Once Upon A Time: Dancing With The Devil, Part Six
By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki
Emma opened her eyes when she heard Mary-Margret's alarm clock downstairs. She was amazed and grateful she had slept without having a single dream the whole night. Her mind slipped back to the evening before, her hand going to her cheek where Mr. Gold had kissed her and wished her goodnight. She smiled for a brief moment before recalling the deal she had made. She frowned, wondering how she was going to swing it.
She recalled he said he just wanted a little of her time, chance meetings and the like. The part that seemed daunting was having dinner with him once a week. She was fairly certain he wouldn't let her get out of that at all. " Sneaky bastard, " She muttered.
She could hear Mary-Margret as she moved around downstairs but she had yet to say anything. Mary-Margret had been acting weird since the night before in spite of Emma's explanation. " Time to face the music, " She muttered to herself and crawled out of the bed.
She walked downstairs to find Mary-Margret in the kitchen, starting to make breakfast. She smiled, " So are you glad it's almost Friday? "
Mary-Margret didn't look up, " Oh yeah. "
Emma walked over to the bar, " Are you okay? "
" I'm fine, " Mary-Margret said. " How did you sleep? "
" Pretty good, " Emma leaned on the bar. " I slept the whole night. I needed that so badly. "
Mary-Margret started cracking eggs, " As busy as you've been lately yes you did. "
Emma furrowed her brow at Mary-Margret's stiff tone. " What's wrong? "
" Nothing, " Mary-Margret said as she put a skillet on the stove.
Emma rolled her eyes, " You're still not freaked out over last night, are you? "
Mary-Margret frowned, " I just can't get my head around it, Emma. "
" There's nothing to get your head around, " Emma said. " It was just a kiss on the cheek. "
" Has he done that before? " Mary-Margret asked as she put some butter in the skillet.
Emma nodded, " Once. "
" Oh, " Mary-Margret said simply.
" Look, " Emma said as she walked over to Mary-Margret. " We're just... "
" Just what? " Mary-Margret glanced at her. " Friends? "
Emma had to think about that. She then sighed, " Yeah, in a way. "
Mary-Margret frowned, " Is that why you've been calling his name in your sleep at night? "
Emma blinked, " I have? "
Mary-Margret nodded, " You have. "
" I didn't know that, " Emma said. She really was unaware that she had been. There really hadn't been much talking going on her dreams, or so she thought.
" Is that why you never answered me night before last? " Mary-Margret went back to fixing breakfast.
" What? " Emma arched an eyebrow.
" When I asked you if you ever had anyone you couldn't get out of your head. You never answered me, " Mary-Margret looked at her, her face more serious than she had even seen it. " Is it because it's Mr. Gold that you can't get out of your head? "
Emma went cold. She didn't want to say the words out loud but the look Mary-Margret was giving her was piercing. She sighed, " Maybe. "
Mary-Margret frowned, " You need to stop this before you get hurt. "
" I think I can handle it, Mary-Margret. You don't need to worry about me, " Emma said.
" I hope so, " Mary-Margret said. She then looked at Emma with the most serious look she had ever seen on the school teacher's face, " You don't know what that man is capable of. "
Emma pulled to a stop in front city hall, bracing herself for what she was sure to be a tongue lashing. After an awkward breakfast with Mary-Margret, Emma went to the sheriff's office to update her report to include the break-in at the clock tower building. She also put in the part she 'forgot' about Mr. Gold's 'robbery'. She sat there for a long moment before muttering, " Let's get this over with. "
The walk to Regina's office seemed to take twice as long, her back tensing up with each step she took. When she reached the door, she lifted her hand to knock, hesitating before rapping lightly on the doorjamb. Regina looked up from her desk and smiled a revoltingly sweet smile. It was the one she always had when she was about to rip into someone.
" Good morning, Sheriff Swan. So good of you to finally come by, " Regina said then feigned concern. " How is your head? That's quite a bruise. "
" Fine, " Emma said. " It still huts a little bit. "
" It was so nice of Mr. Gold to let me know that you were in injured and needed rest, " Regina said. " And it was so courteous of the thief to take a night off as well. "
" I guess I spooked her the other night, " Emma said. " She's probably going to lay low for a while now. "
" Perhaps, " Regina's eyes narrowed a bit. " Tell me, why exactly was Mr. Gold answering YOUR phone? "
Emma sighed as she approached the desk slowly, " I dropped it when we were doing a walk through of the latest break-in. "
" Oh? So is he working for the Sheriff's office now? " Regina asked sarcastically.
" No, " Emma said. " It was a building he owned. I wanted him there to tell me what was missing. "
" My my my, isn't he having bad luck this week. Broke in on twice in two days and can't do anything about it but call you, " Regina sounded incredulous. She smirked, " So did you forget that report on the printer as well? "
Emma held out the folder with the updated report, " Actually no. I have it and the one from the pawn shop in here as well. "
Regina took the folder and opened it. She scanned the report, frowning at the last page. " So nothing was taken in the second break-in? "
" There was nothing to take. The building was vacant, " Emma explained.
Regina quirked the corner of her mouth, " And what building of his was it? "
" The clock tower building, " Emma said. " The spaces that face 2nd street. "
Regina smirked, " Oh yes. How did you ever get him to go in there? "
Emma furrowed her brow, " I asked him to let me in and I said he needed to go with me. "
" That's a surprise he would even set foot in that place, " Regina closed the report. She clasped her hands in front of her, " You seem to be spending quite a bit of time with Mr. Gold lately, Miss Swan. Do you care to tell me why? "
Emma scoffed, " You saw what happened the last time he was robbed. I'm not going to let anyone get hurt again. "
" Right, " Regina said. " I also saw how he just got probation instead of going to jail for assault with a deadly weapon. "
Emma nodded, " The judge took his lack of a criminal record into consideration as well as the fact that he was just defending his property. "
" He didn't have a record because he's never been caught before, " Regina replied. " His crimes would take up a filing cabinet if he had been punished for them. "
" He still had no priors so the judge couldn't do much except give him probation and tell him to stay away from Mr. French, " Emma said.
" Do you know someone made a plea on his behalf because SHE didn't think he would do well in jail? " Regina narrowed her eyes. " Now I wonder WHO that could have been? "
Emma's eyes grew wide. No one was supposed to know about her secret meeting with the judge. She had done it out of fear for what would happen to Mr. Gold behind bars. His physical condition would have made him easy prey for the other prisoners and she knew she couldn't live with that on her conscience.
" Oh yes, " Regina smirked. " I know. I found out. Tell me, does Gold know? "
Emma shook her head, " I didn't tell him. I wanted to keep it a secret. "
" Secrets in this town don't last long, Miss Swan. Look at Miss Blanchard and David Nolan. That didn't stay secret for very long, now did it? " Regina arched one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows.
Emma nodded, " Yeah, after you told everyone. It seems you take great delight in making Mary-Margret suffer. "
" I was only trying to right a wrong, Miss Swan. I can't help it the public is entitled to their own opinion, " Regina said coldly.
" I'm not discussing this with you, " Emma growled through clenched teeth.
" Then let's get back to what we're talking about, " Regina said. " Can you justify to me why you think Mr. Gold had to stay out of jail, O crusader for all that is right and just? "
" He wouldn't have survived it. He's not that big and disabled besides. He wouldn't have lasted five minutes, " Emma pointed out, disliking the way she had been mocked. " I couldn't have lived with myself if I had let him get thrown in with those monsters. "
Regina smirked, " Perhaps they could have made certain accommodations for him. "
" Trust me, " Emma said. " Jail isn't that accommodating. "
" Oh? And you would know this how? " Regina inquired.
" I've been there, remember? " Emma said though she knew it was what Regina wanted to hear. " I know a little something about it. "
" Of course, " Regina sneered. She then scoffed, " I can't help but think there was more to it than that. "
" Regina, " Emma started.
" No Miss Swan. Let me speak, " Regina snapped. " I don't know what you're thinking but this association... this relationship you have with Mr. Gold needs to stop before you're in way over your head. All of this time the two of you are spending together is making me believe there's something more than friendship between the two of you. "
" Oh no no, " Emma put her hand up. " It's strictly business. "
" Strictly business? " Regina arched an eyebrow. " So that other night in your car had something to do with business. "
" We were talking! " Emma said sharply.
Regina scoffed, " Oh yes. Talking. I know what kind of 'talking' is done with your hands. I'm still trying to figure out how you could get anything accomplished in the little car of yours though. The police cruiser has a lot more room for... such things. "
" I've never touched him, " Emma retorted.
" Just exactly HOW did his scarf end up around your neck then? " Regina arched an eyebrow. She gave her a sarcastic smirk, " Oh yes. I noticed that yesterday morning when I had to wake you up. "
" I came here to discuss this case, that's it, " Emma jabbed the report folder with her index finger. " Not Gold. "
"Oh? Touchy aren't we? " Regina narrowed her eyes. " Listen to me, Miss Swan. If you go down that road, there is no coming back. "
" I'm not going down any roads, Regina, " Emma said.
Regina crossed her arms, " I was hoping I wouldn't have to tell you this but I guess it's the only way to open your eyes. "
" Tell me what? " Emma furrowed her brow.
" Why he is alone, " Regina said.
" I really don't think it's any of my business, " Emma started.
" I think you will want to know what I'm about to tell you, " Regina said. " Before they have to scrape you off the pavement... or cut you down from a rope. "
Emma went cold, " What? "
" Oh? So now you're willing to listen? " Regina arched an eyebrow.
Emma blinked, " I don't think... "
" Don't think anything. I'm telling you this for your own good. A vulnerable young girl fell in love with him and he pushed her away, " Regina said.
" Why did Gold push her away? " Emma asked.
Regina frowned, " He became convinced all she wanted him for was his fortune. He made up his mind that she didn't love him after all so he threw her out. Her family didn't want her after she had been with him so she couldn't go home either. "
" That's terrible, " Emma whispered.
" She was alone, Miss Swan. No one to love her so she decided she would take her life, " Regina continued. " She jumped off the top of the clock tower on Valentine's Day. "
Emma blinked. She couldn't tell if Regina was lying or not. She furrowed her brow, " The fall from the tower isn't enough to kill anyone. "
Regina smirked, " No but when broken ribs puncture the heart, it can prove fatal. "
Emma's knees went weak and she had to lean on the desk so she didn't fall. " How long ago? " She whispered.
Regina had to think and she shrugged, " It doesn't really matter. As far as I know, he still grieves for her. "
" Wow, " Emma said. It was all she could say.
" And before that, his first wife hung herself, " Regina came over so she was standing right next to Emma. " She felt it was the only way she could escape... his... cruelty. "
" Why are you telling me these things? " Emma whispered. A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled how Mr. Gold had been at the bridge when they searched it for clues. She had seen him crying but dare not to ask why.
~How does she mean 'cruelty', ~ She asked herself. ~A cruel man wouldn't have cried... would have he? Was that just a show to trick me? ~
" I'm the one who has known him for far longer, Miss Swan. I know what he's done and how many people he has hurt. Please excuse me if I don't want you to be counted in that number, " Regina said. " He's a coward and a bastard, Miss Swan. You need to stay away from him. "
Emma took a breath then stood back up. Her mind was still reeling, confused about how she felt about the revelation. She took another breath and looked Regina in the eye, " I think we're done here. "
" Yes. We are, " Regina looked satisfied with herself. " You have a case to solve. "
" I do, " Emma said. ~And some answers to find. ~
" Oh, " Regina said. " One more thing. "
" What's that? " Emma was almost afraid of what she was going to say.
Regina smirked, " Tell him... or I will. "
A young gypsy girl walked through the streets of the town. She had stole away for the day to spend the few meager coins she had managed to snatch from various places. She had beautiful face, dark eyes, dark hair and olive toned skin... and she was sad. She hated traveling so much... it meant she couldn't have friends for long.
As she walked, she could hear the sounds of yowling cats so she traced the sounds down to an alley that ran behind the town's clock tower. There, she found a pack of at least a dozen cats eying a tiny white mouse perched on a narrow brick several feet up. The cats were jumping but not making much progress. The girl's heart melted and she felt she needed to save the tiny mouse.
She picked up rocks and started flinging them at the cats, making them scatter. Once they were gone, she walked up to the wall and looked at the mouse. " Come now. You're safe, " She said, looking up at the mouse and reaching her hands up.
The mouse hesitated then jumped, landing in the girl's palms. She held the mouse up, finding she had a bit of blood caked on her fur around her throat. " Poor little thing, " She murmured as she stroked her tiny head with a fingertip. " You're coming home with me and we'll be best friends. "
The girl kissed the mouse on the top of the head and tucked her away in her coin pouch before continuing on to the market to buy some food for her new found friend...
Emma parked the police car at the curb after reaching the address Mr. Gold had given her. The only thing on her mind had been Regina's disclosure though. She felt bad for plotting to dodge him after agreeing to keep him company. She couldn't even fathom the pain he must have been in from losing two lovers to suicide.
As for the rest of it, she was going to take it with a grain of salt. Regina and Mr. Gold had a history, the way they interacted told her that much. Just the way they like to hurl barbed statement towards each other made her wonder if they had been lovers at some point. She had seen enough to know they really did go way back... how far was the question.
She got out and walked up the front path to the door, trying to focus at the task at hand. The house was tiny, probably with barely enough room for the couple that lived there. There wasn't a car parked in the drive but Emma knocked on the front door anyway. A moment later, a beautiful older woman with black hair, olive skin and green eyes opened the door.
" Hi, " Emma said. " I'm Sheriff Swan. You were supposed to be expecting me? "
" Yes. Mr. Gold told me you would be coming by, " The woman nodded. Emma could detect a hint of a European accent to her voice.
Emma nodded, " So have you had a chance to ask around? "
The woman opened the door all the way, " Please come in. I have much to tell you but I don't know if it will help. "
" Anything will help, " Emma said. She walked into the house and waited for the gypsy to shut the door. " I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name. "
" Graciela, " The woman replied. " My husband, Baduna, is at work but he is asking others for information. "
" So I should come back later? " Emma arched an eyebrow.
" No. Stay, " Graciela said. " Let's have some tea and I'll let you know what I have found out so far. "
Emma followed Graciela to the tiny kitchen. She stood there, her hands in her back pockets as she watched the gypsy collect everything she needed to make tea. She glanced over at the little kitchen table, " May I sit? "
" Go ahead, " Graciela said. " This won't take long. I'll bring it when it's done. "
Emma sat down at the table, " Can you tell me what you know already? "
Graciela busied herself, " I met some of the other ladies this morning and I asked if anyone had broken away or been banished. "
" And? " Emma arched an eyebrow.
" There's only one name that came up, " Graciela said as the kettle began to whistle. She took the kettle off the stove and poured water into the cups before dropping the teabags in. She set the cups on a tray and brought them over.
" So what's the name? " Emma asked as they gypsy put the cups on the table.
Graciela went back to the counter and opened a cookie jar, " Would you like one? "
" What kind? " Emma cocked her head to the side.
" Snicker-doodles, " Graciela replied.
" No thanks, " Emma said. " So you said you had a name? "
Graciela came back to the table with a plate of cookies, " Yes I did. We called her ' The Spider' because she could climb anything. Walls, trees, cliffs. You name it, she could scale it. "
" ' The Spider'? " Emma said. " But does she have a real name? "
Graciela nodded, " It is Clarissa. "
" Now we're getting somewhere, " Emma said.
" No one has seen her since she was banished three weeks ago, " Graciela said.
" And now we're back where we started, " Emma muttered. " What was she banished for? "
" Stealing from everyone, " Graciela replied. " She got caught and thrown out. "
Emma nodded, " Are you sure no one has seen her? "
" Well, not until my husband gets home. He knows many more people than I do, " Graciela replied. She quirked her mouth, " She has a liking for shiny things, like jewels and such. "
" Is that so? " Emma arched an eyebrow. She got an idea but wasn't ready to share it... not yet.
" Yes she does, " Graciela held up her hand to show Emma her diamond wedding ring. " The little wench even tried to steal this. "
" Can you give me a detailed description of her? " Emma opened her notebook. " The only time I think I saw her she was moving too fast. "
" She's fast, that one is. She's also tiny. You could mistake her for a twelve year old if you didn't know any better, " Graciela said.
Emma started writing, " Anything else you can tell me? Her hair color or any distinguishing marks, traits or features? "
" She has mousy brown hair, " Graciela said. " And she's fair skinned, with sharp features and sharp eyes. She can spot the glint of a diamond from a mile away. "
Emma jotted down her notes, recalling the things that had been stole from the other places. The more she thought about it, the more she realized most of the items were for basic survival, outside of the electronics from the appliance store. It almost reminded her of the things she had to buy for Ava and Nicholas. She furrowed her brow, Graciela's story not quite making sense.
" I heard another story too, " Graciela said then picked up a cookie. " I heard that she had managed to get a hold of some forged documents and enrolled herself in the elementary school. She's in the 6th grade. "
" What? " Emma blinked. Twelve year old 6th graders weren't that uncommon. In fact, she had recalled Henry mentioning there were a lot of winter children at his school.
" Yes, " Graciela nodded then took a bite of cookie. She chewed then smiled, " I did say she could pass for a twelve-year old. Tiny little thing she is. "
" Do you know where she got the documents from? " Emma continued to write in her notebook, her mind going to Henry. She had to pay him a visit and see if he knew anything at all.
Graciela looked down at the table as if she were about to tell a huge secret. She took a deep breath, " We have many in our midst who are skilled in the art of forging documents. There are people who need them for work. Being gypsies, we don't have birth certificates and histories required to find jobs and support ourselves. "
She took another breath, her voice faltering as she continued, " Our children cannot go to school without the proper documentation but we will be in trouble if we don't send them. It was one of the things Mayor Mills said we had to do or our children would be taken away from us. "
Emma bit her lip. A whole new mess had just been laid at her feet and she had to decide what to do about it. She had to think it over. She couldn't expose all of the gypsies because of one cast out.
" This is not good, " Emma sighed " If I go after her then it may bring everything down on all of you. "
" Clarissa is no longer one of us so I do not care what happens to her but you have to swear to me, Miss Swan, " Graciela's voice cracked.
" Swear to you what? " Emma snapped out of her thoughts.
" You'll have to take the greater good into consideration, " Graciela said then sobbed. " My people are just trying to make a way for ourselves. The mayor has been looking fr a reason to banish us from town and this may do it if she finds out. "
Emma frowned. It seemed 'the greater good' would have to take precedent over doing the right thing, at least for now. " Okay, I won't expose any of your people to scrutiny. I'll find her and leave out anything about her association with your people. "
" Can you do that? " Graciela's expression was hopeful.
Emma gave a terse smile, " Of course I can. I'm the sheriff. "
Emma sat outside of the elementary school, waiting for the bell to ring. She scanned the area, keeping a sharp eye out for Regina's car. Regina let Henry walk home almost every day but it would be just her luck if Madame Mayor had decided to pick Henry up the same day she needed to speak to him. The harsh bell sounded and children poured out of the doors, all heading away from the building.
Emma honked the horn when she saw Henry, the boy running over as soon as he saw it was her. " Hi Emma, " He said when he reached the car. He looked excited to see her.
" Hey kid, " Emma smiled. " Get in. I need your help. "
Henry furrowed his brow, " My help? Is it Operation Cobra stuff? "
Emma shook her head as she started the car, " Not really. I need some help on a case. "
" Um, okay. What kind of case is it? " Henry sounded a bit puzzled.
Emma checked her mirrors then pulled out onto the street, " The one I've been working on for the last couple of weeks. "
" Oh. The robberies, " Henry said. He furrowed his brow, " But how can I help? "
Emma glanced at him, " How many twelve-year old 6th graders do you know? "
Henry shrugged, " Nicholas and Ava, of course. Then there's Christy, Angela and Joey. "
" Is that it? " Emma arched an eyebrow as her heart sank. " I thought you said there were a lot of them. "
" There are, " Henry said. " I'm just friends with those five. "
" Oh okay then, " Emma sighed. She knew things couldn't be that easy.
Henry thought for a long moment then said, " Wait. There is this one girl. She keeps to herself mostly, won't talk to anyone. I saw her smoking up in a tree during recess once. She threatened to beat me up if I ever told anyone. "
" Smoking? " Emma blinked. She recalled that three cartons of cigarettes had been stolen from the drug store.
Henry nodded, " It was the tallest tree on the playground too. She was close to the top. I was sitting under it and reading when she dropped the cigarette butt on my head. I looked up and she saw me while she was lighting another one. "
Emma frowned, " What did you do? "
" I went to get Miss Blanchard but she had left by the time I got back, " Henry explained.
" Did you get a good look at her? " Emma arched an eyebrow.
" She looked kind of like a mouse, " Henry said. " She had really sharp features... "
" Keen brown eyes and mousy brown hair? " Emma finished the sentence for him.
Henry nodded, " How did you know? "
Emma smiled, " Because I think I'm about to catch her. "
" You're going to arrest a twelve year old? " Henry sounded confused.
Emma quirked her mouth, " She just looks twelve. She's twenty-five. "
" Whoa, " Henry muttered.
Emma had an epiphany, " Henry. I have an idea and you can help me. "
" What is it? " Henry asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
" I'm going to set a trap for her but I need you to bait it, " Emma knew the plan would sound odd but if the thief was as greedy as she had heard, it just might work.
" You're going to use me for bait? " Henry was surprised.
" Not you. Your words, " Emma said. " I want you to find her again but don't let her know you see her. Bring your friends along and tell them about a fantastic diamond you saw at the police station. Tell them you were in the evidence locker when I wasn't looking. "
" How do I do that? " Henry cocked his head to the side.
" I guess go sit under that tall tree at recess and, if you see her, start talking about it, " Emma suggested.
" Do you think it will work? " Henry asked.
" I hope so, " Emma smiled.
Henry smiled back, " I'll do it. "
" Oops, You're home, " Emma said as she pulled up to the curb in front of Regina's house.
Henry looked out the window and frowned, " I wanted to spend more time with you, Emma. "
Emma sighed, " I can't kid. Your mom is still being really strict about that. I know she's let up a bit recently but I don't want to push it too much. She'll have a conniption if she knew I drove you home. "
Henry sighed, " I guess you're right. Maybe you could walk with me to the bus stop in the morning and we can talk about our strategy? "
Emma shrugged, " Sure. I'll try. "