Standard disclaimers apply.
Second Chance
Gary paid the cab fair and got out. He looked at his watch. It was 7:35. The park was deserted which was surprising for this time of the morning. Usually it is filled with joggers. The heat is probably keeping people indoors, Gary thought. He glanced back at the paper. The article hadn't changed.
"Come on, give me something to go on." He said.
As Gary looked up he suddenly felt something rub against his leg. He looked down and there he was the orange tabby that he knew so well.
"I hope you're here to help me out." Gary questioned.
The cat started to walk up into a wooded section of the park. Gary glanced down at the paper; story was still there. He looked at the cat again. The cat had stopped by what looked like an asphalt path between two huge bushes.
"Meow" The cat looked at Gary, when he didn't move the cat grew more insistent. "Meow!…Meow!…Meow!"
"You trying to help me out here buddy? Okay show me where I need to go." Gary walked towards the cat. Just as Gary reached the cat he heard footsteps. The sound was of someone running. They were coming down the hill towards the opening in the bushes. As Gary took a step forward the sound of the running stopped and was replaced with a startled scream. Gary ran through the opening of the bushes to the other side. When he got there he saw a man and a women struggling. The man was behind the women with his right arm around the women's waist and his left arm around the women's neck. Gary immediately spotted the knife in the man's left hand.
Gary yelled. "Hey buddy, let her go."
The man was startled to find Gary standing there and lunged the knife towards him, hitting Gary in the shoulder. As Gary grabbed his arm the women kicked the man between the legs, freeing herself, and ran behind Gary. After being kicked the man fell to his knees the knife still in his hand. Just as he struggled to his feet the sound of police sirens wailed in the background. The man quickly turned and started to run up the hill. Gary started to go after him until he was grabbed from behind around his waist.
"You can't go after him, you're hurt." As Gary turned around he looked into the most beautiful pair of blue eyes he had ever seen. It was as if time stood still. He couldn't speak.
"Ar…Ar…Are you, you okay?" He stammered.
Kaitlyn couldn't move. She was staring into the most handsome face she had ever seen. Those eyes, she thought, mud green. She forced herself to speak. "I'm fine, but you're not. You're bleeding. Come on let me take a look at that shoulder." She started to unbutton Gary's shirt and she pulled it off of his shoulder. "Yeah, you're definitely going to need some stitches." She grabbed Gary's hand and pulled him through the opening in the bushes. Just as they stepped out there was Detective Armstrong.
"Hobson! What is going on here?" Armstrong screamed. "You all right?"
"Armstrong the man you want just headed up the hill. I think he might be the rapist you're looking for. He tried to grab her." Gary pointed towards Kaitlyn.
"Rapist?" Kaitlyn whispered.
Armstrong asked, "What'd he look like?"
"He had on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt…" Gary said. Before Gary could finish Kaitlyn jumped in. "A white man, 30ish, 6 ft. tall, blond hair and a…and a mustache." She said pointing her finger towards her lip. Gary pulled the paper from his pocket.
"Oh and he's got a knife." Gary yelled. Kaitlyn noticed that he was looking at a newspaper he had pulled from his back pocket.
"Thurman, send your men up that way…did you get that description." Armstrong turned to the cop behind him. "Yeah, we got it." He said.
"Excuse me." Kaitlyn grabbed Armstrong's arm. "He is going to need some help. He was cut."
"We've called for an ambulance." Armstrong looked at Gary.
"I don't need an ambulance. I'll be fine. I can take care of it when I get home." Gary said.
"That is not something you can take care of yourself…and…" The ambulance pulled in before Kaitlyn could finish what she was saying.
"I think they are here for you, Hobson." Armstrong pointed to the ambulance. Before Gary could respond, Kaitlyn grabbed his hand and started walking towards the ambulance. They were halfway there when officer Thurman approached them.
"Miss, I think my men have caught the man who grabbed you. We have him up on West Webster Avenue. We would like you to go with Officer Swanson so that you can identify him. We'll put you in the car and drive you up to where he is. You don't even have to get out of the car. He won't see you."
"Okay, I can go with him." Kaitlyn turned to Gary. She was still holding his hand and didn't want to let go. Before they knew it a paramedic was taking Gary towards the ambulance and Kaitlyn was headed toward the police car. Gary couldn't believe that he was watching the women of his dreams walk away. He thought that as she pulled away. He didn't even get her name.
Gary sat in the ambulance, the paramedic told him that they were going to take him to the hospital to get some stitches. Gary reached for his paper and looked at his watch. It was only 7:50 he had until 10:30 before he had to help the kid with the scooter. As he put the paper back into his pocket. He saw detective Armstrong walking towards the ambulance.
"Hey Hobson! I'm not going to ask how you knew this was going to happen. When I got the call from your friend, Marissa, I figured you might need some help. One of these days though, you and I are going to sit down and have a little talk…soon!" Before Gary could respond Armstrong headed towards the police car and the ambulance doors closed.
Sitting in the police car Kaitlyn was able to identify the man who attacked her. As she stared out the window, she saw the ambulance drive past and head out of the park. A serial rapist…she breathed in deeply. If it hadn't been for that man…Hobson…that's all she got. She didn't even get his full name. This great looking guy saves her life and she didn't even get his full name. Let alone say thank you. She put her hand over her eyes. All she wanted to do was hold her girls. Then suddenly she heard a tap on the window. She looked over and saw detective Armstrong. She rolled down the window.
"Swanson here will take you down to the station so that we can get all your information and do the paperwork. The District Attorney will probably want to speak with you. Swanson will give you a ride home after your finished. If you need anything you can give me a call." He handed her his card and turned to walk away.
"Detective" Armstrong turned back around. "That man, the man that helped me…do you know him. I mean do you know his name?" Armstrong stared at her strangely. "What I mean to say is…" Kaitlyn stuttered. "I didn't get a chance to thank him for what he did for me. Do you know where I can find him?"
"His name is Gary Hobson, he owns a bar over on Illinois called McGinty's." Armstrong smiled. "You'll be able to find him there."
Kaitlyn smiled. "Gary Hobson, Gary Hobson – McGinty's." She thought to herself.