Storybrooke is starting to turn against some of its heroes, horrified by recent behaviour. Henry still has hope, even if Robin and his grandfather are starting to lose theirs.
News of yesterday's events in Granny's Diner went around Storybrooke within hours, and quickly became the only topic of conversation. The news that two of their heroes, both gifted with powerful magic, had publicly turned on their previous loved ones so blatantly and brutally, was received with incredulity.
Threatening Granny was bad enough. But the fact many had witnessed Emma, their beloved Saviour, brutally lash out against Roland, then hurling his father into a wall, had gone down very badly. Added to which, the terrible way in which their mayor and sheriff had behaved after cuckolding their husbands, in one case physically trying to strangle her husband in front of his own daughter; the other by dumping all his and his son's belongings in a storeroom after forcibly evicting them, had been regarded by all as beyond the pale.
All told, people's opinions of the two women had changed completely.
The high regard people held for Snow and Ruby had also changed for the worst. Word had already leaked that David Nolan, their Prince Charming, had caught his wife in his own bed with Ruby four days earlier. Many diners had watched in sadness and disgust when Ruby publicly told her supposed true love, Dorothy, in front of everyone, that she was leaving her for Snow. But Granny's reaction had been swift. Furious at her granddaughter's infidelity and brazenness, she'd roared back, and thrown her out.
In the days that followed, things became even worse as the two new couples seemed oblivious to all the pain they'd caused. Then Snow had broken the news of her new lover to her son Neal, in the most brutal manner, in the school playground in front of his friends. She'd told him, bluntly, that she'd left his father and moved in with Ruby. Neal, now almost eight, had been devastated, and her cold attitude came just as much of a shock to the other teachers. And worse, she hadn't even spoken to him since. How could any mother do that? Then, the following day, despite having phoned into the school three days running to say she was feeling unwell and not coming in, she somehow found time for a romantic public stroll in the park with her new lover. Shortly after, two children playing with a football near the lake, had caught the pair in more than a heated embrace in the bushes nearby, leading to a screaming session as the pair, straightening their clothing, had threatened the frightened children. Snow had even clipped one around the ear, before other adults came to their rescue.
It was getting worse.
The Nolan Farm
"Isn't that a wonderful sight, Dot? I've seen it a thousand times before, but it never seems to lose its magic. New life."
David watched as Dorothy refastened the new-born lamb to its mother's teat, having been pushed away by one of its three siblings in its frenzy for milk. Four more ewes were close, nursing their own young, with another six heavily pregnant mothers in pens nearby. Having stayed away from the diner, and her wife, for four nights now, the former Oz saviour had filled her time by immersing herself in the life of the farm.
"This reminds me of Uncle Henry and Aunt Em's farm in Kansas? He was a sheep farmer, too. I loved spending my days there. They were happier times."
"It's been really helpful having you here, despite the rotten circumstances that brought you. You're welcome to stay here as long as you want, you know that, right?"
"Thanks David, I appreciate it. You and Henry have been brilliant, putting up with all my moods. Neal's been great too. But I think I'll probably move on. I'm still not sure whether to go back to Kansas, or Oz, quite frankly?" She moved to pull a particularly greedy lamb off its mother, letting a weaker new born suckle. "Granny said there's always room there, and work for me too. But I'm not sure, to be honest? Too many memories. Too much pain."
"I understand. It's a shame, though. Neal loves having you here. I do too."
"He's a great kid. Bright too! I'm gonna miss him, and all this."
"We're going to miss you, no doubt about it."
She closed the pen gate. "So you think she's going to come back? Snow?"
He gave a loud sigh. "I really don't know. Henry's convinced she's under a curse. Even more so, after what he told me happened in the diner with Emma and Regina yesterday. He's certain they're all being controlled. Gold thinks he may be on to something, and I hate to admit it, but the Dark One is usually right when it comes to magic."
"Yeah well, Henry's a smart cookie. Takes after both his grandpas." She gave him a sad smile. "If they do manage to break whatever it is, would you take her back?"
"Good question. I don't know, considering everything. But I guess I'd have to try, for Neal's sake? If I could know for certain she was acting outside her own control, and she really regretted it, then I guess there's hope for us. After I caught the pair of them in bed, if what she said was true, then the two of them had something together long before I even met her. She said if her parents had found out about Ruby, she could have been disinherited, and that was one of the reasons why she never told me. While I've really got no problem with any previous relationships, that means she lied to me from the start, and that really bugs me! How about you? Would you take Ruby back?"
"I don't think so." She looked up at him, not sure whether she should reveal something she hadn't told anyone. "I'm pretty certain this isn't the first time she's done something like this."
"You think she's cheated on you before?" Dorothy nodded. "With Snow?"
"Not Snow necessarily, but I'm fairly certain she's cheated on me several times. I've thought that for a while now."
"Really? Recently? With another woman, or a man?"
"Probably another woman; mind you she's bi, not gay, so it could have been either? But I've smelt the same perfume a few times now, and I'm fairly sure it wasn't Snow. It usually followed one of their girls' evenings with the others, which I don't go to very often. And...there were other signs." She definitely didn't want to talk about the scratches on Ruby's back and thighs. And a couple of what looked like bite marks? And underwear she was wearing once when she'd come home as she changed for bed that she definitely didn't recognise. And they were a size smaller. "Still, it's hardly important now. Do you think Snow's ever cheated on you since you married?"
"It never crossed my mind. There were a couple of one-night stands she had before the curse broke, but that was different. I even thought I was married to Kathryn at the time."
"I admit, I'd like to find out once and for all. Before I leave for...wherever."
They walked out of the birthing shed, closing the steel pen gate, looking on at the new arrivals.
"Fourteen lambs. Not bad for a first batch? I reckon you'll get at least fifteen more from the others next week."
"Yeah, here's hoping." He looked back up at the farmhouse. "Henry said he's going to order up Chinese tonight. Fancy that?"
"David, I really appreciate everything you've done for me these last few days, but I don't want to outstay my welcome by you having to feed me as well."
"Don't mention it. You've been great company. I don't want to put any pressure on you but, maybe stay a little longer? At least till we find out what happened. If Henry's right, you might want to change your mind. And if not, well at least you'll know for certain, before you go?"
"Thanks." She moved in to hug him, resting a hand on his shoulder, trying not to sob. "I really appreciate it. You've been a great friend, and I'm really going to miss you."
He accepted the hug, wrapping his own arm around her for comfort, as she let herself cry for the umpteenth time since she'd arrived. "You'll always be welcome here, you know that. Have you spoken to any other friends, to help get it all out of your system? Mulan Briar, perhaps? Or Belle Gold?"
"Not yet. Mulan's all loved up with Phil and Rory right now, so I don't want to add miserable old me to the mix, upsetting her when she's eight months pregnant? No, she doesn't need the stress."
"And Belle? I thought you two were close?"
"No, not really. I haven't spoken to her. She's always been closer to Ruby than me, to be honest."
Storybrooke Hospital – the previous afternoon
"That angioedema's pretty severe. I'm not sure I can do anything until that's gone down."
"Angio-what? Can we have that in English, Whale?"
It was just after four in the afternoon, six hours after they'd left the diner. Emma was currently lying on a hospital cot in the hospitals A&E unit, being tended to by Victor Whale, who had a bright light shining in her face, examining the after-effects of the single punch she'd received from Robin. Tinker Bell had been called to attend the examination by Regina, hoping her magic could help somehow, and the two of them now stood at the end of the bed, waiting.
"The swelling around your eyes and nose is pretty bad. It'll go down in a day or two, but we can only really operate after that. By the look of you, Emma, you have broken cartilage, but nothing too serious. You should be able to see out properly, when the swelling goes down."
"Terrific!" Emma grumbled, looking in a compact mirror at her heavily-slitted eyes, surrounded by purple and yellow puffed up bruising. "So I have to look like the Elephant Man for three more days?"
"I think I might be able to help with the swelling?" Tink looked down at Regina's wrist. And the magic blocking cuff. "As you're both currently…restricted?"
"Well don't just stand there?" The brunette glared back at her. "Do it!"
"A simple 'please' might suffice, Regina?" The fairy shook her head, taking out her wand as Whale stood back. "Okay Emma, this might sting a bit. Hold still?"
Tink pointed the wand close to Emma's face, and a dark yellow stream of light slowly appeared from the end. However, instead of sinking into the skin as expected, it bounced off?
"Dammit!" She redoubled her efforts, moving a little closer. "It's not letting me do anything? It's like something's deliberately trying to prevent me healing the surface."
"That'll be this bloody cuff!" Emma groaned. "Try using it on the cuff itself?"
She tried, but the moment the wand released its magic, something seemed to shoot directly out from the band, knocking the wand clean out of her hand?
"Hell, that's got to be Gold! He did this deliberately."
Victor Whale looked more closely. "I noticed you've both got those things on, Regina? Have you tried taking them off?"
"OF COURSE WE'VE TRIED TAKING THEM OFF, YOU BLITHERING IMBECILE!" Regina bellowed into his face. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST SIX HOURS?" She shook her head at the idiot. "I could even fix her myself, if I could get this off!"
"Well I'm very sorry ladies, but unless you can remove that swelling, or those bracelets, you're just going to have to wait for Emma's body to do its own healing, before we can fix the nose."
"Great!" Emma gritted her teeth. "That forest shit's going to pay, when I finally get this bloody cuff off!" She rubbed the bracelet again. "Gold too. And my so-called son!"
Whale and Tink shared a concerned look. They'd already been told by others what had happened in the diner. About Roland's mistreatment, and Henry's reaction. If there was any chance of this pair removing those cuffs, things were going to get nasty!
The Sherwood Inn – The following morning
"I hear what you're saying Henry, but if there's any way they're able to remove those cuffs, we could be in serious danger! Roland's already lost his mother; and his father once already. I don't want to put him through all that again."
"I promise you Robin, I won't allow them to be taken off until we've fixed this. Even if it takes years! I saw it just like you did. That wasn't mum, that was the Evil Queen staring back at me."
"So what happens next? The latest I heard from one of our informants, is that the Sheriff's Office got an anonymous complaint today about us building here? He's saying they're formally petitioning to evict us."
"Yeah, I heard that, too. A friend of mine works there, and she's as disgusted as everyone else. She told me someone made Sidney Glass sign an affidavit, saying one of your guys stole from his office. That somebody's almost certainly Regina, getting her own back for you thumping Emma. She'll put it to Council, they'll rubber-stamp it, because she's the Mayor, then she'll authorise the Sheriff's Office to act, and they'll try to evict you."
"It's like Sherwood and Prince John all over again." Robin shook his head in disbelief. "What do you suggest we do? Personally, I'm more inclined to stand and fight, than flee."
"It may not come to that. Fortunately, Grandpa Gold also sits on that council as the largest landowner. He's been doing some digging, and found a few things. What my mums did yesterday is definitely going to come up. He's also organised a council meeting for this afternoon. So sit tight?"
"Alright. Have you spoken to Killian? Does he know about all this?"
"Yeah. Apparently Emma wants to collect Hope and take her back to Mifflin Street today. He thinks if she does, he'll never get her back. So he took her offshore on the Jolly first thing this morning, till we get this fixed."
The Blanchard Loft
"Daniel, whatever are you doing here?"
Daniel Morrison was a shy, retiring man. A former lawyer in his earlier days, he'd once been a legal counsel for Snow White's father King Leopold. But he'd fallen out with the King several years before his death. He was one of the few people who advised against the king marrying a young Regina Mills, fearing for the health of the young girl who'd clearly been forced to become his second bride, a replacement for his deceased and dearly-missed queen. And the presence of her domineering and, to him, malevolent mother Cora. But when Regina became queen, she sought him out, and he became one of the few legal advisers she could trust for outside, independent advice. And now, the smiling seventy-eight year old, one of the most trusted men in Storybrook, after Archibald Hopper, was the perfect person to become Chairman of the Governors of both Storybrook Junior and High Schools, when the new rules came in following the uniting of the realms. He now sat as a legal secretary and councillor, on the town's governing body.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Nolan. I wonder if I may have a word?"
"Of course. If it's about this week's work absences, I did explain to Phillipa that I've been feeling a little unwell following…well, personal issues. But I didn't realise that would justify a visit from the Chairman of the Governors?"
He gave her an uncomfortable look. "Perhaps it's best we discuss things inside?"
She narrowed her eyes. Something's up. "Yes, okay. Come on in. Would you like coffee?"
"No thanks. It's just a flying visit."
Two minutes later, he was sat on the sofa opposite her, his little fat hands nervously squeezing the handle of his leather briefcase.
"Okay Daniel, shoot. What is it?"
"Forgive me, this is a little…difficult. I would have dealt with this in school but, as we haven't seen you there all week, I've come here at the request of the rest of the governors. This morning there was a meeting of the school Board, to discuss some...complaints."
"Complaints? Against me?"
"Yes. There's been several. One, regarding your treatment of a young pupil, Cedric Williams, on Tuesday, witnessed by a number of teachers. The second, regarding the rather public upbraiding of your own son in front of his friends. And finally…"
Snow started scowling. "Go on?"
"You striking a child in the park, close to the main pond, after you were discovered in a state of some…undress, with someone? There were a number of witnesses."
"I see. Well firstly Daniel, what has that last issue got to do with the school?"
"There was a motion put before the committee last night, with some of the opinion that your recent behaviour is unbecoming of a Head Teacher of Storybrooke High School. A very public position. I'm sure you understand?"
"So, when will this motion be voted on? And why wasn't I invited?"
"It already has been. This morning. They thought you'd be in today to defend your actions, but agreed to go ahead as there was already a quorum and you were the subject of the complaint. The decision has now been made, by a majority, to suspend you with immediate effect, pending a thorough investigation. I'm sorry."
"YOU'RE SACKING HER?"
He looked up to see Ruby on the stairs, glaring back at him.
"Mrs. Lucas-Gale? Sorry, I didn't know you were standing there. I didn't realise we were being overheard, or I wouldn't have-"
"You're sacking me?" Snow interrupted him, scarcely believing her ears.
"Not sacking you, Mrs. Nolan. Suspending you, until a full investigation into the allegations has been carried out. You'll still be on full pay till then, of course, but-"
"My husband sits on that committee! Did he vote to suspend me?"
"He wasn't there. He declined to attend."
"And Eugenia Lucas? Did she attend?" He nodded. "Did she vote to suspend me…pending this investigation?" Her last words laden with sarcasm.
"I'm not at liberty to say. As you know, all votes counted are confidential. But the majority-"
"Did you vote against me, Daniel?"
"I am allowed to tell you my own vote, should I wish to do so. No Snow, I voted to delay your suspension, until after a full enquiry has been held. But I was very much in the minority."
"I see. Well thank you for that. At least there's still some loyalty to my rank. Anything else I need to know about this meeting?"
"Yes. They also voted to remove Mayor Locksley and Sheriff Swan-Jones from the school board, with immediate effect."
"Regina and Emma? Why? What have they done that's so incurred the School Governors' wrath this time?"
"You mean you don't know?"
"No. I haven't been into the school, other than to briefly see my son, all week. And it's been over a week since I last spoke to Emma. But mark my words, I'll be speaking to her about this!"
"Then I suggest you talk to her as soon as possible? There's been a few separate issues concerning them, too. I'm sorry."
Mifflin Street – Midnight
That evening, Emma had difficulty settling. She still had a severely swollen face, the result of that bastard's, as far as she was concerned, lucky punch. If she'd had her magic, she would have killed him where he stood for that! Looking in the mirror at the heavily-bruised cheek and slitted eyes, she flinched. She looked like a fucking gargoyle! With no magic to help, and nothing to do but wait for the bruising to go down, she'd taken some of the industrial-strength painkillers Whale prescribed, along with a very large, non-prescribed, glass of scotch, and went to bed.
It would be their first night together that they hadn't made love; partly because she was put off by the thought of Regina looking up at her face; and partly because her lover was also not in much of a mood for fun, their day having been ruined by the machinations of their son.
After all they'd done for him?
That evening they'd already decided, as Henry's punishment, to cancel his monthly university fee payments and living budget, first thing the following morning. Let's see how soon he'll come running when he can't even use his cards? It would be harsh, but temporary. The best way to bring him into line.
Then, next up for retribution, was Robin-fucking-Hood! After the pain he'd inflicted on Emma, Regina thought through the best ways to exact revenge. On him, and the forest dwellers who supported him. Several dark ideas sprang to mind, so after explaining her plans with Emma, she called upon her most devoted acolyte and local newspaper editor, Sidney Glass. The former genie still enslaved to her, and her alone. A throwback to her Evil Queen days. God, life was so much easier then?
They would have to deal with Gold later, but only once she got her magic unblocked. The Dark One's involvement hadn't been expected! That vile imp had put both those wretched cuffs on them. And now, they were trapped. Worse still, the following morning, when Emma drove down to the harbour, it was only to discover that the Jolly Roger was nowhere to be seen? Jones had sailed away, taking their daughter with him, rather than face her.
Coward!
So, despite the whisky, they'd lain in bed, wide awake, unable to settle.
However, several minutes later, the pair suddenly fell into an unusually deep sleep, almost at the same time. It wasn't due to the alcohol. Or painkillers. But to magic. Magic cast across the entire house by a man now standing silently in the darkness, outside the front.
~oOo~
For Rumpelstiltskin, this was child's play.
It was magic he'd cast many times before to break into, enter, and leave without being detected. Twisting his fingers, a second spell was cast, disabling the security alarm and cameras. A third spell, and he now appeared on the first floor landing, outside the main bedroom door.
Opening it, he smiled at the sight of the two women lying there, on their backs, unconscious. Checking first for any unforeseen protection spells and wards surrounding them, he rolled his eyes, cussing himself for forgetting they were still wearing the cuffs Henry fastened on them.
A few minutes later, his work done, and the materials he'd collected held safely in the four small vials in his pocket, he reappeared at the foot of the stairs. He was about to leave the building completely, and turn the cameras and alarm back on, when he stopped himself.
"Damn, my memory really is getting worse! I almost forgot."
He walked over to the large hall mirror, and as he did so, taking a couple of hairs from one of the vials, and with another spell, his entire face, figure and clothing were transformed into a very different sight, as he then used more magic to mimic her accent to perfection.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
The mirror in front of him suddenly clouded, before clearing, as a very recognisable figure appeared.
"Why you my Queen, are the fairest still. For Snow White now looks decidedly ill!" The genie beamed back at her.
"Why Sidney," 'Regina' purred, smiling in delight. "Thank you. Do you have news?"
"Yes, my Queen. I confess, I thought you were asleep? Since you blocked all the mirrors here, apart from this one, from my gaze long ago, I couldn't tell. I did as you asked."
"Tell me exactly what you did, Sidney? I want to be sure you remembered everything!"
"I never forget details, your Majesty."
"Humour me? This is important! Remind me?"
"As you wish. I prepared three separate anonymous complaints against the forest dwellers, as you requested, and they will also be published in the Daily Mirror on Friday. One, purporting to come from a girl aged fifteen, implying one of the outlaws had touched her inappropriately. The second, suggesting that the Locksley boy had been seen being beaten by his father, your former husband, and the third, from an elderly gentlemen who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, has reported a marked increase in the rat population as the result of squalor found around their supposed hamlet, which they've called Sherwood, in memory of their former glories. All their statements will appear, together with a suitable poll showing that the majority want these outlaws punished, or at the very least, exiled. I believe that was all you requested at this stage?"
"Marvellous! I have to say, you've excelled yourself, Sydney. I'm very pleased. What would you like as a reward for your efforts?"
"Why, your Majesty, I'm delighted you think so!" He looked adoringly back at the woman he worshipped. "I would like to spend a lot more time out of this mirror-world, and more time with you? Perhaps you would even consider joining me on…a date?"
Her smile broadened even wider. "Why Sidney, I think I'd like that! Emma can be rather tedious company sometimes, and I think you've waited long enough, don't you? Come on out of there."
Sidney's ghostly face changed from a smile to a frown. "Erm, I can't do that without your command, your Majesty?"
"Oh of course, how silly of me. Sidney Glass, I release you!"
The mirror suddenly erupted in a huge cloud of white smoke, which violently billowed out from the gilded frame, to eventually clear, depositing the now very much solid, smiling figure of Sydney Glass in front of his queen.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! You won't regret it." He bowed before her, as she offered the back of her left hand to him.
As he leant forward to kiss it, he felt a sudden 'snap', of something light over his wrist?
Jerking his head up in surprise, he discovered, not the smiling figure of his queen, but the very different smile of a man staring right back at him. A man instantly recognisable.
"Dark One?" Sidney was mortified.
"Hello, dearie! Been a while, hasn't it?"
The Sherwood Inn – The following morning
"I never imagined Regina would sink so low? Not her."
Robin was devastated. He'd just listened to Rumple, accompanied by Henry, recount what he'd learnt from Sydney Glass since he'd takenhim from the mirror. The deliberate, carefully planned, underhand way she was going to have him and his men evicted from their homes, to end up god knows where?
"Don't forget Robin, it's not really Regina, is it? She's being controlled, somehow."
"I know Henry, but still? To have me accused of harming my own boy? That's unforgiveable."
All of them looked to the end of the table, where Sydney sat twitching, clearly very nervous.
"Why would you do this, Glass?" Henry asked. "Have you no shame? No honour?"
"My queen commands, and I must obey. I have no choice."
"No choice? To lie, to cheat, to create false allegations? What are you talking about?
"He's controlled by your mother's blood enchantment, Henry." His grandfather explained. "Has been for decades now, ever since she first became the Evil Queen. Sidney here even procured a rare Agrabah viper for her, to kill your great grandfather, the King. Isn't that right, Sidney? He lives solely for her adoration, and will put up with any humiliation, any insult, any degrading, just for her approval. It's rather pathetic really." He spoke as though the man wasn't sitting in front of them.
"You said he's also a genie, but tied to a mirror, instead of a lamp? So, can we rub it somehow and free him from her?"
"No, my boy. Only Regina, or the Evil Queen if they're separate, can do that. My guess is she's always been reluctant to do so. Sydney here is one of her last protections. When he's in the mirror, his powers are immense. When he's out here, well…as you can see, he isn't much."
Robin sat forward, looking at Sydney's original draft for the newspaper's release on Friday. "So, you're suggesting we show this, and him, to this council meeting you requested? What happens when he gets there, and lies through his teeth on her behalf?"
"Oh, he will dearie, you can count on it! Sydney here will say anything, do anything, his queen, and only his queen, commands. That's why we need to come prepared."
Meanwhile…
Regina had woken up later than usual, around nine. Her head was still cloudy, and her body ached. Her previous night hadn't been helped much by Emma's groaning, the result of her facial injuries. But as she looked over at her fiancée, now still sound asleep, she was at least comforted by the fact that the swelling didn't look quite as bad as yesterday. Hopefully she'd have her beautiful sheriff back to normal before too long.
But as she started to lift herself up from the bed, Regina felt an odd twinge in her left arm. Like a dull ache? Pulling at the limb with her right hand and looking down, she noticed a small purple bruise on her left upper arm, close to the shoulder.
Did I hit something in the diner last night?
Climbing out, she completely failed to notice three tiny blood spots on her side of the bedsheet.
After popping in to the bathroom to relieve herself, she put on a dressing gown and walked downstairs to make desperately needed coffee. Five minutes later, she walked back past the long mirror, and remembered one of the most important things she had to do today. Did Sidney carry out her instructions to the full?
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
She waited patiently for her personal slave to come through.
"Sidney, get on with it!"
Another minute passed, and she tried again.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? Sidney?"
Again, nothing. "Sidney, come on, I'm waiting!"
But the mirror stayed clear. Nothing.
"Is that you, Gina?" Emma yelled down from upstairs, as she appeared on the landing. "Who were you talking to?"
"Oh. It's not important. I thought you were still asleep. How are you feeling?"
"Sore. Still, today's the day we sort out your husband, so that's cheering me up! I just noticed a bit of a bruise on my right shoulder I never spotted yesterday? Looks like I've left a bit of blood on the sheets, too. Sorry babe."
"Don't worry about it, I'll just…" As Emma walked down the stairs, Regina lifted her hand to cast the simple spell to strip the bed, before noticing the magic-blocking cuff. "Dammit. Another thing I have to do later."
"It's a pain being without it, isn't it?" She reached her, sliding her arms around the brunette's waist, pulling her in. "Good morning, beautiful. I know my face looks like Quasimodo's right now, but can I have a kiss anyway?"
"Silly question. You'll always be beautiful in my eyes." Regina cautiously attached her lips to Emma's, being careful to avoid the bruising. "Better?"
"Only if you keep doing it. Did I smell coffee? I may need a straw to drink it, mind."
"I'll go pour you some."
"Thanks. Aren't you supposed to be speaking to Sidney again today?"
"Yes. I can do it from the office. Want to join me?"
"Yeah. I want to see the first drafts for Friday. Locksley's not going to know what hit him!"
~oOo~
A few minutes later, as the pair sat at their kitchen worktop, Regina turned on her phone and worked her way through the various emails and messages that arrived. Then she spotted something else.
"An EGM? Why the hell would he do that?"
"Sorry babe, what's that?"
"Morrison's just called an Extraordinary General Meeting of the town's Senior Council, for two o' clock this afternoon."
"Danny Morrison? That old duffer who does your legals? And you weren't made aware?"
"Definitely not. As Mayor, all major council meetings are organised through my office. I smell trouble!"
"Yeah? So, what do you want to do about it?"
"I need to get to him before the meeting. And I need to speak to Sidney!"
~oOo~