A/N: This chapter may have some triggering language in it. I just wanted to give a heads up.

A/N2: Wishing all my American readers a Happy Thanksgiving. Next update will be after the holiday. :)

Chapter 27

Charlie knocked on the front door of Stephen Fischel's house. Rex was next to him and Inspector Siku. They'd decided to go to the younger son's address first as his older brother might be liable to be more guarded. Also, they knew Stephen worked from home and this would not make a big splash or draw attention as much as disrupting the older brother at work.

"May I help you?" Stephen asked.

"I'm Detective Hudson from SJPD, this is my partner Rex and RCMP Inspector Siku," Charlie said.

"Is my dad ok?" Stephen asked immediately.

"Oh yes, this has nothing to do with him. More so someone you knew as a kid," Charlie explained.

"Oh well any way I can help," Stephen let them in and offered them seats in the plush living room.

"So, what's going on?" The man wanted to know.

"Do you remember a man by the name of Aiden Moffat?" Charlie showed him a picture on his phone.

"He was my hockey coach but that was forever ago," Stephen admitted.

"Well, he passed away recently and… there's no good way to say this… pictures were found in his home," Charlie hoped that he didn't have to spell it out.

"It's why I was called in. Some of his victims don't reside in the area anymore," Inspector Siku spoke up. That did it. Stephen swallowed hard and removed his glasses from his face, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"It gets worse, I'm afraid. One of your former teammates is accused of shooting his therapist. We believe it was over some of the photos," Charlie said.

"Oh God," Stephen shook his head.

"Do you remember Danny Bauman?" Anna pressed a little.

"I saw it on the news. Danny…" Stephen swallowed again.

"Was abused by Moffat. We have proof. We think his PTSD from serving overseas must have brought up some things that caused him to lash out unfortunately on the wrong man," Charlie said. Stephen heaved a sigh.

"How can I help? I haven't seen Danny in years," the man wanted to know.

"Regrettably, we know that Danny is not the only victim. While Moffat cannot be charged with his crimes, we have been tasked with finding the others and offering them victim's services," Anna explained.

"What about Rich and Lynn?" Stephen asked. The detectives could see that he was becoming unsteady.

"Lynn has been committed to the mental health facility. She was seeing the same therapist as Danny," Charlie said. As if on cue, Rex put his head on Stephen's knee. The man petted his head. Stephen swallowed again and tears welled up in his eyes.

"We've been looking for Lynn's mother, but we haven't had much luck. Do you know what happened to her?" Anna wondered.

"No. Richard said that she was going on a trip but then she never came back," Stephen told them.

"Now Stephen, I want you to be honest with us. Are we going to find you in those pictures? It's not your fault. You've done nothing wrong. All we want to do is make sure you get the help you need, if you need it," Anna said. Stephen broke down, he couldn't take it anymore.

"I have a therapist. I'm getting help," he admitted. Rex licked the man's hand as he used his other hand to get a tissue from the box on the end table next to him.

"We're so sorry Stephen. You shouldn't have had to go through that. Does your dad know?" Charlie asked. Both detectives could see him tense up.

"We don't have to tell him. That's not our place," Anna said.

"He knows," the words came out barely above a whisper. Charlie didn't want to admit to the man that the minute his father had found out, he was duty bound to report it. Of course, if he was hiding his own proclivities, then, of course, he wouldn't.

"When did he find out?" Charlie wanted to know.

"He's known for a long time," Stephen admits. He takes his hand off of Rex's head and begins to roll back his sleeves. Soon he reveals the multiple attempts to take his own life – the scars left behind from the razor blades he used to cut himself.

"Oh Stephen," Anna wants to hug him, even though she knew she couldn't.

"I… I've been hiding this for a long time, but it's time that things finally come out," he said.

To Be Continued…