Jack automatically delivered the first blow to the solar plexus, before realizing the smack he heard was the man’s head coming in sudden contact with the asphalt. A quick glance said he was already stunned into submission.

Jack had little time to ponder the situation or stand up before another man rushed at him. Jack responded by kicking his knee. As the second man spun sideways, Jack leapt to his feet and assumed a proper karate stance to face his new opponent who put up his fists.

“No!” cried Amanda, from where she was kneeling and hugging Megan close to her chest. “Burt! It’s not him,” she exclaimed, looking down at her brother lying on the ground, before turning her attention to the other man. “It’s not the guy! This guy has a beard. The man who attacked me didn’t. I screamed because I hadn’t seen him until I came around the truck. He startled me.”

Jack saw the second attacker slowly lower his fists while Burt moaned and tried to sit up.

“He’s not the bad man, is he Mommy?”

“No, sweetie. Uncle Burt just thought he was.”

Amanda’s attention focused on the back of Jack’s jacket. It had ridden up and rested on the top of the pistol stuck in his holster. “He’s got a gun!” she gasped, pointing at Jack.

“I’m a police officer,” said Jack.

“Oh, fuck,” moaned Burt, holding the back of his head and gazing up at Jack.

“Mommy! Uncle Burt said a bad word!” said Megan.

“Everyone take it easy,” said Jack. “I’ll show you my identification.”

The second man took a step forward and looked at Jack’s badge and identification card before nodding at Burt and Amanda.

“I didn’t know,” said Burt, still struggling to sit up.

“It’s okay,” replied Jack. “You likely have a mild concussion. Don’t move for a moment and let me have a look at you.”

Jack knelt beside Burt and gave his head a cursory examination while introductions were made. Jack then moved his fingertip from side to side in front of Burt’s face and told him to focus on it.

“I think you’re okay,” said Jack, “but I’m no doctor, so watch yourself. If you’re feeling sick, get it checked out.”

“I’ll be okay,” said Burt, slowly getting to his feet. He looked at Jack and said, “I’m sorry, but you don’t look like a cop. I heard my sister scream and I thought you were attacking her.”

“Don’t worry about it,” replied Jack. “I think you got the worst of it.”

“Yeah, I got a heck of a goose egg already,” replied Burt, rubbing the back of his head.

“You may want to put a bag of ice or frozen vegetables on it,” suggested Jack.

“I’ll see how it goes.” Burt stared at Jack a moment and added, “You’re obviously here working undercover because of my sister. I hope I didn’t blow it,” he added, glancing around.

“Ah … no, I’m actually here because of another investigation,” replied Jack.

“Another investigation?”

Jack nodded.

“You do know what happened with my sister, right?” asked Burt.

Jack looked at Amanda and their eyes met. He could see the pain and grief in her eyes and on her face. His instinct told him to lie and say he knew nothing about it, but his conscience wouldn’t let him. “Yes, I know about it,” he said softly. “I am so, so sorry.”

She nodded in response.

“Mommy, I want to ride in the truck,” demanded Megan.

“After it is loaded, sweetie. Maybe in an hour.”

“Then let’s go play in the park. Can we? Huh? Can we?”

“That might be a good idea,” suggested Burt. “Why don’t you take her there. When we’re done, I’ll come and get you.”

“Actually, I’m going in that same direction. I’ll walk with you, if you like,” offered Jack.

Amanda took Jack up on his offer and after saying goodbye, they walked together up the alley. There was little conversation between Jack, Amanda, and Megan until they arrived at the park.

“Come here often?” asked Jack.

“Quite a bit,” replied Amanda. “Usually on my way home from work.”

“That’s nice. Family time is important.”

She glanced at Jack and asked, “Are you married? Do you have any kids?”

“Yes to both,” said Jack. “We have two boys. Steve turned two last month and,” Jack smiled, holding his hand lower than waist height, “his big brother, Mike, is three and a half.”

Amanda cast another glance at Jack’s appearance. “Your job must be kind of stressful.”

“It can be.”

“At least you have a partner to share things with. You’re lucky.”

“Are we lucky, Mommy?”

“You and Megan have each other, too,” interjected Jack.

Amanda caressed Megan’s hair and allowed herself a genuine smile for the first time since her attack. “Yes, sweetie, you and I are lucky, too.”

Megan smiled in return and ran to climb inside the plastic tube.

Jack was about to say goodbye to Amanda, when she asked, “You said you were here because of another investigation, yet you knew about me?”

“Yes,” replied Jack, silently wishing he had listened to the instinct he had earlier not to admit he knew about the attack.

“Does this other investigation … well, maybe you can’t tell me,” she said, looking furtively at Jack. “I was wondering if it was at all related to what happened to me. You know … the same kind of thing? Maybe the same guy?”

Jack took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “The man who attacked you might be connected to some other bad guys. These others are not involved in attacking women, but I think one of them knows the man who attacked you.”

“So if you catch them, you might find out who attacked me,” said Amanda, hopefully. “Maybe let the other guy off to give up the name of who attacked me. Isn’t that how it works? Or is that only on TV or something that —”

“No, that is often how it works,” said Jack.

“So these other guys … what are they suspected —”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t say any more than what I told you. Even what I did say was more than I should have.”

“I understand. I won’t tell anyone.” She put her hand on Jack’s sleeve. “Please, promise me you will catch him. I live in absolute terror every moment, knowing he is still out there.”

Catch him? He’s sitting in my car right now… Jack took a deep breath and clenched his jaw as he fought to keep his emotions in check. If I had any guts I would tell you the truth …

“It’s okay,” whispered Amanda compassionately, as she patted his back. “I can see you are doing your best. That is all I can really ask.”

Chapter Eight

“That was the woman,” said Virgil, as soon as Jack opened the front passenger door to the SUV.

Jack eyed Virgil who was sitting handcuffed again in the back seat while Laura sat sideways in the driver’s seat watching him. “I know it was,” he replied, getting in and closing the door.

“So now what? You gonna let me go?”

“You hadn’t mentioned that she had a child,” said Jack.

“What’s that got to do with it?” replied Virgil.

“I suppose for you, nothing,” said Jack in disgust. “Right now, we’re going for another little drive. I’m going to talk to the investigator who is handling her case and confirm a few details before letting you go.”

“But won’t he arrest me?”

“I won’t mention that you’re sitting with my partner out in the parking lot.”

“I don’t feel good about that.”

“You’d feel a lot worse if I did what I really feel like doing to you.” Jack paused and leaned over in the seat, bringing his face close to Virgil’s and added, “I guess that’s not really true … because when I was done, you wouldn’t feel anything ever again.”

Virgil swallowed nervously and stared silently down at the floor.

Jack entered the Major Crime Section and after a brief inquiry, was directed to the desk of Constable Sue McCormick who worked on the Sexual Offence Unit.