Chapter 10: The Curious Case of Ashley Boyd
Emma Swan frowned as she sat in front of her son's hospital bed stroking his hair. She still wasn't over the fact that Jaime's so called mother had dosed him with sleeping pills and then he had somehow managed to fall out a window and break his arm. He was lucky that he was able to find Harry on the street, God knows, what could happen to him.
Whale said they were lucky—lucky, sure. Emma frowned as she looked at her phone, expecting Regina to call. Surely, she had to know that Jaime was gone by now. Then again, it was Saturday.
Saturday Shag Day, Jaime had called it.
She shook her head. She had had enough of this, she was going to call Ford and get accelerate the procedures. Maybe get a temporary hearing, drugging a kid on Ambien and having him fall out of the window had to qualify for unfit even in this town.
Emma sighed as she thought about the past few days, she knew she had screwed up and told Hermione as much when she had called Ford's office earlier that day to thank him for getting a retraction so quick.
Ford, though, was out of the office. Apparently, he had gone on vacation for the weekend after handling the retraction.
Emma was surprised Ford never took vacation and told Hermione as much.
"His work load has been a lot lately," Hermione said. "I told him to take a few days off."
"Is it this case?" Emma asked. "I know that he has connections with Storybrooke."
"Connections?" Hermione asked, clearly Ford hadn't told her about his past.
"Yes," Emma said. "I know he used to live here and that there's bad blood between him in the mayor after what she did to his wife."
"Wife?"
God, Emma had a big mouth.
"Forget what I said, Hermione." She said, "It's none of my business and if Ford—I am normally not this much of a gossip."
"You're not being that a gossip it's just that—I haven't heard Ford talk about his wife to really anyone in years."
"I gathered it was a sensitive topic. I—I've known him for a decade and he never mentioned her once."
She frowned. Her thoughts continued to go back to Lacey Gold's death today. She still couldn't believe that Regina had managed to get Moe French off for killing his daughter drunk. As a prosecutor, it made her blood boil.
Then again, the whole legal schematics of this town threw her off. She was worried about her case against Regina. Even if she could prove that she could provide Jaime an idyllic life, she knew that Ford was going to have a tough time getting custody changed if the case was in Storybrooke. There was no way in hell that Leroy should still be jail right now. She had started working on a motion that would have Judge Deville's ruling overturned but she knew it was going to be easier said than done.
It was sad how much the case had been eating her up most of today, and that—well, it wasn't until she saw Harry caring an unconscious Jaime that she was able to let go.
She still couldn't believe that Jaime had broken his arm, especially given the circumstances—
"Emma?"
It was Mary Margret of all people.
The teacher who stood her up the other day for coffee.
"What do you want?"
"I—uh, volunteer here on the weekends. Well, when I'm not at the library. I didn't know that Henry was here. Does Regina know?"
"I left at least twenty messages on her machine voice and text. So, she should if she and Graham aren't doing the nasty right now."
Yeah, she was a little blunt. But honestly, she didn't like Mary Margret. The woman did not have a backbone and made her sit at Granny's for forty-five minutes without having the common courtesy of texting her and letting her know she wasn't going to show up because Regina told her not to.
Mary Margret blinked. "Oh, um, well—I don't know. I didn't get a call to babysit Henry—err, HJ tonight—so I thought that she was at home."
"Obviously, she wasn't." Emma said, "She didn't need your services. Apparently, locking up a kid in his room with Ambien was adequate childcare. Too bad he fell out the window and broke his arm. I don't know what would've happened if Harry hadn't had found him."
"Your husband?" Mary Margret said.
"You know I'm married?" Emma asked.
The dark headed woman nodded. "I met him at the library. He and I had a nice chat, and I—uh, I called you earlier. I wanted to tell you how sorry I was for the other day."
Emma shrugged. "Sure, you were."
"I—" Mary Margret said. "I should've followed my gut rather than listened to Mayor Mills' advice. I really want to start over, if you let me."
Emma sighed heavily. A part of knew she should be willing to give the woman a second chance, she had apologized to her, but at the same time Emma had been burnt one too many times in her life. "I accept your apology, Ms. Blanchard, but at the moment the last thing I can think of is trying to get a cup of coffee with you again."
"I can understand that," Mary Margret said. "Do you want me to try calling Regina again? I might be able to reach Graham. If he's with her."
Emma nodded as the door opened again.
"Oh, thank God you're still here." Dr. Whale said.
Emma rolled her eyes. "Really, my son is in the hospital? Where else would I be?"
Dr. Whale ignored her. "You need to come with me, Mrs. Swan. It's your husband."
"My husband?" Emma said for a moment she was going to ask just who Whale was talking about, then she remembered she was married.
To Harry.
"Yes, your husband." He said. "Apparently, he was found unconscious near Granny's. Mugged. So many interesting cases tonight, usually this never happens."
"Do you mind watching HJ?" Emma asked Mary Margret.
"Of course," She said before looking at Whale. "Really, Frank, mugged?"
"Yes," He said. "Apparently, Ms. Lewis found him when she was coming back from her date. He was knocked out cold. Seems Mr. Swan's belongings were taken. I called Humbert, hopefully he'll figure out what's going on."
"Is he going to be okay?" Emma asked.
Whale shrugged. "I think so. Need to run some tests before I'm sure though. Always have to do that with a head injury. I need you to fill out some forms too."
Forms?
Forms that she didn't know anything about. Like whether or not Harry was allergic to anything, if he had insurance, what his blood type was, who his primary physician was.
She inwardly growled, upset that Harry had to get himself knocked out.
God, what was wrong with her? Her husband had suffered a head injury she should be concerned about him not inwardly cursing him for making her fill out forms she knew nothing about.
"Mrs. Swan, I need those forms?" He said.
"I need to see my husband first, can I see him?" Not bothering to correct him that Harry's last name was Potter and that she was still using her maiden name.
"Um, well, I still need you to fill out the paperwork. But I suppose you can see him, it won't hurt. I mean, he is relatively stable."
Emma nodded as she walked into the room that Whale pointed to. Only to find a man that was not her husband laying in a hospital bed. She looked at him there was something about the blonde haired man that looked familiar, she couldn't pinpoint what it was though as Whale walked in the room.
"Oops, yeah, I gave you the wrong room. Sorry about that."
"Who is that?" Emma asked.
"Uh, can't do that patient confidentiality. Poor fellow has been here as long as I can remember. Your husband's across the hall."
Emma nodded and took one more look at the man, "Please, don't tell me that Harry is going to be comatose like that. Seems like such a miserable existence."
Whale didn't reassure her, but she shouldn't worry because she wasn't in the room for five minutes when Harry's green eyes popped open and he practically screamed at Whale to get away from him.
"It's okay, Mr. Swan." Whale said, "You're safe now. Do you remember what happened?"
"Obviously, someone knocked me out." Harry snapped. "Probably the same arsehole that stole my wallet and phone. Emma, do you mind if I borrow your phone? I think I'll call Apple. They can track the thing and Dudley Do-Right can do his thing."
"Apple?" Whale said. "You can't call a piece of fruit."
"Are you sure you're okay," Emma asked him.
"Phone?" He ordered.
She sighed heavily but reluctantly gave him the phone, admitting that his plan was a good one. "I'll go get Graham. But I still think you should let Whale examine you."
Harry just rolled his eyes as he called customer service. "Best we get this sorted out, how's Jaime?"
"The same." She said, "I'm more concerned about your head. You were unconscious. You really should have Whale examine you, you don't want to end up like the comatose guy next door."
"There's someone in a coma?" Harry asked then frowned as he turned his attention towards the phone. "No my name is not coma. It's Potter. Jesus. No, not Jesus Potter. Harry Potter."
Whale looked at Emma, "See, this is why I need to do more tests. He thinks his name is Potter."
"That's because it is Potter," Emma said rolling her eyes. "I think you should help me find Sherriff Humbert and then check on my son. Obviously, Harry's going to be busy with Apple for awhile."
"No, I said July not June. Seriously, representative. I just want to talk to a real live person."
Graham was a little surprised to see her. "Emma?"
"She's Mr. Potter's wife." Whale said. "I'll check on your son. I'll still need your husband's forms completed. Though, I guess he can do them himself if he ever gets off the phone."
"You're married?" Graham said giving her a weird look.
"It's complicated," She said.
"You didn't mention it the other day?"
"Should I?" She said. "I didn't think we were on a date or anything."
She had not been flirting with him, she thought she made that perfectly clear when she ended up to the how with a quasi bum ankle—that had seemed to miraculous heal.
Graham sighed. "I don't know, I just. I broke up with Regina."
"Good for you," Emma said clearly not getting his point. "Whale said Harry was mugged?"
"Yeah, Ruby, the waitress, found him right outside Granny's. Seems someone banged him in the head with something pretty hard. We have a pretty good idea who it might've been due to the security footage."
"Who?" Emma asked.
"Ashley Boyd." Graham said.
"I have no idea who that is," Emma said.
"You would if you lived here longer," He said with a sigh. "Ashley is a very troubled young lady, Emma."
"Yes, a troubled young lady who decides to mug people."
"She's pregnant." Graham said. "And, well, she's young. She has no support system. You of all people know how that is."
Emma glared at him, "Don't you dare. I never assaulted someone when I was pregnant."
No, she just gave up her child to a monster.
"That's not what I meant." Graham said. "I'm just saying that she's not in a good place right now. I don't think she meant your husband any harm if that's what you're worried about."
Emma just shook her head. "I think the best thing for us to do right now is to find Ashley. Clearly, she needs help and needs to be brought in for assaulting Harry."
"So, he'll be pressing charges then?" Graham asked.
"I don't know," Emma said. "I just found out that he was assaulted. You'll have to talk to him."
"But you'll think about talking to him. Given the circumstances—I really think."
"Don't." Emma said. "It is not the night to appeal to my morality compass especially since you got me drunk and got Sidney Glass to take those photos last night."
He blinked, "I didn't do that. You know it. Emma, I told you, I care about you."
"You barely know me," She said shaking her head getting annoyed.
She guessed in some alternative world, she would've found Graham to be attractive; the same part of her that would've found Harry attractive. Although, Graham was a different sort of attractive them her so called husband. He was the sort of guy she would've gone for before she was incarcerated. He was fun. She admitted, she had a nice time going out with him last night. That was until she realized it was just for a ploy for Regina to humiliate her, and the fact that he was Regina's boy toy didn't help matters either.
Although, he said former boy toy. Not that Emma really cared about those sorts of things, besides even if she did she sort of had to stay married to Harry for now. For Jaime's sake.
"Emma?" Graham said pulling her out of her thoughts.
"Yes?" She asked.
"I was asking if Harry could see me." He said, "I'd like to talk to him."
"Right." She said, "I think he should be able to talk to you if he's off the phone. He called the phone company to see if they could track his phone."
"That's actually not a bad idea," He said. " We might be able to find Ashley that way. I should've thought of it."
Emma just nodded as they walked towards the room. "I'm guessing muggings don't happen often here."
"No," He said. "Storybrooke is a pretty quiet town."
"Unless you're Lacey Gold or that John Doe that's across the hall from Harry, right?"
"Oh, that's not a John Doe." Graham said. "That's Regina's husband, Daniel Mills."
Regina had a husband.
Comatose husband
But still husband.
Graham was a little vague about the details. Apparently, Daniel had gotten into some sort of car accident years ago after he and Regina married. He had no family, and no one except for Regina visited him.
"Honestly, I sort of forgot about him." Graham said. "Regina doesn't talk about Daniel, not that I blame her. It's sort of a painful subject matter."
"Isn't everything here?" Emma asked.
"Well—" Graham started to say as Harry had spotted him.
"Oh, there you are, Do-Right."
Right. Dudley Do-Right was Graham. How she could forget his little barb. Though oddly, it sort of fit and made Emma want to giggle. A bit. She knew it was immature, but Graham really did act like ever do-gooder mountie.
"The name is Graham," Graham said. "I heard someone whacked you on the head tonight."
"Not someone, pretty sure it was Ashley Boyd." Harry snapped.
"Do you remember Ms. Boyd hitting you?"
"No, but she was supposed to give me back my change for dinner. And I'm taking it she wasn't there when I was found."
Graham sighed. "Well, that confirms the security footage."
"You're more useful than you look," Harry said.
"Harry," Emma snapped.
"It's the drugs and the lack of customer quality care." He said.
"That's right, Emma said you were trying to track your phone."
"I was and have success. It seems hat Ms. Boyd is hiding at 3234 Main Street."
Graham groaned. "Great."
"What?" Emma said.
"She broke into Gold's Pawnshop."
Ford apparently had a pawnshop.
It should've made sense, he said he owned everything, but he hadn't mentioned it to her before. The place like the law office had been closed for many years.
Emma had gone with Graham to pick up Ashley. Harry had wanted to go, but Emma said he needed to be checked over by Whale and that someone needed to stay with Jaime. She promised him that she would make sure that Ashley was arrested.
"You didn't have to come with me," Graham said.
Emma sighed. "You heard Harry. I'm just doing this to keep him from doing something stupid. Trust me, I'd rather be with Jaime."
"I still can't believe he fell out his bedroom window. Regina said nothing about it."
"Because she's not picking up her phone," Emma said. "That's why."
He sighed, "She's not that bad. She actually did something nice tonight."
"Really?" Emma said. "Do tell?"
He sighed heavily and looked at her. "She broke up with me because she wants me to be happy. She knows I'm interested in having a relationship with someone else."
Emma shook her head. "You are not doing this, Graham. I am married."
"I know that now," He said. "I have to say I'm actually surprised that you are married. Especially to a guy like that."
"Really," Emma said her eyes narrowing. "You don't say?"
"Emma, he's a bore. A rude bore."
"I—" She didn't know what to say but, "He's HJ's father."
"But he doesn't excite you, does he?"
She wanted to tell Graham that no one excited her, but she didn't. Instead, she shook her head and said. "I don't want to talk about this. I told Harry I'd be there when you arrest Ashley. It was the only way he'd stay in the hospital. I don't think he thinks you're going to do it."
"Honestly, I probably wouldn't." He said, "You'll see when you meet Ashley. The girl deserves a break."
Okay, admittedly Emma did feel a little bit sorry for Ashley Boyd. The girl was young, maybe younger than Emma was when she was pregnant with HJ and she looked scared out of her mind.
"I'm sorry," She said. "I just—I just want my baby."
"So, you assaulted my husband and stole his stuff?" Emma said as she looked at the stuff Ashley had stolen—sure enough there was Harry's phone, wallet, and two rings. Both of them looked really fancy. One, in particular, looked familiar to Emma. She frowned, "Can I take this stuff back to him?" She asked Graham, "Or do you need it for evidence?"
"There's no need for that," He said. "I'm sure that Ashley has learned her lesson."
"She committed aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon." Emma said, "This isn't a slap on the wrist sort of thing, Graham."
"I understand that, but Ashley meant no harm."
Emma glared at him.
The sheriff sighed. "I think you better come with me Ashley, I'll see what I can do to help you out, but you did assault Mr. Potter."
"I know that," Ashley said. "But I didn't mean to hurt him. I just don't want to give her up. I—I want to take the deal back."
"What deal?" Emma asked.
"The deal I made with Mr. Gold to sale my baby." Ashley said.
"I think you should think about drop the charges," She told Harry after Graham had dropped her off to book Ashley. "She is a scared girl, and God knows she's already facing enough trouble."
"A scared girl who knocked me out and stole my belongings." He said.
"Well, you got them all back." She said. "Here."
She looked at the one plain gold band oddly.
"It's my wedding ring," He said. "You gave it to me. Do you recognize it?"
She shook her head. "No, not really. I—"
"It looked like you recognized it."
"Trust me, I didn't." She said, "But I really think you might want to take Graham's advice. He had some good points, and she's just a kid."
"A kid who almost killed me." He said, "Sorry if I'm not that sympathetic."
"She's broke and pregnant, Harry." Emma said, "I'll admit what she did was wrong, but it's not like she had a choice."
"There's always a choice to be made, Emma." He said, "Obviously, she made hers when she knocked me out."
"She wants to keep her baby." Emma said, "She sold it and she's scared."
"Sold it? Don't be ridiculous. You can't sell a baby. And really, you want me to drop charges against a woman who would be willing to part with her child for chump change."
Emma shook her head, "That's not it at all."
He rolled his eyes. "Check on our son, and call Ford tonight. I really want to know if we can get this hearing moved up. I'm done with all of this."
So was Emma.
Like she promised, she called Gold after she dropped off Harry's things. Visiting hour at the hospital were now long over and while it was early over there in England it wasn't Godly unearthly. It was after eight there.
And he picked up.
"Emma," He said. "This better be good, I have a killer headache."
"You don't get drunk," She said.
"I said headache not hangover, love."
"Did you buy someone's baby?" She asked.
"Don't be ridiculous," He said. "That's illegal. You don't buy babies."
"That's what I told Ashley Boyd," She said. "But she insisted that a representative from your firm helped work out some sort of deal to purchase her unborn child."
"We don't buy babies, Emma. If anything an associate likely helped her reach an adoption agreement with a couple. But you can't buy a child. And she'd have every right to reject the adoption until it was finalized."
Emma sighed heavily. "I'm sorry. I just—it's been a long night."
"I know, long weekend actually. You shouldn't go back to the Rabbit Hole. You cost Hermione her weekend trip to the Louvre, and instead she had to yell at Sidney Glass on the phone. Unfortunately, I hear he is as slimy as ever. But we got the retraction."
"Yes," She said. "Harry told me as much."
"How is Harry doing?" Ford asked. "And Jaime."
She sighed heavily, "They're in the hospital. That's part of the reason I called you. Regina drugged Jaime with sleeping pills and he fell out the window trying to escape and broke his arm. She hasn't been picking up the phone since."
"Yes, that does sound like it might be enough to get us an emergency hearing."
"It will be useless in Storybrooke," Emma said. "I—I had bad luck the other day with their courts. I was denied bail for a disorderly conduct case of all things."
"Who was the judge?"
"Collette Deville. I'm already working on an appeal."
She could almost see Ford shaking his head. "I have no idea how Collette became a judge. She shouldn't be an issue anyway since this is a civil court matter."
"Ford. It's not—"
"Easy, I know. But you're forgetting who owns the town."
"I wish you were here," She was shocked to hear herself saying. "I mean, maybe things would get resolved faster that way."
"Oh trust me, love, my presence in Storybrooke could make things even messier. But I would like to meet with you know as your friend."
"I would love that." Emma said smiling for the first time that weekend.