The gossip didn't die down the next day. Killian knew it probably wouldn't. It was a small town, and they would squeeze a scandal like this for everything it was worth, and then some. Which was why his heart went out to her when he saw her stepping into Granny's during morning rush. Killian was sitting at a secluded table, simply enjoying his hot chocolate - musing over how much of the stuff he must have drunk since he'd first gotten into town - and browsing over the local news when Mary Margaret cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your morning, but I just wanted to remind everyone that a very special occasion is upon us – Miner's Day." She looked uncomfortable and fragile as she held a clipboard in one hand. "As always, the nuns of Storybrooke are hoping that everyone will get involved, and will help sell their exquisite candles. All we need are a few energetic volunteers. So, who wants to join me?"

There were a few moments of silence before everyone resumed their activities. The rejection seemed to hit Mary Margaret like an actual wave, causing her to rock back on her heels as her body recoiled from the force of it. Killian was already pulling his wallet and leaving a few notes on the table when he noticed Leroy talking to her. He couldn't exactly make out the words, but he didn't need to. Mary Margaret's face told him everything he needed to know and Killian made a mental note to perhaps use a little more of force the next time he was taking the man for his weekly 'drunk and disorderly'. Maybe he could learn a thing or two about how to treat a lady.

Mary Margaret stormed out of the dinner and Killian followed her, shoving his black beanie down his head and closing his warmer leather jacket, his heart heavy at her predicament and despising David even more for putting her in this position.

He caught up with her right around the corner, and he had to take a few quick steps to warm himself against the cold wind. "Hey. Mind if I join you?" He fell into step next to her as he put on his leather gloves. "Care to explain what the hell is Miner's Day, and why you're beating yourself up over it?"

Mary Margaret sighed, holding the clipboard tightly. "It's an annual holiday celebrating an old tradition. The nuns used to make candles and trade them with the miners for coal."

"Coal? In Maine?" That didn't make any sense, but Killian hadn't stayed in school long enough to care that much about whether or not this was a real thing or not. "I didn't even know there was coal in this area."

"I...Look, I don't know." Mary Margaret sounded sad and defeated. "It's one of those old town legends. Now, they just use it as a fundraiser. It's an amazing party – everyone loves it."

Killian tilted his head, contemplating her words. "It doesn't seem like everyone loves it."

"It's not Miner's Day – it's me." Her words percolated deep within Killian. "Last week, I had ten volunteers. This week, they all dropped out."

He sighed. He knew a thing or two about being cast out, singled out as the problematic individual no one should associate with. He hated seeing Mary Margaret in that role. "And you think this is about what happened with David."

She cocked an eyebrow at him with resolve. "Oh, I know it is. A few of them told me as much." Mary Margaret sighed, holding the clipboard for dear life and Killian had to fight the urge to go punch David right at that very moment. "I've never been a homewrecker before."

"You're not." He said fervently and made Mary Margaret look at him. "It's going to blow over, you know it is, the moment they find something else to gossip about. You might have made the mistake of putting your heart out there and trusting the wrong man, but you don't have to do charity to try to win people's hearts back. It's not their bloody business."

"I have to do something, and this is the best I can do. It's not like I can go sleep with Dr. Whale again."

"Well-" Killian started and Mary Margaret gave him a horrified look. "You could."

"Killian."

"I'm just saying." He threw his arms up in defense. "If they will talk anyway, keep having fun." At least the leer in his voice brought a tiny smile to her face.

"You know that's not me. And he wasn't that fun." She admitted and Killian almost choked at her irreverence. "Love ruined my life."

Killian was about to retort when a text message alerted him of a possible issue with a car down the road. "Well, duty calls." He pocketed his phone and gave Mary Margaret's arm a soft squeeze. "Hang in there, Mary Margaret. It will get better and if there is anything I can do to help, anyone you want me to put in jail for you…"

She didn't let him finish, reaching to pat his shoulder. "I know. Thank you." She gave him a lopsided smile. "Now go work."

/-/

From the moment Killian saw the abandoned car at the side of the road with one of the doors open, he knew it didn't look good. The call had come in from the gym teacher from Henry's school, who'd found it like that and had searched for the driver without luck before informing Killian.

Killian knew it looked worse the moment he ran the license plate and it gave back that it was registered to Kathryn Nolan. It was the last thing he, the town and Mary Margaret needed at the moment. He made a few stealthy calls -as much as it would be possible in this town - and corroborated that her status seemed to be MIA since the day before.

Not good. Not good at all.

Killian put on some latex gloves and picked the Polaroid camera that was sitting in the patrol car and headed back to the abandoned vehicle, carefully searching the inside and taking the pertinent pictures. He was still inspecting under the front seats when he heard a car pulled behind him.

"Do you mind if I take a look too?" Sidney asked, pulling out his own camera.

"What for?" Killian asked, not wanting to shut the man down but also a little apprehensive of his presence there. Granted, between his phone calls and the car in plain sight, it would be a minor miracle if he could've kept this under wraps, but he'd been hoping for a little more than half a day.

"Just because I got fired from The Mirror, doesn't mean I can't do a little freelance reporting. So, what have we got here?"

In this way, Killian could at least control the type of information that made it out there. He sighed as he continued to search the car. "Gym teacher found the car on the side of the road abandoned. Engine running, no one around. Registered to Kathryn Nolan. She's MIA."

It didn't even take a heartbeat for Sidney to go exactly where Killian knew everyone would. "Kathryn Nolan, whose husband very publicly left her? I mean, the story writes itself. If I get a scoop like that, The Mirror would have no choice but to take me back."

He should know better than to trust a reporter with information.

"Slow down, mate. You don't work for Regina anymore." Killian finished examining the inside of the car and quickly took two steps away, straightening himself. "Kathryn got accepted to law school in Boston. Maybe, after David dumped her, she decided to leave town. The car broke down, she hitched the rest of the way. I don't blame her for wanting to leave town as soon as possible."

The rest of his explanation died in his mouth the moment he popped open the trunk and a suitcase was sitting there. Killian turned and find Sidney giving him a definitive smile. "And, uh, would you leave your clothes in the car?"

No, he wouldn't. Killian liked this less and less with each tick of the clock.

"I'm going to have to pull Kathryn's phone records and find out who she spoke to last." He wasn't even sure why he was still speaking to Sidney, other than the fact that, at this moment, he needed someone to talk to.

"You know, if you go through the Sheriff's Department, it'll take you days to get those." Sidney scratched behind his ear before he continued. "I've got a contact over at the phone company, who used to help me out when I was at the newspaper. I can get those in a couple hours."

Killian knew that he was one fact away in this case to be way over his head. Yes, he'd been a great bailbonds and he knew a thing or two about law enforcement. But he wasn't Graham and he wasn't a specialized detective. He had guts, good instincts and a sharp mind, but right now, he'd take any extra help he could get, even if that came in the form of a former Regina's lackey.

"Call me the minute you get your hands on those records."

The sound of a car coming made them both turned around and Killian witnessed David's truck pulling down the road. It seemed news traveled faster than he originally thought in this town.

"Well, here's David," Sidney pointed out and Killian gave him a nod.

"Let me know about those records, I have to go break the news to him."

"Do you really think he doesn't know?" Sidney was skeptical and Killian could hardly blame him. If something had happened to Kathryn, the husband was always going to be the first suspect. But it was too soon to be jumping to conclusions.

"Well, I'll be sure to find out."

Good thing he could spot a lie or two. It might come in handy today.

/-/

He wanted David to lie, he really did. As bad as that might be for his investigation, Killian wasn't above petty feelings and he was honest enough with himself to recognize he was looking for any excuse to lash out at the man. Any excuse at all. And if this hadn't been as serious as the possible disappearance of a woman, he would have pushed the line a little further.

But this was serious business and right now, David was looking between him and the car dumbfounded and confused.

"She's just gone?"

"You really don't know anything about this?" He hadn't meant to sound so harsh, but part of him couldn't hide the loathing he felt for the man in front of him.

"I-I don't… I don't understand. What happened?"

"I'm trying to find out. What can you tell me? When was the last time you spoke to Kathryn?"

"Yesterday afternoon."

He wanted to believe the man, but at the same time... "Mate, I know there have been lies and deceit in your, uhm, situation, and I'm really not judging you, but is that the truth?" Maybe that last bit was a bit of a stretch because a part of him was judging the man. But that was the part that was Mary Margaret's friend, and not the part that was Sheriff.

"Yes." David's voice was sound and secure and Killian couldn't detect any deceit in it. "I haven't spoken to her since we… I ended things. And I came home yesterday, and all her things were gone. I assumed she was going to Boston. That's what she told me." He swallowed and met Killian's eyes head on. "Am I a suspect or something?"

Killian shook his head "No. I know when people are telling the truth, David, and you are." He tried to give the other man a reassuring smile, as it was clear he seemed conflicted and preoccupied by this. "She hasn't even been gone twenty-four hours. She's not even technically missing. But, if she is, trust me – I will find her."

He'd make sure of it.

/-/

Killian spent the rest of his morning tracking down information on Kathryn Nolan's law school and new apartment in Boston, only to confirm that she hadn't arrived or been spotted at either of them. He made a few more calls to some of his usual contacts, trying to quickly put together a more extended search.

Nothing.

She wasn't in Boston. He cursed, running a hand through his hair and hanging up the phone at the station with perhaps a little more force than necessary. Checking his watch, he wondered if Sidney had already gotten his hands on those phone records. He probably had, considering the man had nothing else to do but focus on this, the only story in town.

Well, maybe not the only one. There was that wretched miner's festival nonsense going on, but Killian would bet good money that a possible missing person case was a lot more enticing than a festival fair.

And apparently, he would lose his gold coins - if he had any, he thought with bitterness as he walked around the festival and found Sidney playing ring toss. He clenched his jaw and tilted his head in frustration.

"Really, mate? What in the blazes are you doing playing this nonsense?"

Sidney turned around, not even a slight hint of guilt on his features - and the truth was, he wasn't employed by the city so he didn't owe Killian anything. "What's happening?"

"I just got off the phone with Kathryn's school in Boston. Registration was this morning, and she never showed up." Killian leaned his hand over the counter, his other hand on his hip as he pondered his words.

"You think something did happen to her," Sidney pressed, the journalist in him finally deciding to show up.

Killian grimaced. "It might look that way. I made a few other calls to my contacts in the city. They haven't been able to find anything. They'll continue to search, but in the meantime-"

His words were cut off when Mary Margaret and Leroy rushed past them, stopping abruptly when she noticed him. "Killian! Help me out! What's more sympathetic. Um, scarf or no scarf?"

Her mood swings were giving Killian whiplash, but to be honest, it was better to see her like this - focused on something - than the sobbing mess he'd found the night before. "Scarf, darling," he offered with a warm smile.

"Come on! We're on a schedule," Leroy urged with his natural lack of charm and Mary Margaret nodded in agreement.

"Thank you. Got to go!"

Killian watched her and Leroy running off, probably to some endeavor involving those blasted candles if the boxes they were picking up where any hint. He wondered how she'd convinced the grumpy little man to help her in such short time. He was entertaining those thoughts when he noticed Sidney's inquisitive stare.

"Why didn't you say anything?" And with that, Sidney was back in full reporter mode. "You're looking for a suspect. Someone with a motive. Pixie cut over there has got one a mile high."

"She had nothing to do with anything." Mary Margaret was not the type to commit such thing, and she had a good alibi considering he'd spent the night with her, comforting her sobs and whispering promises of a better tomorrow he didn't quite believe in. But it was not something he was willing to disclose to the one person that could twist it and use it to get himself back into the newspaper. Last thing Mary Margaret needed was to people thinking she was playing the field with him and David at once.

"But she's the one-"

He didn't let Sidney finish. "Trust me. I know her. Just get me those phone records." He almost barked the order as he took a step away, deciding to head back to the station and call his Boston mates again.

He kept hoping that they'd confirm Kathryn had turned up in the city after all. But even Killian knew there were slim chances of that happening at this point.

/-/

None of his contacts had been able to find Kathryn in Boston and they'd managed to canvass a lot of ground during the day. Killian sighed, sipping another cup of terrible coffee as he focused on the board in front of him. He'd placed the pictures from the accident and a few other pieces of information he was able to gather. He racked his brain trying to find something - anything - that would pull this case out of the direction it was clearly going. He didn't want to deal with this.

Bloody hell, he wasn't sure he was capable of dealing with this.

Sidney entered the station in that moment, a manila envelope clutched in his hands. "Did you find something?" Killian asked as he took the envelope from him and pulled out the sheets.

"Kathryn's phone records. Every call she made the day she crashed her car." Sidney paused for effect and Killian felt the dread coming into him. "Including an eight-minute call between her and David within an hour of the accident."

That's not possible.

"He said he didn't speak to her that day." David had sounded so convincing and Killian's lie detector hadn't given him any signs.

"Then he's lying."

Killian ran a hand through his hair, almost sighing in defeat. "I'm usually good at telling when someone is lying, and David-" He witnessed Sidney's intention to speak and he raised in hand to stop him. "I know, I know, it's on the paper." He looked at the page again, where the information was sitting there in black and white. "Phone records don't lie."

"People do." Sidney offered and while Killian wanted to believe otherwise, the other man was right. "And our friend David does it better than most. You wouldn't be the first person David fooled."

Sadly, no. And he knew firsthand how convincing David's lies could be. He wanted to beat himself up over this… he had wanted to believe David was telling the truth, he had wanted to see the good in him if only to spare Mary Margaret the heartache.

Once again, he found himself aching for Emma. If she'd been here, by his side, he wouldn't have been so naive. She would have seen right through all this charade for what it was.

Damn it, Swan. A decade later and I still need you like the first time you got me out of a bad spot.

/-/

Later that day, he sat in his office, the phone records in front of him. The numbers seemed to dance on the paper from the amount of time he'd been staring at them. He couldn't recall how many cups of coffee he'd drank, but he was probably past any healthy limit. His only break from staring at the records had been a quick call to the power company when he was informed there had been a problem with the electricity down at the Miner's Day festival. They assured him they'd take care of it and he wasn't needed, so Killian went back to look at those bloody records, pondering his options.

Which is how Regina found him, entering the station and leaning over across the threshold of his office.

"If this is about the blackout, I've got the guys from the power company down there working on it," Killian offered, playing with the cap of his highlighter, trying to dismiss the woman as soon as possible.

"That's not why I'm here." That caught Killian's attention. "It's been twenty-four hours since my friend, Kathryn, went missing. Have you found anything?"

She seemed sincere for the most part, but as usual, there was this little something lurking in the background, something Killian couldn't quite pinpoint, that had him hesitating when it came to Regina Mills telling the truth. But he was a Sheriff now, and as much as he trusted his instincts - despite his abject failure with David earlier - he needed to rely on more than just his gut.

"I found something. I just don't know what it means."

"Well, what is it?"

He could tell her… he knew he could inform the Mayor about the advances in the investigation. It is what a Sheriff would do in these cases and yet…

"At this point in the investigation, it's best I don't divulge that information."

And just like that, Regina's mask fell off, her face twisting in an almost evil way. "If you're covering for someone, if you're not doing your job, Sheriff Jones, I'll find someone who will."

Killian gave her a small smirk and a tilt of his head, acknowledging her words and watching her go, his mind trying to decide what the best way to execute the next step should be.

/-/

The town hall made for a lovely image as night fell, with only candlelight to illuminate the festivities. People gathered in groups, sharing their light and keeping warm in the cold night. Out the corner of his eye, Killian saw Mary Margaret making her rounds with extra candles. She looked peaceful, content. He wished he didn't have to do this.

But he couldn't postpone this any longer. He had a job to do.

His eyes quickly located David. He was standing by the side of the street, his own eyes following Mary Margaret's figure in the near-darkness. Something about that gesture made Killian's blood boil, witnessing the man that had lied to his friend and putting her in such terrible position still lingering nearby her, following her every move. But he pushed those feelings aside, to the corner of his mind, and focused on doing his job. He didn't want anyone contesting his motives throughout this entire thing. Killian made his way towards David and cleared his throat to catch his attention.

David turned around, his face showing no signs of guilt or surprise. "Killian."

"David, we need to talk."

"Did you get a hold of Kathryn?" David asked and the sincerity in his voice threw Killian for a second time that day. David was either the consummate liar or he truly had nothing to do with it. He wished Emma were here, she probably could have guessed that one better than him. She seemed to have a scumbag-detector built in as much as he has a lie-detector. She never liked August, after all. Or Neal for that matter.

Killian shook his head, partly to provide David with an answer and part to shake those thoughts out of his head. "I'm afraid not." He trailed off, playing with the end of his black beanie as he tried to find the words.

"Then, what is it?"

Might as well get on with it.

"I need you to come to the Sheriff's station with me and tell me everything."

David looked like a deer caught in headlights, not really following Killian's words. "I'm sorry. I thought I already did."

Killian took one step closer to the man, fighting the urge to let his own opinions of David taint the moment. "So did I, mate. But it seems you and I need to have another chat."

In his defense, David didn't create a scene as he simply followed Killian to the patrol car, his head down as if he were defeated. But Killian could still feel the eyes of the crowd on them, their attentions drifting towards the flurry of movement as they made their way to the patrol car. He could hear the urgent whispers, the hushed accusations already spreading before they reached it. Killian held open the door and David climbed into the backseat.

The last thing Killian saw was Mary Margaret's crestfallen face.