The Perfect Crime

Chapter 7

A bell rings as the sheriff walks into the jewellery store, just a few buildings away from the station. He looks through the displays, searching for something that he has yet to decide upon.

"Top of the morning sheriff, what brings me the pleasure of serving you today?" The jeweller asks as he tips his hat to the man, a smile wide upon his face.

"I'm looking for something special. For someone special. But I don't know what she'll like." The sheriff looks up at the man and rubs his chin gently, he was clearly terrible at this sort of thing, it's a good thing that he was the sheriff and not a jeweller instead.

"Ah, is it that kind of gift huh?" The jeweller's wide smile turns into a devilish grin as he raises his left brow. "Thinking of popping the question to Miss Mary, are ye?"

The sheriff is caught off guard and takes a step backwards. His cheeks pinken and he begins to stutter.

"U-uh... w-what? Maybe? Do you think she'll say yes?" He whispers the last phrase quickly while leaning forward towards the jeweller.

"You're hell of a lucky man if she does." The jeweller whispers back before leaning back to let out a howl of a laugh. "And if she doesn't, well, then you can let her keep the ring and maybe she'll change her mind later?"

"Right, but I'm just not sure if now is the time to do so." The sheriff reaches his arm towards the back of his neck and rubs it gently. "I mean, I am having Bob and his men gather her brother as we speak, and with the killer on the loose, I don't know...." He looks down and stuffs his other hand into his jacket pocket.

"Ah cheer up ol' chap! There's no time like the past!" The jeweller flicks his hand towards the sheriff as he coos with his own laughter. "Or was it the present?" He shrugs lightly as he begins to debate with himself inside his head.

"Thank you, so do you have anything that she might like?" The sheriff tilts his head slightly while also lifting his shoulders, one being a bit higher than the other.

"I might, but it may take a bit of time. Can you wait or do you want to go and come back a bit later?" The jeweller suggests as he lays his hands gently upon the counter where the cash register is at.

"It's fine, I will come back later. Please call the station when you find something." The sheriff waves to the jeweller as he turns and walks towards the exit of the shop.

"Oh, Sheriff!" The jeweller calls out to the man before he leaves the shop, "try not to be too harsh on her brother, alright?"

"I'll try my best." The sheriff holds his hand up in the air before he leaves the shop and returns to the station.

***

The sheriff walks into the interrogation room and looks at Will as he maneuvers around the table and sits across from him. As he sits down, his eyes reflect a serious tone and he appears to be angry.

"I assume you know why you are here." The sheriff leans back in his seat and looks straight into Will's eyes.

"I guess," Will sighs as he lifts his shoulders and then drops them slowly.

"Did you slip a paper crane into my pocket the night of the second child was brutally beaten to death?" The sheriff demands angrily with a light growl as he narrows his eyes towards the man in front of him.

"No. I did not slip a piece of paper into your pocket." Will leans back as he replies calmly, his hands fidgeting among themselves.

"Then how did it get into my pocket? I know it wasn't there before I got to your sister's house, and yet, it was there after visiting." The sheriff raises his voice as he shifts his body to be a bit closer to Will.

"I do not know." Will's voice rises in pitch as he raises his hands up off of the table. "Maybe my sister slipped it in, or maybe you slipped it in and decided to frame me because you're a jerk and don't like me!"

"Wow, really? You are going to blame this on your sister? Mary is a thousand time nicer than you! How can you even say something so vile about that sweet innocent angel?!?"The sheriff stands as he yells at Will, arguing with him.

"You know what, if you're just going to yell at me, then I am done answering your questions." Will crosses his arms and leans back in his seat while turning his head away from the sheriff, his face scrunched up with anger. "Good luck finding the murderer now."

"Are you serious?!?" The sheriff clenches his fists and shakes them out in front of him, holding back the urge to punch the man sitting in front of him. "FINE!" The sheriff then storms out of the room and slams the door behind him.

"That was the loudest and shortest interrogation I have ever witnessed." Bob whispers softly to one of the officers standing off to the side of the station's main room. He then runs over to the fuming sheriff and calls out to him to grab his attention. "Sheriff, sir!" Bob flails his hands in the air as he runs, "the jeweller called while you were busy, apparently he has something to show you." The man huffs as he calls out, the sheriff stops walking and turns to face the man.

"Thank you for informing me, Bob." The sheriff smiles softly towards the small huffing man before him. "Call me if he decides to finally confess." The sheriff grabs his coat and then leaves the station.

***

The bell above the door rings once more as the sheriff enters the jewellers shop once more. The sheriff removes his cap as he walks over to the jeweller and the assortment of rings laid out in front of him.

"I heard you have something to show me?" A wide smile forms upon the sheriff's face as his eyes meet the sparkling stones on small silver bands.

"Yes." The jeweller smiles widely as he waves his hand over the assortment of rings in front of him, "is there anything you like here?"

The sheriff's eyes analyze each and every ring that was picked out for him, his mouth forming a smile at the start, but as he approaches the end of the line of rings, his smile fades and his face appears saddened as he looks up at the jeweller.

"No, there's nothing here that calls me." He shakes his head while casually tilting his head to the left, "I mean they're all nice looking rings, but none of them shout out Mary's name."

The sheriff expected the jeweller to match his expression and frown, but that was not the case. The jeweller's eyes light up as his smile grows larger and wider.

"I was hoping that you would say that." The jeweller lets out a light giggle before squatting down below the counter's surface.

"Then why did you show me these?" The sheriff raises his left brow as confusion floods over his face.

"Because, it's fun." A muffled voice echoes from below the counter before the jeweller resurfaces with a fuzzy golden ring box. "Now, how about this one?" The jeweller slowly lifts the lid of the ring box to slowly reveal the ring to the sheriff.

The sheriff's eyes widen and his eyes dilate at the sight of the ring.

"I-It... It's perfect." The sheriff gasps as he gently reaches out for the box and then holds it in his hands before lifting it slowly into the air as though he were recreating the opening scene in the lion king.

"Then it is yours," the jeweller smiles brightly. "Free of charge."

"A-Are you sure? I'll give you at least fifty dollars for it," the sheriff tries to negotiate a price, not wanting to get the ring entirely free of charge.

"The reaction on the woman's face is all the reward I need, also give me a free invitation to your wedding that includes all the food and booze I want for free." The jeweller laughs, waving the sheriff off in an attempt to get him to go out an propose right away.

"Wow, thank you so much!" The sheriff's smile brightens as his voice becomes cheerful at the same time. He then quickly skips out of the shop, excitedly heading towards the bar, knowing that Mary would start her shift soon.

***

The sheriff flings the doors of the bar open as he calls out Mary's name. The woman with auburn hair behind the bar's counter looks up towards the man to see him slowly approach her. The sheriff stops and then gets down onto one knee.