Pearl of the Isle
Chapter 7
Emma slid into the booth beside Sean Boyd. Tonight Ashley Boyd was up there singing her lungs out meaning her man was here to conduct business while she distracted the audience with her golden pipes. The lights reflected prettily off her blonde hair which had little baubles weaved into it so it appeared to give her a halo. Emma would've snickered if she knew not to keep a neutral face. She glanced over at Gold keeping her eyes away from her doll. She knew better than to look at Regina while Sean was around. Boy was smart always had been and he knew like the rest of them that Gold valued brains and information above anything else.
"Ah Emerald I heard you dropped by to visit Jefferson."
"Yeah we have…history as I'm sure you remember…I thought he could help me with my information gathering on the good doctor."
The croaker they were speaking of was a well-known psychologist to the rich. He was a nice man by all accounts soft spoken and very gentle but he had a crooked side. Didn't everyone in this town? The good doc, a man by the name of Archibald Hopper, liked the girls a little too much. He also liked to partake in the gambling casino that was underneath the Milliner's Cage. He had a particular fondness for brunettes which was why Emma wore a brown wig when she'd seen him that night as his gambling debts were taking precedence over the information he provided them.
"Here's what you asked for." She pulled an envelope and slid it across the highly polished oak table. She ignored the way the light from the gaudy gold chandeliers reflected off of it giving her a bit of a headache.
Sean narrowed his eyes watching her but didn't say a word as Gold reached out with his ever present smirk and pocketed the envelope gold capped teeth flashing briefly. He shifted, the black coat he'd chosen this evening whispering around him revealing the pistol strapped to his chest. Never was one to let business and pleasure mix. Gold was the best for a reason; paranoia saved him on more than one occasion.
"Always could depend on you to get things done for me Emerald." He murmured fondly gazing at her.
Before she'd left, Gold had been something like a father to her. If a father taught his daughter how to kill and screw that is. They'd been surprisingly close though and Emma knew he'd been training her to take over should something happen to him. He was nothing if not resourceful and when the time came he'd sold her out as quickly as he'd sold anyone out that he considered expendable. And everyone had a price on their head around Gold. She wasn't certain though how high the one on Regina's head was nor her own though she did wonder.
Emma continued to stare at him not breaking their gaze. She was the only one dumb enough when she was younger to try and stare the gangster down. He'd found it such an amusing concept at the time that he'd allowed her to do so even though Jefferson tried to punish her for her insolence. Gold gave a small nod turning away first but Emma knew it to be a hollow victory. If the damn lug wanted her dead for her disrespect she'd have been bumped off by now.
"Sir I believe our bangtails are going to be doing very nice this year." Sean began again having been interrupted by Emma's sudden appearance.
"Unless the bulls are going to try and take 'em from us again," Gold pointed out in his lilting voice.
"I doubt they'll pull that stunt sir. I'm sure with the highbenders we got…"
"Highbenders don't mean anything if they're thrown out themselves." Emma muttered motioning for a scantily clad waitress to bring her a tiger's milk.
Gold snickered, "Emerald has a point Sean; we can't depend on the highbenders. We gotta do this properly."
Sean glared over at Emma briefly before speaking again, "Sir I've got the high pillow of the police commission under my thumb. Seems he likes gambling and pretty girls same as our good croaker friend. They aren't going to find out it leads back to you. I'll have him bury it."
"And what happens if the pillow gets a conscious and decides to let it happen then boss rots in hoosegow." Emma pointed out. "And I don't know about you but while I'd be happy to crush him out we still got the problem of him being there in the first place."
"There won't be any need for that Emerald. We'll be doing this my way. End of discussion." Gold's voice held finality in its tone along with its ever present slippery nature that made you want to take a shower after hearing the oil he used to make it slide down the palette easier.
"Emerald, see what you can find out about our good friend the commissioner. Let's see where his loyalties really lie. Then we'll see about these bangtails you're so proud of Sean."
"I know what you're up to and I'm not going to allow it." Sean's cold voice spoke from behind her as she stepped out into the still warm streets of the city.
Night had fallen on the underbelly and with it its usual undesirables flooded the city with their cheap tricks and cheaper flesh. All around pro skirts offered up their wares with a smile and charming wave; their pimps stood at ready nearby just in case a john got a bit too frisky with one of their girls. No sense in losing a good dame over some lug's jealousy after all. Some dark meat sold his wares on the street corner holding open his coat to flash the cheap fake gold of his watches and bracelets to boozehounds to bring home to their missus. Usually it worked to shut them up until it happened the next night.
The Black Butterfly loomed behind her, tall and imposing as always as she slowly turned staying out of the street lamps as was her custom. Everyone who was good at their jobs new light in the dark made you a target. "What am I up to Sean?"
"You think you can just mosey back in here after how you left? You got another thing coming Emerald." He spat her nickname at her and she narrowed her eyes but didn't say a word.
"I know you been sleuthing around long before you came back to Gold. You been staying out of his way but your timing is awfully convenient for you to be making an appearance." Sean stepped forward and Emma could see his hand lingering near the pocket of his jacket. She slid her hand silently down to her hip where she'd strapped her six shot revolver letting him know that he wasn't the only one packing heat if he decided to draw on her she'd draw right back. Her jacket hid it well and her trust revolved had yet to let her down.
"What do you want Sean? You want me to stay away from him?" Emma smirked, "Don't make me laugh."
"You pathetic piece of trash everyone knows boss didn't want you so that's why he…"
"Why he what Sean? Why he told me to hit the streets? Is that what he's feeding you? Then you'd best not believe it because I'm back and you ain't gonna do nothing to stand in my way." Emma leaned forward as she spoke daring him to say anything else. The man clenched his square jaw and slowly backed up not putting his back to the fair haired girl who watched him until he disappeared back into the club.
The blonde sighed as she finally turned the corner before she moved on down the block. She didn't get far though. As she was passing a darkened alleyway her hearing perked before a gloved hand was slid over her mouth and she was pulled into the swallowing blackness.
Slammed up against the wall shot the breath right out of her lungs and not in the good way; seeing stars in her vision for a moment it took her a few seconds to register that warm lips were now pressed firmly up against hers.
She shook her head, feeling her hair catching along the grimy bricks of the building she was pressed against. Her hat was gone and she wasn't sure she'd get it back. The lips let up and she took a gasping breath. Somewhere down the way a cat howled and jumped off causing a trash can to hit the concreted ground heavily making all sorts of racket. She looked up into amber eyes sparkling with amusement.
"For a big baddie you gotta a way a not paying attention…gumshoe." Regina gave her a soft smile.
"I thought you were staying away from me doll." Emma murmured staring up at her as she was finally able to catch her breath. "You look gorgeous. I always did love a dame in red."
"It was the color I was wearing the first night I set eyes on you." Regina paused looking down before she spoke. "I tried to stay away from you Ems. But I can't do it. I gotta a taste of you and I gotta have more."
"And I can't get you outta my head either doll," The detective agreed.
"So tell Emerald when are you gonna take me away from all this? Make me your moll." The beauty smirked as they played their old games.
"Soon doll. I got everything worked out. We're going to have enough money to set ourselves up somewhere nice and pretty."
"You got big plans sleuth. Gonna make an honest woman outta me?"
The blonde smirked, "That's a part of the plan."
"Good cause I need you to make me as honest as can be; right now." Regina leaned forward pressing her cherry red lips to Emma's pink ones again silencing the blonde's comeback.
Emma smirked as she walked into her office the next day. She hadn't been coming into here much but she needed to get things wrapped up, make sure Graham knew what was going on and what she was going to have to do when it came time. She wasn't comfortable telling him everything but he would be a good person to use as a contact in case she, Regina and Henry needed anything. She looked up at the broken down ceiling fan and the two old battered tables they called desks. Graham's dart board still hung where it always had and her bottle of cream of Kentucky was still resting right on the edge of her desk where it was supposed to. Yeah she'd miss this little hole but it was time to move on to bigger better things.
Graham was talking to someone hidden by his back as he leaned with both hands against his desk facing away from the door. Whoever it was she guessed it must be his new squeeze given the feminine shot of laughter. Wait a sec…that sounded familiar.
When they both looked up at her Emma was met by the pretty waitress she'd dumped all those weeks ago. "Ruby, what are you doing here doll?" She found herself asking.
"Waiting on you; Graham here was teaching me to play darts before you showed up." Ruby was looking particularly good in her short little blue shorts with her hair tied up and curled and a pretty red and white stripped top hugging her chest. "You two used to play all the time or have you forgotten?" Ruby's smile faded as she watched Emma.
Emma frowned, "It's not that." She began only to be cut off.
"No I hear you're dizzy with some dangerous vixen." Ruby slid her bare leg out and then crossed it showing off their smooth delicious lengths. Emma wouldn't deny it she'd always been a sucker for a good pair of pins and Ruby had a damn fine set. "How's that going for you?" The brunette interrupted her contemplation.
"Pretty well actually. What's she doing here?" Emma asked looking at Graham.
"I asked her…"
"He asked me to come." Ruby interrupted, "thought if he couldn't talk some sense into you that I could."
"What makes you think you can talk some sense into me Rubes?"
"Better me than that tomato you've gone and gotten dizzy with." She pointed out. "We were good together Ems. We could still be good together. Don't you remember?"
Emma clenched her jaw. "Yeah I do remember. You're right we had a lot of good times together Rubes but I've moved on and I'm gonna blow this joint with the dame of my dreams and ain't no one gonna stop me." She turned on her heel heading out of her office when Graham came running after her.
"Ems, wait."
"Graham what the hell are you thinking bringing her into this mess?"
"If you succeed I'm gonna lose my best friend. If you lose I'm gonna lose you. Either way I lose you. I can't handle that Ems. You're all I got in this town."
"Then come with me. Come with us. Get the hell outta dodge."
"I can't just up and leave Ems…"
"Why the hell not? We're thinking about heading west maybe go to the big easy or head out further try to make our home there. We got it all worked out Graham."
"Do you now? And where do I factor into you playing happy family with this dame and her kid?"
"You're my family too. You and me we always have been."
Graham bit his lip looking at her, looking pained before he opened his mouth. "Have you heard of something called the pearl peacock?"
"Pearl peacock…what is that your way of telling you're lit up?" Emma asked with a smirk.
"Don't be a bunny Ems. It don't suit you. The pearl peacock is a necklace shaped like a peacock hence the name. It's got blue, purple, and green diamonds surrounded by a large pearl worth a damn fortune."
"Why are you asking about something like this?" Emma asked arching her brow.
"I got it on good authority that your dame plans to steal that sucker from Gold before she blows outta here with you to play happy family."
"What?" The blonde stared at her scruffy friend and partner. "What are you on about? Where'd you hear something like that?"
"Around town; you got your ways, I got mine."
Emma narrowed her eyes at him, "she ain't never mentioned anything about no damn peacock necklace."
"Maybe because she's not all she seems then. If she ain't letting you in on her plans."
She clenched her jaw staring at him before giving a small nod, "Maybe."
Bangtails- Racing horses
Bulls – Police
Highbenders – crooked politicians
Pillow – highest person at the top of something
Hoosegow – jail
Crush him out – break him out of jail
Dark meat – African American Man
Pins – Legs
Don't be a bunny - don't be stupid
Authors' ending notes/rantings: I bet no one saw that coming huh? Heh. This story has more twists and turns than any I've ever seen and the biggest one hasn't even come up yet. It very well could change the way this thing goes all together. I'm just as much along for the ride as you
readers are so I hope you guys stick with me. I'm having a blast writing this piece and every twist and turn just makes it that much more fun to write. I hope it's just as fun to read. As always I hope you've enjoyed it and if you feel the urge to feed the muse it helps. Trust me. Dear God and Goddess does it help. Makes me motivated to write it. ~ Bella