Grace (10 page)

"Oh, well.” She looked at herself one last time in the mirror, then emerged through the door.

"I told you I have a bunch of things that would look great on you."

Felix, Frank, and two other detectives made similar comments.

"Cool it, guys. I can't believe I'm doing this,” Grace stated.

Felix stood in front of her now. “Are you sure you're okay with this, Grace? We could hold off a couple of days, gather more information, have Mary train you better..."

"You know better than I do that we have to move fast or Celina may suffer the same fate as the other victims,” Grace replied and they discussed the precautions they planned in order to protect both Grace and Mary.

They headed out of the store and toward Mary's car.

Tommy and Max waited in an unmarked police car across the street. Both peered through a pair of binoculars as the two females emerged along with the entourage of detectives.

Tommy whistled as Grace shyly and nervously tucked the red hair behind her ear.

"Damn, that Martin is hot. Redhead or brunette, I wouldn't care either way. How the hell did she get that outfit on?” Tommy asked as Max took in the view with a similar reaction.

"Remember, we have to stay undetected. The other detectives are staying put at the store. All Grace has is a radio in the car."

Max and Tommy followed far behind as Mary and Grace headed out of the parking lot.

"You worried about her, huh?” Tommy asked.

Max didn't reply right away, but he glanced toward his partner knowing Tommy was also his friend and could practically read his mind. That's what made them such a good team.

"Yeah, I am. I don't like that she isn't wearing a bug or that she has no backup whatsoever."

"It was the only way. Mary Chloe said they'll be frisked before they enter the club.” Max sighed.

"I thought you gave up on women,” Tommy teased.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, it doesn't look like that's true anymore. But I guess when a woman looks like her, who can resist?"

"I hope she can handle this. She's too ... classy for this.” Max knew how annoyed and angry he sounded.

"You don't think she can?"

"We're going to find out. The waiting is going to kill me tonight. Let's see if we can follow and at least be outside the club in case something goes wrong."

"You're taking a chance, Max. We could blow the whole thing just because you're worried about Grace."

"I'm not gonna blow anything. I just want to be sure this goes down right. We should have sent in one of our own people."

"Grace Martin has quite the reputation. She'll be fine."

Max couldn't shake his uneasy feeling.

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Mary and Grace made it through the three checks including being frisked. Thank God she didn't wear the wire. They were on their way to the club with their special invitation. At the final checkpoint, the guards demanded Grace be blindfolded to ensure the safety of the club location. Mary had been there before and was allowed entry. Grace was nervous and couldn't help the scared feeling.

"I could pull this up a bit, so I can see where we are."

"Don't!"

"Why not, there's no one here with us?"

"They're watching, Grace. They can see our every move. There are cameras everywhere."

Grace swallowed hard and kept the cover over her eyes. She had to trust Mary.

"My God, Mary, I feel like I'm some sort of secret agent, and we're working espionage. This is like some sort of off-the-wall spy movie. What's up with all the security, the hidden passwords and being frisked?” Grace smiled nervously while Mary parked the car in the underground garage.

"It's about fantasy, Grace. You're about to enter a different world. You have no idea. Oh, by the way, you should use a different name. Just in case."

Grace thought hard.

"It's better to be prepared, Grace, because with your looks and great body, there's bound to be someone who won't play by the unwritten rules."

"Won't you be with me most of the time?” Grace suddenly felt more nervous than she expected to be. Even though she was experienced in undercover work, this was intense. She always had backup. She couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.

"Not if we want to find out who Celina was with that night."

"Fine. I guess you can call me..."

"Jane!” Mary blurted as they exited the vet.

"Jane? Jane what?” Grace asked.

"Bond ... Jane Bond.” Mary smiled.

"You can't be serious?"

"You said you felt like some sort of spy. Go with the fantasy, Grace. Maybe you'll find out you have a deep, hidden dark side, a sexual fantasy you've kept hidden that's fighting to emerge."

"I don't think so, sidekick. This is definitely not my thing."

"Sidekick?"

"That would be your name tonight."

Mary laughed as they made their way through the parking garage jammed packed with cars. Grace held onto that attitude and toughness to fight her nerves.

They entered an elevator, making their way to the tenth floor. On the way up, Grace heard the music but couldn't make out the song.

As the doors opened, Grace had the shock of her life.

The club was actually the whole upper tenth floor of a high-rise. It was dark, except for the multicolored lights that flashed throughout the club. It was hard to make out faces unless they were right next to her.

There was so much to take in all at once as Mary led Grace to a large bar.

Billy was tending bar as Mary counted on, and the place was wall to wall with people.

Grace tried not to make eye contact with anyone and she felt completely on display as if she were a large side of beef at some meat market. Her thoughts were validated with rolls of tongues and disgusting remarks from strange men in odd get-ups.

Mary just pushed her way through the crowd holding Grace's hand. She appeared to be smirking at Grace's reaction. However, Grace did not find any of this humorous.

They stood near the end of the bar, Grace taking the corner spot to ensure her backside's safety. There were numerous places to stand, sit and dance while a small crowd gathered near a dark hallway.

Grace leaned closer to Mary. “What's down there?"

"You don't want to know."

"Sure I do. This is why I'm here."

"The peep show.” Grace stared at Mary while the small bit of info registered in Grace's head.

Mary whispered to Grace. “They're going through a long hallway to watch. There's all types of people out there, Jane, and some of them get off watching while others like to be watched."

Grace felt sick to her stomach.

"Find out what you can about Celina, and then let's get the hell out of here,” Grace told Mary.

Grace remained in one place. She watched the bartender, carefully hoping and praying she wasn't slipped something in her drink. She heard of this happening before and panic set in. She watched Mary do her thing, flirting with the bartender around the other side of the bar. She was good and obviously had a lot of practice at it.

"Hey, red, what's your pleasure?"

Grace swung her head around to the short guy dressed as if he just had a hard day at the office in some stuffy firm downtown. The nerve of him to approach her. Obviously, he didn't know the rules. Grace kept her cool recalling Mary's advice.

"Take a walk,” she told him firmly, then took another pretend sip of her wine, being sure not to make eye contact with him.

"What if I say no?"

Pretty gutsy for a short guy
. His head barely made it level with her chest.

She ignored him, then turned her back to him and faced the bar. Not surprisingly, Mary was no longer there. Grace tried to play it cool, keep in her role, but the twerp wouldn't leave.

When an arm went around her waist, she made a fist and prepared to let loose, but strong arms took hold of her, then a man stepped between the two of them.

The stranger was taller than Grace. She couldn't see his face since his back was toward her as he whispered to the shrimp who ran with his tail between his legs.

All Grace could see was black hair, the sides of a mask, and large stocky shoulders. He wore a tux, shiny black shoes and black gloves covered his hands. Slowly, he turned toward her. His eyes were dark and mesmerizing, his lips moist, seductive as he spoke to her.

"I'm sorry about that. It seems some people don't know the rules."

He spoke with a fake English accent, but she was more interested in his eyes. There was something familiar about them. She stayed silent, wondering where the hell Mary was and what terrible luck she was having.

First an elf, now a wannabe Zorro.

"What is your name?” he asked.

She stayed silent. She was supposed to be in control. Who was this guy?

"Maybe you don't know all the rules, either?"

He teased, then snapped his fingers and the bartender was immediately handing the masked man a drink.

"I am the Master. I know everyone who comes here. You are new, are you not?” The English accent was bold but weak on certain syllables. She was good at detecting fakes.

"Jane.” She assumed the man was some kind of master of the club. She didn't want to make a scene. Where the hell was Mary?

He leaned in closer to Grace and in half a second, she was pinned helplessly against the wall. His hands held her wrists tight, his body wedged up against hers. She didn't want to appear frightened or frantic, but his bold move was intimidating and scary.

He stared intently at her. Their gazes locked.

"Let go of me,” she demanded in a whisper.

His face was next to hers, his cologne strangely familiar. His stare held her own. “Jane does not suit you."

Grace tried to stay calm and waited for her chance to escape.

"You don't think so?” She tried to sound more confident and remain calm. What were the chances that assault or even rape weren't against the rules?

She swallowed hard, fully aware of her dry mouth and in need of something way stronger than the full glass of white wine that remained untouched on the bar.

"Too plain for such a seductive beauty as yourself.” The words rolled off his tongue, the exotic music played, the lights flashed red, blue, then green, and she was somewhat eager to challenge the masked man.

He was frightening, spooky, and wicked. She sensed the evil within him. She tried to make light of the current situation. It was an attempt to still feel somewhat in control even though she knew better. This was bad.

"It's Bond. Jane Bond,” she whispered back at him, then smiled. Her voice held steady but she was losing it.

As he stared deeper into her eyes, she closed her mouth. He again moved his lips closer to Grace's, but there was no contact. He inhaled her perfume, then his lips lingered above her neck before moving to her ear and he whispered, “A more suitable name for you would be Goddess, perfection ... Grace."

She nearly fainted. She was certain her eyes revealed her fear, shock, and surprise.
How does he know my name?

"Who are you?” she asked, her voice shaking now despite the control she tried to maintain.

"The Master,” he replied, then gently released his hold but brought her hand to his lips. He softly kissed her hand and released it.

"I have business to attend to, but I'm glad to have met you."

He walked away through the crowd, and she stood speechless, wondering who he was.

She rubbed her sore wrists.

"Jane ... holy shit, are you all right? We've got to get you out of here.” Mary pulled Grace along with her.

They were headed toward the elevator.

"Who the hell was that?” Grace asked, but Mary refused to comment.

Out of the club, they walked through the garage.

"Who was that guy, Mary? Tell me.” Grace could hear the demanding tone in her voice and knew the shaking had nothing to do with the cold night air.

"Shhhhh.” Mary looked over her shoulder, glancing around the parking lot.

Grace did the same and wondered if Mary thought someone followed them. They got into the car and carefully exited a different way.

In silence, Mary drove a few blocks, continually checking the rearview mirror. Grace looked behind them. No one followed.

Mary was acting paranoid, scared. They were silent until Mary pulled up to Grace's car by The Cave.

"We shouldn't have gone there tonight. This is bad.” Mary put the car in park.

"What is it, Mary? What did you find out?” Grace asked.

"I put us both in jeopardy tonight, Grace. I need to think things through."

"No, you need to talk to me. Tell me what you found out."

"Don't call the detectives. Don't tell them anything yet. They know who I am and they can follow you and find out who you are."

Confused, Grace had no idea what Mary meant, even though she recognized Mary was babbling.

"Who will know? What are you so afraid of?"

"That man who approached you, held you like that ... he's the Master."

"So who gives a shit? I'm not going back there ever again."

"If he doesn't know who you are already, then he will find out. He has connections."

Grace was silent. She didn't dare tell Mary that the freak called her by name.

"So what?” Grace replied, still not understanding Mary's concern.

"What are you not telling me, Mary?"

Mary stayed silent a minute, then Grace's cell phone rang. She answered it.

"Where the hell are you?” Max yelled into the phone.

"We're at...” Grace halted as she looked at Mary. There was good reason for Mary's concern, Grace could see it in the other woman's eyes.

"I'm in my car. Everything's fine. We left the club, and I'm on my way home. No, there's nothing to tell right now. I'm tired, Lieutenant, I'll call you tomorrow.” Grace hung up the phone.

Mary was pale and her hands shook. “Thanks, Grace."

"Don't thank me, just level with me, Mary. What is going on?"