"Your thanks will not be enough, Charming," King Arthur barked. "The beast destroyed my car. Trust that you will find a repair estimate in the mail this week."
Charming scowled, but as the party guests filed out of the half-destroyed mansion, he forced a smile. Mr. Seven rushed to the prince's side, carrying a large black pot he held out to the approaching crowd. "Friends, who says nothing exciting ever happens in Ferryport Landing?" The prince chuckled. But this time his wit and charm fell on angry ears. The people passed him, returning his laughter with disgusted looks.
"Is this what we're paying you for?" the White Rabbit said as he hopped past.
"People, there's no need to leave," Charming said. "We'll have the mansion back to its old self in just a matter of moments. There's plenty of food and drink and we've even arranged a door prize."
"As the elected leader of this community, I would have thought you'd take the safety of your constituents much more seriously," a Bengal tiger said as he stalked past them.
"I assure you, Shere Khan ..." But the tiger didn't stop to hear Charming's assurances.
"Well, if you all must go, please don't forget to donate to the Ferryport Community Fund," the prince continued, kicking Mr. Seven, who immediately held the pot higher so that everyone could see. But not a single penny was added to the donations.
"I do believe this town is in need of some new leadership," the Queen of Hearts said, as she left. Charming said nothing as he watched the last of his guests drive away.
"Put the pot down, Mr. Seven," he said. The dwarf slowly lowered the empty pot and took a peek inside.
"We want our grandmother and her friend," Sabrina demanded.
"This is all your fault!" Charming shouted as he turned on them.
"What?"
"You two brought him here."
"If you can't control your giant, then maybe you shouldn't be working with one," Daphne advised.
"I'm not working with any giant. Only a fool who wants to be someone's lunch would make a deal with a giant," Charming said.
"That's a lie," Sabrina yelled. "He's one of your goons, just like those guys you met at the cabin."
"Ladies, I am nobility. I don't have goons. Those men don't work for me. I was there to arrest them and their boss."
"Well, if you're not their boss, who is?" Sabrina demanded.
Charming snatched the video camera from Sabrina's hand. He opened a side panel where a small LCD screen folded out. Then he rewound the recording, pressed the Play button, and handed the camera back to the girls.
The image was shaky at first but then suddenly it cleared up as the person holding the camera set it down on the hill that overlooked Applebee's farm. Four men were talking to one another. Two of them were extremely tall, another was short and fat, and the fourth couldn't be seen. It was obvious who the other three were—Bobby, Tony, and Steve—the goons who had attacked the family at the hospital. Finally, the fourth figure stepped in front of the lens, leaned down, and grinned broadly. It was Jack.
"That's evidence we found on Jack when he was arrested. He wanted a tape of himself killing a giant," Charming cried. "It had nothing to do with the farmhouse. In fact, he admitted he thought the farmer had left town."
Jack laughed wildly at the camera, held up a small white bean, and then rushed down the hill. Soon, the familiar footage of the beanstalk and the destruction of the giant played again.
"So, you're not trying to buy up the town to rebuild your kingdom?" Daphne asked.
"On the contrary, I am trying to buy up this town," Charming said. "But there are better ways to get what you want than to let a giant loose on the countryside."
Sabrina didn't know whether to be furious with his admission or respect his honesty.
"So why did you send the sheriff after us?" Daphne asked.
"He was supposed to pick you up and take you somewhere safe until we could hunt down the giant and find your grandmother," Charming said.
"Every Everafter in this town wishes we were dead," Sabrina said. "Why would you want to help us?"
"I have my reasons."
"I'm confused," Daphne said. "Why would Jack bring us here and tell us this story about you being the bad guy?"
"And why did he want to stay in contact with these, if he was just going to take off?" Sabrina said, handing Charming her walkie-talkie.
"Because, if he kept you busy he could go back to your house," the prince said.
"But he can't get in. He doesn't have the keys," Sabrina replied.
"He doesn't need the keys," Daphne gasped. "We didn't say 'good-bye' to the house when we left. We used the ruby slippers. The house is unlocked."
Hamstead, in his human form, came rushing out of the mansion.
"I've got the deputies chasing the giant," he said. "He's heading into the woods in the direction of Widow's Peak."
"Good job," Charming said. The sheriff beamed with pride.
"We've also searched the grounds. There's no sign of Jack," Hamstead continued. "But we did find this."
He held out Jack's bloody handkerchief.