She wished fervently she hadn't seen it, the small metal object that could mean so much. Though Harry was reluctant to hand over the key, he was seemingly unaware of its significance. Why she didn't enlighten him or read him his rights she couldn't be sure. It was likely to be the same reason she kept Ed in the dark about Trevor White's mad ramblings. Cybil was a consummate professional under normal circumstances, knowing only too well the consequences of such glaring omissions. A certain sacking and possibly a conviction for obstruction of justice.

Cold wind whipped around her bare neck. The continually unseasonable weather seemed more cruel in this open field. She zipped her jacket all the way up.

Fifty meters or so behind her the forensic engineers were combing the crash site. Evidence so far indicated a tragic accident, which Ed was prepared to accept. Neither vehicle had been tampered with nor was there any indication of third party involvement. Open and shut case.

One detail kept her from agreeing. Thom's notebook, found in the passenger foot well, had a missing page. Torn from the middle of his conversation with one Leonard Wolf. Seemingly insignificant, Ed was reluctant to investigate further on such a flimsy premise.

With everything that had happened in the town, it was hard not to suspect foul play. And as for Thom's record keeping…he had never been in trouble his whole career. He was truly an exemplary officer. So she continued her sweep of the whole field in the vain hope of finding anything that could validate her hunch.

That was when she appeared. Out of thin air too, unless she'd been hiding behind that small mountain ash the whole time. Looking no different than she did seven years ago. All rosy cheeks and smiles, her beautiful blond hair decorated with a blue bow. Cybil pressed her eyes shut. She was not here. Impossible. Two tough days without much sleep was the explanation. A proper rest was the solution.

On opening her eyes Cybil saw that she was gone.

'This is how it starts' she thought, 'This is what's happening to Harry.'

Wanting to find a logical explanation, she walked to the ash tree. No sign of her apparition, where it came from or where it went to. All there was behind the tree was a tube of paper beneath a gnarled root. Once unrolled, it proved to be a remarkable find. One singed page torn from a notebook, detailing a conversation with one Leonard Wolf in Thom's unmistakable scrawl. It made reference to a 'seal' being confused with a 'mark' and then a girl's name…Alessa. Could that be the kid that died at the same time as…

Cybil decided that it wasn't the time to relive those dark days. She refocused on Thom's note.

Someone had obviously wanted to destroy it and not finished the job. Not the revelation Cybil was hoping for, but it was something.

Getting an audience with Wolf shouldn't be difficult. After all, she and Ed left the Alchemilla without a satisfactory resolution. Andy, legally, had to stay at the orphanage for the time being. When Kay Gordon arrived to visit Lydia, she made it clear this was not a good decision. Worried as she was about the boy's well being, Miss Gordon appeared to have a more personal objection to the Smile Society. 'If anything happens to that boy…' she had started.

Poor little Andy Morgan. His mom was his only friend in the world, according to Harry. She couldn't imagine how alone he must feel, and at six years of age. The least she could do was check in on him before bedtime.

"Find something interesting?" inquired Ed, unexpectedly.

"No." she answered, stuffing the paper into her pocket. No longer withholding the truth, she had progressed into making it up.

"You've been back here a while." he added, "Are you okay?"

"I guess…I keep thinking about the last time I was here on a case. She was practically the same age…"

"Look, no one will think any less of you if you go back home. It's hard for me too but this is my job. We're not writing your paycheques here."

"You sound just like Lieutenant Watson."

"She's probably worried about you. Neither of us wants a repeat of last time."

"You're conspiring against me?"

"No. Still no phones, only local radio. So no conspiracy.

Please…go back to my place, take a rest. I might need your brain tomorrow."

"Actually I was thinking of going to check on Andy Morgan at Wi-"

"No." he interrupted, "We did enough damage this afternoon. And if you're thinking of talking to Wolf about some stupid missing page, forget it. You are not in Brahms now and you are not on my payroll. Besides, he already filled me in on what he talked about with Thom."

"Okay, okay. I guess I'd better be careful or you and Watson will have me directing traffic."

"I'll bring you up to speed tomorrow. I've just been a little busy today. And we can call on Wolf tomorrow to check on Andy okay?"

"Alright."

"Good. Now go home and get some sleep."

"Okay."

Patronizing bastard. She was remembering many of the reasons why they got divorced. As she got back on her bike she smirked to herself. Lying was becoming easier. She had no intention of going home.