"Afternoon Jenna" Graham greets me as we head inside of the Mayor's office.
I beam widely at him, still feeling triumphant from my victory today. After going back to the bank on my way over, the hold on my account has been successfully removed. Now, all that was left for me to do was to find a way out of the contract. I knew I could do it now.
"You're in a rather chipper mood" Graham commented, giving me an odd look.
"The day started off rather well" I said as he opened the door for me.
"Is that so" Regina's voice cuts through the air like a knife. I hadn't even seen her. She must've been standing by the door, waiting for us to come in.
"Uh, yes ma'am" I say, feeling the broad smile drop back into a polite, tight lipped smile.
"Regina" Graham greeted her with a nod, not looking at all surprised to see her standing in a corner.
"Well, that's nice" Regina says, turning to me, fake smile plastered on her face. I am impressed she can do that even with the bandage on her face. "Well, I won't keep you from enjoying the rest of your day. This'll only take a moment. First, I want to say thank you to the both of you for doing such an excellent job the other day"
"There are two remaining men in custody" Graham informs her, "But both will be leaving Storbrooke once the next spot in the institution is available"
"Yes, I know. I saw to that myself" Regina says, eyes never leaving me, "Ms. Black, I would like to commend you personally for going after that deranged man. Its been a long time since I've seen such bravery"
"Oh, well thank you, it was my honor" I say, feeling myself twitch inwardly. What was the catch behind all this?
Regina bows her head for a moment before flicking her eyes back to me. "You saved me from that mad man. I believe I owe a thank you"
At this point I am reduced to smiling and nodding. Next to me, I can feel Graham tensing up.
With a false show of sympathy, Regina finally lets the bomb drop. "So, you can understand my true regret for being forced to let you go"
"What?" I say incredulously, hands dropping to my sides.
"Regina!" Graham moves to step in front of me. "It's my Department, and I-"
"Stay out of it!" Regina cuts him off. For one still, tense moment, Graham defies her wishes. Lips curling in a sneer, she accepts the invitation. "I made you Sheriff and I can take it away just as easily!"
"And why are you letting me go!" I step up next to Graham.
"Oh, Ms. Black" Regina coos as she reaches out to stroke my cheek, talking as if I were a child, "You threatened my staff, even though your job is to protect. How can I possibly keep you on my payroll?"
"Jenna?" Graham turns to me questionably.
"Tell him about the asylum" I dare her, stepping forward. Regina just gives me a 'devil may care grin'. "You and I both know its there"
Regina does nothing but rolls her eyes as she turns back to Graham. "You see? She is not fit to be a Deputy. She threatens my staff and she thinks we have an asylum? Everyone knows we don't. Obviously the stress of the job is too much for her. It's time for her to branch out and explore new horizons"
"Regina" Graham tries again.
"Enough!" she snaps at him.
"You are lying to everyone, and I have never hurt any of your staff members!" I snap back. Turning back to Graham, I expect him to stand up for me. Worry flits across my face when he turns away from me. "Graham? You don't believe her do you?"
"Jenna, this is twice I've heard that you've assaulted someone now" he shakes his head sadly.
"Graham?" a pain fills in my chest, "You actually think I'd do that?"
"Ms. Black, after you were hired, I took the liberty of doing some research on you" Regina says with another smirk, "Turns out you have quite the record of violent behavior. How many schools were you tossed out? Two? Three?"
"Those were closed files!" I hiss at her, "How did you manage to get those?"
"I did nothing wrong" Regina says, red lips in a sneer, "However, I am invested in the town's best interest, so when the first report of assault came to me, I did some extensive background checks"
"You're lying" my breath comes out hoarse. How much does she know?
"Am I?" she raises her eyebrows.
"If its necessary, I can have her retrained" Graham steps forward again.
"Graham, who do you believe?" Regina's entire demeanor changes as she moves closer to him.
Finally, several pieces fall into place.
"Oh! I get it now!" I say with a forced laugh, "Graham, you were right! The mayor certainly hands her hands in everything. Including the police department"
"Jenna-!" Graham moves towards me, but Regina grabs his arm. Like a trained pet, he stays in place. Gloating, she narrows her eyes at me.
"Fine!" I wave my hands in defeat. I no care about the job. "Whatever"
Backing out of the building, I yank open the door and let it slam behind me. Walking down the sidewalk, I angrily dash towards Granny's Diner. I want another drink. I want one so desperately. Graham and Regina. How did I not see that coming? Face turning red, I refuse to cry. Walking into the Diner, the place immediately hushes on my arrival. There are several murmurs of people staring at me.
"Yes!" I say loudly, "Any questions?"
Nervously flipping their heads back around, no one answers me. I make my way towards the bar area, sighing in relief when I see Ruby. Noting my puffy face, she comes forward towards me as I yank out a bar stool. There is a snort next to me, and I turn, seeing Leroy just a few seats away from me.
"Jenna, what gives?" she asks as she takes one hand in hers.
"This town is just bursting with secrets isn't it?" I say hotly, the pain in my chest growing.
Ruby bites her lower lip. "You found out about Graham and the mayor, didn't you?"
"Like I care!" I snap, "I don't know why it needed to be such a secret! Why not just tell me straight out!"
Ruby gives me knowing look before squeezing my hand sympathetically.
"You didn't want to know, that's why" Leroy says with another snort, eyes never leaving his drink. Taken aback by his honesty, I chew on my bottom lip for a moment.
"Well, I don't work with the Sheriff anymore, so they don't have to worry!" I try to force a laugh, but it comes out sounding more like a cough.
Feeling eyes on me, I turn around to see a girl with dark hair just staring at me. I roll my eyes and wave at her as she twirls back around in her seat.
"Don't mind them" Ruby says with a laugh, "Everyone's just shocked that you broke a deal with Mr. Gold. No one's ever done that before"
"Happy to be the first!" I laugh as Granny comes up beside Ruby.
"Well, that wasn't smart" Granny says sharply, "What are you going to do for work now? He owns most of the places here and no one will hire you because that'll mean going against him"
"I haven't really thought about" my insides run cold at the thought. I am barely making it right now as it is.
"You are in luck" Granny says with a stern look, "This Diner was inherited, so this is one of the few places he doesn't rent out" I look up at her in a mixture of wonder and relief. "And, it just so happens that I need another waitress. If you want the job, be here tomorrow morning, seven am sharp!"
I can't even say anything before she walks off, shaking her head.
"Well, in that case, I'd like a drink" I smile at Ruby, blinking away a few tears.
"Hey sister, I hate to burst in on you, but you forgot the drink I ordered five minutes ago" Leroy cuts in, snapping Ruby away from me. Face turning red to match her outfit, Ruby raises a finger to give Leroy a piece of her mind, but he cuts her off again and nods in my direction. "Her first round is on me"
Blinking, it takes Ruby a few moments before she takes the hint. Dashing off to grab two glasses, I soon find a glass of whiskey sitting in front of me. Clutching the ice cold glass to my burning body, I turn to Leroy.
"Thank you" I manage to whisper. He rolls his eyes at me before returning his attention to his drink.
"Regina" Mr. Gold smiled as he walked into the mayor's office, "What can I do for you?"
"We mentioned something about a new deal some time back" Regina said as she poured herself a cup of cold apple cider, "I'd like to finalize it"
"To which deal are we speaking of?" he said as he pulled a chair out from the Mayor's desk.
"About the new stranger in town" Regina sipped her drink, managing to look menacing while she so, "The time has come to force her out"
"Oh, right" Mr. Gold said with a chuckle as he eyed the Mayor's decoration of apples, "What is it you had in mind?"
"I want her gone" Regina said again, lowering her eyes at him so he'd get her drift. "I never want to see her face again. This one isn't simply going to go away either. It won't be as easy as forcing her out of town"
Reaching into her pocket, Regina pulled out a large, boney looking key and presented it to Mr. Gold.
"What is it you'd like me to do?" Mr. Gold asked her as he took the key from her hand, 'And what do I get out of it?"
"Twenty thousand dollars" Regina murmured, "I believe that is the price you require in order to obtain that house you so coveted. And some additional acres in land. What I want you to do is to get rid of this nuisance. Permanently. I can't do this without your cooperation"
Mr. Gold couldn't help but grin at her, as he placed the skeleton key in his pocket. With his free hand, he reached out and grabbed one of the apples. Bringing it to his lips, he took a single bite into the apple.
"And I know just the person to do the job. They are expecting you to be there no later than the day after next" Regina smiled, "Let the mad dog out of his cage" "As you wish, Madame Mayor" Mr. Gold said around a mouthful of apple.
Setting the bitten apple back down on her desk, he turned to leave the room, toying with the key in his pocket. Things were really going to get interesting.
Regina stared at the apple for a moment, waiting for him to leave the room. When she was positive he was gone, she reached into her jacket, pulling out a yellow handkerchief. Bringing it to the mirror, she clutched it to her face, fervently murmuring the same words inscribed on the fabric that had once enacted a curse that brought everyone to this place. Hands tightening around the cloth, she squeezed with all of her remaining power, tightening her death grip on the town and its captives.
Feeling an insane giggle in his throat, Chess gripped the skeleton key in his hand. All he had to do now was wait for the stupid overnight cop to leave his post. It might not be tonight, or the next. With the mayor postponing his and his remaining companion trip out of Storybrooke indefinitely, all he had to do now was be patient. And then, the true madness would begin. He allowed himself to smile. Poor thing would never know what hit her!