I was unconscious for what seem like hours, but was only minutes, opening my eyes or at least trying to, blood from a cut on my head was filling my eye sockets, sitting up I could just make out the car, I lent against it, pulling a clean cloth from my pocket I wiped my eyes, the blood stung my eyes.<br/><br/>"What hit me?" I asked, the a soft voice answered, "I don't know Max, you okay?" I wiped my eyes again, "of course I'm okay," I answered angrily, "anyway what you still doing here? I thought you wanted to be alone?" I opened the door of the car while still leaning against the bodywork, grabbing a bottle of water that was in the side pocket, I poured it on the cloth and wiped my brow.<br/><br/>I felt a nasty gash on my forehead, not one made by a bullet but maybe a stone thrown up from a car wheel. Holding the wet cloth against the gash, I tried to stand, immediately sitting again, it must have hit me hard, feeling my chest as I remembered the burning sensation I had before blacking out, but nothing, it must of been the shock of being hit on the head, I don't know? I am no doc after all.<br/><br/>Again I tried to stand, this time I made it, a little unsteady but at least I was on my feet, looking at Jennifer, I could see the upset in her eyes, "Jennifer honey, you are one smart kid, you have to be to have survived this long on your own, but I am here to help you, nothing more, yet you have lied to me, don't deny it because I know you have," I looked at her reaction, her body language gave her away, "I know these thugs are after you, How? Let's just say cop instinct, why? I don't know, if you want to tell me then go ahead, if not, that's okay also,"<br/><br/>Adjusting my stance to sit on the driver's seat, "If you want to be alone, then I will drop you at the next town, we say our good-byes and go our separate ways, otherwise you shut up saying you want to be alone and you accept my company and we get through this together.<br/><br/>Looking at Jennifer, her head bowed, I could tell she had some hard secrets, she wasn't no more 16 than I was, maybe mid 20's, it was then I started to remember a case of some kid disappearing a few years ago, brunette, blue eyes, I saw the case floating around the department, apparently she was the daughter of some important politician, she was aged about 15 at the time, she was kidnapped, yeah it all made sense, the age was right, the girl looked a lot like the e-fit even from way back then.<br/><br/>Once a cop always a cop.