"And you're certain this is the plate number?" David asks August.
August sits in David's office with the new information that he's gathered. He's decided to keep in close contact with the police. Even though he's not employed by the law, they are the ones who will bring this guy to justice. At the same time, the private investigator will be able to do things that the police couldn't, like not having to report to a supervisor and using high-tech spy equipment.
"100%" the private investigator nods. "I double checked with him, he says that he was coming back from a business trip and was staying in a motel in Connecticut. When he got home, his partner noticed that his plates had been switched."
"Well now we know we're looking for the right car," David says, so relieved. He turns to Jack in the corner.
"I want to set up a news conference for today if possible. I want all this new evidence to be given to the public. We must make sure Emma's face doesn't fade from the media any more than it has. We know she's alive and we have to find her before he tries to move again. The word needs to go out to look for this car, with the license plate and Arthur King himself. If he's keeping Emma somewhere, if they can't find her, the public can find him."
"I'm on it David," Jack nods.
"I also want the public to be told that the children have been found. I also want an update on his description, the kids told the Connecticut officers that he'd shaved his head."
"Anything else?" the young officer asks.
"Pray that we get some leads."
David then radios for Nova to come in.
"What's up, David?" she asks.
"I want you to get in touch with all the state border patrols to be on the lookout for the car, but also see if you can get any security footage to any of the states that are adjacent to Connecticut and that includes Massachusetts."
"I'm on it,"
"Give them the description of the car and our number," David says, handing her the information.
"Will do Lieutenant. How are Mary and the baby doing by the way?"
"We brought him home yesterday, he's such a strong little guy."
"Keeping you up at night though huh?" Nova asks, noticing the bags under David's eyes.
"He's got quite the pair of lungs," the new father says, cracking a tired smile.
"Just like his Daddy," Nova teases before exiting the office.
David goes back to his desk and begins to add August's notes to the file.
"Do you really think this guy would come back into Massachusetts?" August asks.
"It would make sense if you think about it," David says. "It'd be a smart move. He could assume that all of us would be keeping an eye on the Mexican and Canadian borders and not watching the state borders. He could be right under our noses and keep Emma hostage for as long as he wants. Also, Boston is only one of many cities in this state alone and if he's somewhere else, he's out of our reach and we can't arrest him."
August nods, putting his hand over his face and scratching his dark beard. "That is very true. Small towns, hamlets or even the country would be a great place to hide. If you were in a large city, you could not keep a hostage very well, especially in an apartment building, but you would get more cover. In a small town, you could keep a hostage quite easily but people would notice the new face easily…"
"Are you thinking of calling small towns in Massachusetts and ask if there are new faces?" David asks.
"It does seem kind of unrealistic, stupid even, but it's a start…" August says, writing down a few things in his notebook.
"Do you want some extra man power?" David asks.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Leroy was part of Emma's department until Gold fired him. He wants to stay involved with finding Emma… you could hire him to help you out."
"It would be nice to have some extra hands," August nods.
"And maybe Killian Jones too? He's out of work with his broken leg and he desperately wants to find Emma too."
"Neal could help as well," August ponders.
David swallows a lump in his throat and just nods. While the officer can hardly forgive the man for what he did to Henry and Emma, he was the one who called August in the first place, proving that he did care about finding her.
"Can I get Leroy and Killian's number?" August asks.
"Sure," and he writes them out for the PI.
"Thanks, I'll call you if anything comes up."
…
"Oh, Mary he's so beautiful," Aurora coos gently as she holds her own son over the crib to peer down a little Jacob.
"Baby Mommy!" Phillip Jr. says, pointing at the tiny infant in the crib.
"That's right honey, a baby."
Mary Margret sits in a rocking chair and gives Aurora a tired smile. She rocks back and forth, resting as her son has been keeping her up all night. As much as it was a joy to be a mother, it was very exhausting. She knew this way before hand, but all the parenting books and Lamaze classes cannot prepare you for when you bring the baby home. You could prepare all you wanted, but raising a baby is more of learning on a curve.
"It's not easy, is it?" Aurora says sympathetically, as she puts her son down on the floor to play with the toys that Jacob was too young for. "Just wait until after they turn one, you'll want those sleepless nights back."
"For someone who works with children all day, you'd think I'd be ready for this."
"Well, think of it this way; you only have to deal with those kids for six hours a day, then you can go home and open a bottle of Sangria. When you're a mom, you deal with them 24/7.
The teacher forces herself to smile, she lays back and rests her eyes. Her body feels so weak and tired. Despite being on maternity leave, it felt like there was never enough hours in the day to feed her son, keep the house clean, do laundry, change her son, cook meals, buy groceries, put her son to sleep and so on. She felt so much like a housewife from the 50's now. Her new life barely allowed her to spend time with David, help with finding Emma anymore, make sure Henry and Killian were doing okay etc. Regina had taken over the latter of those jobs, but Mary still felt as useless as before. A new individual depended heavily on her, more than her best friend in a dire situation.
She slowly dozes off in the chair and Aurora decides to take her son home to allow the mother to sleep.
But, less than two hours later, Jacob woke up screaming, throwing the world into chaos once again.
…
"Are you serious?" Killian asks as August stands with Leroy and Neal at the door of Emma's apartment.
"It really would help me out if I had some extra hands. If you help me, we might be able to find Emma faster," August explains.
Killian flushes a shade of red. As much as he wants to help find Emma, he's not sure if he's comfortable with working with Neal.
"And you're all prepared to help?" Killian asks, eyeing Neal harshly. Neal tries to avoid Emma's boyfriend's gaze but then looks him in the eyes.
"I'm the one who brought August here in first place. I still care about Emma, Killian. I don't care what you think of me, but I care about bringing her home to her son. I want her home, safe and sound."
Killian swallows. Emma's ex-fiancé sounds genuine, but he's still skeptical. Maybe he's worried that once Emma is found, she'll want to go back to Neal. Killian's stomach twists at the thought, but then again, it's been three years. If Emma was going to go back to Neal, or he wanted to get back together with her, he would've done so by now. Plus, sitting around the house recovering from his injuries is becoming boring. He'd grown annoyed of Regina's constant phone calls to clients and apparently, her DJ suitor. Plus, the only exercise he can get is going to the kitchen or bathroom and back again. He also knows that Regina is bitching and whining about basically being Killian's nursemaid while raising Henry at the same time.
"Alright," the docks man says. "I'll help, just tell me what to do,"
Suddenly, there's a knock at the door.
August turns around and opens it. Elsa and Anna stand there. Elsa is dressed in her work uniform and Anna, jeans and a t-shirt.
"Hello?" he asks in confusion. "How can I help you?"
"I heard from Jack at the station about you starting to investigate small towns and I would like to volunteer Anna."
The red-head looks very disgruntled, most likely that she was forced to come here by her sister.
"Anna is currently not working and needs to get out of the house more."
"Elsa I told you…"
The blonde turns to her sister.
"Look, Anna, I know you're trying to get a music career going, but you can do a lot more good right now by helping the private investigator."
Anna continues to glare at her sister and then looks at August.
"Uh… that's fine if she wants to help, but I can't pay her anything."
"That's fine," Elsa says. "As long as she had something to do she's fine."
Anna opens her mouth to speak, but her sister basically shoves her into the room.
"I'll be back after my shift," she says, leaving before Anna has the chance to protest.
"Come on in Miss Anna," August says, stepping aside. "Welcome aboard."
…
David makes sure his badge is on straight as he prepares to go out in front the cameras. Nova and Jack stand by his side.
"Do I look okay?" David asks, a little nervous. Even though he's done press conferences before, being in front of the public did make him nervous.
"You'll do fine Dave," Nova says, patting him on the shoulder.
"He most certainly will," a voice says, coming up behind them. They all turn to see Commissioner Gold decked out in his full uniform, including his hat. "Because he will not be doing this conference."
David's eyes go wide; he begins to glare at the commissioner and his heart begins to pound. He clenches his fists in preparation for having yet another fight with Gold. He knew it was only a matter of time before Gold tried to pull this case. They weren't making sufficient progress so he was going to shelve the case. David knew he would not go down that easily, he'd fight tooth and nail to keep Emma's case going.
The three officers speak at once.
"But Sir," Nova begins. "David is the leading investigator on this case."
"You better not be shutting this case down because so help me…" David warns.
"How could you?" Jack asks angrily.
Gold holds his hand up to silence the officers. They all glare at him, but fall silent.
"I believe you misunderstood what I meant," Gold says calmly. "David will not be doing the conference because I will be."
David looks confused and his eyes are wide.
"Y-you mean you're not closing the case?" he asks.
"No by a mile," Gold says.
"Why are you doing it when David is the one who knows the facts of the case?" Nova asks.
"Why the change of heart?" Jack asks.
Gold straightens a medal on his uniform before speaking.
"All very good questions, but I suppose the main reason I am doing this is because ever since I found out that I have a grandson and his mother is now being held by an evil man… Due to recent events, I've realized that I must do my part in supporting this case and finding her. First thing Monday morning, I'm coming on your team Lieutenant,"
David's mouth is open in shock.
"As a worker?" Nova asks suspiciously.
"As a worker," the commissioner nods. "As a man who lost his mother at a very young age and after Bae's mother left, I realized that family is most important and every boy should have a mother in his life. I plan to end this awful cycle that seems to be plaguing this family and do my part to assist in bring Miss Swan home safe and sound."
"Do you mean that?" David asks.
"Every word, now if you will be so kind Lieutenant, give me the information I must say to the press."
As David reluctantly gives Gold his notes, Nova raises her eyebrows. She doesn't buy Gold's act, not for a moment. He's always being a selfish and narcissistic person and didn't care about anyone but himself. Why would he magically have a change of heart now? From what Leroy told her about when Gold met his son again, things were strained, to say the least. She figured this was Gold's way of showing his son that he cared and that he wanted to reconnect with him. Prove himself to his son that he was a good person again. She also suspected that the woman Lacey had something to do with it. He seemed to have fallen for the woman and the commissioner was now likely trying to prove himself to her as well, showing her that he was a caring person. As Gold steps, up to the podium in front of all the flashing cameras, she continues to look at him skeptically, waiting for his slip up to confirm her theory.
"Good evening," Gold says. "The Boston Police Department are partially pleased to announce that we have had some recent leads in the case of Miss Emma Swan, who was abducted on September 15th, 2016. There were also AMBER alerts that went out for the two children, who were also believed to have been kidnapped by the suspect known by the name Arthur Julius King. I am pleased to report to you that the children have been found safe and unharmed and were returned to their mother. The family will also be put into protective custody until such time as Arthur King is caught. However, Miss Swan was not found with them and I regret to inform you is still missing. We have reason to believe that this man Arthur King has a terrible agenda for her, but has not killed her. Instead, he is holding this woman against her will. We do have an updated description of the man and the vehicle in which he was driving. We also have the license plate number, which was switched with a man in Connecticut, who wishes to remain anonymous at this moment."
Gold then gives the description of the vehicle, of Arthur King and the license plate number.
"We have reason to believe that Arthur King may be attempting to cross the state borders or the country borders with Miss Swan. If you see the vehicle or spot this man or his victim, please report to your local police station. On behalf of Miss Swan's family and friends and the Boston Police Department, we thank you. I will now take a few questions from reporters."
As the reporters shout different questions at the commissioner, Nova continues to glare at him angrily, not in the least bit convinced that Gold actually cares about Emma. All he wants is to put the station in a good light and to change his own image.
"Don't believe that bullshit," Nova says through gritted teeth to David. "He doesn't care at all."
"That's what I assumed the second he said he would work for me," David whispers back. "If he thinks he can waltz in and take over the investigation, he has another thing coming.
…
The apartment is crowded with Emma's friends and family. Even the very tired Mary Margret and David with their new baby are there. Ruby, MeyLing, Regina, Lacey and even Zelena are starting to help August in his investigation. They decided that working at night together could add more firepower to Emma's search and that thing would get done much faster if they all helped. The room is abuzz with chatter and comparisons of notes.
"Are you sure he could still be in Massachusetts?" MeyLing asks August. "And in a small town too?"
"It would make a lot of sense," Ruby says. She had only agreed to help with this, if Neal went home early that is, which he did. "I mean if I was a kidnapper…"
Henry watches reluctantly from the hallway. He wanted to help so badly, but he was stuck doing homework and most of the adults were trying not to overwhelm him too much by adding this nighttime investigation to his load. While he appreciated their concern, he'd much rather be doing something important than algebra.
He goes back into his room, sad that he hadn't really had the chance to talk to his dad that much either. Nobody in his living room wanted to talk to him and Neal had gone without saying much to Henry.
Henry sits on his bed, trying to focus on a problem when his phone begins buzzing. He assumes it might be Violet, asking how he was or about something from Spanish class. He checks the ID. It's an unknown number. Then he assumes it might be a telemarketer or someone who has the wrong number. He answers it.
"Hello?" he asks.
"H-Henry? Is that you?" a shaky voice asks.
The teen nearly drops his phone.
"M-Mom?!"
Big cliffhanger here. Taking the advice of one of my reviewers about what should happen next. This should make up for the short chapter last week. Thank you for the reviews and follows. Peace to all, good night.