Chapter THIRTY-ONE: You need a Lawyer
Two days after, at the station, Mary Margaret was locked in a cell. She had been arrested because a heart belonging to Kathryn had been found in a jewelry box at Toll Bridge. The jewellery box had Mary Margaret's fingerprints all over it. Emma had then told a hunting knife in a heating vent in their apartment, which led to a very confused Mary Margaret. "The heating vent? Emma, I don't even know where the heating vent in my bedroom is."
"Well, someone did, and they put a hunting knife in there. I checked for signs of a break in, but there weren't any," Emma said.
"You don't believe me."
"Of course I do. But what I think doesn't matter. The evidence is piling up by the hour."
"Okay, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying, you should think about hiring a lawye," Emma said, just as Mr Gold and Professor Smith walked in.
"That is a very good idea, Emma," Professor Smith said.
"What are you two doing here?" Emma asked.
"Offering my legal services," Mr Gold said.
"You're a lawyer?"
"Ever wondered why I was so adept at contracts? I've been following the details of your case, Miss Blanchard. And I think you'd be well-advised to bring me on as your counsel."
"And why is that?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Well, because the Sheriff had me arrested for nearly beating a man to death, and I managed to persuade the judge to drop the charges," Mr Gold said.
"Asserting your influence isn't what's needed here. We need to find the truth," Emma said.
"But maybe, just maybe, exerting influence may just what we need to win this thing," Professor Smith said.
"What's needed here is for me to do my job," Emma said.
"Well, no one's stopping you. We're only here to help,' Mr Gold said.
"Enough. Please go," Mary Margaret said to Emma, but Emma misunderstood her.
"You heard her," she said to Mr Gold and Professor Smith.
"No, I was talking to you. Oh, Emma, he's right. I need help. And you need to do your job, or else I'm screwed. So, just please – do your job the best you can, and you'll prove me innocent. Until you do, I need some practical help," Mary Margaret said.
"Trust me. This is in Miss Blanchard's best interests," Mr Gold said.
"Good luck, Mary Margaret. I hope your best interests are what he's looking out for," Emma said, then she left the three of them alone.
"I can't pay either one of you," Mary Margaret said.
"We are not asking for money," Professor Smith said.
"Then why are you guys doing this?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Let's just say, we're invested in your future," Mr Gold said.