Grace (20 page)

Max remained standing as he watched his facial expression. Something major was on the other man's mind. He was different today, quiet, and Max had the feeling it had something to do with Grace.

Nicholas leaned against his desk and looked at Max. “I'm worried about Gracy. Tell me if I'm wrong, but I think you're just as worried."

"You're not wrong, Nicholas. I am worried. I care about your niece."

"She's more than that. She's more like my daughter than my niece."

"That's understandable. She said you raised her since she was nine and that her parents were killed."

Her uncle looked surprised Gracy had shared that much with Max.

"She wants to see this guy put behind bars. She's willing to risk her safety to do it."

"I can understand that, not that I like it one bit, but I understand it. If her parents were murdered, then she wouldn't want other families to suffer or go through what you all did."

"There's a bit more to it than that, Max. Gracy didn't tell you everything. I hope she won't be mad at me for telling you what happened, but I feel you need to know.

"She's stubborn and used to going solo. To Gracy, this case is more than just some psychopath running an illegal slave business. Gracy thinks he's responsible for Jessy's murder and that he's still holding Celina against her will."

"How could she know that? Celina could be dead. We don't know anything about this guy, not a profile or a hint of how big this investigation is."

"Gracy has a bit of a talent for it. I need to tell you this in order for you to understand Gracy and to help her. You may be the only one who can get through to her."

When Nicholas told Max about the killer's profile as described earlier by Grace, Max was impressed. Then Nicholas told Max about Grace's past.

Nicholas told Max about that fateful December night two weeks before Christmas and a very brave nine-year-old little girl.

The doorbell rang and Grace panicked, then stopped herself from acting so foolishly. The Master wouldn't just come knocking at her front door.

Christmas was a mere two weeks away and Grace had to do most of her shopping online. It was probably another delivery.

She looked through the peephole and saw a messenger with a large yellow envelope.

After she grabbed a few dollars from her purse, she opened the door.

"Grace Martin?” the young blonde asked as he held his winter coat tight around him.

"Yes."

"Sign here, please."

Once Grace signed, she gave the kid a tip, then looked at the envelope. There was no return address.

"Hey, who is this from?” she asked.

"They don't tell me. The person probably left it at dispatch. Thanks for the tip, lady."

Grace smiled and quickly closed the door, trying to block out the chill. Then she relocked the door and headed to the kitchen.

She was about to open the envelope when the doorbell rang again, so she went back to the door, peeked through the peephole and saw Max.

Her heart leaped.

She opened the door to greet him but his face looked somber. He entered, then closed and locked the door behind him.

"Who was that?"

"A messenger. He delivered an envelope. I was just about to open it. Are you okay? You look upset. Did something happen?” Grace asked, immediately afraid one of the women turned up dead.

"I needed to see you. To hold you,” he whispered, pulling her into an embrace.

Grace needed him just as badly.

Understanding his torment, she replied, “It's okay, Max. Don't feel bad about investigating me. I have to confess ... I did the same with you. It's no big deal."

Max smiled. She stepped back and Max removed his coat.

"So what's in the envelope?” he asked.

Grace picked it up off the counter to open it. She undid the seal and pulled out a card first. There was another smaller yellow envelope inside.

On the front of the card, the words
Happy Anniversary
stood out in bold letters. Grace's heart sank. She was suddenly filled with fear. The tears came from nowhere and ran down her cheeks.

"What is it, Grace?” Max put his arms around her to look at the card.

"Who would send this to me? Who would be so cruel?” Her voice cracked.

Max pulled the card from her hands. Inside was a copy of a newspaper article that stated, “
Local cop and wife murdered, nine year old daughter only witness, kidnapped
."

Grace removed the smaller yellow envelope next.

Inside was a picture, an actual photograph of her parents and Grace as a child.

She grabbed the counter before she fell. Max took the picture as she sobbed.

"That son of a bitch.” Max then pulled Grace into his arms.

Grace cried while Max held her.

Finally, he assisted her to the sofa in the living room where he caressed her hair and tried to comfort her. He called it in to the department and sent Tommy to the messenger dispatch location. Even though they knew the envelope more than likely wouldn't contain any prints, a patrol officer stopped by fifteen minutes later to deliver the evidence to the lab.

Grace kept her eyes closed as she sat on the sofa. Max was talking on the phone.

The doorbell rang and he answered it. Immediately, Uncle Nicholas made his way to the living room.

Grace rose from the couch as Uncle Nicholas pulled her into his arms.

"My God, Gracy, I saw what he sent you.” Her uncle continued to hold her tight.

Grace sat back down on the couch while Nicholas and Max discussed the situation.

"You're not staying here. Pack some things,” Uncle Nicholas demanded.

"He's not forcing me from my home. I won't leave.” Grace stood up from the couch.

"You can't be serious, Gracy. Staying here alone is out of the question."

Max moved toward Grace and took her hands into his. He pulled one palm to his lips and kissed it soft. They stared into one another's eyes.

"I'll stay here with her. I'll pick up some more stuff tomorrow. I've got a change of clothes and some other things out in the truck."

After Max kissed Grace on the cheek, he walked out of the room before she could argue.

Nicholas looked at Grace as she watched Max head outside to his truck.

"So when were you planning on telling me about this?” Uncle Nicholas smiled at Grace.

"Like you didn't know already?” Grace responded sarcastically and he laughed.

"He's a good man, Grace. Don't push him away."

"I know."

"I'm worried, Gracy. I can't help it. I want to take you off this case."

Grace rose from the couch. “No way!"

"This is beyond the job requirements."

"I can handle this and you know it."

Grace glanced at Max as he re-entered the room, leaned against the island in the kitchen. He didn't interfere with the conversation. Grace eyed him a second, then paced the room.

"Look at yourself, Grace. You're angry. You want revenge and this guy knows your past. He knows your weaknesses."

Grace swung around to face Uncle Nicholas. “I don't give a shit what he knows. I am not backing out of this case, and you're not taking me off of it. He wants to come after me. Let him."

"You're not thinking clearly and that's what nearly cost you your life in Vegas Metro."

Grace's mouth dropped. No matter how many times her uncle heard the story or how the Vegas brass accommodated her actions, her uncle could only see one conclusion, Grace nearly lost her life a second time.

"I did what I had to do then and will do exactly what I have to do now to catch this killer."

Grace glanced back at Max again, knowing that he probably wondered what her uncle was talking about. Uncle Nicholas was acting like a father would and should be acting. Grace understood that.

Grace let out a long sigh then walked closer to her uncle.

"I love you. You're not just my uncle. You're my father and that's exactly where the worry and concern you have is stemming from. What happened back in Vegas was intense, but I survived and so did my partner. You of all people know how dangerous our job is. Let me continue with the investigation. I need this and I know I can get this guy."

He placed his hand gently against Grace's cheek.

"God, you sound like your father. Carl didn't give up on any of his cases, but he knew he wasn't invincible, Grace. Continuing with this case, feeling invincible and wanting revenge could be deadly."

"I never said I was invincible. My mission is clear and has been from the start. This monster has to be stopped and I will stop him."

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May had the opportunity to accompany the famous reporter Silvia Light, a well-known journalist for the County Newspaper, to an interview of a high-ranking businessman in regards to some charity work he had organized. The end result was a massive increase in funding for a runaway teens organization that assisted inner city kids and helped them to stay in school, find jobs, and live in safe, clean environments. The man, Mr. Marquette, an attorney, was meeting them at his office. It would be a major experience for May. She was nervous, excited, and eager to see firsthand how a professional journalist conducted an interview.

"Now I will introduce you, May, but please let me ask all the questions. Then if Mr. Marquette doesn't mind, I will allow you to ask a few of your own. How does that sound?"

"Oh, my gosh, Miss Light, that would be amazing. Really?” May asked, now even more nervous but very enthusiastic.

"I'm serious. Now pay close attention and you'll learn a few things."

May followed Silvia as Mr. Marquette was introduced to them.

He was a strikingly handsome man and May thought he could be a model despite his older age. Tall, he had dark brown hair and deep green eyes.

She immediately had butterflies in her stomach at the sight of him. She felt herself blush and Mr. Marquette smiled. She noticed the dirty look she received from Silvia.

Silvia conducted the interview and May paid close attention to the line of questioning as well as the glances she received from Mr. Marquette. Self-consciously, May straightened her black wool skirt and clasped her hands in front of her on her lap.

Due to the cleavage now showing, she regretted wearing the deep purple blouse. As she nonchalantly pulled on it, Mr. Marquette watched her every move.

Just as Silvia was about to end the interview, Mr. Marquette directed his full attention toward May. “So, May, you're interested in journalism? What year are you in?” he asked and Silvia turned sideways in her chair re-crossing her legs and allowing her short skirt to reveal a bit too much thigh. With his attention solely on May, Mr. Marquette didn't even seem to notice.

"I'm a senior and doing my internship with the County Newspaper. Silvia was kind enough to let me tag along and observe this interview."

"That's fantastic. Do you have any questions for me?” He still didn't look at Silvia.

May asked a couple of questions that Mr. Marquette complimented her on and fully answered. Then Silvia abruptly ended the interview. Mr. Marquette rose from his chair and circled his desk, shaking hands with both May and Silvia.

May noticed he held her hand a bit longer than he had Silvia's, then winked at her. Smiling, she was fairly amused at the fact Mr. Marquette flirted with her.

Phillip wouldn't find it too amusing. He was the jealous type and she knew this would only make matters worse. She promised herself no one would hear a peep about it, except for her best friend.

May could only imagine what her future as a journalist would be. She was thrilled to think of the prospects and of all the interesting people she would meet. Human-interest stories interested her the most. Mr. Marquette had established quite a great organization to help troubled teens. She was not only impressed with his good looks but the fact he was wealthy and shared his wealth in providing assistance for those less fortunate in the community he lived in. That was impressive.

May left the building with Silvia who now seemed to stare back at May with daggers in her eyes.

May needed to deal with this internship and the pleasant personality of Ms. Silvia Light.

As Mr. Marquette picked up the phone on his desk, his thoughts were still on the gorgeous, young blonde just in his office. He had finally found the perfect one.

He waited with anticipation for the Master to pick up.

"Who is this?"

"I need to speak with the Master. I'm um ... ready to place an order,” Marquette stated.

"Who sent you?"

"Bradley."

"You understand how this works? You have a safe hiding place?"

Marquette had thought about this for a long time. He had everything planned out and his wife would be clueless. Right now, she was hysterical over their daughter's disappearance and really he didn't give a shit either way. Celina wasn't his, although his wife tried to pretend she was. The slut cheated on him at her bachelorette party. The whore!

"Yeah, I'm all set. I can have the cash ready immediately. Where do you want to meet?"

"Let's go over a few details first."

Twenty minutes later, Mr. Marquette hung up the phone. He was so excited. He couldn't wait. Just two days and she would be delivered to him.

He thought about all the wonderful plans he had in store for her. The blonde, so young and attractive. He nearly came in his pants when her blouse moved to the side revealing a bit too much cleavage. Then she was shy and blushed as she tried to hide it.

She was definitely a good girl, not some sleazy, ugly slut like his wife.

He should have divorced her ass as soon as he found out about the baby and the cheating. But too much was at stake. At that time, he still needed her family's business connections.

With his own secret hideaway and personal sex slave, he could act out every sexual fantasy and desire he had ever dreamed of.

Fuck my bitch of a wife. What good is she now? Never in the mood, never wanting to try something different in bed.