Title: Sleepy Hollow
Chapter 1 – Public Enemies

Summary: AU A grisly murder brings Constable Ed Lane to a small town in search of a serial killer. But what secrets does he uncover? Who does he meet? And could he be the next target of the vengeful murderer?

Disclaimer: If you don't know by now read my other AU/FP stories lol there is no Sophie and no Hank, just our AU couple and I only own the idea behind that and my OC's if any – don't sue, I have no money lol the rest belongs to FP BUT any specific references to the movie Sleepy Hollow, Johnny Depp or anything SL related or FP related belongs to the producers and not me! I just borrow for fun.

A/N: Okay so back with a new AU adventure featuring Ed and Donna and of course you know I can't have Ed without Wordy or the rest of team one so they'll factor into this little original adventure as you'll see – I don't want to give too much away for this unique little adventure. So hope you enjoy this little adventure.


Toronto – 1 year ago

"I think we got him…trapped. Bill…talk to me."

"Donna…just wait where you are…I think I see him."

"Bill you hold your position! Do you hear me? You…Bill! He's not listening…Tom…Rachel…anyone…do we have a visual? Does anyone…have a visual?"

"Donna…"

"Bill! Where the hell…Bill talk to me. This guy…he's killed other of…"

*bang* *bang* *bang*

"BILL! All units…"

"Donna…I'm okay. I'm not hit! I see…"

"This bastard cuts off his victims heads while they're still alive! He doesn't use a gun! IT'S A TRAP!"

"Donna trust me…I'll b…"

"Bill? Say again…"

"I have him corn…ered. I…hold on…he's…I think he's…"

"Bill? Say again. He's what? Bill…I can't hear you…say again!"

"Don…nna!"

"Bill? Are you there?'

Silence

'Bill!'

Silence

' BILL! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!'

~Front Page Toronto Star: Constable Bill Kedrick – murdered by vicious serial killer~

Toronto – present day

"Stop right there!"

"Ed…I'm tracking his movements up Fourth! Wordy, head south and you'll cut him off!"

"Copy that!"

Ed Lane's footsteps pound harder on the pavement, matching the rhythm of his rapidly racing heart; his mind reminding him that they cannot let him get away. He rounds the corner with his gun trained; his mind telling him that his partner should be there to intercept a few moments later.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!"

The perp stops running, pivots on his heel and prepares to fire off a shot. But that bullet doesn't get a chance to leave the chamber as Ed's partner, Kevin 'Wordy' Wordsworth's body slams into the perp's; both of them tumbling to the ground in a jumble of arms and legs.

Ed can only offer a small growl as he reaches in, grips the perp's coat and gives it a firm yank; causing the two of them to dislodge, his partner rolling free. "Drop your gun! Do it now!" Ed shouts as Wordy gets up to his knees; his gun also trained on the perp who finally drops his weapon and surrenders.

"Spike, we got him."

"You guys got the wrong man!"

"Yeah…yeah then why were you running away? Unpaid parking tickets?" Ed retorts in sarcasm.

"You chased me!"

"After you ran from us, genius," Wordy retorts in with a groan.

"Let's go," Ed tells him gruffly.

They head back to the command area where Ed hands off the cuffed perpetrator to a waiting uniformed officer, telling them to book him on the details of the arrest warrant and then heads back to his partner.

"Good job Spike," Ed praises as the third member of their special unit joins them beside the large black SUV.

"Winston Bergstrom is also wanted in Vancouver," Spike informs them as he hands Ed an RCMP printout.

"Good, one less to take up space in our jails," Wordy adds in sarcasm.

"Good work today team," Ed tells them as his phone buzzes; Wordy looking at him in wonder, Spike heading toward the SUV.

"Bad news?"

"No just…from the director," Ed replies in haste as he quickly shoves his phone into his pocket.

"Director? Is that what you call them now?" Wordy retorts in amusement as Ed's eyes slightly narrow. "Which is that one?"

"Sheila…" Ed replies with a small huff as they head toward the SUV. "I'm just not…"

"It's been six months since Sophie."

"I know I just…I'll know when I want a second date," Ed tells Wordy in a firm tone.

"I know you want to date a cop but…"

"Someone who gets the job. The long hours, the danger…the long hours," he huffs as he rubs his face. "Maybe I'll become a monk," he groans in sarcasm, Wordy offering him a small chuckle.

"Wanna have dinner with us? Shelly's making roast. Your favorite," Wordy states with a friendly smile and a pat on Ed's back.

"I gotta…."

"Ed…what's really going on? You've been kinda testy the past few weeks. You uh…what's up?"

"Just uh been a bit agitated since we found that body in the alleyway."

"The one that was decapitated? Okay but…we've seen grisly murders before. Come on Ed, it's me. What's going on?"

Both pause before they enter the SUV; Spike already inside waiting. "Got an offer for an Inspector's position."

"Really?"

"In…Mississauga."

"Really."

Ed looks at Wordy with a heavy frown before he looks away; the CN tower skyline in the horizon. "I said no."

"Ed…that's a great opportunity," Wordy tries to protest as Ed turns back shaking his head.

"It's too much to move."

"You're one guy," Wordy tosses back.

"This position…is more political than tactical and…and I'm not a politician."

They finally get into the SUV and head back to the detachment headquarters, the three of them getting out of the SUV and heading inside; Spike pulling away, texting his mother that he'd be going there for dinner. Wordy looks at his partner's tense jaw and feels at a loss for words. He had tried to set Ed up with a few women that he and Shelly had met and thought would be a good fit but so far none of them have 'clicked'. He watches Ed pull away and head for the men's locker room and can't help but be concerned.

Ed pulls his locker door open and then stares at the darkened contents with a heavy heart. Maybe you need to take a few things off your perfect match list – there is no such thing as perfect. He hears Wordy's voice in his head as he reaches for a small envelop and slowly opens it.

'Constable Lane, I'd like to talk to you about the position of…'

He quickly folds it up, muttering under his breath that he's happy where he is and doesn't want to move to Mississauga just for a small promotion. And don't forget the raise that comes along with it…you know if the tittle isn't enough.

"I already told them no," Ed states as he looks to the right; turning to look at Wordy with a soft frown.

"Her death wasn't your fault."

"Wordy…"

"You know that right?" Wordy counters as he approaches. "It wasn't your fault."

"I applied for the position," Ed admits as Wordy's brows gently rise. "Two months after Sophie was killed, I applied for it. I thought I needed the break and I applied but now…now I think I'm just running away."

"Why don't you take a break? You have that cabin up north that…"

"Wordy, I'm fine and not…"

"Ed…"

"I knew her two months and she was killed because I…"

"No, not because of you! It's not your fault!" Wordy argues back as Ed throws up his hands in frustration and turns around.

"He was aiming for me!" Ed confesses in misery as his shoulders slump. "I don't want to move to Mississauga. I said no to the job. But…yeah…maybe the cabin is a good idea."

"Take a few days and then I'll get Shelly and Spike and we'll all come up for a weekend and just…hang."

"Wordy…"

"You're going to argue with me on this?" Wordy gently chuckles as Ed's expression finally softens. "Come on…I'll drive you home."

XXXXXXXX

Later that same night, Ed sits in front of his computer looking at few sobering headlines on his computer screen. Part of him had been looking for a change of scenery in his profession, either a higher position or just another city or province but at the same time, he's not that eager to leave his partner Wordy or friend Spike; the three of them cementing a firm family-like bond over the past few years.

Feeling a bit of fatigue setting on, Ed tells himself to turn off the computer and just get some solid rest – no one would tell on him for having an early night. He goes to close the window but his hand slips and the mouse, instead of clicking to close the window, clicks on 'other top headline's and he finds himself looking at the front page of the…

"North Bay Nugget…what the…" Ed grumbles as he stifles a yawn and then tries to refocus his thoughts – this time to close the page. But just before he does his weary sapphire eyes fixate on something that…for some reason strikes a somewhat familiar but sobering chord.

"Grisly murder…headless corpse…" he mutters as he leans back in his chair; his brow heavily furrowing. His mind starts to recall something he had been involved with – only briefly but it had started with him and THEN it went over to the GNG team as it was technically their case.

'Did they find Bronson?'

'Yeah two constables…Ed Lane and Kevin Wordsworth. I just found the pictures…the killer took uh…damn they found…he had no head man, he took the damn head! In all my years here at Guns and Gangs, I've never seen anything like this. That was my CI!'

'That's messed up. Haven't heard of anything like that after…'

'Yeah Kedrick.'

"Bill Kedrick," Ed mutters as he opens a new browsing window. He finds the page he's looking for and starts to read in an undertone. "I…remember this."

"Bill Kedrick's body was found at the site of a grisly murder…he had been decapitated…head never found. Damn," Ed curses under his breath as his face visually winces. "Him and partner…Donna Sabine were closing in…had him cornered but vicious killer Rick Liber managed to escape…taking the head with him. Liber hasn't been heard from or seen since…what happened to Lieber? What happened Donna Sabine?" Ed continues to talk to himself as he searches for Donna's picture. Despite working in the same city, it was a massive area and they both worked on different parts of the GTA. He had heard about the case…they all did…one of their own struck down in the line of duty, but he didn't investigate too much about them as it wasn't his jurisdiction and he wasn't called in to help out.

"Donna…Sabine," he reads as he looks at her picture on the computer screen. "She's…pretty," he whispers as a smile grows in the dimly lit small office. "Where is she…retired. No one knows where she went. Some say finding her partner's corpse was the last straw and she went back to Quebec to be with family. Can't blame her. Wonder if…" he starts and then stops, scolding himself for even thinking that she might still be around.

Then he logs into the central RCMP data base to read the report about the body that the Guns and Gangs (GNG) department had found.

"Body of Miles Bronson was found. Headless. The head was found a week later…he was set to testify…same oddly serrated knife markings were used that were found at the Kedrick site. Could be the same," Ed continues to read the officers field notes, that follow his own. "But…they found some other DNA and then…case closed. Closed? What?" Ed mutters somewhat angrily as he quickly flips back to the North Bay Nugget front page; the GNG lead investigator failing to tell him the case was closed – the case he had started for them.

"Sergeant Greg Parker said in an interview it's the worst murder he's seen since leaving the Great Toronto Area (GTA)…is appealing to outside authorities for help."

Ed's eyes then dart over to the North Bay Detachment, reading their personnel list with some interest.

"Sam Braddock and…Jules Callaghan-Braddock, Constables. Both under Greg Parker?" Ed muses as he opens each personnel file. "Ah…both are on different divisions. That's how they can be married and still work together. Interesting set-up you have there Parker. Sam Braddock, ex JTF2. Wow ex special forces, impressive; now the lead for the violent crimes division. Juliana "Jules" Callaghan-Braddock. Ex-RCMP…sniper…now working the sexual crimes division and…and then Greg Parker," Ed pauses as he reads Greg's professional bio. "That's an impressive team. But…but nothing, they'll be able to solve this case. They are more than qualified."

Ed closes the page, telling himself it's not his issue and North Bay was too far out of his jurisdiction to even care. He's asked for outside help…Ed's mind reminds him. "Other detachments are closer," Ed reminds himself out loud as he shakes his head. He shuts down the computer and then turns off the lights to his small apartment office; bathing it in darkness as he heads for his bedroom.

But while he tries to push the case to the back of his mind and Greg Parker's call for outside help he can't seem to push Donna Sabine out his thoughts. Wonder where she really retired to, his mind can't help but ponder; unable to totally erase Donna Sabine's beautiful face from his mind's eye. Probably married with kids…

"Just let it go Ed," he tells himself as he crawls into bed and turns off the light.

That…wasn't about to happen as already two destinies were set on a collision course.

XXXXXXXX

The next morning, Wordy watches Ed leaving the GNG area and watches as he approaches with a somewhat perplexed expression.

"Guns and Gangs now?"

"More your style," Ed gently retorts as he hands Wordy the case file printout. "Came across something interesting last night and…and just thought I'd do a follow up."

"Miles Bronson…but what does…Ed he's not ours. We found the body but it was their case and…" Wordy starts only to have Ed hand him another printout; Spike walking up to join them.

"We started the case remember?" Ed reminds his partner and friend.

"Okay but…wait…this is…The North Bay…" Wordy pauses as he looks up in wonder. "Nugget? What does North Bay have to do with GNG's CI we found in the alley?"

"What's going on?" Spike asks slowly.

"Ask Sherlock Holmes here."

"Funny," Ed deadpans as Spike starts to read what Ed handed Wordy.

"This isn't our case Ed," Wordy reminds him in a quiet tone. "We offered to help and they told us…"

"To back off, I know," Ed resigns.

"North Bay?" Spike looks up in wonder. "Who's Greg Parker?"

"Look guys…I was just curious, that's all," Ed gently snaps as he snatches the papers back from Wordy and Spike.

"I remember that case about the Constable who was beheaded. Never found the head," Spike states fatefully.

"This isn't the same case Spike," Wordy interjects. "They found Bronson's head. Case closed."

"This North Bay case…the head wasn't found, you think he's back?" Spike ponders as he looks at Ed.

"Spike," Wordy groans as he looks at Ed. "Ed, they found the killer's DNA and it says that Werner Brown was arrested," Wordy reminds him. "It's over."

"I know that. As I said…I was just curious."

"But if they arrested him then why did a body with the same MO just show up in North Bay?" Spike continues; both Ed and Wordy who had started to walk away stop and look back at him as he shrugs. "It is kinda curious."

"And that's all it was to me. I'm guessing a copycat but the North Bay officers can figure it out. From what I read they have a pretty good team."

"You looked into this and them already?" Wordy asks in surprise.

"They might not know what we know," Spike suggests at the same time; Ed shaking his head.

"It's not our call Spike," Ed reminds him firmly. But the uncertainty in his voice hangs in the air and seems to seep into all their thoughts at the same time. But as Ed looks at Spike's somewhat silently pleading expression and then at Wordy who shrugs in resignation he feels doubt slowly starting to build inside.

"Isn't…the cabin on the way to North Bay?"

"Spike," Ed warns as Spike offers Wordy an amused smirk; Ed pulling his phone and then looking at the contact number for Greg Parker on the file.

"We did find the body first…before it was then turned over to GNG because it was their CI."

"Yes turned over…as it's not our problem anymore. And besides…North Bay will get help from closer detachments," Ed tries to protest something that he actually started. "I'm sure they won't even want some big city help. I know how these small town guys are."

"He's only been out there a few years," Spike reminds him in truth as Wordy looks at him in wonder. "What? I…looked into Greg Parker. He's married to a woman named Marina who…"

"Spike," Ed starts and then stops.

"Why move to North Bay?" Wordy ponders as the three of them slowly head back to their side of the official RCMP building.

"I think you should call him," Spike mutters under his breath as both Ed and Wordy stop talking and look at him. "What?"

Ed looks at the case file notes and can't help but wonder if Donna Sabine has seen the latest and if it would affect her in any way. They never found her partners head…had to confirm with DNA that it was him…course she'd still be affected, it was only a year ago!

"I get he's enthusiastic," Wordy tells Ed in an undertone as they both watch Spike head for the weapons locker to get their day started. "But you don't have to call if you don't want to."

"A lot of details here didn't make the press. Only that a body was found without a head but then the head was found and someone arrested on suspicion. The blood wasn't on the corpse itself it was…"

"Planted? You can't prove that," Wordy whispers as Ed's lips purse. "This isn't our case Ed. You sure you want to start something we'll possibly get our knuckles rapped for?"

"If I don't call…no I don't want to start something but now that it's on my mind, it's all I'm going to think about. I'll just call Parker and swap a few notes and then…hang up and we'll get on with our day."

"Okay," Wordy agrees as he watches Ed pull away a few feet.

"Wonder what happened to Donna?"

"Who?"

"Never mind," Ed retorts as Wordy's brow furrows. He dials Greg Parker's contact number and then waits, his mind telling him this isn't his jurisdiction and why does he want to even venture down a road he's not authorized to venture down. I can make a call…I am allowed to do that…but…

"Greg Parker."

Ed takes a deep breath and then starts. "Sergeant Parker? Constable Ed Lane from Toronto."

"Hello Constable Ed Lane from Toronto," comes the somewhat chipper reply. "What can I do for you?"

"This uh…I'm just calling about the murder…the headless corpse that was found," Ed's voice slightly stammers.

Silence.

"Sergeant Parker?"

"Just going into my office. Yes Constable Lane. Do you have any new information for me?"

"Just calling to trade a few notes, I guess," Ed replies with a stammer. "Wasn't sure if you were aware we had a headless corpse found ourselves a few weeks back."

"Saw that. I still keep up with the big city news. Did they catch the real killer? I know they said DNA was found and arrest on suspicion made but was it confirmed?"

"No. It's still pending as the suspect has a somewhat airtight alibi and is swearing on an Everest sized stack of Bible's that he's being framed. I was just…" Ed then stops. Why are you calling? "I'm sorry Sir…I guess I was just curious. Sorry to have wasted your time."

"Not at all. Knowing that we still might be tangling with the same killer can give us something to work with. And the knife edge…oddly serrated?"

"The cuts appear to be the same. But…I'm sure your team can handle it."

"My team…is a bit short staffed right now."

Help. They need help. But…

"I…" Ed starts and then stops, looking over at Wordy and Spike a few meters away; both of them looking at him in expectation. "Short? But it's only one that…"

"Actually constable Lane we have two headless corpses, the other hasn't made the press yet. Was found a week before the first one about an hour south of here, I guess between you and me."

"Why hasn't it made the news?"

"The mayor wants this kept on the down low and uh…well solved fast. The mayor…is new to the job and is worried about the reputation of North Bay which has enjoyed a relatively unsensational crime rate until now. When we found the first body, we thought it was just a prank…you know it was Halloween and people do stupid things. But two? And besides, a reporter happened to find the second so you see….my team really could use the extra help Constable. If you and your partner could spare a few days, a fresh set of eyes would be greatly appreciated."

Ed's mind now wonders how he got into this…could he say no? He's the one that made the call to Parker…they need help. But…it's not his jurisdiction and technically this isn't his case anymore. Just walk away now…his mind warns. You can say no, it'll be okay.

But…would Ed listen to his own reasoning? Would he say no? Or would he say yes? And then…what would that mean for them all?


A/N: So according to Goggle – North Bay ON, is Ontario's Foggiest city which is part of the idea for the story title and setting. I borrowed a few things from the movie sleepy hollow without the supernatural/fantasy stuff and hope you all liked it. And everything about our team is the same (same canon pairings-aside from Ed/Donna of course ) and hopefully you'll see that they still have their same characteristics from the show….that is if you give this little out of the box writing adventure a chance. So? Thoughts? would you like to see more? See how the story unfolds? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!