Since Chad had lost his job, he had been walking asleep for
STORYBROOKE had suddenly remained silent, giving Chad some space to mourn the loss of his perfect life.
His boss told him that it was nothing personal and that he would be willing to refer to him if he needed them.
The news about Chad was simple: there was a cut in the Diary Mirror and there was a staff cut. The mayor had something to do with Chad knew it. That he was fired practically hours after breaking up with her was not a coincidence.
It was a Wednesday morning when Lonnie and Emma arrived at the office and found a message from the service telling her that Mr. H. had called her and asked her to come in when appropriate. Without anything else happening, Emma left her partner with the paperwork, picked up her coffee and returned to her patrol car.
He found H in his back office, applying some kind of transparent liquid to a cloth. Emma assumed that the horrendous smell in the room, between manure and sweat, came from there. As announced to herself, H did not look up and, instead, continued to apply the liquid.
Lanolina_ murmured. _That's the smell_
"Charming," Emma said.
"It's the same reason why sheep's wool repels water," he said. Quite incredible, really. Highly flammable, of course_
I received a message from the service_Emma said. _What can I do for you? _
I don't know, if it's already notified, but the sheriff's elections are near. It's nothing against our current sheriff. But we have to change a little. You'll be a great replacement _
I'm not replacing it.
Think about it, Miss Thorne. This town could not hurt a change. _
Don't say it_Emma said. I wasn't sure what I thought of the idea. Sheriff.
If I would like to apply. I'll be happy to help you win _
I don't want any of that_Emma said emphatically, the forms that Mr. H. had were quite questionable to good morale. Is that all? I have to take Henry to school _
Children grow so fast_said H. _You will want to create as many memories as you can._
Emma looked at him. I was making the same face, something between compassionate and tortuous.
Emma found Henry sitting in his "castle" by the sea. There were only thirty minutes left until school and he was in a gloomy mood; he didn't seem very animated by walkie-talkies, and he finally put them in his backpack. She suggested that they could use them to continue their work on Operation Dragon, but he only looked at the water when she mentioned it. What had once brought mischievous energy to his eyes now had almost no effect.
What's going on? He said, after a silence.
"I feel like we should stop Operation Dragon," Henry said. It seemed like a lot of fun. But now Chad is unemployed.
That had nothing to do with you or the curse. The newspaper had financial problems. They had to make a cut. _
Henry turned around and looked at her seriously. "That's not what happened," he said. The queen ruined him because the two of you were forming a friendship and he was your slave. And she was angry.
I know you think that, but sometimes bad things happen for no reason_
"That's not true either," he said, increasingly agitated. _the good always loses. And you're good, and that means you're going to lose.
"Good things don't always lose," Emma said. It's just harder forever. Because good plays with more rules. _
Henry seemed vaguely interested in this point, although he was still distracted, disconnected. "The good has to play fair," he said.
"You have to get out of your head that Audrey is behind all the bad things that happen in this town," Emma said. She didn't do it. That's not fair to her.
Enrique smiled.
What? Emma said.
She is capable of more than a dismissal and I'm afraid of what she can do_
He left Henry at school and then returned to the station, ready for another long day of... very little.
Lonnie was with this boy again. Jay was his name. A petty thief always managed to get out. But as fast as it came out, it also came in.
Just try to be free for a week_
I would miss you_
Lonnie just turned her eyes. The boy left his cell.
Well, Emma. How about a coffee with a doughnut? The girl said
Donuts and coffee for the police, that's not too cliché_
Audrey, with her arms crossed, was standing at the door.
Good morning ladies_he said as elegant and cold as ever. _I'm here to give some small notices_
The first is that Lonnie will be our sheriff.
Shouldn't I see elections? This was nothing against his partner. Lonnie had shown himself to be someone brave and loyal. But like many, Audrey had it at his feet.
Oh, I think it will be fine. Miss Li has been in office for a long time, people know her_Audrey said smiling. And it will be a pleasure to have someone here who is not actively working to undermine me.
And the second point involves you. You will have to find another job_
What are you saying?_Emma asked.
I'm saying that you're fired. Staff cut_
Emma went directly to H. There was something in his previous behavior that gave him the hunch that he would be interested in helping. He wasn't being friendly, he didn't have to be friendly. H wanted her to be a sheriff.
In her store, Emma told him what Audrey had done and he nodded. All this was a kind of chess game for him, wasn't it?
She is almost right_she said, taking a document out of a cabinet behind her desk. He was old and dusty. He held it. _The city letter_he said with a smile. He left it on the counter. _Let me show you how it's wrong_
Audrey called a press conference in her office later that morning to announce the hiring of Lonnie Li as the new sheriff of the city.
Lonnie, of course
But it wasn't that simple, as H. He stood up and watched Audrey's haughty press conference for only a minute or two before deciding to make her move.
When she entered the office, even Audrey seemed surprised.
This is not ready_Emma said. "She can't name him. We have to have a choice. And I'm running.
The mayor has the right to..._
It's not_Emma said calmly, showing her printed copy of the letter. She had highlighted the relevant passage. _She can present a candidate, but there has to be an election._
Well, Mrs. Thorne said Audrey, without bothering to take the charter. We will continue with the formalities. _And the candidate I have nominated, Mrs. Lonnie Li, will be the new sheriff._
Perfect_Emma Said.
All the cameras turned to her.
A few hours after it rained on Audrey's parade, Emma was patrolling on foot when she passed by the restaurant and saw Henry through the window. I was in a cabin, alone. She smiled when she saw him there, reading what she meant was her storybook. But when he came in, he realized that he was reading the newspaper, not his book.
Study about current events? _
Henry looked up and Emma could see that she was very worried.
What is it? _
You haven't seen it, have you? _
He sat in the booth and threw the newspaper on the table. His old police photo, which Lonnie had taken and felt a pang of sadness when the little memory fluttered in his mind like a little bird, but the headline was new. He said: former prisoner Emma Thorne gave birth to a baby behind bars.
Emma got stiff, straightened up and picked up the newspaper. "How did you do this so quickly?" He murmured, scanning. The article, written by an anonymous person, included all the details of his "possession of stolen property" incident. Which was impossible. Or it should have been impossible, anyway.
Is it true? Henry asked quietly. I was born in jail? _
She looked at him over the paper and then left him. "It's true," he said, "but it's complicated. I didn't want you to know because I didn't think it mattered.
This is OUTRAGEOUS. They fire me from the newspaper and then they don't give me credit for what I wrote_ it was Chad who was a few tables in the back.
Chad Glass, a former employee of the village newspaper, was at the restaurant bar a few meters away.
"Good afternoon, Chad," said the blonde.
Hello, Emma, how have you been? _
Not very well. I read the newspaper. I don't like being the cover. I don't like Henry knowing things this way.
I'm sorry, she asked me to. Before when... _
Chad doesn't matter anymore. Just one question, any other information that can come to light? _
No, they have put all "my meat" on the grill_
It's good to know.
Listen that you are a candidate for Sheriff. Can I know why? What are your plans for the police department? What do you think of the opponent? _
More slowly, someone has not passed journalism _
I'm sorry. You need a campaign manager. Someone with the skills to convince that you are the candidate to win_
"It's not going to work," said Henry, who approached the bar. Evil wins because you don't have to play fair. You can't just throw it away. He has already ruined his choice.
"Nothing is ruined," he said. _We will have to adjust. She leaned over the table, took his hand. Recalling his conversation at the pawnshop, he said: "In addition, I have a new ally. Mr. H_
"He?" Henry and Chad said, with their eyes on. He's worse than her.
"I'm not so sure about that," Emma said. "And besides, he has some good ideas.
"To beat Audrey we need heavy artillery," said the blond man.
But Henry was heartbroken and locked himself up while she tried to cheer him up. In the end, he crossed his arms and shook his head. "The good never wins," he said again. It just doesn't do it.
Emma was furious for the rest of the afternoon and decided, after closing the office, that she had to say something to Audrey.
I had seen the newspaper all over the city and I knew that everyone was reading it. And his anger was not about the elections or the smear campaign, not really. It was that Henry now knew something that she didn't want him to know, and no one had the right to tell his secrets.
She went to the City Hall. The light was on in Audrey's office upstairs, where she had been earlier that day, and Emma entered without calling.
Audrey, surprised, gasped when she looked up from her paperwork.
"Those were youth records," Emma said. You didn't have the right. I know you want Lonnie to win, but you didn't have the right.
It is much easier to win public elections when you have not been in jail, Mrs. I think people deserve to know who they are getting as sheriff, don't you think? This is also Henry. He should also know the truth. Shouldn't I? Emma didn't say anything.
Audrey, already bored of the conversation, returned to her paperwork. In addition, you can discuss this during the debate and clarify any inaccuracies_
What debate? _
Audrey stood up and put some folders in her briefcase. The debate. It's tomorrow. She smiled briefly, straightened her suit, passed by Emma and left the office.
Emma followed him. "It's good to know that," he said.
You and Li can argue as long as they want," Audrey said. The truth will eventually come to light, it always does. Maybe the city will even know who you are in bed with for this campaign. That can be interesting. _
They were on the back ladder now. Audrey opened the door and the two women went down the steps. When they arrived at the landing on the first floor, Audrey stopped and said: "Don't you think they should know about you and H? He reached the door.
"I'm not in bed with anyone," Emma said. I'm fighting the fire with...
Audrey screamed before she could finish.
A wall of flames had received Audrey when she opened the door, sending her on her back to Emma and then to the ground. She fell hard against the stairs they had just gone down and Emma, holding on to the railing to keep her balance and raising her other arm to protect her face from the heat, looked down and saw Audrey holding her by the ankle. We are both going to burn here, Emma thought, but she took that thought away from her mind and knelt next to Audrey. "Come on," she said.
"I can't walk," said the brunette, looking at the flames behind Emma. The whole building is on fire. He looked Emma in the eye. You have to... you have to get me out of here.
Emma, who did not hesitate, got up and broke into the burning lobby of the town hall, found a fire extinguisher and began to blow frosty foam around her and from the entrance to the stairs, creating a path that would take them both to a safe place.
She returned for Audrey then, and swore, before lifting her in her arms, that Audrey seemed surprised that she had returned. What does she think, I would leave her? Emma wondered, raising her rival in her arms. He took her carefully through the burning vestibule, staying close to the road he had sprayed.
Emma opened the door with a kick and saw police cars, fire trucks and journalists grouped on the circular road, all with their eyes wide open to the image in front of them: the sheriff, covered in soot and sweat, taking the mayor out of a burning building.
All the cameras began to blink and click.
"Get me down," Audrey said. "Come down."
The paramedics ran towards them while Emma gently lowered Audrey to the ground, gasping as she did so. "Are you complaining about how I saved your life?"
"I seriously doubt that you saved my life," Audrey said, removing an oxygen mask and frowning.
Emma shook her head, got up and took a step back while the authorities were attending to her mayor.
There was no way to win with this woman.
Emma talked to the firefighters for some time after they dragged Audrey to the hospital and put out the fire. Something didn't feel good about any of that. A casual fire? When were the two of them there?
Suddenly Chad appeared, taking her out of her mind.
Emma, that was incredible. It will be very good for your campaign. I'm sure the photographers have taken excellent photos, I could talk to them to get some_
There's something strange here, Chad.
Emma is a good opportunity, people will see you as a hero. It's a gift from the gods
"You started it," he said, throwing the rag on his desk. I can smell your lanolin.
H looked up, with a careful smile on his face. "I've been here all night," he said. I didn't do such a thing. He looked at the rag. I admit that there is a chemical odor. But there are many chemical odors. Chemicals are often burned.
"I don't want to win like that," Emma said. Is this what it means to have an alliance with you? Breaking the rules? It's not who I am.
"You are," said H, "He is someone who will be a true sheriff for this city, not an accomplice." That makes you better_Emma had nothing to say about this, so H continued: "Are you ready for tomorrow's debate? _
I haven't thought about that.
I advise you to come prepared_
The photo of Emma carrying Audrey from the burning building was on the cover of the Storybrooke Daily Mirror the next morning, and all day, the city was full of news. Emma didn't care about positivity and confidence, but H's role in the whole matter gnaw at her all day, even when her friends, Mal, Evie, Chad, Henry, Carlos and others, took care of the affairs of the latter. perplexity of minutes. Emma reconnected with Mal for about thirty minutes.
Before the debate, and the two walked together to the library.
"You're going to win," Mal said. "I can feel it. What about the photo? _
It was an extra positive comment, and Emma broke down and told Mal her suspicions about H's involvement in the fire. She heard the story, then remained silent for a long moment. When they approached the library, they joined the crowd gathered. It seemed that all Storybrooke was there to listen to the debate.
"What kind of message would you send to Henry?" Emma said, the two of them going up the stairs. "To win like that?"
Would you ever know?
"But that would mean lying to him," Emma said.
"But telling the truth could lead you to lose."
"I guess it's just a risk that I'll have to take."
When the time came for Emma to talk, she was still not sure what she was going to say. Sidney had given repetitive answers and had taken the safe route with all of Carlos' questions. The audience seemed to respond positively. Based only on the energy of the applause, Emma knew, as she walked to the stage, that she could ride the wave of "hero" until victory.
But it wasn't long before the audience, all the people, in fact, before they heard Evie's simple words: There she is. Sometimes things weren't that complicated. We just make them difficult to hide from them.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Emma said, in the middle of an answer she was giving about her thoughts about the local noise ordinance. He looked at the front row and saw Henry, with bright eyes, smiling at him. I have to go back. I have to say something about the recent fire."
The crowd stood still. Emma didn't know if she was about to make a big mistake, but she knew she had to do it.
Mr. The H started that fire," he said, and the gasps were audible. "And he started that fire," he continued, because he was trying to help me win this election. Make me a hero. He took a breath, waited for the whispers and the surprised talk to calm down. "I know, I know," he said. "And I'm sorry." He looked at Audrey, who was sitting next to Henry, with her arms crossed, a mixture of surprise and petulant satisfaction on her face. Audrey didn't know, but I can't approve it and I can't benefit from it. You could have hurt yourself. The most important thing is to tell the truth about what happened.
I could see, at the back of the room, Mr. H standing, with an impassive look on his face. He turned around and walked to the exit.
"This will probably cost me the choice," Emma said. "But I don't want to win with a lie.
Afterwards, Emma and Henry went to Granny's Diner. Sweets for Enrique. A strong drink for Emma. She hasn't felt so depressed in a long time.
Henry seemed to agree with the result. After taking his last bite of cake, he wiped his mouth, put his hand in his backpack and took out the old walkie-talkies. He gave her one.
"What is this for?" Emma said.
"I thought about it a little more," Henry said. "I think Operation Dragon should be back. You faced Mr. H. You are a hero.
"Do you think?" Whatever the result, he was happy to hear it say it.
"I told you that he got bad after obtaining his powers," Henry said. "And after that, the only person he loved was afraid of him. What if the same thing had happened to you?
"What do you mean?"
"What if you got your power by being bad, as he did? That would mean that, whatever you did, it would always be scary. Maybe you would win, but we would all start to be afraid of you."
So, are you reviewing your ideas about good and evil?
"A little," Henry said, smiling. "I guess I didn't know you could win the right way. Many of these stories have no examples of that."
"Oh. You're melting my heart, boy.
"I'd rather be good like you and lose, than be bad and win."
It was the first time Emma had felt good about something in days.
The good feeling was ruined a few moments later when Emma looked up and saw Audrey at the door, closely followed by Lonnie. Here they come to gloat, he thought. Just what I need.
"The party of victory is behind us," he said.
Emma looked at Audrey. "Congratulations," he said categorically.
What are you talking about? Henry said.
It was a hard-fought vote, but people seem to have responded to a candidate who can confront Mr. H_. She shook her head. Imagine that. It imagines. _
It's a joke."
"She doesn't joke," Lonnie said, sitting next to Emma and Henry.
"He didn't choose a very good friend in Mr. H, Mrs. Thorne. But he makes a superlative enemy. Enjoy it."
Emma couldn't help smiling a little.
She was a sheriff.
Sheriff of Storybrooke, Maine.
Mayor, you were right, Lonnie knows this town better than I do.
I ask Mrs. Thorne. Don't make things more difficult for me. Voters have elected_
"I know, but maybe the people need two sheriffs," he said as he looked at Lonnie.
I agree. Yes, that's your wish. Good night Sheriff Thorne_later looked at Lonnie... _Sheriff Li_
So now, are you the boss? Lonnie said.
Everyone who helped with their brief campaign began to arrive to celebrate, and everyone told Emma that she had done the right thing. While Emma smiled and accepted her congratulations, she couldn't help but think: I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a liar. She was happy that her son knew it too.
Mr. H was already at the station waiting for Emma when she arrived. She had approached from Granny's, a little drunk, with the intention of taking care of some paperwork before the start of her first official day.
H was standing in the corner, smiling, leaning on his cane.
How did you get here? _
"The doors were open," he said, approaching. "Anyway, I wanted to congratulate you on your victory. Very well done, Mrs. Horne. Your performance tonight was commendable."
"If you're mad at me for throwing yourself under the bus, I'm not going to apologize," he said. "I didn't ask for the fire."
"No, you didn't," he said. And you didn't ask for the opportunity to face me. But you have both. And you used them well.
Emma frowned.. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, you needed something big to win," he said. "And I gave you something big."
Frosted by the look in H's eyes, Emma considered her words. I could see what he was implying: that he had planned more than just the fire. I had also planned for her to tell the truth. And she had done exactly what he expected me to do.
"Why, I don't understand," Emma said. "Why would you want me to be a sheriff so much?"
"Oh, I don't know," H said, crossing the room, in the direction of the door. "You never know. You owe me a favor, remember. Maybe I just wanted you to be in a position to grant a good one. When the time comes for you to clean the books."
"Clean the books," Emma repeated, still processing the extent of H. Never trust him again, he thought. Never.
"We will find a way," he said, opening the door. "Don't worry." He nodded once again. "Congratulations, Mrs. Thorne.
Emma went to her desk, a little weak on her knees. He looked at his picture of Henry.
She didn't know what to
n/a : I would really like to know your opinion