owner." His voice was monotonous.

"Lucy Marcus?" My mother only used her maiden name in official business, if the person who reported me used a name other than that then it was a forgery. I felt my stomach turn.

It couldn't be her. There was no way she'd have me arrested. He was going to say it was someone else, I knew it. I just knew it.

"Marcus? No." He shook his head to confirm and I felt the butterflies explode in my stomach. My heart hammered loudly in tandem; it was as if they were keeping in rhythm. I could barely keep my voice steady as I posed the next question.

"Who was it?"

He opened his mouth and I knew he was going to leave me with nothing. Again.

I had to find a way around it. Well, honesty is the best policy.

"Sir, if my mother reported a break in, she would have used that name, I'm sure of it. She never uses my father's surname in anything business related." I got it out hurriedly but the detective's face was like a stone barricade. Nothing, no sign of giving in.

"Sir, if she used another name then it could be the people who kidnapped her forcing her to make the call to stop me from finding something!" My voice was getting more and more excited and felt like I was on the right vein; I was so close.

"You have to calm down." He gave a tug to my wrists but I barely felt the pressure. My mother was alive; she had to be.

"Don't you get it? She's alive!" At this, his eyes darkened and softened a little and I felt my stomach drop. I knew that look. I didn't want pity, damn it, I wanted him to let me find my parents.

I was just about to continue my argument when he raised a hand to shush me.

"Kid, she didn't use your father's last name."

"Are you sure? Do you have it recorded- we can check? Maybe she mumbled it-" He actually placed a hand over my mouth at this point, silencing me before dropping it to his side.

He breathed in slowly, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Cecilia."

"What?" What did Cecilia have to do with anything?

"The woman who reported the break in, her name was Cecilia Hartgrove." She must have wanted him to come down to check on me. This was just all a big mix up, after all. I knew it the whole time, of course, but you can't blame me for losing faith.

All the same, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. A lot of me had been hoping that I was closer to finding my parents but now I was back to square one.

Well not quite, I reminded myself, I still had that email.

"That's my father's secretary, she probably just wanted you to check up on me." I explained, shooting him a smile. But Detective Lucas shook his head grimly.

"Kim," He paused, wiping a hand over his face before looking just over my right shoulder. I tried to align his vanishing point but it was harder through the reflection in the car. But what he said next, brought back my full attention to him and I felt my stomach drop to the floor.

"She asked me to arrest you."