"Some mysteries, Abbie are better learned than told."

He had always been that way; Corbin was more of a do it and see sort of parent. She was grateful for it most of time; however this was not one of moments. "You going to make me beg, Old Man?" she asked as she drove.

"Nope,:" Corbin said "I am going to make you find out for yourself. Best way to learn."

"Tenth grade science project, I am going to say yes. But, police investigations?" she smirked.

"Oh, this is a police investigation now?" he smiled. "Here I thought you had left off filing any sort of reports on the boy."

They shared a look then, Corbin knew she would fight hell and high water to keep any kid out of the system unless it was absolutely necessary. She and Jenny had spent three years shuttling between 'homes,' He knew that if Abbie had any inkling that the Crane kid was in any real danger she would not hesitate to remove him herself.

Abbie shrugged and sighed. "If there is something I should know I sure wish to hell you would just spill it and get it over with."

"I just think," Corbin said as they pulled into the parking lot of the police station, "That someone new to town would maybe need a friend."

"You're a little too old and too late to be playing match maker." Abbie smiled and waggled her finger under his nose before getting out of the car.

It was Corbin's turn to shrug. "Yeah, I would believe you in there was an actual date set for that event;." They ambled toward the back entrance of the station. Abbie opened the door and held it for the sheriff to enter.

"Luke and I will set a date when the time is right." He assured him.

Corbin stood without entering the station and met her gaze. "Abbie, you don't even wear your ring."

Abbie pursed her lips to stifle a response. She never wore her ring on the job, and Corbin knew that. But, it was also difficult for her to remember top put it back on after her shift. Add to the fact she had been working doubles for the last month to save up money for the wedding and honeymoon. Luke had been doing the same but he worked as an investigating officer on the morning shift. He had more time in and could choose his hours.

"It's just an observation, Abbie." Corbin amended as they entered the station.

"And you are all about the observation, aren't you Sheriff?"

One of the newer officers met them on their way to Corbin's office. He extended a file to the older man. "Sheriff, there's been another one."

"When?" he asked not taking off his coat.

"Last night, well he was found this morning, but the Vic swears this was done last night."

Abbie looked between the two men not catching the gist until Corbin sighed and turned to face her. "Another animal attack. Like last one two weeks ago."

"Fatal?" she asked.

Corbin shook his head. "Thank God, no neither one has been, but the vics never recall any real details. They get so chewed up we all figure it's some sort dog attack."

Abbie took the file from Officer Warren's hand and flipped through it. "What are the bites like?" she asked.

Warren shrugged and looked to Corbin for help. Corbin waved Warren off and lead Abbie into his office. Abbie did not even raise her head the entire time. "Seriously? Dog attacks? On top of everything else? How many of these have happened?" she asked sitting in the chair next to Corbin's desk, "And how don't I know about it?"

Corbin seated himself behind his standard issue desk and humphed. "Because, you work every shift except the ones where the bodies usually turn up," Corbin shrugged. "And someone else pulls the site and investigation." He took the file out of her hands and flipped to a page that itemized the list of incidents. "Six so far, they started about six months ago, one every waxing moon."

Abbie sighed. "But these attacks are happening during my shift. And the last two were found…" Abbie trailed off and looked at her mentor.

Corbin nodded, "Yup, looks like you get to make another visit to Casa Del Crane."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jeremy Crane shuffled through the living room with his hands stuffed into the pockets of his oversized green hoodie. Crane watched his son from the chair of his small desk. He's moping. Crane thought to himself. It was the early evening two weeks past the last time he had been brought home.

"Jeremy, what would you like for dinner? Its Saturday and that means its your choice."

Jeremy shrugged. "I'm going for a walk." The boy insisted as he shuffled to the door.

Crane peeked around the corner into the hallway leading to the massive glass and mahogany door. "I think it's a bit late for a walk, Jeremy." He tried tactfully. "Its nearly 6,"

The boy seemed to ignore him as he stuffed his ipod into his hoodie pocket and bent to tie his shoes. "I won't be gone long." He insisted.

These were the times that Ichabod hated; where he had to be both the bad guy, and the tough guy with Jeremy all at the same time. "Jeremy, I have to insist that you stay in at this time."

"It's still light out." The boy whined, pointing to the stained glass window.

Crane sighed and reached for his son's arm, stopped in the midst of his grasp and brought his arms into a fold. "I said it's too late to go out, why don't you play some video games or something?"

Jeremy stood stock still, he refused to move from in front of the door; he even kept his head down as if he were some sort of pouting statue. "Jeremy." Crane sighed. He had a stack of papers to grade, a mound of laundry to attack, and a pizza driver to summon. He grabbed his coat from the ancient coat rack and plastered on a smile. "All right then," he offered with a flamboyant stretch of his arms into the large pea coat. "Let's go."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

For the first ten minutes of the walk, Ichabod thought the boy would bolt. His large blue eyes darted in one hundred different directions as if looking for a way out. Ichabod was careful to take shorter strides so Jeremy could keep up Crane also made sure to stay on the outside of the road as they walked.

Crane had bought one of the oldest houses is Sleepy Hollow, thinking that if he could portray a show of wealth, then the social services lady would have no choice but to turn over his son. When he first saw the house, he had imagined he and Katrina coming together again, building a life that would include maybe more children. At some point in the past 6 months that had begun to realize that fantasy for what it was; poppycock.

But, Jeremy would never be some consolation prize. Crane regretted never knowing about him until he was neigh on nine years old. The two walked the nearly Rockwellian streets that were slowly filling with budding trees. The musty odor of nearly ripe honeysuckle drenched the late evening air. "It will be full on summer soon." Crane tried. He placed his hands folded behind his back and attempted to carry an air of casual easiness.

Jeremy simply nodded and reached down to pick up a large stick. For one horrendous moment, Crane was worried her would use it on his father to get away on his own. Instead, the boy adapted it as a walking stick and mimicked Merlin in his long travels.

"Am I afraid of my own son?" Crane wondered to himself. And, just as if he had said it out loud, Jeremy turned to offer him a sad but appraising look. "Can we eat pizza at the restaurant tonight?" he asked in a near mumble.

Crane nodded and the two turned toward the town square. Vito's was the only pizza place within walking distance from their home. It was probably older than Crane himself was, but also had the best pizza in town. Much better than the larger chains that flooded the shopping areas litten on the outskirts of town.

The bell tinkled as the two entered the shop. It was Jeremy who spotted her first. She was seated at the table with the file spread out in front of her. Corbin's shift had ended two hours ago and Abbie was left to her own devices until the wee hours of the morning. It has been Corbin's idea for her to peruse the facts entirely before she made her foray into the Crane family home again. When the bell to the door tinkled, Abbie Mills had just settled in for a small lunch between her two shifts. Instinctually she raised her head to see who had entered the small restaurant, only to be greeted by a radiant smile from the nine year old she had nearly arrested, twice.

"Miss Mills! Miss Mills!" Jeremy called as he ran to her table. Abbie quickly gathered up the papers on the table and placed them back into the file. Talk about speaking up the devil, the young woman thought to herself as she smiled back and the animated boy.

"Well hello young Master Crane; good to see you out and about at a reasonable hour." She looked to see the tall thin man had joined the two and was standing very close to her. "And supervised." She smiled up at Crane who could not help himself from returning her grin.

"Can we sit with Miss Mills?" Jeremy asked his father while sliding into the seat across from her.

Ichabod sighed "Jeremy it is rude to invite yourself into someone else's space. Lieutenant Mills looks to be very busy and—"

But Abbie waved his discourse aside and scooted over to make room for the tall man in the booth.

Crane, seeing Jeremy sprawled across the other seat chose to plant himself where he could. "We were out on an evening constitutional and found ourselves famished." Crane spoke while turning over the menu.

Abbie cocked her head at Jeremy who smiled. "We went for a walk and got hungry." The boy answered hopping in his seat as he spoke and glanced through the menu himself.

"I just got here myself, you two must have come up the back way. "

"We wanted pizza." Jeremy said. He beamed at the woman across from him and wriggled when she smiled back.

Crane could not believe the child sitting across from him was the same sullen creature that resided in his home. He had to look twice to make sure Jeremy was smiling and not baring his fangs. "If it is the same to you, lieutenant." He asked again, hopeful she would be amenable to sharing a meal with himself and his suddenly pliant son. Crane had not known of his son for long and had known him for less time than that. But, he had never seen the boy react to anyone in such a way. When the case worker came to visit, the child often clammed up tighter than he did when the two of them were alone together; If that were at all possible.

Abbie and Jeremy shared another look before Jeremy explained again. "He wants to make sure you are cool with eating with us."

Abbie smiled, she never considered herself stupid and understood Crane quite well, but it was nice to share something with the odd little boy that had nothing to do with orphan homes and trash bags full of your worldly possessions. "If your translation is true," she said to Jeremy then looked into the same blue eyes on the older man. "Then I am amenable to sitting and…supping with the two of you."

Crane was aghast to find that Jeremy had giggled…actually giggled at the Lieutenant's verbal antics. "Hmm," he sniffed, deciding to play the straight man. "I hardly would call the fare here worthy of…supping." He poked one eyebrow up, it leveled over the top of the menu and seemed poise to fall off. Abbie could not help but find the small gesture beyond cute, but she took the bait instead. "Mr. Crane, I don't think one who expects to spend 15 dollars for a pizza is exactly coming here for top fare." She comically looked around, even stood up a little. "Nope, no Gordon Ramsey anywhere."

Jeremy giggled again as the waitress came to take their drink orders. The casual observer would marvel at the small family out for a Friday night meal.

"So, Jeremy," Abbie began "What grade are you in?"

Before the boy could answer for himself, Abbie witnessed a feat she had only ever read about; Father Crane puffed his chest out as his head seemed to grow a few inches in circumference. "Jeremy is in the gifted program at Winslow Academy." He smiled.

Abbie was impressed. She comically placed her hand over her heart and made to swoon. "And to think,. All this time I was shuttling around royalty?"

Jeremy's laughter was uncontained as his father stared into the warm brown eyes of the woman next to him. Ichabod Crane was far too clever a man to be jealous, but that meant he could recognize a connection when he saw one. She had a way with his son he never had and may never have. "Lieutenant," Crane began.

Abbie could feel her toes curl just a hair at the use of the antiquated and very British pronunciation of the word. "Abbie, please, or…"

"Miss Mills," he nodded. Jeremy watched between the two adults, and a small knowing smile began to creep across his face. The two adults would have noticed had they not been distracted by watching each other.

It was Niki Minaj that jolted them from their reverie. Abbie leaned over to remove her phone prom her pocket. "I have to take this," she apologized and moved toward the restroom.

"Hey Abs, just wondering where you are eating tonight." Luke asked.

Her ring finger itched as she spoke. "Already ate, honey. Stopped at Vito's for a pie."

"I can join you if you're still there, been kicking around some wedding ideas—"

"No, no I am just finishing up, Luke. Stay where you I gotta get back out there."

"Lots of crazies." He answered.

"You ain't lying. " Abbie fired back and clicked off before he said anything sappy. Abbie never liked that side of Luke, it was almost like he was forcing it to come through, and he always used it at the wrong times.

She made her way back to the table where the long haggled after pizza had finally arrived. Pineapple and shrimp on one side. Double pepperoni on the other.

"That stuff will kill you." Crane nodded from around his Hawaiian special.

"So can seafood poisoning." Abbie answered. "You don't see me waggling the fickle finger of fate at you."

The three finished their meal and Abbie excused herself finally. It had been a long time since she could remember a better spent hour. "Shift part two starting. I gotta go."

Jeremy's face caved a little as she rose to leave. She had expected that, but seeing a similar look on the father's face was a bit surprising. He looked as if he wanted to ask her something, but she beat him to the punch. "Mr. Crane, listen I need to speak you with for a minute." She looked over to Jeremy and gave him a little wave. "No more midnight strolls, right?"

He gave her a small two fingered salute and offered her a full smile. "I promise."

She nodded and lead Crane to the other side of the restaurant. "I must admit Miss Mills, you read my mind." He grinned.

She smiled in realization. "Actually, I need to question Jeremy about a few things."

Crane's posture straightened and became rigid. "About what things?" he asked the small woman in a hiss.

She took a step back and held her hands up. "Listen, the two nights I brought him home from the cemetery there were some…attacks in town."

"Are you saying my son is guilty of violence?" Crane asked in that same hiss.

"Whoa, back up. No one is accusing Jeremy of anything. I just need to know if he can offer any information. Maybe he saw something." Abbie folded her arms and glanced back at the boy at the table. He was busily finishing off the last of the double pepperoni and seemed to be eying the Hawaiian side with some interest. "And, can I just say, if that's the first place you go, then maybe you should take a step back. He's a good kid. Just because he spent time in the system doesn't mean there is anything wrong with him." She could not believe she was defending Jeremy to his own father.

Crane nodded and rubbed his face with both his hands. "No, no of course not. It's just that. Miss Mills, Jeremy has been through a lot, are you sure it's wise to question him about something that may give him night mares?"

"I assure you I will not in any way put him in harm's way." Abbie asserted. "Listen; bring him by the station tomorrow after school. I promise you it will be quick and painless."

Crane nodded. He had to admit to himself the prospect of seeing her again intrigued him. He had not been sure of how the small woman was having an affect on him, but he was certain he wanted to see her again. "I'm sure he's enjoy an outing to the local constabulary." He nodded.

"Okay. " Abbie agreed. "See you then."