“Another legend,” he says, his voice growing quiet.
“Well, the only way to figure out the truth is to do my own research, after I talk to the teacher.Brom, can you take me to your classroom?Perhaps she’s still there.”
“Sure.”He nods.
“I’m coming too,” Kat says.
“Of course you are,” I tell her, putting my hand at her lower back.“This involves you more than anyone.”
We leave the classroom and head out the doors of the building and into the damp afternoon, when Daniels passes me heading inside.
“Crane,” Daniels says, looking bothered, his mustache bristling.“Have you heard the news?”
“What news?”I ask.
“Another body has been found in Sleepy Hollow.Head sliced clean off, hasn’t been found yet.It’s said to be Constable Kirkbride.”
Both Kat and I look immediately at Brom.
He doesn’t say anything, just looks down, shadows casting over his eyes and making them unreadable.My blood goes cold.
“That’s terrible,” I manage to say to Daniels.“Hey, listen, while I have you here, what’s the name of the history teacher?”
“Joy,” he says.“Ms.Joy Wiltern.And don’t bother making any advances toward her, she’s not interested,” he says with a huff, walking into the building.
The door closes behind him, and I spin around to face Brom.
“What did you do?”I ask him.
He holds up his hands.“I didn’t do anything.It was the horseman.”
“When?Last night when you weren’t in chains?Is that when you snuck out and did it?”
His gaze hardens, blackens, turns into the gaze of a would-be killer.“I didn’t leave your side.It was the horseman.You know I can’t control him.”
“That’s funny, because I could have sworn you said something last night about being able to control him one day.”
“So I was wrong,” he snaps.
“Boys,” Kat says, putting her hands on both our chests.“It’s quite obvious the horseman did it, whether you wanted him to or not, Brom.”She eyes me.“We can’t keep blaming him every time someone loses a head.”
“Oh really?”
“Crane, be kind,” she admonishes me.“You know…”
She trails off and a flush of embarrassment comes across her cheeks as she shifts slightly.
“What?”I ask.
“I, uh, have to go.I’ll find you later,” she says and starts walking off quickly toward her dorm.
“What’s wrong with her?”Brom asks.
“Lady problems,” I surmise, watching her go.Then I reach out and grab Brom by the arm and yank him back toward the building.I practically drag him down the hall until we’re back in the classroom and I have the door shut and him pressed up against it, my forearm at his throat.
“You want to tell me again, now that Kat’s not around, that you had nothing to do with the constable’s death?”
He just stares at me, his mouth a hard line.
