Chapter 24

[Rest Stop—Interstate 87, North of Sleepy Hollow]

Crane reclined in the backseat. He frowned at the white Styrofoam cup in his hand. The "coffee" inside proved a pale comparison to his usual brew. Displeasure…no Revulsion…puckered his mouth. He forced another gulp down his throat for Caffeine's buzz.

Pink Running Figure certainly summed it up well…Run away was more like it…

"Ichabod? What is it? Surely you are not feeling poorly?" Katrina looked him over. She clearly saw his discomfort. "Whatever is the matter?"

Mills looked through the rearview mirror. Amusement arched her eyebrow. "What's the matter, Crane? Can't take branching out?"

"Branching out? I fear I cannot understand." He set the cup back in the cupholder. "I believe I have partaken in quite enough of this…coffee like substance."

"Lot of people disagree with you on that one." Mills shrugged. A wry smirk spread across her face. She took another swig from her cup. "It ain't yours but I'll get my caffeine buzz when I can get it." She set hers in her cupholder. "Maybe Dubois will make you some of his when we get to his place."

"That would be a most welcome relief. Mr. Franklin would never have anticipated the downfall of the American palate during the last two centuries." He visualized a cup of Sumatra instead.

Before Mills could respond, the radio crackled. "Sleepy Hollow, are you there? Looking for Mills and Crane."

"That sounds like us." Mills picked up the radio's mike. "Yes, this is Lieutenant Mills. Who's this?"

"This is Captain Jean DeWolff, NYPD. I'm about five minutes away from your position. Proceed to the edge of the rest stop. You will see a gray truck followed by a Porsche and my squad car. We have a New York State car in front of us with its lights flashing," DeWolff instructed.

"We're on it. Front or rear?" Mills looked to her passengers.

"Front. You will see us soon. DeWolff, out."

"Looks like we're on. Thought this was a party. Guess we got escort duty too." Mills shook her head.

"After someone attempted such a gross theft, we cannot spare undue caution I fear." He recalled being part of the accompanying regiment to important artifacts and people during the Revolution. "Our illustrious reporters, it seems, provided exquisite detail and enough heat to stir even the authorities."

"They certainly came to find you for such service, my Love." Katrina folded her arms across her chest.

"Yeah because they knew Crane was dependable. Me. I just like a good show." Mills drove down the end of the ramp. "Keep a sharp eye out, Katrina and Crane. We need that convoy."

"Con…what?" Katrina frowned. Confusion wrinkled her brow.

"She means a row of vehicles just like in that film with Smoked and the Robber." He rolled his eyes.

"It's Smokey and the Bandit, Crane. We have got to get you in tune with this time's culture." Mills watched down the interstate.

"I fear there is not enough time for that." He motioned toward the white cup for emphasis. "Besides how can you watch that as a fully credentialed police officer?"

"I understand humor and fiction, Crane." Mills saw the state trooper's car's lights down the highway. "Show time!" She put her own lights on and drove out onto the Thruway. "Didn't Katrina and you go against her order, the Headless Horseman and Moloch to be together?"

Katrina nodded. "She has a point, Ichabod."

He rubbed his index fingers against his forehead. "I believe I am about to have a headache. My quest for love is reduced to an idle carriage chase!"

"It'll be all right, Crane. I promise." Mills glanced back into her side mirror. She saw the state trooper's car speeding into view. "Yeah. We're in line now!" She stepped on the gas to keep pace with the convoy behind them. She got on the radio. "Captain DeWolff, this is Lieutenant Mills. I have you right in back of me. Just follow me."

"Thanks, Lieutenant. I trust you know the way?" DeWolff asked.

"Yes we do. We were just there a few months back. Once we clear Albany, we get on the State Road heading northeast. We pass through Eagle Plain and Wabash. After that…." Mills looked back toward her partner.

"Cherry Plain is adjacent to Wabash, Leftenant. It is to the northeast on a map. I believe our route goes along NY's 22nd route? Perhaps our host can aid our endeavor?" He took out his phone.

"I think we can use a GPS." Mills took out her mike. "Captain, my partner says to look for State Route 22 out of Albany. We'll use that to go right into Cherry Plain. Once we get into town, we can hone in on our destination."

"Sounds good, Lieutenant. Thank you. DeWolff out."

"There! We're all set! That memory of yours sure comes in handy, Crane." Appreciation elicited a nod from Mills.

"You're very welcome. I would still like some better coffee." He winced at the cup to his right.

Somethings weren't getting any better it seemed….

[DeWolff's Car]

DeWolff set the mike back in its hook. "Can't believe I'm doing this again." She glanced over at Gwen. "Kind of like the old days."

Gwen sighed. "Jean, please." Embarrassment reddened her cheeks. "I think this is a little different."

"Yeah I'd say it is. Back then, I was getting you home before your father found out you were out past curfew." DeWolff smirked. She picked up the mike again. "Going radio silent for a few minutes. Be right back." She signed off. Her hand switched off the radio. "Now I'd never imagine I'd have a certain someone in my back seat."

"As Gwendy said, it's different, Captain." Peter glanced around at the outer locked doors and grate between them. If need be, he could force his way out of there. "I have ridden in your front seat before."

Gwen looked at him and then at her. Insight held her attention firmly in its grasp. "Oh?"

"It was during that case with Brian." DeWolff pushed the cigarette lighter in to start it heating. Then she used it to light a cigarette. "Iron Man and our hero back there were helping. Dad, it turned out, was behind Brian's psychosis."

"A guy named the Wraith. He'd warp your sense of reality." He drank from a lukewarm coffee. "Hated seeing your brother like that for what it was worth."

"Yeah me too." DeWolff blew smoke out the window. Then she beat the ashes into the ash tray.

"It's really weird how you two know each other. I think I'm about to introduce my husband to you, Jean. Then it turns out you two have worked together." Gwen drank from her own coffee.

"Cases like yesterday, Gwen. He's earned my trust in costume and out of it. By the way, thanks for the good press. That kid, Sullivan, does a hard interview but she's fair. How come I've never heard of her before?" DeWolff puffed on her cancer stick yet again.

"She's a high school intern." Now it was his turn to smirk.

"Are you serious?" Disbelief raised the driver's eyebrow. "Gwen?"

"Chloe Sullivan's very insightful. We worry about her finding out certain things. Anyhow, we can pick this up later. Break's over." Gwen tapped her watch.

"Yeah guess you're right." DeWolff put her cigarette out. She switched the radio back on and grabbed the mike. "Dispatch, this is DeWolff. I'm back on with everyone again. Out." She put the mike back in its holster. "Sit back, Folks. We have a few more hours to go."

Travels slowly unwound in such ways….