Chapter 1

Donald Schanke was worried. Tracy Vetter hadn't shown up for work yet and that was very unlike her. Since Nick had gone solo again Schanke had partnered with her. She had been Knight's temporary partner while he and Cohen had gone to escort Dollard to Alberta. That had turned out to be a longer deployment because an incident had happened with a mad bomber and they'd both stayed to help out while Nick and Tracy partnered up here. Then one crisis after another seemed to conspire to keep them there. When they finally returned the change had happened. "You and Tracy should team up. She's got a talent for police work but she could benefit from your experience. You're a great cop."

"Um, gee, Nick I don't know what to say. Thank you." He'd been dumbfounded. Still he accepted it and it had worked out. Tracy was so much more than just the Commissioner's daughter. And Nick was still around, albeit not as much. Besides he had to admit that Nick's words had pleased him. Two years of partnering with the
Wonder Cop had made Schanke feel like a rookie sometimes. He was pleased to be in the leadership role now. And Nick was right. Tracy was very good. He was happy to be her mentor.

So finally, rather than waste any more time worrying, Schanke told Cohen that he was going out to look for her. "Good idea. And when you find her tell Vetter that being her father's daughter won't save her; she's still in trouble."

"Got it, Captain." But he had a feeling that Tracy was already in some kind of trouble. He went out to his car and started a search. The first place he went to was her apartment building. She wasn't there and her car was gone. But she could still be home. Don decided to make sure. He went up to her apartment and rang her bell. There was no response. He knocked. "Tracy, are you home? Cohen said to tell you that being your dad's daughter won't save you from her wrath." No answer. She obviously wasn't there. Going on the assumption that she had started to go into work, he drove the most likely route she would have taken. He didn't see her or her car anywhere. So he drove back and tried another route. This was less likely because, although you could get to the precinct from her apartment by this route, the neighborhood left something to be desired. But she could have used it for some reason. So he tried it.

And he hit pay dirt. He saw her car parked just outside of an alley. Getting out of the car, he looked around. No sign of her. "Tracy, are you here?" No answer but he had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. So he took out his gun and stepped into the alley, all the while calling her name. No response.

He'd reached the end and was just about to go back when something made him check behind a dumpster. That's where he found her. She was curled up in a tight ball, clothes disheveled and she looked battered. "Tracy, are you all right?" Stupid question! Of course she wasn't all right. But was she alive?

He knelt down beside her and noted with relief that her chest was rising and falling as she breathed. But her eyes were vacant and she stared straight ahead. Don had the uncomfortable feeling that he knew what had happened to her.

"Tracy! Tracy, can you hear me?" There was still no response. He gently touched her shoulder and she flinched and curled up even more tightly. God, what was he going to do? Then he thought of Nick. Quickly he dialed his number. Getting the machine, Don tried his cell.

Nick picked up. "Knight."

"Nick, it's me. Got a problem. Tracy didn't show up for work tonight and I got worried. I found her but there's a problem." He turned away from her and lowered his voice. "I think she's been raped and I need some help." He gave the location.

"I'll be right there." Nick was in his Caddy and he quickly turned it around and got there as quickly as possible without flying. The Caddy screeched to a halt when he got there and he had to restrain himself from using vampiric speed. "Where is she?" Schanke showed him.

"Tracy, it's me, Nick." Again no response. He touched her as Schanke had done but this time the response was more violent.

"Nooo! Not again! Leave me alone!" She beat at him with her arms and kicked out with
her legs.

Nick wasn't deterred. He grabbed her hands. "It's me, Tracy. Nick Knight. Remember. I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help you. You're safe."

She gradually settled down. "Nick?" He nodded.

Schanke came closer to her. "I'm here too. Donald Schanke. I'll help you too."

She studied him. "Schank?"

He nodded. "Tracy, you have to let us take you to the hospital. You need care."

She shook her head. "No! I just want to go home." Then she broke down and cried. She wanted to get out of here and go someplace where she could hide and no one would know about what had happened. That place was her apartment.

Nick stroked her hair. "Tracy, please. You need to go. We only want to help you. I'll call Nat for you if you like. She can be there with you."

Tracy looked from one to the other. Her training told her that it was the best thing. She knew it in her head. But again, every fiber of her body was screaming out to get home and hide. Finally, reluctantly, she agreed. "All right. I'll go. You will call Nat for me?"

Nick smiled at her. "I'm doing it right now." He dialed her number at the Coroner's Office. "Nat, it's Nick. Could you meet us at Toronto General? Schanke and I are bringing Tracy in. Something bad happened to her. Thanks." He disconnected. "She's coming. Now you." Hesitantly she nodded. "Good." Nick very much wanted to scoop Tracy up and carry her but with where they were going, he couldn't risk it. He stepped back. "Schank, can you carry her? I would do it myself but I hurt my back the other day and it's still kind of sore."

Schanke stared at him. He could hardly believe that the Wonder Cop had admitted to getting hurt. "Sure." He approached Tracy. "I'm going to pick you up now. I have to touch you for that. I'm not going to hurt you, all right. Is that O.K?" She nodded and he gently eased his arms under her and carried her to his car. " Nick, you follow." And they made their way to the hospital. Don did briefly wonder why Tracy had reacted more violently to Nick than to him. But not for long. That wasn't important right now. What was important was getting Tracy to the hospital and getting her the help she needed.