"Please turn to the right." Emma said taking Mary's mug shot. If anyone had told her a month ago she'd be doing this, she'd have had Archie give him or her a psych evaluation. And when she saw the crushed look on Mary's face, she wanted to go and take a long walk right into a pole.
"Emma, this is a mistake. I didn't kill Kathryn." Mary begged.
"Of course you didn't. But, while I am your friend, I am also the Sheriff. And I have to go where the evidence leads."
"Which points to me? Emma, yesterday it was David. There's something not right here."
"I know. But, your fingerprints were on that box, and his are not. So, now we have to deal with this."
"Evidence that says I cut out Kathryn's heart…and buried it in the woods. This is insane."
"If I don't book you, with all this evidence, it's going to look like favoritism. And then, Regina will have cause and she will fire me. And then, you know what she'll do? She'll bring in someone who will railroad you." Emma said, starting to beg to her friend who was almost in tears. "So, please – just try to be patient and trust me. We can't even move forward till we verify the heart belonged to Kathryn. And I am still waiting for the DNA test results. But, in the meantime, you need to bear with me. I have to ask you a few questions."
"This is crazy. I would never hurt anyone." Mary said, letting a single tear fall.
"I believe you; now you just have to wait so I can find proof to make everyone else believe. It's going to take time" Emma then winced in pain. "If it's any consolation, one or more of the kids is been kicking my bladder almost constantly since I arrested you, apparently they are also of the opinion that you are innocent."
"Hello, Miss Blanchard." Regina said with a very smug look.
"What is she doing here?"
"She asked to be here as a third party to make sure that I stay impartial. It can only help you."
"I have nothing to hide. Ask me anything."
Emma nodded before turning on the tape recorder. "The heart was found buried near the old Toll Bridge. It had been cut out by what appears to be a hunting knife. Have you ever been to that bridge before?"
"Yes, many times. It's where David and I liked to meet."
"Mr. Nolan."
"Yes."
"And, you met there… For what purpose?"
"We were having an affair. I'm not proud of what happened, and I'm sorry. But that doesn't change the fact that I did not kill Kathryn."
Emma then stood, and grimaced as she took the jewelry box out of a cabinet and put it on the table in front of Mary Margaret. "Have you ever seen this before?"
"Yes, it's my jewelry box."
"That's what we found the heart in."
"Don't you see what's happening here? Someone stole that box and put the heart in it. I didn't have anything to do with it. I'm innocent!"
"Miss Blanchard, it's okay. I know what you're going through. I know what it's like to lose someone you love. To be publicly humiliated. It put me in a very dark place. Changed me. I can only imagine what losing David Nolan did to you." Regina said, sounding reassuring but it looked about as sincere as Garfield apologizing for eating a fern or a fish.
"But, I haven't changed. I'm still the same person I've always been – a good person. I did not do this."
"Can I speak to you in the hallway, please?" Emma said to Regina, being clear that it wasn't up for debate.
"I told you to leave the questioning to me."
"How do you know she didn't do it? If that box was stolen from her as she claims, don't you think there'd be signs of a break in?" Regina said insistently. "Well, you were her roommate, and your over there almost every day, tell me. Has there been a break in? She is a woman who's had her heart broken, and that… That can make you do unspeakable things."
'Why the hell am I doing this? I'm actually listening to Regina, Regina of all people. Not only listening to her, but if I am what she said, why not just walk into a room full of very sharp knives suspended by horse hairs during an earthquake while I'm at it, I mean really what on earth do I expect to find in here.'
'What you hope to find is proof of Mary Margaret's innocence. What you're dreading to find is some form of irrefutable proof that will link her to the crime.' Emma's Gold voice said.
"Oh shut up." Emma said to the voice. She was then very surprised that when she got to the top of the steps that led to Mary Margret's apartment, Henry was sitting there. "Henry. What are you doing here? Why aren't you in school?"
"We have to help Miss Blanchard."
"I am helping her. That's why I'm searching the apartment. But you got to go home."
"Not going to happen."
"Just stay out of the way."
"So, what are we looking for?"
"I'm trying to see if maybe, someone broke in. Looking for busted doorjambs, broken glass, muddy boot prints. That kind of thing."
"So, you think someone's setting her up."
"It's the only thing that makes sense. The only problem is nobody's got a motive."
"My mom does."
"Regina?"
"She hates Snow White. Hey, you wanted a motive."
"Well, I don't think 'she hates Snow White' will hold up in a court, Henry."
'You never know, maybe it's just some very devious roundabout plot to force you to either send your best friend jail, or get you fired, now who on earth not only has motive to want to get you fired, but is that devious?' The Gold voice said.
'Well your right. And you're certainly devious enough to have thought of something as crazy as that.' Emma responded, this time remembering not to yell at the voice inside her head.
'Touché darling, touché.'
Emma and Henry looked around Mary Margaret's room. After looking at the pictures on Mary Margaret's desk, Emma flops down on the bed, hoping that either the kids would stop trying to push against one another, and by extension her ribs, or that some piece of evidence would suddenly appear that would prove Mary Margaret had nothing to do with this. Suddenly, the heat noisily turned on. Searching for the source of the noise, Emma looks to the floor and sees a heating vent. She takes off the grate of the vent and sticks her hand in.
"Did you find something?"
Emma then pulled out a hunting knife wrapped in cloth, it would've been the type used to cut out the heart, and it had a lot of blood on it. 'Be careful what you wish for.' The Gold voice said
Henry was thinking about drinking hot chocolate at Granny's, wanting to enjoy the glass of hot creamy goodness when August came and sat down next to him. Noticing the look of concentration on the boy's face. "I don't think that hot chocolate's going to drink itself. You're upset about your teacher, aren't ya?"
"She didn't do it. Why can't anyone see that?"
"Because most people just see what's right in front of them. And I don't think you're going to find the answers you want at the bottom of that mug." August said, and looked around the diner. "Don't you know somebody you can trust to go to and talk to you about that?"
"Yeah, but they don't have the answers either."
"Well, then you need have to find the answers from someone or something else."
"Like where?"
"That a book in your bag? You know I'm a writer. So, I'm partial to finding my answers in the literary form."
"It's just a book."
"Is it? Do you truly believe that?"
"Yeah."
"I think we both know that that's not the case. Can I get water, please?"
"What do you know about it?"
"I know it's a book of stories."
"Aren't all books?"
"Stories…that really happened."
"You think my book is real?"
"As real as I am."
"How do you know?"
"Well, let's just say that, uh, I'm a believer. And I want to help others see the light. That, my friend, is why I'm here. "
"But I already believe."
"Oh, I'm not here for you, buddy. I'm here for Emma."
"So, you want to get her to believe? Why don't you just tell her?"
"Well, there are some people – like you and me – we can go on faith. But others – like Emma – they need proof."
"Last time I tried to find proof, I got trapped in a sinkhole."
"There are less dangerous places to look." August said smiling. He then tapped his fingers on Henry's book. "Last time I checked, it was almost impossible to get physically hurt when not moving and reading a book. Moving and reading maybe, so I suggest you stay sitting until you find your answers." August said before drowning his water in them leaving.
Henry and opened the book, and began working through the stories with a vengeance.
"Arrrgh." Emma yelled walking into Gold's shop. She knew what she had to do, which was bring back the hunting knife and put it on top of all the other evidence she had against Mary Margaret. But at this particular moment the only thing she really wanted to do was find the tallest building in Storybrooke and take an expressway down to the ground floor.
"I'm going to guess something is the matter." Gold said coming out to the front of the shop.
"To put it mildly." Emma said frustrating leave pulling her hair. "I made the mistake of listening to Regina, and went and searched Mary Margret's apartment."
"And, no, no wait, let me guess. You found some extraordinarily compelling piece of evidence."
"Yes."
"Something that would definitely tie someone to the murder."
"A hunting knife, particularly the one used to cut out Kathryn's heart."
"And let me guess, instead of finding this inside of Mary Margaret's apartment with Regina's fingerprints and/or a signed confession from her that in fact she has framed Mary Margaret or something. Or that some psychotic nut job did it. You instead found it hidden somewhere inside of an apartment with absolutely no signs of there being a break-in and somebody having planted it there."
"Yep." Emma said throwing her arms over the table before setting her head down on top of them in defeat. "If you happen to have a bright side to all of this, please don't hold back on my account."
"Well I could offer you a bit of good news."
"Please do." Emma said standing up strait.
"Well if you'd like I could be Mary Margret's lawyer."
Emma just whet wide-eyed with shock. "You're a lawyer? Since when?"
"Ever wonder why I'm so good with contracts? It just so happens that I am the only lawyer in town who is able to stand up under the DAs death glare without wetting my pants. Although considering the fact that his glare is on par with that of Regina's it's not entirely surprising that most would wish to avoid it."
"And you can help Mary Margaret?"
"Well it kind depends on how far my dear wife would want me to take it."
"Well other than the fact that I don't want you confessing to the crimes, unless it just happens that you did. And you can't go and start cutting out people's hearts to try and shift suspicion."
"Emma, do you honestly think my strategy for helping Mary Margaret would be to cut out the hearts of the wives of men who have secret lovers. Honestly how ridiculous is that?" Gold said smiling evilly. "There are enough women in town to fit the description for that to work."
Emma seemed to look like she was thinking for a moment or two. "You know, most people don't need to wonder if their lawyer spouse is joking or not about becoming a serial killer in order to shift blame from their friend to some other person."
"Most people don't have a lawyer spouse who's being asked to save their friend who cut out their own lover's spouse's heart."
"Touché."
"Well now that I know what I'm dealing with, there is the slight matter of payment."
"You're going to charge Mary Margaret?" Emma asked surprised.
"Don't be silly she's a teacher, on the salary they make she wouldn't be able to afford five minutes of my help. No I have every intention of charging you." Gold said smiling.
"And just what would you charge."
"Well, how many hours in bed, foot rubs, back massages, showers together, baths together, and other very pleasurable pursuits is your friends freedom worth to you?"
Emma wasn't sure if she should be shocked, or feeling like an idiot because of what it was he asked. "Well if that's all I'd say I'm getting a bargain."
"There is just one more thing actually. If and/or when the trial is over, and Mary Margaret will definitely be a free woman. Before you rush into anything that might jeopardize mine or yours health, happiness, and/or marriage, I want the chance to explain anything I might've done in order to ensure that Mary Margaret walked free."
"She walks free; I'll give you a sympathetic ear, and a five minutes head start." Emma said smiling.
"That's all I ask Dearie."
"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."
"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 lawyer. This is why I brought my husband along."
"What has Gold to do with anything?" Mary asked.
"I'm offering my legal services."
"You're a lawyer?" She said surprised.
"Dose no one 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?"
"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."
"I'm pretty sure that was only because I happen to make a slight error in forgetting to read you your Miranda rights."
"Well be that as it may, the simple fact is Mary Margaret that this trial will most certainly be happening. And while watching a lawyer wet his pants every single time the DA glares at him would be extraordinarily entertaining, and no doubt hold the trial up for at least another two or three months because they have to adjourn every single time for him to change his pants, I'm afraid my dear wife would be very angry if I were to allow you to have anything but the best." Mr. Gold said walking up to stand only a few feet away from the bars of the cell. "Trust me. This is in your best interests Miss Blanchard."
"I can't pay you."
"I didn't ask for money."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Let's just say, I'm invested in your future." Gold said walking up next the bars and smirking. "Not the mention the fact the wife has agreed to pay me in kind for my services."
"That's all the information I need thank you very much." Mary Margret said blushing.
Emma decided to go back to Mary Margret's apartment, she wasn't sure why though. At this point she would have probably found a signed confession with fingerprints and a perfect match to Mary Margaret's handwriting at this point, considering how her luck had been going when it came to trying to get her friend off. She was so distracted that she didn't notice Henry until he had yelled. "I have proof." He then held up a key ring full of, odd looking silver keys. And was that a skull on the end of them? "This is how my mom got into the apartment. This is how she framed Miss Blanchard."
"Did you steal these from her office?"
"Yeah. The book said they could open any door."
"There's no way they'll even fit in the lock." Emma said, pointing to the fact that the keys were all about one size too large.
"We have to try." Henry said trying a couple of keys inside locks,
"See? What did I tell you? Come on, Henry. I know you want to think the answer to everything is in Operation Cobra,"
"It is!"
"But, sometimes the real world needs to come first."
"Just try one more. Please." Henry begged. And honestly how could she say no.
"Okay, one more. But then we're done."
"You do it. This one." Henry said holding up one of the keys.
"Okay." Emma said taking the key from him, but when she inserted into the lock and turned the door opened.
"Do you believe now?"
"While that doesn't necessarily mean they're magic Henry. It just means that for some unknown reason Regina happens to have keys to certain doors throughout town."
"And everyone has keys that are exactly alike." Henry said holding up the key ring. And whenever Emma examined it, she had to admit that they were all exactly alike. And thanks to her knowledge of being a bail bond person, and thief, she knew what a bum key looked like, and these weren't bum keys.
"Gold." Emma yelled coming into the shop.
"Just taking inventory." He said coming out of the back room. He smiled when he saw her. "Emma, What can I do for you? I hope this is a social call, or are there any developments in the case I should be aware of?"
"Yes. Regina set her up."
Gold just looked at her. And then dramatically swept his hand up and put it's back against his forehead "No!" he then dramatically put his fingers to his chest and had his elbow as far away from himself as possible. "Regina. Our beloved and wonderful Mayor. Set that evil whore Mary Margaret up." He then reverted back to his more normal calm self. "And this surprises you? Show me your evidence, and we'll get this over with immediately.
"Yeah, that's the thing. There isn't any. Anything that's court-worthy. But I know it now."
"Look who's suddenly become a woman of faith. I am impressed. But there is still one thing I don't know. Why are you here, Emma? To spin conspiracy theories?"
"I need help."
"From me?"
"Every time I've gone up against Regina, I've lost. Except for once, when I became Sheriff. When you helped. How did you do it?"
"I used methods you wouldn't approve of."
"I approve of your results. And this time, I have something more important than a job. I need to save my friend."
"And you're willing to go as far as it takes?"
"Farther."
"Now we're talking. Fear not, my darling. Regina may be powerful, but something tells me you're more powerful than you know."
"Wonderful, can we head to the jail to tell her that."
"Tell her I'm going to be as underhanded as possible to free her, if you agree to take the blame for it, why not."
"Henry. What are you doing here?" Emma asked. When she and Gold got to the station they saw Henry sitting on a chair reading.
"I came to congratulate you."
"For what?"
"Your genius plan."
"And what plan's that, Henry?"
"The escape plan dad, weren't you in on it if your Miss Blanchard's lawyer."
"The what?" Emma said
Gold then did a running limp to the cells. "Emma, could you join me, please?"
Emma ran to his side, and saw the empty cell. "She's gone."
"Henry, what did you do?"
"Nothing. She was gone when I got here."
"Her arraignment's tomorrow. If she's not there…"
"She's a fugitive. Doesn't matter if she's convicted for Kathryn or not – she's screwed. I have to go find her before someone notices she's missing."
"Oh, you mean Regina?"
"The arraignment's at eight A.M. I'm sure she'll be here bright and early to celebrate her victory."
"Well, you have until eight A.M., then."
"Uh, what about me? How can I help?"
"Go home."
"Emma, if she leaves Storybrooke…"
"Not now, Henry. Come on."
"Emma, I know time is of the essence, but if Miss Blanchard doesn't return… Her future's in jeopardy. And if you're caught helping her, so is yours."
"I don't care. I'd rather lose my job than my friend."
"All right dear, good luck."
"Yeah, thanks."
Thank you to Grace5231973, lozzy035, Wolfgirl2013, katniss12 and power214063.
P.N. Nobody probably knows this but I'm a Christian, and on Friday at my mother's birthday party my grandfather suffered three minor heart attacks, and then the next day he had a seizure.
He's fine now and is back from the hospital, but if it's not too much to ask, could people pray for him or whatever.