The Guardian

need me, I’ll be watching, I’ll know and I’ll come to help you. That man in there will never bother you again. I promise.”
    With tears in her eyes, she hugged him around the neck for one last time, softly crying said, “Thank you, I love you.”
    At that, the Guardian stood up, placing his hand on the young boys face, “that goes for you too little guy.” He turned around and left.
    He made one last check through the house. Everything was quiet. He stood over the man, looking down he said, “I told you it was only a matter of time.”
    The sun would be coming up very quickly. He checked to make sure that there were no cars coming from any direction. He checked for joggers and early risers walking their dogs and silently and invisibly made it back to his bike.
    He stowed the bag and slowly drove off. He was just another rider, someone leaving for work.
    As he drove off, the man’s wife was coming around. She put her hand to her temple. Her head was throbbing. What had happened?
    Suddenly remembering, thinking of the children, she jumped out of bed. She ran down the hallway, “Melissa, Tommy” she was yelling.
    The two children came out of their bedroom. She ran to them, hugging them. “Are you okay, let me see?” She was turning them, feeling their arms, their legs, looking for any damage.
    Melissa still had the bruises from earlier that her husband had given her. She looked at her little girl and started to cry, hugging her tightly. “Oh my baby, I’m so sorry, I’m so, so sorry.”
    All at once she remembered the man. Panicking she shoved the kids back into the bedroom. “Stay here” she said as she ran out.
    As she started through the house, she almost fell over her husband. He was lying in the middle of the floor, all beaten and bloody, unable to move. He lay there in the same manner as he had left the little girl.
    The woman bent over and picked up one of the 1X3’s. She began beating him. Repeatedly, sobbing uncontrollably she beat him. She had never had such a feeling in a very, very long time. This was a feeling of release, letting go all the anger and hate spilling out of her in floods. This was the last time this man was ever going to abuse her or her kids again. She would make sure of it. She didn’t care what the cost.
    Chapter 24
    The next morning Halloway was talking to Capt. Gregory. He filled him in on the past events.
    “So, you think these cases are linked or what?” Gregory wanted to know.
    “I don’t have anything concrete, but yes it seems that way.” Halloway proceeded to explain his theory to the Captain.
    “Both of our victims have in one way or another abused children or their families. They’ve both been through the court system. They had charges brought against them. The charges have been dropped and they’ve been allowed to continue to go about business as usual.”
    “I agree that there does seem to be a connection. What’s the status on little girl? Did we get anything back from Child Services yet?”
    Halloway didn’t really know where to begin there. “Supposedly, the mother had run out of excuses to the people at school, friends, whoever about the bruises on herself and the kids.
    “One of her friends had called it in and we had an officer go out. They saw evidence of abuse on the child and some residual evidence on the woman.
    “So they took him in. It went to court. Unfortunately, neither the woman nor the child would verify once they got to court. Therefore, they let him go.
    “The next day, the guy’s lying on his floor, stapled down with the shit beat out of him. End of story.”
    Gregory wasn’t satisfied. “Are there going to be new charges? You said the girl had new bruises right?”
    “We can only hope. It’s up to the woman and unless Child Services investigates. The mother and the child have to be willing to come forth with testimony and be willing to push charges.
    “The woman was interviewed and she has stated that she will cooperate as much as possible.” Hallway told Gregory.
    “Okay. I can’t say that these sick bastards don’t deserve what their getting, but we are here to uphold the law. We can’t have vigilante’s going around taking matters into their own hands now can we?”
    “No Sir, that’s my thought exactly.” Halloway said.
    He left the Captain’s office feeling helpless. Not one single lead on who this guy was. Nothing, it was almost like he didn’t even exist. Then, bam, there he was. He was only