Captain Swan - Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Chapter 17

"Who is she?"

David sighs, keeping his gaze fixed on the woman sitting in the interrogation room. "Her name's Tamara Green. She's a nurse at Storybrooke General. She's also been working as a stripper, trying to pay off her student loans. That's where she met Cassidy."

Killian raises an eyebrow in surprise. "Tamara Green," he repeats, mulling over the information. "A nurse and a stripper? Seems like quite the double life."

David nods. "She claims to have information about our guy."

Killian scoffs, unimpressed and uninterested as he crosses his arms. "You know, David, we've danced to this tune a few times before. It never carries very far. Everyone and their pet goldfish claims they've got the golden ticket to bring Cassidy down, but it always turns out to be as useless as a broken umbrella in a windstorm."

"True, but we can't afford to be dismissive. Too many lives have been ended at Cassidy's hands. If something she has on him can help us prevent another fatality, then we need to hear it."

Killian rolls his eyes with exasperation, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "David, if you wanted a lap dance, you could've just slipped a Ben Franklin into her G-string. You didn't have to drag her here and waste everyone's time."

David turns toward him, placing his hands on his hips defensively, anger and irritation surging in his eyes. "I didn't bring her here, she showed up voluntarily. Look, I know you're still pissed at me for not having anyone posted at Emma's house, but—"

"You're damn right I'm pissed! Ingrid was family!"

"Yes, but Blanco is not our jurisdiction. It's not even in the same county."

"Don't give me that jurisdiction bullshit. Port Lavaca is even further away than Blanco, and you had Port Lavaca cops staked there."

"Yes, and I already told you, it was an unfortunate oversight. You don't think I'm pissed? Liam's family is my family, too. I lay awake at night blaming myself for what happened. But that's what Cassidy wants. He wants to pin us against each other." David's stance relaxes, his voice softening. "How is Emma doing?"

Killian drops his shoulders as he takes a deep breath, trying to quell the anger simmering inside him. "She's not doing well, mate," he admits, his voice heavy with concern. "Ingrid's death has hit her hard. She couldn't even step inside her own house for days. But she insisted on going back to work today, so I dropped her off at the hospital before I came here."

David stares at him thoughtfully for a moment.

"What?"

David shakes his head. "Nothing. It just seems like you two have gotten pretty close."

Killian ignores his remark. He and Emma have gotten very close over the last week, and he's been on cloud nine, but he doesn't wish to discuss that with him, because he knows David doesn't approve. "This mess needs to end. We can't let Cassidy keep destroying our lives."

David nods in agreement. "Which is why we need to hear Tamara out."

Killian sighs in defeat. "Fine, but don't hold your breath." He marches for the door, but David catches his arm before he can go any further.

"Hang on. You can't go charging in there like a bull with steam shooting out of his horns and a bullseye painted on Tamara's shirt. We need to be smart about this. And cool."

"I am cool," Killian barks defensively, shaking off David's hold. "I'm as cool as a cucumber."

"I've never seen you be cool as a cucumber since I've known you."