"You are sticking by Frank Carruthers, still? In spite of everything?" Albert Pruitt remonstrated with Wendy. "He nearly gets you killed, and you still love him."

"He's going to make a deal with the D.A. and there will be no more drugs."

Pruitt snorted. "How many times have I sworn off the bottle? But I always came back. I still do…"

"I know that."

"I know that I am not the best father. No, I am a bad father. I have been a burden to you all those years. Because of me you had to do some of the things you did…. But I never put your life in danger. And I can tell you that Frank cannot give up the easy money that drugs promise him. Drop him. He's bad news."

"Pop, you are unfair to him. Because he told you a few things that bothered him."

"So, I am a drunk, and I drink the money you make, and because of that you never had a normal childhood. But because I am an addict, I can tell you about addiction. Frank is addicted to drug money. He cannot give it up. And the next time your vampire friend will get there too late…. I know… I am such a failure as a father that you end up taking advice from a vampire rather than your old man. It is my fault, Wendy… but still, I do not want you to die."

"Because if I die, who'd pay your bills?'

Pruitt sighed, "I am a drunk, I know. But I love you, and no matter how I failed, I still want the best for you."

Wendy shrugged. "I am not giving up Frank and that's final"

-0-

"Of course, that was the pattern for the dream."

-0-

She pulled at the chain at her ankle… it was giving... There was a loose link, she was sure… She could run away, get help…

She heard the men talking on the deck. "She has seen our faces; she can identify us."

"Carruthers can make sure that she does not talk. And we may need Carruthers later on:

"Men like Carruthers are a dime a dozen. We can get rid of both of them."

The link gave. The chain was loose. She ran to the porthole… No, she could not fit there. but if she tried.

She heard the man come down. Not one man, several and they were shouting.

"Death to the Papist! "

She was now on the grounds of Benchley mansion and the mob was chasing her, with a noose ready.

She ran, dragging her chain They were fast… She had to be faster.

"She knows what happened to Reverend Moore. Make her talk!"

"Get rid of that filthy Papist!" Hepzibah shouted.

She ran until she hit this closed door.

If she could open the door, she would be safe… She had to open the door…

Wendy woke up in a cold sweat.