"I know because I was with him last night from shortly before sunset to just after sunrise," Tina shot back, her temper getting the better of her. "And I assure you, he didn't kill anyone."

"You were with him?" Emma asked. She knew Tina was telling the truth, she could tell. "Can anyone confirm where you were?"

"Where exactly, no," Tina said with a shrug. "I can show you the spot. There's a clearing on a hilltop about a mile and a half northwest of town, fairly easy hike. Has some wild-growing night-blooming jasmine, and I have no idea how it's still alive up here, along with some other flowers and ivy and a really great view of the stars. Specific enough for you, Sheriff?"

"I'm sure I can find the spot," Emma replied, looking at her. "What I want to know is why you were with him. And if nobody can confirm that's where you were, then there's no proof that he didn't do it... and that you weren't involved."

"Ah, Sheriff," Gold interrupted. "Your issue here is with me, is it not? She has nothing to do with this. Nor do I, but you seem to be inclined to believe otherwise."

Tina sighed. "If you're determined to believe what you want, the truth won't matter because you're already blind to it," she pointed out. "Besides, what reason would I have to step in and potential get myself in a lot of trouble if I were lying?"

"I don't know," Emma replied. "Why are you taking his side, anyways? You know who he is, right?"

"Does it matter?" Tina shot back. "He's been nice to me and he's put up with me invading his shop on a daily basis. I'm sure you have friends. Would you stand up for them when they were being unfairly accused?"

"Be that as it may, legally I can't prove that you didn't have anything to do with this," Emma pointed out. "Or him."

"Yes, but the law states that even if you arrest both of us you can't hold us for more than 48 hours without plausible cause," Tina pointed out. "And while I would be happy to keep answering your questions and telling you the same thing over and over, I'd be happier if we were getting to the bottom of this and finding whoever actually killed him."

"Robert and Gold were arguing in broad daylight on Main Street yesterday, and all of a sudden Robert turns up dead this morning? That's nothing if not suspicious." Emma looked at her.

"Yeah, suspicious because he died last night, and then showed up behind Gold's shop. Really, I don't think he's stupid enough to kill a man the night after they argued and then leave the corpse in his back yard, basically. Doesn't it look more like someone else is involved who wants Gold out of the picture?" Tina raised her eyebrows at Emma.

"It looks like you're trying to stall," Emma said frankly. "Which I don't appreciate. Now I believe you when you said you had nothing to do with it, but I can't rule out Gold like that."

Tina sighed and held up her hands in defeat. "Fine, believe what you will," she said, shifting a bit so she was closer to Gold. "I know he didn't do it, and I'm sure you'll figure it out soon enough."

Emma looked briefly like she wanted to strangle someone.

"Alright," she said, "look. You might be on to something with the whole 'he was framed' idea. It wouldn't be the first time. But that makes my job a hell of a lot harder, because nobody in this town likes him, except for you, apparently. So anyone could have done it."

"Emma," Snow said from the doorway, around the door, "I can't keep them from barging in much longer."

"I know, I know," Emma said. "Tell them I'm taking care of it."

Tina sighed and looked at Gold. "Now might be time to make a strategic exit to the rear and give the Sheriff some time to work things out," she pointed out quietly.

"I'm sorry, but this is my shop and I'm not going anywhere," Gold said, planting his feet and his cane. He wasn't afraid of anyone, not when he had magic to back him up.

"Yeah, and you really think standing here throwing magic around is going to help their opinion of you? Besides, then you'd be giving her a reason to throw you in jail." Tina gave him a look.

"Tina, I will have no qualms about defending my property if I have to," Gold said.

Tina growled in frustration and gave up. "Fine," she snapped. "Do what you will, you stubborn man. If she throws you in jail I am not going to bail you out. It wouldn't kill you to accept help once in a while, you know." She turned and moved easily through the shop and out the front door. There was a moment of quiet from the gathered people, and Tina's eyes narrowed.

"Don't you all have better things to do than stand around being vultures?" she snapped at them, pushing her way through the crowd. "Or do you really trust your sheriff that little?" With one last glare, she stalked off towards the apartment, too upset to go back to the library.

Gold just sighed for a moment and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Then he looked at Emma, Snow, and Charming.

"My patience with you all is running a bit thin, so I will only ask once that you all get out of my shop."

After a moment Emma nodded shortly and herded the other two out of the shop. The crowd had disbursed some, and the rest wandered off after a few words from Emma. Sighing, she headed back to the sheriff station to look over things again.

Rachel was still there when Emma walked back in.

"Rough time?" she asked when she saw the sheriff.

"You could say that," Emma said with a sigh, dropping down into her chair. "Your friend has quite the temper. I never would have guessed, she's been so busy avoiding everyone."

"Yeah, Tina's like that," Rachel said. "And I think she always has been. It's a little fuzzy once I get back past a certain point."

Emma nodded. "Yeah, I get a lot of that around here," she said, letting her head fall back. "If you wanted to frame someone, how would you do it?"