Author's Notes/Rantings/Warnings: As always guys the translation of some of the words used are at the bottom. If I missed any just let me know and I'll be sure to add 'em really fast. This one took a bit of work on my part to get the flow right and even then I don't find it as gritty as the first two chapters so meh. I tried to get it back to that point. As always I appreciate all the reviews. I'm really shocked at how much you guys are liking this story since it's so very different. I'm enjoying the ride though and I hope you guys are too. Just let me know what you think and hopefully the next few chapters won't take so long to get up. ~ Bella

Pearl of the Isle

Chapter 3

Emma sighed taking a breath of the still hot night air. The sun going down did not improve the stifling air of the city. The large brick buildings seemed to trap the heat and the steam pouring from every sewage grate in the city brought a certain stench to the air that would stifle most people. Thank God for small favors like a dulled sense of smell Emma thought watching a couple of pro skirts almost choke as they tried to offer their mighty fine wears to the gumshoe walking amongst them heading up to the Black Butterfly.

Turning the corner put her under the golden glow of various streetlamps and the gutter rats of the city scattered a bit further into the darkness. It was hard not to feel their eyes roaming over her body and she subtly patted her side to show that she wore iron. Not that she had it on her mind you but it was good idea to fake it unless one wanted to get frisked and not in the good sorta way. She continued on keeping her head down as she'd learned when she'd worked these same streets all those years ago until she saw the shining lights of the club.

She walked past the large goons guarding the front door and down into the speakeasy enjoying the smoky atmosphere and eyeing the pretty girls. She couldn't help it. It hadn't been that long since she'd ended things with Ruby which meant she and Graham had to find a new bar to spend their after-hours time in since the waitress didn't seem too happy to see her. She was sorta feeling the effects though. She supposed the sudden lack of sex would do that to a person who had gotten used to getting it regularly. She shook her head as she moved over to the large bar and pulled up to her now usual spot.

"Hey Snooper your usual?" James greeted her with an easy smile but he kept his voice low as he spoke her nickname towards her. No one wanted a shamus about the place and they both knew it.

She rolled her eyes at him though just in case, "Har har palooka gimme my usual."

James tilted his head at her nodding as he poured her drink and sent it down the bar to her. She tipped her hat to him before taking a sip of the cool liquid feeling the bite of the white. She sighed as she leaned forward nursing her drink in peace when loud laughter erupted from the back corner. No one turned to look immediately. Everyone knew to mind their own business so Emma waited a few moments before easing herself around as though she wanted to check out the broad singing her lungs out on stage before letting her gaze subtly shift to the back corner. Gold was sitting in the center of the large rounded booth with his ever present trigger men standing on either side blocking their boss from having to deal with anyone he didn't want to. He was currently talking to one of his associates a well known person within the community that she wasn't at all shocked to see here.

Sidney Glass was the editor of one of the more prominent New York newspapers he kept things out of the paper or in the paper for a price, always a high price at that. He seemed like the type to be in this sorta place spineless little turn tale that he was. Emma watched him subtly as he lifted the glass to his lips taking a sip before turning and looking longingly over at Regina who sat on Gold's other side. Tonight she was wearing a deep purple dress that had a scooped neckline that almost could be considered indecent in higher society circles especially when combined with the low dip of the back. Her ever present ruby and diamond necklace still rested around her neck along with a pair of drop earrings that featured two thick diamonds on the thin strands of what Emma was sure was some sort of precious metal. That was probably half of Gold's wealth around her neck no wonder Gold was watching her so closely missing the longing look the editor shot at his dame.

She glanced away from the gangster and his twist and back around the club as though she'd been perusing to start with, no particular intent in mind. She reached around behind her picking up her glass and bringing it to her lips taking a sip and watching the pretty red haired girl singing on stage. She had the power to carry off those high notes but not the finesse of Ashley Boyd. She glanced back over at the gangster's table catching the eye of the beautiful brunette without meaning to. Again she tipped her hat at her and turned away. She finished off her drink in relative silence before setting it aside and sliding to her feet.

The lack of dinner affected her balance slightly and her legs didn't want to cooperate immediately. Wobbling only slightly, she made her way towards the bathroom carefully easing her way around the tables and the talking patrons who were watching the redhead and listening to the band. Cigarette smoke clung to her clothes as she finally made her way into the garish bathroom that like the rest of the bar didn't escape the good old days when money came as freely as the liquor flowed through the glasses of the speakeasies during prohibition.

The marble sink with its garish torch light fixtures and gilded mirrors seemed like they belonged in the houses the likes of which only Carnegie and Rockefeller had seen in their heydays. The wooden cubicle stalls of the bathroom lined the opposite wall as she leaned against the sink taking in a few deep breaths to try and clear the buzz the alcohol had left in her mind. It wasn't that she was a light weight far from it. She and Graham made it a point almost every night to try and outdrink one another. It was their way of blowing off the steam their jobs often helped them acquire. It was more the fact that she'd forgotten to eat that day that caused the alcohol to hit her harder than it usually would have. Plus James seemed to like to make drinks a little strong. It made sense really. Alcohol made yappers of most people and around places like the Black Butterfly information bought you a pretty meal ticket.

She didn't immediately register that the heavy wooden paneled door had opened and then shut nor did she hear the tumblers of the lock click into place until it was too late. Taking her by surprise, strong hands grabbed her shoulders and pulled using her momentum against her. She crashed through the largest stall's door and was shoved rather forcefully against the wall. The move knocked the wind plain out of her in a loud whoosh. She gasped trying to catch her breath when she heard the stall door's lock click into place.

Hands on either side of her head kept her in place and the fragrance of apple blossoms reached her nose as she was finally able to breathe again. Wide green eyes met smirking rich brown and she gulped realizing just who had thrown her in here so forcefully. Emma gulped loudly as cherry red lips turned up in a grin that was distinctly animalistic in nature.

"Just who might you be?" The rich honeyed voice of the dame she'd been eyeing for a straight week now spoke next to her ear.

She shivered an immediate reaction as warm breath caressed the soft skin. The tone of voice suggested something blatantly sexual that almost made her want to moan at just the sheer smokiness of it.

"Emma, Emma Swan." She spoke her own name softly watching as the woman leaned into her pressing her slight curves into her body. Hazily it registered to Emma that they fit together perfectly as her hands came up almost involuntarily to hold on to the curved hips hidden under a layer of purple silk the woman wore.

"Mmm…hello Emma Swan I'm Regina but then I'm sure you already know that." Regina eyed her as though she was a piece of fresh meat and she was a starving panther. She wasn't sure if she minded being this woman's prey.

"How do you know I know?" Emma challenged and Regina's amber eyes flashed.

"Oh I don't know," Regina lifted one hand from its place beside the blonde's hand to tap a long nail against her crimson colored bottom lip, "maybe that fact that you can't seem to keep your eyes off me?"

The gumshoe blinked and then forced a smile trying to call the woman's bluff. "Well then you're much smarter than you look sister."

Instead of being offended this caused the dame to smirk her predatory smile again before she slammed her hand back against the sky blue wall that she'd pressed Emma up against. "Oh I'm sure I know quite a bit more about you then you realize I do."

Emma's smile dropped as she forced herself to break the dish's hypnotic gaze. "I'm sure you do." She managed dropping her eyes and biting a pink bottom lip when they fell on the woman's chest which moved up and down with each breath she took.

Regina didn't speak for a moment noting the other woman's gaze before finally she let her words flow. "I can't help but notice the way you stare at me. So intense and longing almost like…" Regina trailed off as she leaned forward again, her lips almost caressing Emma's ear once more. "You want to find out what I look like without this dress on." She added and the smirk could be heard in her voice.

Emma couldn't keep herself from letting out a soft moan of agreement knowing it was true. Ever since she'd seen the woman that first night in the club she'd longed to do things to her that couldn't bare repeating in proper company let alone the company of such a fine doll. But then was this beautiful dominating brunette a true lady? The thought vaguely filtered through her mind that this wasn't the same woman she'd been sent to find before it was pushed away in favor of the intense desire having the gorgeous dame pressed up against her like this brought on.

Suddenly sweet red lips were pressed against her own and Emma saw stars for the first time in her life. The kiss was quick full of urgency and desire that she'd never felt before from anyone. She couldn't keep the moan that escaped her throat in even if she wanted to which frankly she didn't. The snooper kissed back almost immediately just as fierce as her partner who released a low grumbling moan of her own that sounded like it reverberated in her chest. The passion didn't ease with time as each woman continued their rather vicious assault on the others lips.

It only broke when Regina pulled away. Emma stared at her with parted kiss swollen lips as the brunette's chest heaved. She tried to focus on calming her own breathing as the brunette slowly pulled away and walked over to the stall door. Emma heard the lock click and watched as the dame pulled the door open stepping out.

The blonde remained in place for a moment longer before she followed like a curious puppy cocking her head. She watched as the gorgeous twist she'd just been smooching reapplied a coat of red lipstick from a golden tube to her lips with acute precision. Regina didn't say a word just smacked her lips together and turned. She gave the other woman an easy smile.

"I'll see you later stud." She murmured leaving Emma to watch as the vixen walked out her lustful green eyes drawn to the swagger of her hips as she moved out the door like nothing had even happened.

She leaned back against the wall of the next to the stall she'd been standing in. "What a woman." She muttered to herself before moving out and looking in the gilded mirror to make certain there was no traces of the brunette's lipstick anywhere on her lips.

Shamus - detective

Snooper- detective

Palooka - man probably a bit stupid

Yappers - letting information flow freely from the mouth

Twist - Woman