“To start with, the defence lawyers for the three punks who attacked you have offered to have their clients plead guilty with a joint submission for a three-year sentence in juvenile detention. The prosecutor will leave the decision up to you.”

“No decision there,” replied Amanda, looking relieved. “I told you I don’t want to testify. Three years is better than I expected.”

Jack nodded.

“Did you come all the way over here to ask me that?”

“No,” replied Jack. “What can you tell us about Lyle Ryker?”

“Lyle,” said Amanda, sitting back in her chair with surprise. “Well … I was told he used to be a nice guy. The year before I did my practicum at QE, he and his wife lost their first baby to SIDS. I know they went through a rough time and ended up getting divorced.”

“You ever go out with him?”

“No, he’s much older than me.”

“So … never anything between you?” asked Jack.

“Well … he made several passes,” admitted Amanda. “It was getting embarrassing. That was my first teaching job … I wasn’t sure how to handle it and not cause a stink.”

“What did you do?” asked Laura.

“I finally threatened to go to Mr. Bloomquist and complain of sexual harassment. That put a stop to it. When the semester was over, he quit teaching. I think the sight of children bothered him. He never got over losing his baby. When he left, Mrs. Jenkins replaced him as a chemistry teacher.”

“Chemistry?” replied Jack. “Bloomquist said he was replaced as a math teacher.”

“He did that, as well. Many teachers handle more than one subject. Why all the questions about Lyle?”

“He is the person who goes by the name of Cocktail. The one pulling the strings with The Brotherhood. The one responsible for your attack.”

“No!” said Amanda, putting her hand to her mouth. “Oh, no,” she repeated and began to cry.

Jack put his arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

“Are you sure?” she sobbed.

“Positive,” replied Jack. “This is highly confidential, but he set up an ambush and tried to kill four men last night over the war that The Brotherhood are having. The victims escaped, but I happened to be in a position to see Lyle myself. There is no doubt.”

Amanda touched the scars under her bangs and said, “He told them to do this, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“My God,” replied Amanda, slowly regaining her composure. “So he has been arrested … you want me to testify about my past relationship with him? I told you … I won’t go through that again.”

“He hasn’t been arrested yet, but could be soon. The men he tried to kill last night are also looking for him.”

“I hope they find him first.”

Jack nodded and said, “I have to send a text message. Would you mind making us a cup of coffee? We need to talk to you about all the other teachers to ensure that Ryker did not have an accomplice.”

It was several cups of coffee later when Jack received a text message back that read: 666-0. Jack excused himself to send a short message to Natasha.

Connie rolled her eyes when Crime Stoppers called to say they had been given a tip about a man named Lyle Ryker who had confided in the tipster that he had murdered Father Brown. The tipster gave enough details to sound credible.

Jack’s BlackBerry rang immediately. He walked out into the hallway so he could talk in private before answering.

“Hi, Connie, I was about to call you.”

“Really? What on earth for?”

“Uh, to let you know that Laura and I located that wino for you. John-Wayne Charlie.”

“Is that a fact? That is why you were going to call me if I hadn’t called you first?”

“Of course. I’m afraid it’s not good news. John-Wayne doesn’t know anything. Looks like we’ve hit another dead end.”

“Yeah, thanks, I’ll stroke him off my list. Well, goodbye …” Connie didn’t hang up and could hear Jack’s breathing on the other end of the line. She enjoyed making him wait for the news she knew he already possessed. Finally she said, “Oh, I almost forgot the reason I called. There is something I am sure you will be interested in.”

“Oh?”

“Crime Stoppers got a tip that a Lyle Ryker killed Father Brown. Have you ever heard of him? Do you think the tip is genuine?”

“Lyle Ryker … well, I’ll be damned. Did you know that he used to teach chemistry at Queen Elizabeth? Laura and I are having coffee with Amanda. She mentioned she had to threaten Ryker with sexual harassment once. Could explain her vicious attack. Cocktail also resembles the picture in the yearbook, except for the beard.”

“Anything else that would support the, uh, tipster?”

“Ryker owns a company that supplies humanitarian aid.”

“Humanitarian aid? I said, help my investigation, not hinder it.”

“Let me finish. The aid is in the form of medical equipment to hospitals and research facilities in third-world countries.”

“Chemicals and glassware!”

“You got it,” replied Jack. “Do you have an address for him?”

“Yup.”

“Be damned careful,” cautioned Jack. “I saw first-hand how violent he was last night.”

“If he comes to the door with a pitchfork, I’ll double-tap two into his chest,” replied Connie.

“Good. Watch yourself. The guy is a real psycho. Last night he said he was even going to stomp on my nuts after he killed me. Something about making sure I never spawned again.”

“He what?”

“Sorry, I’m talking low. I said —”

“No, I heard you! … Jack! That’s the hold-back information. Cocktail … I mean, Ryker, that’s what he did to Father Brown. He stomped on his crotch after he killed him.”

“Wow. Good going, Connie. You got your murderer. Go get the son of a bitch!”

“I’m on my way.”

“Let me know, will you? Laura and I will stay with Amanda until you call. In fact, my battery is getting low in my cell. I’ll give you Amanda’s number.”

An hour later, Connie called Jack back from the living room of Lyle Ryker’s house.

“You got him?” asked Jack, sounding excited.

“Only pieces of him,” replied Connie, suspiciously.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re too late. Looks like his enemies in The Brotherhood found him first. Murdered about an hour ago. City Homicide were here when we arrived. Someone took off his balls with a 12-gauge. Whoever did it let him crawl across his rug and then took off the top of his head.”

“Guess that’s what happens when you botch the murder of a bunch of thugs. Saves going to court.”

After Connie hung up, Dallas looked at her and said, “Well, at least Jack and Laura were in Victoria when the murder happened.”

“Yeah … hell of a good alibi, isn’t it?”

Epilogue

1. June 11, 2008 — The prime minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, on behalf of the government of Canada, made a Statement of Apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools.

Further details are available at:

www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/rqpi/apo/index-eng.asp.

2. Faith’s prognosis looks good and she has remained cancer-free for five years. Her brother, Noah, is progressing on an emotional level with continued support from a psychologist who specializes in cases of sexual abuse.

3. December 13 — Jack and Natasha made an announcement. It’s a boy!

chapter one