Chapter 4

XoXoXoX

"Hey, Jack," Paul said over the phone. "Samantha and I talked to Clark's sister and she said she hasn't spoken to him in almost six years."

"Did she say why?" Jack asked, tapping his ballpoint pen on the yellow legal pad.

"She said they never really got along and after their parents passed they just fell out of touch," Paul replied. "Sam and I both think it isn't related to his disappearance. Do you want us to head over to his work and see what we can dig up?"

"Yeah, just keep me updated," he answered before hanging up. He jotted a note on the paper about the missing accountant. So far, it looked like there was nothing going on their missing person's life other than leading a life of sheer boredom. He finished writing up his notes about what Paul had told him and then pushed the yellow pad back so he could return to what he was doing before the phone rang.

He hit the search button and waited for the system to gather any matching results.

It was his second day back at the office and he didn't know why he bothered showing up. He may be here in body but his mind was back at home wondering how Kate was doing. He considered going home but he knew that Maria was there, spending time with Kate and Hanna before she had to go back to Chicago and he didn't want to take time away from her. He knew how hard it was going to be for her to leave.

XoX

Jack lingered in his study, wanting to give Maria time and space to be with the girls. He wished Elaine was home to help offer a distraction but she had to work late on a case that was going to trial in a few days. So he decided to occupy his time by doing some work so he read and re-read and re-read again, an old case report that after the third try he realized that the words just weren't processing so he shut the folder closed and stuck it back in his briefcase.

He grabbed the newspaper off the sofa, deciding to work on the crossword puzzle. He read through some clues when there was a knock at the door and he said, "Come in!" The door opened and Maria appeared. "Hey," he greeted.

"Hi," she replied, her eyes scanning his office and it occurred to him that she had never been to this part of the apartment. When she was in town she normally only went as far as the kitchen or living room. It was strange to think that this woman, the mother of his children, wouldn't know something as simple as his office décor. Of course, he hadn't even seen her new house in Chicago, either. She hovered in the doorway and said, "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Nah," he replied, shaking his head as he waved her in. "Just trying to keep busy."

She nodded her head and stepped inside. She looked essentially the same but her hair was shorter and these days had a lot more gray than brown. She sat down on the sofa so he took a seat on his worn leather lazy boy recliner. She clasped her hands together, resting them between her knees. She looked tired and worn as she said, "I can't believe this is happening to our baby."

"Me either," he replied, suddenly feeling closer to Maria than he had in years. Despite everything they have gone through together, the good, the bad, and the really, really ugly, they were forever united as parents. It was a bond that could never be broken and when their children were suffering, they both felt it equally. "I know Kate is really happy that you're here."

She nodded sadly. "I tried to convince her to come home with me but she said no," she tilted her head, "that here life was here and she wouldn't be pushed out of it."

"I can talk to her if you want," he offered. He didn't really want her to leave but maybe being someplace that didn't hold such painful memories would be a good thing.

Maria shook her head. "No, she's right. She lives here and she needs to feel safe here again."

"I'm so sorry," he said softly. "I should have protected her better. At least make sure she lived in a secure building."

"Jack, it's not your fault," Maria replied. "Despite what you may think you don't have super human police powers where you can't stop all crimes."

"She's our daughter," he replied, his anger at the situation rising to the surface. "I should have protected her somehow…

She released a heavy breath and softly said, "Jack, I am spending too much energy blaming the guy who did this to try and blame you, too. Besides, I need for you to focus your anger on catching him."

He didn't reply but simply nodded his head.

She sighed heavily. "Do you still think that it might have been Reggie?"

He released a heavy breath and looked past her at a photo of him with Kate and Hanna when they were teenagers. "I don't know," he rubbed his chin, "and I hate to even think he would but I'm not ready to rule him out either."

"The girls seem to think that it couldn't be him," she replied, quietly.

"I know," he said, shaking his head. "But I also have been working long enough to know that sometimes even the closest friends and family are shocked to find out something about someone they love."

"What about Vivian?"

"What about her?" he replied curtly. "I can't think about her feelings right now. Kate is my priority and I have to focus on that. I know that if it was reversed and Kate was accused of hurting Reggie she would feel the exact same way. She would want to catch whoever was responsible."

She fixed her eyes on his and asked, "You will catch him won't you? You'll find whoever did this to our little girl and make him pay."

Jack leaned forward, reaching out to take Maria's hand. He gave it a firm squeeze and promised, "I promise you that whoever did this will be brought to justice – one way or another."

XoX

Jack shook his head, pulling himself out of the memory. The computer beeped and his eyes read over all the information available on any rapes that occurred near or around college campuses in the last few months. He was determined to find any connection or possible lead. He needed to find the man responsible and he knew he couldn't count on the local police to work as hard on the case or to be as committed as he was to finding the son-of-a-bitch that hurt his daughter. As far as Jack was concerned the manhunt was under way and he wasn't going to stop looking until the man was behind bars or under six feet of earth.