The Walkers’ family ‘quality time’ continued… in the living room with ‘Choccy Biccy’ snacks while watching telly. Caroline was lying on the couch, with Paul in his wheelchair – and Peter was in his favourite spot, his father’s armchair.

They were all laughing at an episode of ‘Supernatural’ – where the brothers Sam and Dean… were ‘schooling’ the son of Lucifer, named Jack… to be good.

It was 10:03PM when Paul’s cellphone rang, and Peter shushed… Paul rolled his chair away, before answering.

“Paul, it’s me Robin, Alicia’s mother – is-Alicia with you…?”

“No ma’am, she is ‘not’... have you tried calling Jane, Ali always hang out, around with her?”

“Yes, Jane-gave me your number – she too told me, that Alicia is ‘not’ there with her… I’m so worried…”

“Have you tried calling her other-music class ‘friends?” The equally worried Paul asked.

“Yes, I have tried them too… but she is ‘not’ with any of her friends that-know of – and her bike-helmet is here… but HER BIKE IS ‘NOT.’ Where would have she ‘gone’ at this hour?”

Peter eavesdropped to his twin’s ‘one-sided’ concerned conversation. He PRETENDED TO get ‘angry’ at the noise level’… and said to Caroline…

“This is why I subscribe to Netflix – and WATCH MY GOOD SHOWS, peacefully-in my own privacy.”

The one-armed boy approached her, and pecked a ‘Judas-kiss’ on her cheek, and winked.

“G’night Mom – no-heart feelings, earlier ya…”

… Peter walked up the stairs – smiling to himself, that HIS ‘ALIBI’ OF FAMILY QUALITY TIME was over, for the evening…

<> 

BEHIND THE CLOSED ROOM DOOR, Peter heard his mother’s ‘voice’ talking on the Poe’s phone.

‘… go on Mom, put on your cape and fly… out there to solve your crime-fighting business, and get us-some over time, while you are at it.’

… Peter walked him tennis rack, with 8 racquets in a row – and he picked up his Bobolat, still in its zip-bag. The one-armed boy unzipped, and pulled out his ‘weapon of choice.”

He took a bottle of cleaning alcohol and rag…

… he noticed bloodstains at the racquet’s rim, with a couple of Alicia’s hair-strains – he had his sly, evil wide-grin back…

The one-armed mocked himself as a Chinese-martial-arts swordsman…

… as he swung his Babolat around and KICKING THE AIR while shrieking Bruce Lee’s war-cries…

<><> 

IT WAS OVER 10 HOURS… BEFORE ALICIA was discovered… still unconscious in the ditch, that morning by joggers. The police and an ambulance arrived-at the crime-scene.

That afternoon, Caroline drove her son, Paul to the hospital. At the parking lot, they met a Blue Mazda SUV and – they waved at Shelley Wilson, who also drove her-daughter Jane, to visit the admitted Alicia.

Both the mothers ferried their handicapped children… to the emergency wards. Paul saw Jane walking ahead, with her AI shades, hiding her tears behind.

They-then saw a lot of Asians gathering outside a wardroom corridor. A sombre, Cousin Lily Wang was there to, greet them…

“Dr Wilson… Insp Walker… please go in.”

Lily led-the Caucasian visitors… into a small single ward-room, with other visiting relatives inside…

… Lily said in a low tone…

“She-was attacked last night, with a single blow to the head – and now Alicia-is in a coma.”

The anxious Paul saw a seated Robin in tears when he wheeled his chair forward – and to see ‘his’ Alicia-laid comatose… on the bed, head bandaged and on IV drips.

Openly, the devastated Paul wailed aloud, crying-out...

“O’ My God, my Alicia – ‘WHO’ COULD HAVE DONE this to you?”

His-head was down on Alicia’s bed, as he wept-hot tears. Both Robin and blind-Jane hugged his back, to console him.

And, everyone who was present there, sobbed…