“Hello Jacqui…” the voice greeted her. Jacqui wheeled around in fright, her heart pounding wildly. The figure stood slowly and made its way to the light switch. “Uncle Max…? What…where…oh my God you scared me to death…” Jacqui stammered. She wanted to run to him and hug him. He was a familiar figure. A comforting presence. Someone she had known since she was a child. But suddenly, anger replaced the joy she felt in seeing Uncle Max again.

“What are you doing here?” she asked icily. “I came to see how you were doing,” Uncle Max replied with calmness, so typical of the way Jacqui remembered him. “You came to see how I…?” Jacqui repeated as her anger turned to fury. “You didn’t even come to their funeral. You were my dad’s best friend. How could you do that? I called so many times but your phone was disconnected,” Jacqui wailed. Tears of anger and frustration welled up in her eyes. “I couldn’t, Jacqui…I couldn’t afford for the Police and the FBI to make the connection,” Uncle Max explained.

“Connection…? What are you talking about?” Jacqui demanded in an accusing voice. Uncle Max drew a deep breath and replied, “Jac, there are a lot of things you don’t know. But believe me when I say that staying away… not saying goodbye for the last time…that was the hardest thing I ever did.” Jacqui saw Uncle Max struggling to keep his emotions in check. Suddenly all the pent-up tears came rushing out. The intensity caught Jacqui by surprise and knocked the air out of her. Jacqui swayed as Uncle Max reached out to catch her. He held her tenderly as her silent tears gave way to heavy sobs which still did not manage to ease the pain that racked her heart. Incoherent words spewed from her lips as she relived the incident.

“It was frightening… I was in my room when I heard dad pleading to spare my mom… He was using his body to shield her. Mom was crying hysterically… struggling to get in front of my dad as if to shield him,” Jacqui’s voice cracked as she remembered. Then she continued, “The man had the gun pointed at his head… the gunshot was so silent. I didn’t even realize he had fired. At first I thought it was my dad that got hit. But then I saw my mom topple over as dad screamed.” A fresh wave of sobs made her voice incoherent. But Jacqui couldn’t stop.

“Dad cradled my mom as she lay on the floor with a surprised look on her face. Then she reached out and touched dad’s face. Dad just kept saying no…no…no…The killer did it on purpose, Uncle Max. He wanted my dad to see him murder my mom. And then…and then… Danny appeared from the kitchen. He still held a spoon in his hand. He was eating cereal. Uncle Max, I didn’t even know my brother was home. I thought he was still in school. But he must have gotten sick and mom made him stay home. Then the man wheeled around and shot him too. He was just a kid…he was just a little boy.”

The old man’s shirt was drenched with her tears as the memory sent shockwaves of pain, remembering the bloody slaughter. Then Jacqui continued on, “My dad screamed with rage. Then he tried to grab the gun away. The man shot him in the head. He didn’t even see me crouching behind the door. I wanted to scream for help, but I was frozen with terror. I couldn’t move. Everything happened so fast. It felt like hours before I realized the man was gone. I crawled all the way to see them. There was blood everywhere. I didn’t know I was screaming until the neighbors came.”

Jacqui finally allowed months of pent up feeling to come out as she bawled and screeched her sorrow over the tragic murder of her family. Uncle Max held her gently, tenderly, allowing her tears to lighten the load she had carried all these months. After what seemed like an eternity, Jacqui’s heaves eventually settled into quiet sobs, and then to silent sniffles, until she just lay exhausted in his arms.

“It’s alright, baby girl, everything will be alright…” Uncle Max consoled her. Jacqui looked up and smiled into his face and said, “I’m glad you’re here now.” Uncle Max held her at arm’s length and said, “We need to talk, Jac. Can we do that? There are things you need to know. Go take a shower. Change your clothes and come with me. There’s an all-night café near the park where we can chat.”

Jacqui nodded her head in agreement. She entered the bathroom, took a quick shower, and came out with a towel wrapped around her body. She rummaged through her closet for some clean clothes. “Aren’t you going to give me some privacy while I change?” she asked. Uncle Max was relieved to hear the hint of amusement in her voice.

“I’ve changed your diapers since you were a baby. You’ve got nothing that I haven’t seen,” Uncle Max replied seriously. Jacqui smiled, took a pair of jeans and a light cashmere sweater and reentered the bathroom. In a couple of minutes she was out again, with her hair tied back into a ponytail. She was eager to hear what Uncle Max had to say. Maybe he had some ideas that could help the FBI and the Police. They had drawn a blank and the case had been shelved until a new lead could be found.

Uncle Max led the way out of her bedroom. Instead of going straight for the door, he walked into the living room and stood near the spot where her mom and dad and Danny died. He stood still except when he wiped away the tears from his eyes. And then he walked towards Jacqui and ushered her out the door. They strolled down two blocks and turned a corner where he approached a car that was parked by the sidewalk. Jacqui understood that he didn’t want the neighbors to see him. Suddenly she realized there was so much she did not know about Uncle Max. Dad said they were together in the military until both were discharged. But even her dad didn’t talk much about the past.

Uncle Max was a familiar figure that had come to visit through the years. A doting man they learned to call Uncle. He would stay for a couple of days here and there, and during those times, Jacqui remembered how happy his dad seemed to have him around. They would often talk in his study for hours. Her mom showered him with affection and treated him sweetly. Jacqui had always assumed he was a distant relative.

Still, Jacqui couldn’t remember any stories about where he lived or if Uncle Max had family somewhere. It dawned on Jacqui that Uncle Max was the closest person to a family that she had. The thought left her feeling sad, but somehow at ease. At least for now he was here.

 ***

 Jacqui stared incredulously at the old man seated in front of her. Two empty mugs of coffee and a plate of sandwiches were the only witnesses to everything Uncle Max had said. He spoke in a low voice, eyes alert and constantly looking around. He would stop whenever someone came within earshot.

Jacqui felt her head would explode. She was stunned. She didn’t know what to say. “I understand it’s a bit much to take in all at once…” the old man said, seeing the bewilderment on her face. “A bit much? How about me realizing I didn’t really know my dad after all these years. He was just…dad,” Jacqui replied still in denial.

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