“I’ve heard that, but am also hearing that Oskar is up to other stuff.”

Tom nodded. “I’m afraid I can’t really help you. I only met Oskar and his brother once at a Christmas party the company was having. It was at the Redbury Hotel in Hollywood. I wouldn’t have even remembered Oskar and Virgil’s names if you hadn’t reminded me when you called.”

“At the time you thought they appeared suspicious.”

“Yeah, something didn’t seem right. Virgil seemed slimy and Oskar was … well, I told you, he was slick … like a con man. I didn’t see Paul being a good fit and I was surprised they hired him.”

“Is Paul still with the company?” asked Jack.

“No. He was only with the company about two months. He died in a tragic accident the day after the Christmas party.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. How did it happen?”

“He was putting up Christmas lights when his ladder slipped and he crashed through his living-room window. The glass sliced his throat and I guess he died within minutes. Left behind a young wife and two kids.”

“What a horrible thing for his family to see happen.”

“Actually, Paul was alone when it happened, but his wife and kids were the ones to find his body when they got home.”

Bingo … “Again, I am really sorry to hear that, about your friend, let alone how tragic it was for his family.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Tom pushed his half-full cup of coffee aside as he reflected, before letting out a deep sigh. “His family was devastated. Seeing their dad like that, well … you can imagine.”

Jack nodded. “Sorry to be bringing all this up. I only need a bit more. You asked Brent Morgan to check out a Ben Pike, as well. Where does he fit in?”

“Who? A Ben Pike?”

“That’s what —”

“Oh, wait, that would have been one of the security guys.”

“Security?”

“Besides meeting Oskar and Virgil at the party, there was some other guy. I had forgotten his name. He was an ex-Marine or something. I recall he had a bit of a spat with Paul for being an anti-war protester.”

“A bit of a spat?”

“Nothing came of it. As I recall, Pike apologized. It was Christmas time. People were drinking and having fun.”

“Is there anybody else you can remember? Any other names?”

“Sorry, no. Oskar, Virgil, and Pike the Spike was it.”

“Pike the Spike?”

“Oh, that was just a nickname I made up because Paul told me they were trained killers. Black-belt types. Nobody else called him that.”

“You said they were trained killers. Who was they?”

“Oh, right, there was somebody else. I don’t think I met the other guy. I remember Pike was built like a gorilla. Even walked like one. He was with some other guy who was bigger, or at least taller.”

“Can you remember anything at all about how the bigger guy looked?”

“Not really. Sorry, it’s been too long. I do remember he had a nickname, but I can’t remember what it was. Something to do with the way he walked. He bounced off of each step like a kangaroo or something. I joked with Paul about them. Calling them Pike the Spike and Captain Kangaroo.”

“Captain Kangaroo?”

“I think so. No, wait. That wasn’t it.” Tom thought a moment and said, “Killer Kangaroo … no, hang on …” Tom’s face lit up. “It was Rabbit. The other guy’s nickname was Rabbit because of how he walked. I joked with Paul and referred to them as Pike the Spike and Killer Rabbit.”

After thanking Tom for his assistance, Jack went to a convenience store and found an exact duplicate of the map booklet that Virgil was using.

One hour later, Jack arrived home and found Natasha sitting on the sofa reading Dr. Seuss to Mike and Steve. She paused as Jack leaned over to kiss her.

“Long day at the office,” noted Natasha, as Jack gave each boy a kiss and a hug.

“You could say that. One of those days where I wished I was the one staying home and not working.”

“It’s not exactly a complete holiday.” Natasha frowned. “Besides looking after these two, did you notice I weeded the flower beds? Not to mention laundry and cleaning house?”

“The flower beds, too? Guess I was too tired to notice. That was something we didn’t have to do when we lived in a condo.”

“Well it needs to be done now. Not to mention the perks I’ve had over the last few years of changing dirty diapers, making dinners, and running to the store. Guess it is all part of the advantages I get for being home.”

Jack glanced at Natasha and realized how much his comment had irritated her. “Sorry about the not-working comment. Sometimes I don’t think I appreciate how much you do.”

She shrugged in response.

“Do you wish you were back at work, looking after your patients at the clinic?”

“No, having a home and family is always what I wanted. I’ll get back to work when the boys are older.”

Jack nodded in response.

“But I was envisioning having a family where the husband was around, too,” continued Natasha.

“Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay,” she sighed. “But don’t give me any nonsense about how you wish you were the one staying home. Besides, I don’t think you’d have the energy to keep up with these guys.” She tickled Mikey’s stomach and watched him laugh and squirm away.

“Right now I don’t,” admitted Jack, “but I want you to know that I really love you.”

“Oh, I think I know that,” replied Natasha. “You reminded me last week at the house party.”

“I did?” replied Jack, so tired that he could hardly remember when a neighbour invited several couples in to get to know each other. It seemed like a long time ago. As he recalled, everyone was friendly but he found the conversation less than stimulating.

“Don’t you remember what you shouted to me across the room?”

Jack smiled. “I love you, Natasha Taggart!”

“You made me blush.”

Jack grinned. “Well, you must not have been too embarrassed, you shouted back that you loved me, too.”

“I think people looked at us like we were a little daft.”

“They don’t know what we’ve been through together. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t appreciate what we have as a family.”

“Then you drank too much and told the one guy you were an airline pilot and had to go to work in a couple of hours. He was really upset. Then you told someone else the same thing, except that you were a neurosurgeon.”

“I thought the party need livening up. It gave them all something to talk about later.”

Natasha shook her head and muttered, “I can dress you up, but I can’t take you out. I could only imagine what trouble you would have gotten into if I hadn’t decided to take you home.”

Jack smiled. “You’re probably right. And don’t think I don’t appreciate it. I’d be lost without you.”

“Are you lost now?” asked Natasha.

“What?” responded Jack. “Oh, this,” he said, realizing that Natasha was referring to the booklet of maps he had purchased. “No, it’s to help me catch a bad guy.”

“You out with some bad guys today?” asked Mikey.

“Yes, but that’s a secret.”

“Ya, undercover,” he said, putting his finger to his lips. “Shhhh.”

“And how is Stevey T?” asked Jack, making a claw with his hand and pretending he was going to grab Steve’s stomach.

Steve giggled and cuddled in closer with his mom for protection.

“Don’t get him started again,” said Natasha. “He’s been running around here all day wearing an old satchel bag on his head. He thinks it is the funniest thing.”

“Seems kind of funny to me, too,” said Jack.

“You catch any sleep last night at all?” asked Natasha.

“None, which is what I am going to do right now.”

Jack said good night and kissed everyone again before taking a shower and collapsing into bed. He had been up for thirty-two hours straight and expected to fall asleep immediately, but his mind wasn’t ready to let him off the hook that easy.