I've changed the rating, so be warned - there is darkness ahead, but it's not over yet.

The amber alert went out shortly after 9:00pm. All other outstanding cases were put on temporary pause as the night shift was quickly brought up to speed on Trudy's disappearance. Abbie accosted Sheriff Reyes in the hall the moment her briefing was over.

'Ma'am, can I have a word with you for a moment?'

Sheriff Reyes gave Abbie an appraising look. 'Lieutenant Mills, you've been here all day. Go home and get some sleep. We've got this.'

'I was hoping I could head up the search…'

'Absolutely not.' The look on the sheriff's face was resolute. 'You have a personal connection with this case, Mills. And you're overtired – I don't want you jeopardising a missing person's case.'

Abbie was in no mood to back down. 'But if I could just…'

'Mills, it's after dark. We'll be starting the search at first light. If you want to be part of the tactical team, come back when then. Clear?'

Abbie had no intention of sleeping. She drove straight to the cabin where Jenny had arranged to meet. Coward that she was, she couldn't bear to be the one who told Crane that Trudy was gone. She knew that there was a curious sort of bond between them, that Crane would feel something like the grief of a father.

When she pulled up at the cabin, she saw another car parked there – one she did not recognise. The first face that greeted her when she entered was the last one she wanted to see.

She flew at Katrina in a rage, grabbing her shoulders and pinning her against the wall. 'What the hell were you doing? You were supposed to take care of her!'

'Abigail, please! Let me explain…'

'A twelve-year-old girl – and a witch! Did it not occur to you that she might be in need of protection?'

A hand fell on her shoulder. She turned to shrug it away but saw Crane's face – etched with pain. 'Lieutenant, please. We need clear heads.'

Somehow his words were enough to banish the blinding rage. She slowly backed away from Katrina, for the first time noticing Jenny and Aled.

'We have been discussing who might have abducted Miss Trudy and why,' Crane said.

Abbie exploded again. 'Who the hell do you think took her? It was Henry – your son.' She shot another look in Katrina's direction. 'Who else would have the motivation?'

Katrina spoke for the first time – her voice small and ashamed. 'I know you will not believe me, Abigail, but I am truly sorry that this has happened. Aled and I will make every effort to find her.'

'Let's hope it's not too late,' Abbie spat.

'I cannot apologise enough for failing to protect Trudy. I assumed that the protective charms I placed around the perimeters would be sufficient, but Henry's powers have grown strong.' Katrina averted her gaze, her voice hushed. 'David, a friend of mine and Aled's, was killed by one of the Hessian soldiers. You are not alone in your grief tonight.'

Without another word, Katrina left, followed closely by Aled. Before exiting the cabin, Aled turned to them. 'We will use our combined powers to try and locate the girl. Please inform us if you hear anything.'

Abbie wanted nothing more than to take a tactical team and raid Fredericks Manor, to use every piece of ammo she could access, even tear it apart brick by brick until they uncovered Trudy. Her rational faculties quickly kicked in, reminding her that it was far too risky, that Henry had probably enchanted the place with all kinds of supernatural nasty.

After a few minutes of miserable silence, Jenny grabbed her jacket. 'I'm not gonna stay here and sit on my hands. I'll drive around – see if I can scare up a few witnesses. Small W.'

When she had left, Crane leaned forward and placed a careful hand on Abbie's shoulder. It was gesture of consolation, of solidarity that made Abbie's throat tighten.

'Do you think she's alive, Crane?' she whispered.

Crane gave a helpless shrug. 'Our best hope is that Henry abducted her to use as leverage. That there is something more important to him than Trudy.'


The call came shortly before midnight. Crane had set his phone to vibrate, so as not to disturb a slumbering Abbie. She looked so small and vulnerable on the couch that he could not bear to wake her. He answered on the second ring.

'Hello?' His voice was querulous.

'Father, how good to hear your voice.' Henry's tone was calm and measured, with barely a hint of mockery.

'Henry, what have you done with the girl? Is she safe?'

The other man chuckled, a dark and ugly sound. 'Straight to the point with you, isn't it? No pleasantries. That's good – it shows that the girl is of value to you.'

Crane was careful to keep his temper in check. Dealing with Henry was like facing a poisonous snake; if he let his guard down for a second, death would surely be his reward. 'On the contrary, Henry, she is clearly valuable to you. Otherwise you wouldn't have taken her.'

Another dark rumble of laughter. 'That's where you're wrong, Father. She is merely a pawn to be used and sacrificed in service of the higher plan.'

Crane felt an icy clench in the pit of his stomach. 'And that purpose is…'

'Washington's Bible – I assume you still have it.'

'Of course, I…' Crane immediately regretted his hasty words. Of all things, he never conceived of George Washington's Bible as being coveted by Henry. He had assumed that it had given up all of its secrets, but apparently he was wrong. 'Why do you want it?'

'All in good time. You know the traffic light before the forest road?' Before Crane could reply, he continued, 'Bring the Bible, and come alone unless you wish the girl to die most unpleasantly. If I sense that you are not alone, or that any magical interference is at work, you will sorely regret it. You have one hour.'

Crane looked over at Abbie's sleeping form. As much as he longed to tell her about his plans, he feared Henry's response more than anything. He sat down at the kitchen table and grabbed a legal pad and pencil.

At least I can tell her where I've gone, just in case…


He took a taxi to the edge of town, close to the "Welcome to Sleepy Hollow" sign and walked the mile or so to the traffic lights.

It was pitch black, the overhanging trees lending the abandoned road a decidedly ominous air.

'You're early.'

Crane jumped and spun around. Henry stood on the centre line of the road, hands in pockets.

'I brought the Bible like you asked.' Crane held the book aloft. 'Show me the girl.'

Henry gestured slightly and a tall Hessian appeared from the treeline, dragging Trudy with him.

'Trudy, are you all right? You haven't been hurt?'

'I'm okay,' she answered with a quaking voice.

'Whether she is to be harmed or not is yet to be decided.' Henry nodded at the Hessian. 'Fetch the Bible.'

The soldier approached Crane and snatched it from his hands. As he strolled back to Henry, Crane kept his eyes fixed on Trudy's, trying to reassure her, to calm her fears without words.

Don't be afraid. This will all be over soon.

He watched Henry examine the Bible with interest.

'You have what you were looking for. Now release the girl.'

Henry regarded him for a moment before barking a laugh. He carelessly tossed the Bible onto the asphalt. 'Don't you see, Father? Your hopeless faith has always been your downfall – your persistent belief that everything will work out according to your wishes. Damn the consequences. You never thought about the lives you would ruin when your fancy fell on my mother, did you? Abraham, me, so many others to come – all damned to misery because of your selfishness. Let that be a lesson to you.'

Crane looked at him in confusion. He did not understand what all this meant. Everything seemed to move in slow motion, even as Henry grabbed Trudy and broke her neck in one quick motion.

'There's another.'