Disclaimer: I don't own Wicked.

Chapter 5: Slipping Away

It's been a week since Roger's arrest and the case isn't close to being solved. One day, Glinda found herself alone on the beach during a sunny day. She walked around the beach until she saw a person standing still looking at the waters. Glinda walked closer to the figure and by the time she's close to the person, she recognized the figure.

"Elphie?" Glinda said, but Elphaba didn't look at her. "Elphie, it's me Glinda. You remember me don't you." Suddenly, Glinda saw Elphaba disappear in front of her and she's now worried. "Elphie?! Where did you go?!"

Suddenly, a large wave is coming straight to shore. Glinda tried to get away but somehow, her feet is stuck on the sand. As she screams from the oncoming wave, Glinda found herself in her bedroom sweating and realized that she had a nightmare. Glinda looked at the clock and see that it's two o'clock in the morning. She took a drink of water and went back to sleep.

A few hours later, Fiyero joined with his family on their weekly travels around the Vinkus. Fiyero's just looks at the sight while his family are speaking to each other. His mother notice his quiet presence and she's worried about him.

"Fiyero, sweetie, is something wrong?" she asked.

Fiyero suddenly woke up from his daze and notice his mother talking. "What? Oh. It's nothing mother."

"Fiyero you've been acting strange all week. Is there something you want to talk about?" Kraver asked.

"I'm fine Kraver. Just stop asking me already."

"Just tell us Fiyero. We promise not to tell anyone."

"The damn boy said he's fine so stop asking him." the King told Kraver which made him stop. "He's just thinking about the things that we don't understand. He's just in love."

"Ooh. Can you tell me who's that special someone you meet with." the queen said.

"Oh just a really nice girl that's all. But she's traveling far away." Fiyero said.

"When will she come back?" Kraver asked.

"I don't know."

After a week of returning to Oz, Nessarose is quite enjoying her new job as head minister of the Munchkinland Unionist Church. She enjoys it more than being Munchkinland governess. After finishing a sermon, Glinda arrived unexpectedly.

"So how is your new job as the minister?" Glinda asked.

"It's great exactly. I tone down a lot since my time as a governess."

"How were you feeling now?"

"Actually I'm getting a little better. The sermons mostly forget of my sister's death. Why are you here though?"

"Just wanting to check how you're feeling that's all. Well I better be going now."

"Wait! Since you're here, there's something I need to tell you."

"Okay. Tell me."

"Do you know the Tin Man?"

"Of course I know him. He works for me at the palace why'd you ask?"

"Well, I never told this to anyone but, I actually created the Tin Man."

"What do you mean?"

"I heard from people that the Wicked Witch cursed a man to made him tin, but I actually made it by accident. I'm really sorry that I kept it from you."

Glinda put a hand on Nessarose's shoulders and smiled at her. "It's alright Nessa, at least you told me about. Better late than never." Glinda said before leaving the chapel.

Glinda traveled back to Emerald City and went into the Emerald Mirror headquarters. She went to the front desk for admission inside. "Hi, I'm Glinda the Good and I'm here for an interview with Reeta Zif." she told man behind the desk."

"I'm sorry but Reeta is not here because she's taking care of a sick relative. She would be back in two days though. Would you to be interviewed by another reporter?"

"No, its okay."

Glinda then sat on the waiting room to rest. While sitting there, she sees Boq and head of the Mirror, Mr. Cook, talking in his office, but couldn't hear what they are saying. She then saw Boq gaving Mr. Cook a large amount of money and both of them shake hands. Glinda turned angry and she barged into the office which surprises them.

"Miss Glinda, what are you doing here?" Boq asked.

"What is this?!" Glinda said, "Giving money to the press and you didn't tell me!"

"Miss Upland if you could just let me explain-" Mr. Cook said.

"No you be quiet Cook! Tin Man, why are you giving money to him?"

"I... I give him money just to make the Mirror write positive reviews on you." Boq explained

"So you're bribing them?!"

"It's not bribing, Miss Glinda, it's just-"

"No, you're coming back with me right now and explain all of this!" Glinda drag Boq out of the office and both left the Emerald Mirror building.

In the Vinkus, the old woman who lived in the trailer is in a grocery store finding food. When she checked her wallet, she realize she didn't brought her money. As she looked around to see if no one's watching, she put a fruit inside her coat and approach to the door. Before she could leave, Fiyero notice the old woman holding tightly to her coat.

"Excuse me miss, are you calling cold?" Fiyero asked.

"Erm, nothing my boy. Just fine." the old woman stuttered.

"Here, let me help you."

"No. I said I'm fine."

"There's no need to be shy. Just let me help you."

"I said NO!" she shouted at Fiyero which made drop the fruits from her coat. The store clerk saw the fruit and she made a run for it. The store clerks and Fiyero tried to stop her but she tries to hit them. Luckily for them, the police is near the store and saw the problem. They quickly arrived and arrested her.

"Wait, there's something I need to tell to the Scarecrow!" the old lady pleaded.

"What is it?" Fiyero asked.

"Go into my trailer, you'll one piece of the puzzle." she told him before being dragged out of the grocery.

Fiyero then went to her trailer after the old woman told her. When he enters the trailer that was unlocked, Fiyero found the place messed up and with the dog sleeping. After looking around the the trailer, Fiyero found a mysterious closet that was covered up by newspaper. When he opens Fiyero the closet, he found something shocking that he fell to the floor.

Glinda and Boq arrived back to the palace with Glinda still dragging Boq despite his heavy size. Glinda threw Boq to a chair at the White Room and began to interrogate him. "What is that all about?!" Boq said.

"I've had it with a lot of people getting through my skin. And you have done nothing but screwing up in the past month! You sit still when I question you. Now why were you bribing to Cook of the Emerald Mirror?"

"I told you, to make sure you have good reviews on the paper."

"I don't buy that story. There's something else to that story."

"I... also bribe Cook to write random people that they are plotting against you."

"You bribe the paper to ruin innocent people's lives?! How could you?!"

"Call me a heartless man all you want Glinda, I don't have a heart. No thanks to the Wicked Witch of the West."

"She didn't do this to you. The Wicked Witch didn't make you heartless!"

"How would you know?"

"I've spoke with Nessarose today and she told me that her sister didn't do it."

"Nessarose is alive? Oh Oz where is she?!"

"She's actually outside waiting." Glinda opened the door and let Nessarose inside the room. When Boq sees her, he is pretty surprised to see her alive and Nessarose looked sad when she sees Boq again.

"Hello Boq." Nessarose said.

"Wait Boq?! As in the one from Shiz University Boq?" Glinda said.

"That's right Glinda. I didn't mean to tell you because I'm scared of what you think of me." Boq said.

"I wouldn't mind Boq. I will still see the same you. But now you're acting like a criminal. Nessa, please explain Boq why he's tin."

"Boq. Elphaba didn't turn you tin on purpose. I did. I try make a spell to make you lose your heart for the other woman, but it literally lose your heart. Elphaba turn you tin because she thinks it's the only thing that could save you."

"Why didn't you tell me immediately?!" Boq asked.

"I was too scared to tell you and you storm off Munchkinland after you woke up."

"So Elphaba was actually... oh Oz I'm a terrible person. I ruin lives for being affiliated with woman who's trying to make Oz better. Is there any other way I could make this right?"

"Yes. You investigate on Elphie's death starting right now. This people has caused more trouble in Oz than her! This is the only thing to redeem yourself" Glinda said as she's about to leave the White Room.

"You're still here friend?" Boq asked which made Glinda stay.

"What?"

"Elphaba. The reason you're acting like this all the time is because you mess her."

"Yes." Glinda hesitated, "Yes I'm still her friend. Now start investigating on her death Boq." Glinda said as she left the White Room. As she's about to go back to her office, Fiyero came up to her with something in his back. "Fiyero what's wrong?" she asked. Fiyero look down and show her what appears to be a broom which shocks Glinda. "How did you find this?"

"Do you know the old woman we keep showing at the trailer park?"

"Yes."

"I found her stealing in the groceries and before she was arrsted, she told me to go to her trailer and I found it on her closet."

"Where is the woman now?"

"She's in the Vinkus jail."

"Then we better go there and question her." As Glinda and Fiyero were about to leave, Evella came up to talk to Glinda.

"Miss Upland, you have a message."

"Not now Evella, this is urgent."

"But this one's urgent. There's a body found in the shack that burned down a week ago."

Glinda found this mysterious and decided to go there instead. "Fiyero we're going to the forest." Glinda told him.

Glinda and Fiyero arrived in the forest in the dead of night and approached to the spot where the shack use to stand. "Do you think the killer's here?" Fiyero asked.

"Someone got the guts to tell us about finding a body in here." Glinda remarked, "You look at the front, I'll look at the back."

While Fiyero looks around the burned remains of the shack, someone sprung up and hit Fiyero and run away. Glinda notice this and she and Fiyero chased the person through a nearby shipyard. As they are about to catch him, Glinda felt a massive pain in her body and collapsed to the ground. Fiyero went to Glinda's side as the mysterious person slipped away. Workers on the shipyard saw them and came to check on Glinda.

"Somebody get me an ambulance. NOW!" Fiyero shouted to workers, "Don't you fucking die on me Glinda! Please don't leave us just yet!" Fiyero pleaded as Glinda's gasping for air.