The sheriff kneels down onto one leg as he slowly pulls out the fuzzy golden ring box. The patrons in the bar gasp, waiting anxiously for the bar maiden's reaction.

"Mary," the sheriff smiles brightly, his eyes overflowing with joy and happiness.

Mary stops what she's doing and her eyes go wide at the sight.

"Will you make me the happiest man in this bar and marry me?" He opens the ring box and pulls out the ring, holding it out towards her.

"...Sheriff..." Mary freezes, her heart pounds quickly in her chest and she becomes at a loss for words. Her eyes dart around the bar as all is silent, everyone waiting for her reply. Does she accept? Does she deny? Does she even love him?

Her eyes begin to pool with tears as a smile creeps upon her face, "yes." She nods her head and the sheriff rises from his kneeling position. "Yes. I will marry you."

"Really?" The sheriff's eyes widen before he rushes over to Mary and embraces her gently. "I love you Mary Roberts. I've waited so long to say that." He breathes before releasing his grip on her.

"I love you too, Johnny." Mary smiles softly towards the man, the sheriff smiles more as he gently grasps her hand and slides the ring upon her left ring finger.

"Now everyone will know that you are off limits," the sheriff lets out a light laugh before looking into the woman's eyes. "May I kiss you Mary?" He asks softly, holding her hands gently within his.

"Yes." Mary nods slowly, she closes her eyes as the sheriff gently presses his rough, manly lips against her soft, plush lips. Mary pulls away from the kiss and then goes back to working behind the counter, "I need to work now, but please take these to my brother when you go to interrogate him." She reaches under the counter and pulls out a little tray of assorted cookies. "I don't want him to get too stressed out, so these should calm him down if he gets too anxious." Mary curls the corners of her mouth into a small, slightly crooked smile; yet too innocent for the sheriff to notice the darkness hiding behind it.

"Of course." The sheriff gladly takes the tray before tipping his hat to the female. "I guess I'll see you later?"

"See you later, Sheriff." Mary waves as the man turns and leaves the bar, the people watching them clap as the sheriff walks away.

***

The sheriff re-enters the police station and walks over towards Bob.

"So, is he ready to talk yet? Or not quite?" The sheriff asks as he stands next to his partner of the office.

"You can try to talk with him again, but he hasn't asked to co-operate yet." Bob looks up at the sheriff and notices a smile on his face, "what's with you? Where did you get that?" He reaches his hand up and gently pokes the sheriff's face.

"I just proposed to Mary," the sheriff replies as he gently removes Bob's hand from his face.

"And...?" Bob leans in closer to the sheriff.

"And what?" The sheriff raises an eyebrow to the man as he smirks slightly, trying to keep Bob in suspense as long as possible.

"What did she say? Did she reject you? Or... did she say YES!?" Bob's eyes light up with excitement as he becomes anxious to know more.

"She said yes." The sheriff smiles as he responds to Bob's question, Bob casually squeals with excitement from the sheriff's response. The sheriff just rolls his eyes and laughs quietly to himself. "Never change." The sheriff mumbles as he looks to the interrogation room, "wish me luck, I'm going in."

"Good luck." Bob cheers as the sheriff enters the interrogation room, carrying the little tray of Mary's cookies in with him.

"I am back, did you miss me?" The sheriff smirks lightly as he sets the tray of cookies down in front of Will before he takes the seat across from the male.

"Not really," the man rolls his eyes before looking down at the cookies. "Are those for me?"

"Maybe." The sheriff casually scoots the tray closer to the man, hoping to entice him with the treats. "Do you want one?"

"Maybe." Will runs his finger along the abnormalities in the table, "I've been sitting here for hours and this is the first time you have offered me something to eat, so of course I would like a cookie." He erupts with anger before shrinking back down, "sorry, that's the hunger talking."

"I'll let you have one now and then you can have the rest once you co-operate with us, but this is only because I am going to become your brother." The sheriff explains as he pushes the tray closer to the man at the other end of the table as him.

"What? Did you propose to my sister?" Will chokes before he is able to reach for a cookie. "Are you insane?"

"What? No! Why?" The sheriff furrows his brows, deeply confused by Will's comment. "What has brought this on?"

"There's no doubt that my sister likes you, but something has changed in her, she's different now." Will reaches forwards and grabs a cookie, he then brings it to his mouth before taking a bite of it.

"What are you trying to say? You don't think Mary did all this, do you?" The sheriff narrows his eyes, his love for Mary clouding his detective mindset.

"I can't say, but I know she'll do anything to make you happy." Will swallows the cookie and then looks down at his hands, "I suggest you make sure she is happy too, or..." he pauses for a moment, appearing to be lost in thought  or something.

"Mary wouldn't hurt anyone, she loves children. She even helped to build a school for the town a few years back. Why would you think something like that?" The sheriff shakes his head, certain that Will was wrong. He is so focused in debating with Will's comments in his head that he does not notice Will's face turning a light shade of purple.

"Sheriff!" Bob calls out as he bursts into the interrogation room, the sheriff's attention turns to the sudden appearance of his partner just as Will collapses onto the ground.

"Oh my!" The sheriff's eyes grow wide as he springs from his chair and rushes to the man's aid. "Bob! Call the hospital, there might still be time to save him!" His voice rings with urgency, but sorrow washes over Bob's face, at this moment the sheriff knew for certain that it was too late to save Mary's brother.

"I'll call a bus to pick him up, are you going to tell Miss Mary or do you want me to tell her?" Bob looks over to the sheriff, his voice soft and fragile.

"I'll tell her, she might take it better if I am there to comfort her." Bob nods and then leaves the room to go call an ambulance to pick up the corpse that lay still warm upon the floor of the interrogation room.

The sheriff remains in the interrogation room for a bit, staring blankly at the body that lay still in front of him. His heart aches as he feels guilt pulling at him from the inside, he was so mean to Will and never got a chance to tell him how he really felt, how he really wanted to become Will's brother and to learn more about him in hopes of becoming closer. But now it was too late.

"I guess I have to go call Mary now." The sheriff stands up and swiftly steps over the body on his way to the door before he leaves the room.

He closes the door to the interrogation room and pauses for a moment, inhaling slowly, the sheriff turns his head to glance at the body. He exhales and then walks towards his office to grab his coat.

As he enters his office, his eyes fall upon a photograph he had hung upon the wall. Him, Will, and Mary were side hugging each other while sharing a laugh. The sheriff's eyes begin to water as he remembers the good times he and Will had together. Despite viewing him as an enemy, the sheriff quite enjoyed the man's company; it was just hidden deep inside of him.

The sheriff looks down at his chair and slowly pulls it out, he gently sits down upon the seat and leans his arms against the top of his desk. Resting his head in his hands, the man looks down at a photograph of him and Mary, and wonders how he'll be able to tell her.

"I remember!" Betty appears before a distraught looking Sheriff. "I know who did it!" Her voice full of urgency yet with a hint of cheerfulness. "I know who killed me!"