Ichabod and Katrina are now back sitting and talking in his office. They've been back from the airport now for hours .

"You should do more for that bruise then put a frozen food pack on it," Katrina said." You should see a doctor."

She gave him back the ice package that sat beside her. She flipped her red hair over her shoulder.

"Duly noted." Ichabod took the ice pack and threw it on his desk again. Katrina watched it fall on the desk and turned back to look at Ichabod. She sat on the couch and crossed her legs. Her long soft Solomon pink boho dress lifted to expose her long tanned legs. She folded her hands and placed them on her lap. Katrina Van Tassel tilted her head and frowned at Ichabod.

"So, how did you get it again?" she asked. Her brow furrowed.

"My eye ran into an elbow," Ichabod said. His voice sarcastic.

Katrina lifted an thin eyebrow.

"Who's elbow, Daniels?" Katrina answered.

"No his sister, Abbie," Ichabod answered. He lifted his hand to scratch at his bearded cheek. It was suddenly Itchy and uncomfortable.

Katrina frowned. Her expression blank. Her green eyes are glassy as she stared at up at him.

"The one with the bottle capped glasses," Ichabod answered drily.

"Oh! Right Right," Katrina sighed. "So she's here already. I thought you said she was going to teach in the Fall?"

"Abigail, is working at the library for the Summer getting it in working order until she teaches in the Fall," Ichabod explained.

"Oh, that's wonderful. I look forward to seeing her again," Katrina answered.

Silence.

"What is it you really want, Katrina?" Ichabod said. "Why are you here?"

Katrina raised her eyes to meet his.

"What makes you think I want something? Maybe I just missed you and wanted to see you?"

Katrina sighed. Her green eyes fixed on him. Her long black lashes batted at him.

"Because, I've been married to you for ten years Katrina,"Ichabod answered. "And you could have mailed the signed divorce papers if you didn't want anything."

"Fine," she sighed."I need your help, Ichabod. Well, really dad needs your help. He doesn't know I'm here in the States asking you for it."

"I'm listening,"Ichabod answered. "What's happened with James?"

Ichabod kept his voice steady and calm, despite his worry. He crossed his arms against his chest and leaned his shoulder on the large picture window. He looked below at the courtyard where students sat on the lawn and enjoyed the afternoon sun.

"He's in trouble, financial trouble," Katrina answered. "A con artist took all his money in a made-up get rich investment scheme."

Ichabod turned his head back to stare at Katrina. Katrina nodded.

"These crooks convinced dad to invest in an uncharted island in Scotland. They told him it was going to become a huge piece of expensive real estate and pay off big in two years," Katrina explained.

Ichabod had heard of scammers. Con artists that prey on the retired rich elderly. Thinking they were a soft target. The con artists were degenerate gypsies that promised rich retired men more money than they ever made when they were working. Only to disappear with all the money, leaving them with absolutely nothing.

"How much has he lost?" Ichabod asked. He uncrossed his arms and walked away from the window. He sat on the edge of his desk and straightened his back. He gave Katrina his full attention.

"Everything," Katrina sobbed,"All of it. He gave them my inheritance, his pension and my mother's pension. Everything. The only money we have is my grandmother's money and she doesn't have a lot. And I was hoping you can help dad with your money."

"My money?" Ichabod asked.

"Yes," she sobbed. "The Crane family has money and prestige. You are very respected. The Van Tassels are ruined, now."

Huge fat tears fell from Katrina's green eyes. She quickly covered them with her hands and sobbed loudly.

Ichabod jumped up from his desk and ran into his bathroom. He returned to the room with a box of tissue in his hand.

"Here take one," he whispered. He held the blue and white colored box out to her until she was ready to take a tissue.

Katrina's white shoulder's shook as tears came down her porcelain face. She reached out to pluck a white tissue from the box.

"T..t..ank.... y...ou," she hiccuped. She wiped her tears away and looked up at him. The corners of her thin pink lips turned up into a small smile.

Ichabod smiled back.

"Is this why you signed the divorce papers?" he asked."So I will help your father?"

"Yes," Katrina sobbed." I thought you would help me if I gave you what you wanted. And I know how you love dad. He loves you too Ichabod, like a son."

Ichabod nodded. He lowered his eyes and then raised them again. He then sat beside her on the couch. He reached his hand out and placed it on her knee. He patted it. Katrina wiped her nose and looked up at Ichabod.

"Katrina, I would have helped James if you signed the papers or not," Ichabod answered."You know that."

"Yes. I know." Katerina nodded her head and hiccuped. Her voice small and weak.

"I still don't understand how I can help you?" Ichabod asked.

Katrina sighed. She hiccuped again.

Ichabod smiled. Katrina always hiccuped whenever she was really upset. That way Ichabod knew she was telling him the truth.

"You can take over for dad and sell his old buildings to a larger, richer business for profit here in The States," Katrina explained. "That way he can still have money and will profit from you selling the buildings."

"I thought the crooks took everything?" Ichabod asked.

"Everything in England,"Katrina answered."Uncle Jack was able to save dad's investments here in the STATES. The Old Iron Factory and the Canal St. Mission down in China town. Uncle Jack knows that dad had wanted to buy off those old buildings for a long time."
She wiped another tear from her flushed cheek.

"How did your uncle find out?"Ichabod asked. Ichabod liked and trusted Jack Van tassel. Katrina's father's older brother, Jack Van Tassel, was a good man and good friend to Ichabod. He was sure Katrina's father was in good hands with Uncle Jack on the case.

"Dad told him," Katrina said."He told Uncle Jack the truth when the Con artists vanished from the country. Dad used uncle Jack as a buffer when he told momma"

Her eyes were glassy and wet when she looked up at Ichabod. Her thin pink lips quivered.

Ichabod reached his arm out and plucked another tissue from the box. He hand it to her.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Katerina took the tissue and dabbed both her pink cheeks. She lifted her eyes to meet his. She smiled.

Ichabod nodded and patted her knee again. He let it his hand slide off her knee and leaned back on the couch. He crossed his legs. Katrina sniffed and turned to him. Ichabod watched one tear fall slowly along a small pert freckled nose.

"So you see why we need your help so desperately Ichabod," Katrina said. "The best of this all is you don't have to leave everything and go back to England. Dad's American buisness division is right here in New York City."

She wiped the tear from her nose with her hand and sniffed.

"Yes but Katrina. you know I'm not at good terms with my father," Ichabod said."He still resents that I came to The States and didn't become a Dean at Oxford like he wanted. And he and James never got along. I don't think my father will help me help your father."

"Your mother then," Katrina whined. "Surely she will help? Your mother always thought fondly of dad and Uncle Jack. And she's a successful international buisness women. She lives in New York so she can help you to sell those buildings."

"That is true," Ichabod replied.

He scratched his nose and sniffed. Marianne Crane was a successful buisness woman. Her name has appeared in Forbes magazine for three weeks every year. Marianne Crane is charitable and very kind to all. She is champion to the down trodden and the abused. No matter what social status, creed or gender. You could always count on his Ms. Marianne Crane to be the first to help.

Katrina cried out again and threw her long arms around Ichabod's neck. She pulled him closer against her and began to sob on his blue dress shirt. He could feel her hot tears fall and soak his shirt and his chest.

"Please Ichabod!" Katrina begged."You're my only hope."

Ichabod swallowed hard. He pulled her lean body tighter against him and closed his eyes. He sighed. His father in law was in trouble. The whole Van Tassel family was in trouble. He couldn't say no and turn his back on them. They were still his family. Ichabod pulled away from Katrina and looked into her eyes. Her emerald green eyes were wet and still filled with unshed tears.

"I'll see what I can do," Ichabod whispered.

He smiled.

"Oh, thank you, Ichabod." Katrina returned the smile.

A loud explosion and the sound of broken glass then broke the moment. Ichabod and Katrina jumped up from the sofa and ran to his huge picture window. Black heavy smoke billowed out from the top floor broken window of the chemistry building.

"Oh my God!" Katrina shouted. Her hand covered her mouth.

They watched as bright red fire trucks loudly screeched into the campus courtyard and scattered the curious students below.

"I think it's the chemistry lab," Ichabod whispered. "Jenny."

He turned to meet Katrina's wide eyes. He grabbed her by the shoulders.

"I have to go, Katrina wait here for me," Ichabod said.

Katrina nodded. Ichabod then ran out of his office into the hallway. He ran down the empty hall.

"Hey Dean Crane. I saw Professor Mills walk with Jenny to the chemistry building, earlier." A student yelled out behind

him in the hallway.

"Ok,"Ichabod yelled. He turned to wave back to the student and then turn back around.

He could feel his heart beat hard and fast against his chest. His breath came out in short nervous gasps as his long legs

ran even faster down the hall.

"Abbie. No," Ichabod whispered.

To be continued........