The Fairy-Tale Detectives (The Sisters Grimm, Book 1)

"Hey, who turned out the lights?" he called in a whiny, high-pitched voice.

 

"Crane!" Sabrina moaned in the deepest voice she could produce. The carpet slowly drifted across the room, carrying its headless passenger.

 

"You!" the deputy cried in horror. "You're supposed to be gone!

 

"I have returned," Sabrina croaked. The dark room was creating a very believable nightmare. Crane scurried around the room, hiding behind desks and chairs the best he could.

 

"Crane, you cannot hide from me. I am the Headless Horseman. I see all!"

 

The deputy screamed and continued to crawl, but the carpet hunted him slowly around the room.

 

"I'm a law enforcement officer now!" Crane shouted, trying to muster all his courage. "A defender of the peace. I can arrest you for . . . for . . . riding a horse without a head. That's a serious crime in this town," he cried.

 

"Your laws mean nothing to me. I've come for something, Crane, and I will have it!" Sabrina bellowed.

 

"What do you want?" the deputy cried.

 

"Your head!" Sabrina groaned.

 

Crane burst into tears. "No! Please, not my head!" he begged.

 

"Very well, if not your head, I'll take something else."

 

"Anything, anything. Whatever you want!"

 

"I want the keys to the jail."

 

Crane was silent for several moments.

 

"Why do you want the keys?"

 

"Would you prefer I take your head instead?" Sabrina moaned just as an unlucky bounce of the carpet knocked Daphne off Elvis's back. She fell to the ground, knocking a trash can into a radiator. The sound couldn't have been more appropriate, but Daphne was down for the count. Unable to see, she flailed in her costume, causing more commotion and sending a computer crashing to the floor.

 

Crane, who seemed to think this was part of the Headless Horseman's attack, shouted, "Here, the keys!" and tossed them at Daphne's feet.

 

"Now go, or I will change my mind!" Sabrina said. Crane leaped to his feet and ran, not noticing Sabrina as he rushed out the station door. Once she was sure he was gone, Sabrina stood up and turned on the lights. Daphne was still rolling around, unable to see anything.

 

"Get me out of this," the little girl cried. Sabrina unhooked the top buttons and Daphne's head popped out. Elvis, who had stepped off the carpet, was ready with a lick to her face.

 

"You were very convincing." Sabrina laughed as she helped her sister to her feet.

 

Daphne reached down and scooped up the keys. "Let's get him out of here."

 

Sabrina rolled up the carpet, flung it over her shoulder, and the two girls raced to find Jack's cell.

 

Down a long hallway at the back of the building were two jail cells. The one on the left was empty, but the one the right held Jack. He stood with his arms reaching through the bars as the girls entered the room.

 

"Give me the keys," he pleaded, but before they could, Elvis lunged angrily at the cell. Growling and barking wildly, the big dog sniffed and snarled at Jack.

 

"Elvis, it's OK, he's a friend," Daphne said, which seemed to calm the dog down, but still his nose was sniffing and at full alert.

 

Sabrina handed Jack the keys and he sorted through them.

 

"Corking! I told you it would work," he bragged.

 

He found the right key, stuck it in the lock, and turned it from inside. The door clicked and he pushed it open.

 

"Crane ran like he'd seen the devil himself," Sabrina said proudly.

 

"I've seen the devil, and you're not him," a voice said from down the hallway.

 

Sabrina turned and found Deputy Crane standing in the doorway, blocking their exit. He was so angry he was shaking.

 

"Listen, Crane, just let us pass and no one will get hurt," Jack said.

 

"Get back in your cell, Jack," the deputy ordered, pulling his billy club from its strap and swinging it threateningly.

 

"Sorry, Ichy. I wish I could help you but I've just been hired for a rescue mission. Now, are you going to let us pass or are we going to have to get rough?" Jack threatened.

 

Daphne grabbed his undershirt and yanked on it. "You promised, no one gets hurt."

 

Jack scowled. "I wouldn't hurt him . . . badly," he said.

 

"Do your worst!" Crane stammered as he backed up a step.

 

"Crane, I mean it. I'm not staying in this jail."

 

"Bring it on, you washed up has-been."

 

Jack laughed. "That's what I am? A washed up has-been? I'd watch what you say, Ichy. Things can change in the blink of an eye.

 

"Not in Ferryport Landing, Jack."

 

The two stared at each other for a long time. Sabrina could almost feel the heat and rage in their eyes.

 

"Carpet, let's wrap this up!" Jack commanded and the carpet lifted off Sabrina's shoulder. It darted down the hallway and, like an anaconda, wrapped Crane inside it. He fumbled and fought but couldn't break free.

 

Jack walked over to the rug and patted it lightly.

 

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