Chapter 2: The Desicion

Hi! I do not and I repeat I do not own Sleepy Hollow or any of the characters other then Selena at the moment!!! I LOVE SLEEPY HOLLOW!!!!!!

Three days from Sleepy Hollow earlier, late in the night in New York City. A rapidly clanging bell could be heard in the cobbled streets. 2 constables hearing the bell ran to the sound circled a corner while the bell continued ringing while their pistols were drawn. One of the first constables called out coming near the docks of the Hudson, "Where are you?"

"Here......over here!", as a young mans voice could be heard. Both men raised there lanterns in the darkness as they raced over to the docks where they could hear the man yelling for them. There before them crouched over the side of the dock stood another constable in pure black poking at something, lantern raised high.

"I need your help with this", this man continued. Both constables moved warily towards their peer. "Constable Crane? Ichabod Crane...is that you? "None other", replied Ichabod Crane. Ichabod Crane, a young 24 year old constable, sat their staring at the body of a dead man floating in the water. Ichabod Crane was an attractive man with dark brown disheveled hair, and mesmerizing hard brown eyes, high masculine cheekbones and a perfect body and complexion. What dreams were made of to put it simply. "I have found something........, as he poked with a stick a body of a bloated man, .....which was lately a man". He frowned and turned away becoming nauseous the instant his fellow peers dragged the body from the murky waters.

The three constables returned to the city watchouse. Both of the constables wheeled the dead mans body in while Ichabod followed. One of the constables lifted a blanket off the dead mans corpse. "Burn it", the High constable replied smirking slightly. "Yes Sir", the constables answered back grinning excitedly wheeling the dead body away. Ichabods eyes widened shockingly, "Just a moment if I may.......we do not yet know the cause of death".

"When you find them in the river the cause of death is drowning", remarking snarkly. "Possibly so if there is water in the lungs, but... by pathology we might determine whether or not he was dead when he went into the river", Ichabod replied smartly hoping that he could create an autopsy on the body. "Cut him up? Are we heathens?", as a screams of pain and torture could be heard in the jail. "Let him rest in peace -- in one piece as according to God and the New York Department of Health".

Ichabod began protesting wondering how he was going to get away with this but before he could start a few constables entered carrying a bloody man on their shoulders laughing to themselves, "What happened to him?", as the High Constable tried to get a good look at the man in the bad lighting. "Nothing sir, arrested for burglary", as they continued grinning while Ichabod felt sympathy for this man. Two constables took his body and threw him head first into a cell. "Good work", as the High constable walked away.

The next day within the walls of the watch house Ichabod began a speech that would change his life forever. "Gentleman, the millennium is almost is almost upon us, in a few months we will be living in the nineteenth century". "Wait your turn Constable Crane", the Burgomaster started. "These devices are unworthy of modern civilization..........", Ichabod stared at devices that men created to help the police force. "Quiet! Next I say"! Burgomaster yelled back at Ichabod glaring with hatred.

"Thank you sir", as greasy looking man answered as he brought his device up to the court. The man began talking, "The Tomkins self-locking Confessional is cheap at the price and will last for years with just an occasional wipe with a damp cloth, When the villain steps on the floor plate...",as Ichabod read over this man paper for his product. Before anyone knew what was going on Ichabod screamed, "Arrest that man!" while he pointing at the man in front of him.

Burgomasters jaw dropped, "Arrest.......?" "What the devil are you talking about?", he started staring at Ichabod thinking he was a loony. Ichabod took a few steps and shoved the man into the machine. (If you remember when their in the courthouse theirs a man behind Ichabod in a strange sort of locking machine, well this is actually suppose to be part of the script but I guess they never did it)

"Sign this", Ichabod started handing over a paper to the prisoner. The man couldn't since his hands were stuck, "The release handle", he groaned. "Not until you confess", a crazy look in his eye. The entire courthouse was in an uproar. Waving the paper around like it was the torch for the Olympics, "I have here a confession to the murder of a man I fished out last night".

"Stand down", Burgomaster screamed furiously at Ichabod that you could see the spit flying. "I stand up, for sense and justice! Our jails overflow with men and women convicted on confessions no more then this one", Ichabod stated proudly puffing his chest out.

"Constable, this is a song we have heard from you more than once but never before with this discordant accompaniment. I have two courses open to me. First, I can let you cool your heels in the cells until you learn respect for the dignity of my office...", frustrated with Ichabod for being born. "I beg pardon. I only meant well. Why am I the only one who sees that to solve crimes, to detect the guilty, we must use our brains? -- to recognize vital clues, using up-to-date scientific", but before he could continue he was interrupted.

"Which brings me to the second course. Constable Crane, there is town upstate, two days' journey to the north in the Hudson Highlands. It is a place called Sleepy Hollow? Have you heard of it?" "I have not", Ichabod answered back hesitantly wondering where this was going. "An isolated farming community, mostly Dutch. Three people have been murdered there, all within a fortnight... each found with their heads lopped off". "Lopped off?", feeling his neck getting a cold chill up his spine. "Clean as dandelion heads apparently. Now, these ideas of yours, they have never been put to the test... ?", while he watched in enjoyment as Ichabod squirmed. "I have never been allowed to put them to the test!"

"Just so, granted. So you take your experimentations to Sleepy Hollow and deduce, er detect the murderer. Bring him here to face our good justice. Will you do this?" Ichabod bit the inside of the cheek feeling doubt rise in his lungs but he pushed it away, "I shall". Burgomaster slowly stood up, "Remember, looking like satan at that very moment, it is you Ichabod Crane, who is now put to the test".

So that is how Ichabods life had changed forever. I decided to skip how he got there and all that Jazz let the good stuff

begin.

I would just like to thank my reviewers

PirateGyrl-thank you so much for helping me and being their for me! You don't know how much I appreciate it!!

Barley Shadow-I am so happy that you like how this is going!! Trust me it's gonna follow along with the story but theirs gonna be a lot more interesting things going on aswell away from the horseman also!!

Punpkinpuss- I am so excited at how happy you are about my story!! It makes me all gooey inside!!!! Thanks so much for the words of incouragement!!!

Well here's Chapter 2!! For everybody who wanted Ichabod you got Ichabod!!!!!!!!!!! Review please!!!!!!!