"You can't just abandon her!" David barks at Gold. The two are in a heated argument about finding Emma. Half the force is outside the door of Gold's office, all on David's side in support of finding their fellow member. Leroy stands in the corner of Gold's office, his arms across his chest, doing his very best to control his anger toward the selfish Commissioner.
"I am doing no such thing, Lieutenant," Gold says coldly.
"She's one of the best people on this force and you're not giving her case a passing glance," David says accusingly.
"I am merely following protocol, Mr. Nolan,"
David wants to punch Gold so badly. He takes a step back and lets out a frustrated sigh. "You're telling me, you will not dedicate your time and effort to find someone who has spent the last ten years committed to this force and bringing in many criminals, many of which she never lays claim to and does everything you've ever asked of her and you won't..."
"I understand your distress over this situation Lieutenant Nolan, given your friendship with Miss Swan (which I find a waste of time), but I cannot have the entire Boston Police Force dropping everything to find one person, for who all we know, ran away because of the unfortunate life she's had."
"That's absolute bullshit!" Leroy barks. He begins to charge at Gold, but David does his best to hold him back. "She'd never run away. Just because she's had a bad past, doesn't mean she'd run away from her problems like you might. She puts her sweat and blood into her work, more than you ever would, and here you accuse her of abandoning her life."
"How dare you speak to me like that?!" Gold shouts back, standing up from behind his desk.
"It's a long time coming, you bastard," Leroy snarls.
"Find yourself a new job Mr. Arnsberg," Gold shouts. "I will not tolerate disrespect!"
"You think I care? I've been waiting seven years for you to say that to me. You're a tyrant and I hope you rot in hell!"
Leroy then storms out of the office and slams the door behind him.
David is stunned by what Leroy had just said, but he's sure that anyone who heard that would know that it was a long-time coming, but David knew he had to keep his job, for his wife and unborn child and for Emma.
David turns back to an enraged Gold is a flushed red colour and panting angrily like a rabid animal.
"I've known Emma for more than five years. You know and I know that she's had a hard life and been through a lot lately, but she would not, under any circumstances abandon her son or go anywhere without telling anyone. We're dealing with an abduction case and…" David swallows hard. "P-Possible homicide."
"My word is final Lieutenant," Gold says.
"Then you'll be looking for half a new police force if you don't take this seriously."
Gold pauses and glares at David.
"I will put you in charge of the investigation, just don't come crying to me when your leads run cold."
…
"Tell me the last time you saw Emma Swan," an officer named Jack asks Killian. David, Henry, Regina, Mary Margret, Ruby, Leroy, Elsa and several other officers are standing behind the mirror glass watching the interrogation of Emma's boyfriend.
David, Henry, Regina, Mary Margret, Ruby, Leroy, Elsa and several other officers are standing behind the mirror glass watching the interrogation of Emma's boyfriend.
"I've got to admit, he is really good looking," Ruby smirks. "Good job Emma,"
Mary Margret glares at Ruby. "This is no time for jokes,"
"Sorry M, just trying to lighten the mood."
"Why are we questioning Killian anyways?" Henry asks. "He wasn't there the night my mom disappeared."
"We have to go through all the possibilities Henry," David explains. "We even have to consider the chance that Killian may have grabbed Emma. It's standard protocol"
"We also have to question his roommates in order to back up his claims," a female officer named Nova explains.
"We've sent a call in for them," a telegrapher, copying down the words being said in front of the glass.
Inside the room, Killian sits as comfortably as he can in an interrogation room. He knew from his time of watching cop shows that everyone must be questioned, including the boyfriend, because 90% of the time, a homicide or kidnapping was a spouse or partner.
The officer, Jack, has blue eyes and brown hair that shags in front of his very youthful face. He doesn't look much older than Killian himself. He definitely works out, as his muscles bulge slightly under his police uniform. But the thing about Jack that doesn't make Killian too uncomfortable is that Jack has a rather gentle demeanor. It's as if it were a friend questioning him than an officer of the law. Besides, Killian had nothing to hide.
"I last saw her on Thursday night after we went to her friends' house for dinner," Killian explains. "We kissed and said good night. Her son Henry can back up the claim."
"Was that the last time you heard from her?" Jack asks, chewing on his lip.
"No, we texted on Friday night, just around 7:30 I think it was,"
"You think or you know?" Jack says insistently.
"I still have the texts on my phone if you want to look at them to get the time," Killian says.
"And what did you talk to her about?"
"I just wished for her to have a good night out, she texted me a selfie of her outfit to show what I was 'missing out on,' and then we said goodnight."
"Then what did you do?"
"I spent the night at home, watching a big football game on TV before heading off to bed as I had to get up early for work," Killian says.
"Did you try to contact Miss Swan at all on Saturday?"
"A few times," Killian says. "I called and left voice mails, I texted her, I even tried to contact her on social media and Instagram."
"And were you at all worried when she didn't respond?"
"Not at first. I assumed that she had a hangover from all the fun and didn't want to be disturbed, but when I got a call from her son Henry asking me if she was over at my place, I began to worry a lot more."
"What did you do next?"
"I tried her phone so many times I couldn't keep track and when David…"
"You mean Lieutenant Nolan?"
"Yes, when Lieutenant Nolan called me, I knew something was very wrong. So, I came over to their house and I've been staying there ever since in hopes of news."
Jack paces on the spot for a moment before turning back to face Killian. Jack could tell that Killian was genuinely concerned for his girlfriend's well-being. He made direct eye contact and was even drinking water, not usual signs of a suspect with something to hide. Jack did sense that something no matter how small was a bit off about him. What that was, he couldn't tell yet.
"And you were the one who filed the missing person's report?"
"Yes," Killian says.
"Normally only blood relatives can do that,"
"I'm aware of that Mate, but at current this moment, Emma has no living parents, at least any that she knows of." Killian swallows, knowing he's revealing a private secret of Emma's. "Her parents abandoned her on the side of a highway, she was never legally adopted and was in the foster system her whole life. She's never been married and her son is a little young to be filing missing person's reports."
Jack does his best not to nod. He eye's Killian carefully, but nothing about his current behaviour indicates guilt. He continues to ask standard questions of the boyfriend, for what feels like hours, until he has nothing left to ask of the man. He then leaves to join David and Nova behind the glass. This was a common police tactic to observe a suspect's behaviour to see if there were changes.
All of them watch as Killian leans into his arms and lets out a deep sigh. It feels like forever before his body begins to move up and down a little bit. There's a long moment of silence until they hear sounds of sobbing.
"He's crying?" Leroy gasps in disbelief.
Nova elbows her fellow, former employee angrily. "It's not bad for a man to cry."
"The problem that I have with his statement is that he went to bed early," Jack says, looking over the transcript.
"How come?" Elsa asks.
"It doesn't seem to fit and he actually broke eye contact with me. Plus, I'm a sports fan myself and I know that football season has not started yet so there was no big game on Friday. If there were, he wouldn't be at home, most people his age would be at a bar with foaming beer, not at home."
"A sportsman huh?" Elsa says, raising an eyebrow. "You seem to be an expert?"
"Yes, I'm a man who enjoys his Friday nights in the bar cheering on the team."
"But why make such a generalized assumption?" Elsa asks skeptically
"It's just a theory Miss…uh…" Jack stammers.
"Arendella,"
"That's quite a mouthful,"
"It's a Danish name," Elsa says almost defensively.
"Really? My family is Danish too."
"Wow," Elsa says in surprise.
David looks at the other officers in confusion.
"Maybe the family heritage talk can wait until after Emma is found,"
Elsa blushes a bit and Jack turns away.
"We'll learn more when we question the roommates," Nova says, bringing everything back on track. "Right, but now I want you, Miss Lucas, to text all your friends and tell them to come to the station for questioning. It will make it easier on our staff to follow up with any other leads without having to contact witnesses."
"Yes ma 'me," Ruby says and exits the room to go and do so.
"Mary you should go home," David says, helping his wife up from the chair.
"I'm fine David," Mary Margret insists.
David sighs. He wasn't too keen on having his wife here at the station anyways. He didn't want her to be too stressed. As her due date loomed near, the officer felt like a bundle of nerves and the stress was taking its toll on both. With their good friend missing and the imminent birth of their child and becoming parents, they were almost at their wit's end.
Nova turns to Jack.
"You can tell Killian he's free to go. We can't do anything till his roommates are questioned."
"I doubt he had anything to with it anyways," Elsa says insistently. She knew that a guilty person would not weep like Killian had unless he was close to being caught. Elsa obviously didn't know Killian very well, but she did know Emma, and she knew that Emma would not pick a shady and mistrustful individual. She'd want an honest man and someone who would never hurt her or her son.
"With all due respect Miss Arendella, we can't rule him out just yet," Nova says firmly.
Elsa nods and then watches as Jack goes into the interrogation room to let Killian go. She can't quite understand why he fascinates her so. She wasn't a shallow person, but it seemed as if his youthful looks and well-built body were drawing her closer to him.
"Nova, I'm going on break," Jack announces as Elsa watches from the hall.
Elsa swallows hard and then slowly approaches the young officer.
"Excuse me Mr…"
"Overland," Jack says.
"That's not exactly Danish," Elsa points out teasingly.
"Are you a Danish expert?" Jack asks, raising his eyebrow.
"No, my parents did speak Danish and kept our European heritage alive in our house,"
"Must be nice," Jack says as he tries to walk past Elsa, but she follows him. They walk side by side.
Elsa's heart races anxiously as she follows the young officer down the corridor. "Do you know if there's a place to get coffee here?"
"It's in the break room, but it actually tastes like crap. It would be better to go up the street to a nice little café on the corner."
"Maybe you could show me…?" Elsa says, biting her lip. "I'm not exactly familiar with this area."
"A good sign that you're not a felon," Jack jokes.
Elsa giggles a bit.
"I'd be happy to show you, just let me get my jacket."
Elsa waits patiently as Jack goes into the locker room to get his things. Elsa feels a little light headed. She's never felt this way before. He's very sweet and a bit of a jokester. She'd never thought she'd have these feelings, the types of feelings Anna describes of having with Kris. She finds him very…
Jack comes back with this officer's coat and Elsa wraps her jean jacket around herself. They walk through the main lobby of the station
Suddenly, Elsa's phone buzzes.
"Darn it's my sister," Elsa moans stopping for a moment. "When will she grow up?"
"You have a sister?"
"A very young and immature one," Elsa mutters.
"I do too. My sister clings onto me like a leech and she's always asking for money from me,"
"Anna is the same way, one time…"
Their conversation vanishes into the night air.
…
Leroy sits in a chair in the main lobby, drinking heavily while others rush around him
"Bloody hell," Killian moans, taking the seat next to the man. He reaches over and snatches Leroy's flask and takes a swig.
"Hey!" Leroy barks, grabbing it back. It's as if his alcohol is his most precious possession. "Don't ever do that again!"
"Sorry Mate," Killian says. "Just that rum keeps me awake."
"Helps me forget," Leroy grumbles.
Killian nods and watches the officers rush by in a flurry of activity. Even at night, the police station never slept. Leroy does his best to ignore Emma's boyfriend because he was the reason that Emma was so distracted, but at the same time, he knew that Killian cared for Emma, probably more deeply than Leroy cared for anyone, but all the same.
"I'm so glad Gold fired me," Leroy says to no one. "I couldn't handle all this crap."
"He fired you?"
"For telling him the truth. Gold is not a good person by any stretch of the imagination. He thinks himself as so high and mighty, but the reality is, he's a snake…a reptile."
Killian says nothing but just nods. He continues to stare forward, his mind running away with where his beloved Emma might be. He can't believe that she worked here amongst the criminals and actually took orders from this jerk Gold.
"What was Emma like at work?' Killian asks
Leroy swigs before answering.
"She was the best of the best," the gruff man says. "She cared about what she did, she never missed a day of work, but she was late for a few…I assume that some of those were your fault."
Killian turns red, but Leroy continues.
"She could kick anyone's ass and believe it or not, she was actually happy to work here despite the tyrant." Leroy wrinkles his nose as Gold passes them, not even acknowledging their existence. "She was pretty quiet and did keep to herself a lot. She had a tough past and was hard to relate to. She was a mystery, to say the least."
"The woman is an enigma,' Killian agrees. "It's what draws me to her…"
Leroy drinks again and the two sit in silence for a long while.
"If Emma was such a mystery, how did you know she wouldn't just up and leave?" Killian asks.
"Because the one thing I do know about Emma with 100% certainty is she would never abandon those she loved. She loves Henry with every inch of her soul and she would never leave him in the lurch."
Killian nods and looks over to give Leroy a smile. The two watch as Mary Margret and Henry get candy bars out of the vending machine.
"He's a good kid," Leroy says. "He doesn't deserve this and neither do the Nolan's, especially when a baby is about to make three."
"Emma doesn't deserve this either," Killian sighs, fighting back a few tears. He swallows his sadness as much as he can.
"No she doesn't, but if I know her, she would rather die than abandon those she cares about…"
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Killian mutters.
Thanks, guys, please review because it really helps me out. Thank you for all those who've commented already, I really appreciate it.