Archer House, Spencer's Room
Derek unlocks the door and Spencer enters the room. "I was getting worried and who was it?"
"Lady Archer."
"What was she doing?"
"Something I really wish I had not seen. Never mind it. Did you find the victim's loan agreements?"
"No. They are all missing."
Spencer shuts his eyes and shakes his head in disgust.
"There is more though, Constable. While you were gone, I could hear someone else walking through the house."
They both go out into the hallway and they creep around the corner and go to the last door. Spencer crouches and his eyes narrow. "Lila." The wax seal is broken and flecks of wax on the floor.
Spencer and Derek go downstairs and checks all the wax marks. Derek finds one broken. "Here." Spencer comes over and pushes the door open. They enter the kitchen and it is empty. Spencer crosses to another door and crouches. Another broken wax mark.
Sewing Room
They enter the room and Spencer moves his lantern to make a quick search and he goes to the table. He touches the top of a candle and his fingers comes away with a bit of still wet wax.
"There are no other doors. This is as far as she could have gone." Derek tells him.
"It is nothing. She comes to read books, so her father will not find her. It is absolutely nothing." Spencer convinces himself and Derek.
"What books?"
"Fiction plays and novels. William does not approve. Now, come. It may not be long before Lady Archer returns."
"But, sir…what books? Where are they?" Spencer stops and looks around. There aren't any books anywhere. "If there is a secret place for books…it could be just as good for the missing loan agreements."
Spencer ponders this without saying anything. They search through drawers, Derek looks up the fireplace and Spencer opens the linen closet and unfolds the blankets. Derek looks in a closet filled with big spools of sewing thread, on his knees he pulls a wooden box forward. Inside it, he finds only old cups and silverware. Spencer pulls up a rug and feels along the floorboards. Derek crawls, doing the same and he climbs under the loom and taps on the floor. He crawls and keeps tapping the floor and hears a hollow sound.
"Constable."
Spencer comes over as Derek lifts a loose board. Under the floor, there are piles of books. Derek brings them up, handing them to Spencer who studies the spines. Derek reaches up to his shoulder and he comes up with the loan agreements. "Here they are, sir."
Spencer takes them and it all of the victim's names. He sits back and his heart bitterly broken.
Kitchen – Morning
Lady Archer prepares food with two servants at the open fireplace and oven. Spencer enters rushed. "Excuse me, Lady Archer…Lila is not in her room."
"No. She has gone out."
"Where?"
"She has taken the last of our grain to be milled." She crosses to him. "You do have a background in the medical arts, don't you, Constable?"
"Very little. I must be going…"
Lady Archer holds out her cut palm and the gash sewn shut. "Will you look at this? I cut my hand this morning. I sewed it myself, but I am afraid it will go bad."
Spencer takes her hand, distracted and nervous. "It appears well. It has already clotted."
"Look closer. Do you have anything to clean it with?"
"It is fine. Now, I must…"
Lady Archer grabs Spencer by the wrist tightly. "I know you saw me."
"What…?"
Lady Archer glances to the servants and keeps her voice low. "I know you followed last night. You must promise not to tell William…"
Spencer tries to pull away, but she grips tighter and the front door is heard slamming. Spencer is panicing.
"Have mercy on me. Please…have mercy."
Spencer pulls away as William enters and Lady Archer goes back to work like nothing had happened.
"Constable, it is urgen that we speak."
Archer House Front Porch – Morning
William leads Spencer to the porch. "Reverend Hankel is calling a meeting. This time he is determined to have you forced out, or worse."
"How did you hear this?"
"He came to me. He promised great violence. Said I should cast you out for my own protection. I must speak honestly. There is no reason to think he will not meet with success."
Spencer looks to the barn and sees Derek bringing out the horses. The church bell is heard tolling.
"That is the meeting bell already calling. With the murders of the Killian family and Nathan, no one sees any good from you. If…if you were to leave…you might be saving your own life."
Spencer studies William and then offers his hand and they shake. "I appropriate your concern. I thank you, sir." Spencer hurries off, across the lawn, exasperated. He runs and Derek runs to him. Spencer takes Gunpowder and climbs up.
Derek mounts his horse. "What now? Where is she?"
"Things have become complicated. Lila is at the mill. Ride ahead, find her and bring her to meet me outside the church. Find her at all costs. Quickly."
They both ride fast.
Western Woods –Day
A conjuring pile of straw burns. Gloved hands unfold a paper filled with clippings of human hair. The hair is sprinkled on the fire. A cloaked figure is kneeled at the pile and the figure turns to remove a human skull from a cloth bag. The skull is placed at the center in the flames. It's teeth are sharp, cut to points. It is the Horseman's skull.