Jude 2

As Crane watched her, he knew what must be done, picking up his pocket watch he let it dangle at the end of it's chain, "Rebecca, can you tell me what time it is?" he asked.

"Time...?" she struggled to answer, her eyes absorbing the syncronized movement of the watch, "why, it is... half past..."

Crane carefully kept a monotonous tone to his voice, she soon was under the spell of the slow swing of the watch and his subtle suggestions.

William observed the shocking transformation as Crane said, "Remember, Rebecca... remember our plan, you and I, Alistair... remember our plan for Captain Crane?"

"You said," Rebecca started slowly, "that Thomas and William must die, only then will the girls and I be safe."

Crane probed deeper, "And where and how were Thomas and William to meet their death?"

'I am to make them believe that you are on Brownsea Island, then point out that Thomas is to weak to go there so William will have to go alone." Rebecca said in an almost mechanical way.

"When William boards the launch for Brownsea Island your men will be it's crew, when they reach the channel they will overpower William and drown him, telling the authorities that he fell overboard and drowned." she continued.

Crane glanced at William and continued, "And what of Thomas; how will his life be taken?

"I am to bring Thomas to the manor house, and after I put him to bed for the night you will shoot him with a poison dart." Rebecca said. "After he is dead the dart will be removed, there will be no sign of violence and people will assume that he died from his wounds."

Crane steadied the swaying timepiece, placed it in his pocket and shook Rebecca gently as he called her name.

"Rebecca when you awake you will no longer be under the control of Alistair, you will be your own person again," he paused for a moment, "Rebecca wake up."

As Rebecca regained her awareness Crane realized that he failed to discover the whereabouts of Alistair.

Crane walked to the window and gazed out at the lengthening shadows of the late afternoon, "Say nothing of what has transpired in this room today, prepare a carriage, we'll leave after sunset, and someone fetch The Sgt. Major."

As Thomas observed the carriage being readied, Rebecca moved to stand beside him, then, taking his arm, whispered, "Forgive me."