Michael Buckley - Once upon a crime

Greeley 's words echoed in Sabrina's head.

You don't go back to help someone if you meant to hurt them.

"Daphne, Cobweb didn't kill Oberon!" Sabrina cried.

Daphne turned to her sister. "What?"

"He came back to check on us. He thought we might have been hurt. In fact, he came back twice. Those aren't the actions of a guilty person."

"What the heck are you two babbling about?" Greeley asked.

Sabrina ignored him. "He was worried about us."

"But Oberon told us that Cobweb killed him," Daphne argued. "Do you think he was lying?"

"No, yes, I mean, I don't know. Oberon was a lunatic but there are other things that don't add up. Both Oberon and Cobweb said they had never heard of the Scarlet Hand. Then how did their mark get on the king's body?" Sabrina asked.

"Someone else must have put it there," Daphne said. "Then why did Oberon think Cobweb was the killer?"

"Cobweb was the last person the king saw before he died. He brought him some wine to celebrate their plans. What if someone put the poison in the wine before Cobweb even got it?"

"Hey! Why don't you go back to the no-talky-talky that you were doing when we met. You're givin' me a migraine," Greeley complained.

"We've got to find Granny," Daphne said.

The car stopped at a red light and before Sabrina knew what was happening, Daphne had jumped out of the car, dragging Sabrina with her. The girls had pulled this trick a dozen times but Sabrina had always taken the lead. This time Daphne was doing it and Sabrina was completely unprepared. She fell on the icy pavement as Greeley threw his door open and ran after them screaming, "You come back here!"

Daphne raced ahead, seemingly unaware that Sabrina had fallen. Before the older girl could get to her feet, she felt Greeley 's hands in her long blonde hair. He was yanking her up by it.

"Let's go get your sister," he said, pulling her along with one hand and carrying a crowbar in the other. They crossed a busy street, dodging cars and pedestrians, then zipped into an alley. Unfortunately, Daphne had led them all into a dead end. Sabrina watched her sister spin around in panic.

"I thought you were right behind me," Daphne cried. "I'm sorry."

Greeley dragged Sabrina into the alley and tossed her at her sister's feet. Then he smacked his crowbar into the palm of his hand. It made a sickening sound.

"What did I say? What did I say?" he growled. "I said it's my way or the highway."

"I guess we took the highway," Sabrina said, rubbing her sore head.

"Now we've got a problem," Greeley said. "You see, I've got me a temper and when I get angry I do things I regret."

"Don't take another step toward us!" Sabrina shouted.

"See, this is what I'm talking about. I don't want no guff, you little brat," Greeley said. "Didn't they tell you I'd killed seven people?"

"Is that all?" a voice said from above. Sabrina looked up and saw a huge figure dropping out of the sky. He landed on the ground hard, cracking the cement underneath him. When he stood, Sabrina smiled. It was Mr. Canis. "Hardly a number I'd brag about."

Greeley took a step back but then clenched his fists. "Where did you come from? OK, you want to get in my business?" He swung his crowbar threateningly.

"I know I want to get into your business," another voice said from behind the thug. It was Mr. Hamstead.

"I was thinking I'd like to as well," a third voice said from above. It was Bess, floating down from the sky with her rocket pack blasting. She touched down on the ground and the flame went out.

"What are you people?" Greeley screamed.

"We're fairy tales," Mr. Hamstead said. "It's time for your bedtime story."

Hamstead punched Greeley in the face, and the greasy criminal fell over like a tree. Bess walked over and kicked the man as he curled up into a ball. Mr. Canis, on the other hand, stood by looking bored. Sabrina could have watched the beating all day but a hand was on her shoulder. She turned and found Granny Relda standing behind her. Daphne was hugging the old woman with all her might but Granny still had a free hand to pull Sabrina into the embrace.

"Come along, girls, we need to leave the city as quickly as possible. I'm afraid I may have gotten the family into a lot of trouble with this incident," Granny replied. "Smirt will surely send the police to arrest me for kidnapping."

"No, Granny, we have to go see Titania," Sabrina said.

"What? Why?"

"She needs to know Cobweb didn't kill her husband."

When they reached the Golden Egg, Mustardseed was waiting outside Oberon's old office. He led them into the room, where the queen sat solemnly at her husband's desk. She was now wearing a smart pin-striped suit, tailored for her figure but reminiscent of the one Oberon had worn. She had a framed photo in her hands. She looked tired and her eyes were red, as if she had been crying. Oz stood by, watching her with concern. When he noticed the group he rushed to join them.

"Mustardseed, your mother is having a difficult day," he said. "I'm sure I can handle any of this business for her."

"No," Titania said without looking up. "Step forward, son, and bring your friends."

Mustardseed led the family forward and then bowed to his mother.

"This was a happy day," she said holding up the photograph. "We walked through Central Park, amongst the humans. I thought we'd have an eternity of those moments. Now he's gone and there are so many things I wish I had said."

Titania was quiet for a moment. Though Sabrina was bursting to tell her what she had discovered, she knew that silence was the best thing she could offer the heartbroken queen just then.

"I'm told that my husband's murderer has been killed," Titania continued. "Your family's reputation for excellent detective work has proved true."

"We owe you a debt of gratitude," Mustardseed added.

"Actually we have our doubts about Cobweb," Granny said.

"Indeed?" Oz said.

"My granddaughter has given this some serious thought and has some interesting questions that don't have answers," the old woman said, gesturing for Sabrina to step forward.

"You are Puck's chosen protector, I understand," Titania said.

Sabrina nodded, sniffing her still-pungent hair. "For better or worse."

"You don't believe that Cobweb killed his father?" Titania said as Moth entered the room. The fairy girl flashed Sabrina her usual angry look.

Sabrina shook her head. "Cobweb didn't act like a murderer. First, he was working with Oberon to rebuild Faerie. He told me that he and the king were working on a homeless shelter and a hospital. He told me that he respected and supported Oberon."

"He was lying, fool!" Moth cried.

"Sure, a person can say anything, but what they do is different. We chased him all over town. When we were nearly killed in the subway he came back to check on us. Then when the pirates kidnapped us he came to try to rescue us."

"Not the acts of a murderer," Mustardseed said.

Sabrina nodded. "We think it was someone in the Scarlet Hand. No one here seems to know who they are, but back in Ferryport Landing they've caused a lot of trouble. They're responsible for kidnapping my parents and want to take over the world. They left their mark on Oberon's body."

"But you have no idea who this other murderer might be?" Moth asked.

"No," Granny Relda added.

"Then you are no further along toward discovering his killer than when you started!" Titania cried. Granny stepped forward. "Not exactly. Cobweb gave your husband a glass of wine with poison in it. If we can find out who poured that wine, I believe we'll know who the true killer is."

The queen shook her head. "And how do you propose to learn that?"

"The same way we learned who gave Oberon the poison," Sabrina said.