"You're a cool one Mr. Jane."

"Could I ask a question before you get started."

The leader looks around at the others.

"Sure why not, since you'll be lucky if you can put a sentence together once we're finished."

"Charming."

"Go ahead."

"It's for Jack actually"

Jane's eyes stay on the leader as he asks.

"What would you say Jack if I told you that your wife's still alive?"

"I would say you're nuts, I saw her lying on my kitchen floor."

Jane's gaze is still concentrated on the leader.

"But you said she was mutilated, so can you be certain?"

Jack shrugs.

"She was wearing the same clothes she put on that morning, her hair was the same.."

"All things that can be manipulated to make you believe it was your wife. This guy here, I would call you by your name but you've never been polite enough to introduce yourself, knows the truth. Look at him, it's written all over his face."

A voice comes from behind him.

"You always were too clever Patrick."

Jane smiles, Jack's face pales.

"Mae?"

"Ah the wife, and you seem to know me. You're voice does sound familiar, from the carnival if I'm not mistaken."

Jane's heart stills as he hears the same clanging sound as before. He then feels intense heat above his shoulder, it moves towards his right cheek, it hovers just above his skin. He jerks his face to the side away from the heat. He hears a soft laugh just behind his left ear.

"The heat too much for you Patrick, If you don't want me to burn a hole in your shoulder I suggest you keep your head still. I won't touch it I promise. No woman wants to spoil perfection."

Jane slowly moves his head back and the poker hovers by his cheek once more. He strains to keep as still as possible.

"Mae, what's going on?"

Mae walks slowly to the side of Jane keeping the poker in place.

"Thank you Jack for bringing me Patrick, and don't worry your usefulness isn't at an end."

She nods to the 'leader'

"Sean help my husband to one of the chairs."

With a nod from the leader the two t-shirt men grab Jack by the arms and force him on to a chair and secure him in place.

"I just don't want you getting in the way, until I need you."

"Mae tell me what's going on. I thought you were dead. Who was it I buried?"

"All in good time Jack. Figured out who I am yet Patrick?"

"It's hard to concentrate with that thing near my face."

"I'm sure you can manage."

She moves slowly until she's standing in front of him.

"There, is this better?"

Time is lessening the heat on the poker and it's now at a manageable level. Jane looks at the woman. She's small, no more than five foot three. Slightly on the plump side, her hair is long and grey, but dark streaks of her original colour still remain. Her face is one of a kind and gentle woman but underneath Jane can see that it's been honed by years of pretence. Underneath is a soul that's hard and unforgiving. He knows exactly who she is.

"It's helpful that you haven't changed your name Aunt Mae. It's been a long time."

"Not long enough Patrick."

"You're the one who engineered this meeting."

"I certainly did, didn't I? And you had no idea until it was too late. How did you figure me out?"

"You always were heavy handed with the perfume. I remember that about you. I always knew when my dad came from your trailer, your scent followed him, much like Sean here, the same smell I detected when I was in Jack's home. After what 30years? It's engrained in the woodwork. You've changed scents, a bit more up market now so I didn't know it was you, but I knew it was Jack's wife."

Mae gives him a tight smile.

"As I said you were always too clever."

Mae hands the poker to one of the t-shirt guys.

"Get some more heat on this will you?"

Jane relaxes with it away from his cheek, even if it's short-lived. Mae steps closer and strokes the burn.

"You always were a good-looking boy. There's a red mark but it won't leave anything permanent"

Her touch stings and Jane moves his head away.

"Why am I here?"

"You know why you're here."

"You're son's death had nothing to do with me or my father."

She strikes Jane on his tender cheek, the sting causes him to cry out.

"He was in your care."

"I was ten."

Jack interjects.

"You had a son?"

Mae turns to Jack.

"Yes I had a son. He was five years old when he was allowed to wander off. He was hit and killed when a waltzers car fell on top of him. Patrick here was in charge of looking after him."

"My dad took my attention and Josh wandered away just a little, I shouted at him to get out of the way and tried to get to him, but I was too late."

"Too busy talking about your show to look after your cousin,, but then you seemed to have made a habit of it, causing the death of family members."

Jane closes his eyes against the accusation.

"This was all a long time ago, why now?"

"Because I need to disappear, and I need to tie up loose ends.."

She takes a glance at Jack.

"And you'll make the perfect scape goat Patrick."

Author's notes: There you have it one part of the puzzle but more to come.