“Must’ve looked like a deranged rabbit.”

“He accused them of getting his daughter hooked on dope and started wailing on them. We have two victims with broken legs above their ankles, the other with a broken arm, and all three with broken collarbones. Actually, the oldest kid had both his collarbones broken. At least, that’s what the paramedics say.”

“Broken collarbones,” mused Connie. “Easy to do and it would disable a person’s ability to use their arms and hence their hands. Sounds like your perp has been trained in hand-to-hand combat. Could be a soldier. Did you catch him?”

“Not yet. We’ve got the dog handler out looking.”

“Sounds like they sold dope to the wrong person.”

“It could be mistaken identity. These kids claim it was their first time to the park. They’d gotten their hands on a case of beer and were drinking it and minding their own business when the attacker appeared out of the dark and started beating them. Must have been crazy … although he did have some conscience.”

“Why do you say that?”

“When he was finished, he used one of their cellphones and jabbed in 911 and put the phone in the kid’s hand so he could scream for help.”

Connie shook her head. What the hell is the world coming to? She looked at her colleague and said, “Well, good luck. Hope you catch him.”

Moments later, Connie saw the startled reaction on Amanda’s face when the voices of the new patients could be heard.

“It’s them,” she gasped, sitting up and grabbing Connie by the sleeve.

“Who?” asked Connie.

“The guys who attacked me,” she whispered. “I recognize their voices. Out there.” She pointed. “I’m positive.”

Connie looked at Amanda and whispered, “Lay quietly. I’ll check it out.”

Connie slipped out from behind the curtain to have a closer look at the three teenagers. She fought the urge to believe they could be that lucky. Amanda is in shock … could be a false reading to any young men’s voices she hears …

Connie looked at the youth who was laying on the gurney out in the open. Her pulse quickened when she spotted blood on the bottom of his running shoe. More on his shirt … but they were attacked …could be his own. She bent to examine the blood on his shirt sleeve.

“You a cop, too?” asked the youth, who had seen Connie talking with the uniformed officer.

“Yup.”

“You better catch the guy. Look what he did to me! I’m really hurtin’.”

“The uniformed officers are investigating what happened to you. I’m not here for that.” Connie made direct eye contact with the youth and added, “I’m investigating a woman who was attacked in her home tonight.” She saw his response. A flicker of fear … or could it be a reaction to a jolt of pain?

“I had a nosebleed earlier,” the youth said, instinctively trying to pull his arm away. He yelped in pain as the effort to move his arm was stopped by a broken collarbone.

Connie heard the crackle of the portable radio as the uniformed officer spoke. Could it really be them? To get a lucky break like this … She was only partially aware of a conversation droning over the police radio in the background. Nosebleed, my ass. Doesn’t explain how the blood got under his bicep and he’s acting nervous ... She momentarily forgot the blood on the sleeve as her brain triggered a response to the radio conversation. Something about a bloody plastic bag with ski masks found buried in the park?

“Yeah,” crackled a voice over the radio. “The police dog found it buried in the park close to where the youths were attacked. Contains ski masks … latex gloves … a bloody knife … the blood is fresh.”

Connie stared at the young man in front of her who glanced at the officer with the portable radio before looking sullenly back at her.

“That fuckin’ sucks!” he said, defiantly staring back. “Figures, the only way you pigs could catch anybody is by a fuckin’ fluke! Get me my lawyer!”

Chapter Twenty-One

It was midnight when Jack dropped Laura off at the office so she could retrieve a surveillance van. She was going to watch Sy’s apartment in the hope that the arrests might spark some activity. In the meantime, Jack was going to pay Gabriel a visit. He knew she would still be up.

“I’ll join you as soon as I’m finished,” said Jack.

“That might be soon if Gabriel slams the door in your face,” replied Laura.

Gabriel’s home was still a buzz of activity with the Forensic Identification Unit still hard at work in the basement. Any fear that Jack had about not being welcome was quickly overcome. Gabriel peered through a window after he knocked and flung open the door and hugged him.

“How is Amanda?” she asked.

“Her wounds are not life-threatening. She will, however, be scarred for life … emotionally and physically.”

“I hope she finds comfort in the Lord,” said Gabriel while using her fingers to wipe tears from her eyes. “Thank you for coming back tonight.”

“Thank me for coming? Gabriel, it was me who introduced you to Amanda. This wouldn’t have happened here if I hadn’t brought her over.”

“I guess not,” replied Gabriel. “Where do you suppose it would have happened, then?”

Jack found himself at a loss for words.

“Please. I’m glad you’re here. Come in and I’ll make you some tea. I … I need to know if we’re in danger.”

“No, you’re not in danger,” replied Jack. “Amanda was their target.”

“Because she was helping catch bad men who were selling drugs to the kids in her school?”

“Yes … something like that.”

“Are the same people who attacked her the ones who murdered Father Brown?”

“The youths who attacked Amanda tonight are not the same people, but belong to the same group … or groups of people that we suspect are behind Father Brown’s murder.”

“I don’t understand how someone could do that to another human being. Amanda was so nice. Still a child, really. If whoever did it doesn’t seek forgiveness, they could go to Hell.”

“Tonight, if I had my way,” replied Jack.

Gabriel looked at him sharply and said, “Vengeance is not ours. It’s God’s.”

“So I’ve been told,” replied Jack.

“Good. Come in. I’ll pour some tea.”

The next morning a meeting was held with Jack, Laura, Connie, and Sammy from Drug Section. Neither Jack nor Laura had been to bed yet, having spent the night watching Sy’s apartment building in a futile attempt to learn more.

Connie was late so Jack used the time to update Sammy on the investigation.

“You’re moving into Sy’s apartment this coming Friday?” asked Sammy.

“Yes. That’s when Laura and I become known as Jay and Princess. Will you still be able to help us out with surveillance or maybe a quick UC if the need arises?” asked Jack.

“Not a problem.”

“I still feel sick about last night,” said Jack. “Only Laura and I knew where Amanda was staying.”

“What about the landlady?” suggested Sammy. “Maybe she blabbed.”

“Gabriel?” replied Jack. “Not a chance. I went to her house and spoke with her last night. She’s too upset over what happened to Faith. There is no way she would say anything.”

“What about her other kid? The boy?”

“All Noah knew was that they had a new border. He didn’t even know her last name, let alone the circumstances of why she moved to —”

“Sorry I’m late,” announced Connie, striding into the room.

“Hey, Connie,” said Jack. “Where you been?”

“Doing police work,” she replied, pulling out a chair. “And speaking of police work,” she said, looking at Laura, “aren’t you a little overdressed?”

“Last night interrupted a date with Elvis,” replied Laura.