Grace (23 page)

Luther Sanchez was the name on file in the police department records. From three years ago. Tommy and the other detectives were only able to find a garage he used to work at as of a year ago. Exactly twelve months ago, Luther received his last paycheck.

Grace's cell phone rang and she was grateful it was one of her informants. To save her sister's life, she would do anything, illegal or not.

"You owe me big time, Vegas, and I mean big time,” the Cajun said, and then began laughing in his deep, raspy voice.

The Cajun was resourceful and knew just about everything that happened on the streets concerning the criminal element. If he didn't know, he could find out. The tougher and more secretive the information, the higher the price was, either in money or other things he felt were of value.

"Tell me what you got and if it's good enough, I'll double your pay,” Grace replied. The Cajun couldn't talk fast enough.

Grace wrote down the address, number and description of the hideout location.

Just as Grace closed the phone and stood from her desk, Max and Tommy entered.

"I got him! Here's the address where Luther Sanchez, Ramos, Holiday, blah, blah, blah is hiding out. This shit head has so many aliases, it's not funny. But he's here."

Max walked closer to Grace, appearing shocked she was able to find anything so huge.

"Holy shit, Grace, how the hell did—"

Grace put up her hand. “Don't ask."

Tommy and Max eyed her suspiciously.

"Tommy, get directions to this place."

"I know where it is, Max. I'll show you guys. We'll have to move in slowly, so we don't spook him into running..."

"You're not going anywhere,” Max said.

"What?"

"I can't risk you getting hurt. You'll be safe here and besides, your uncle needs you."

"My uncle can handle things here. I want to be there when you find May."

"You know better than I do that May won't be with Luther. As you said days ago, Luther is the lightweight, the one the Master uses to abduct the women. Now we need to bring Luther in and see if we can get him to talk. Tell us who the Master really is."

"I'll get him to talk. Let me at him first. You'll really be impressed.” Grace had her fists at her sides.

Max moved closer and held Grace by the shoulders. “You did great, baby, but if we want this to stick, have Luther and the Master go away forever then we need to follow protocol. You don't want some lawyer coming in destroying our evidence claiming illegal police procedures. Stay here."

Grace understood what Max said. She could respect that even though she didn't like it. But she wouldn't be the reason why charges against Luther and the Master wouldn't stick. She took a deep breath.

"You're right. Be careful and bring him in, alive."

Max smiled. He glanced behind to be sure no one would see, then he kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Remind me never to mess with you.” He smiled.

Grace smiled back and Max left the room.

Grace walked down the hallway to her uncle's office. Uncle Nicholas was staring out the window and running his fingers through his hair.

"Hey.” Grace spoke softly as she opened the door, entered the office and closed it behind her.

When he turned around, he looked more worried and scared than she had ever seen him before. “Hi, sweetheart. Good work on tracking down Luther.” He walked by his desk and leaned against the front of it.

"This waiting is killing me,” Grace replied and his facial expression remained the same.

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine. I just want May back safe and sound."

"I just can't believe this is happening."

"I'm sorry he went after her. If it could be me instead—"

Uncle Nicholas cut her off, moving closer and pulling her into an embrace. “No, no, no. Don't say such a thing. We'll find her and bring her home safe. Everything is going to be fine."

Just then, they heard a knock at the door. Phillip stood there looking just as worried and upset. Grace and Uncle Nicholas said hello to Phillip and she hugged him.

"I heard about Luther, but Lieutenant Mathews wouldn't let me tag along."

"It's better that way, son. The three of us would only want to wring Luther's neck. Let Max and the others handle this,” he told Phillip.

"I just heard some disturbing news from one of the detectives. He said that when he was questioning May's friend, she said Mr. Marquette was hitting on May during that interview she went on a few days ago. They want to go question him,” Phillip said.

"Celina's father?” Grace was shocked.

"Yeah. They're on their way."

She headed toward the door.

"Grace, stay out of it!” her uncle yelled after her.

"I can't. I have a right to be there. It's my job to find Celina.” Grace headed toward the other office, grabbed her purse and was at the door about to leave.

"Where are you going, Grace?” Tommy asked.

"I have to make a house call,” Grace replied, heading out of the office.

Half an hour later, Max dragged Luther through the office to an interrogation room.

"Put him in Room Two and watch him,” Max commanded one of the detectives.

"So that's the slime ball?” Tommy asked.

"Yep. Where's Gracy?” Max asked.

"She went to the Marquettes."

"What? Alone?"

"She's fine. I called ahead, gave the detectives the heads up. Apparently, May's friend said that Mr. Marquette was hitting on May at an interview a few days ago. I'm waiting on an update."

"Holy crap. Do you think that sick bastard is our guy?” Max asked.

"Either that or he was a client placing an order for May,” Tommy replied and Max's cell phone rang.

"Put out an APB on him and start searching. Have his wife continue to call his cell phone. I'll have Tommy work on getting a search warrant to retrieve Mr. Marquette's home, office, and cell phone records."

Max ended the call.

"I heard, boss. I'm on it.” Tommy quickly headed toward his desk.

Grace was disgusted. After everything she had done for the Marquettes, it turned out that somehow Mr. Marquette was involved.

If he hurt May, she would kill him with her bare hands and suffer the consequences later.

Just then, Grace's cell rang, interrupting her plans to become a vigilante. She answered the phone.

"What do you think you're doing?” Max asked.

Grace smiled. “When you just called? I was actually contemplating becoming a vigilante. Other than that, I'm at my wit's end. Please tell me you have something more for me to work on."

"You shouldn't be out there alone. We can't find Mr. Marquette and we still don't know who the Master is. Your uncle said for you to head to your aunt Delores’ house. Your aunt Leeann is there and he thought maybe you could stay with her for a while."

"Definitely. I'm on my way there now. Keep me updated, please?"

"You know I will, baby. We're close, I can feel it,” Max stated before hanging up the phone.

"I won't do it! Don't involve me. I can't believe it's you ... I...."

"Oh, Mother.... You will do as I say or the police will receive an anonymous call about your involvement in your own brother's murder."

Delores gasped in horror. Tears filled her eyes. Her body began to shake, and she fell into the leather chair behind the mahogany desk.

"Hm, hm, hm."

The low, wicked laugh filled her ears, and she covered her mouth with her hand.

"Speechless, Mother?"

"I don't know what you are talking about and I don't care to be threatened."

"I don't give a shit. You do know what I am talking about. Asking for ransom money for your poor little niece. The one your brother didn't leave to you in his will? Very clever."

"I deserved that money and would have needed it to support Gracy. She's special."

"Don't I know it. Now she's mine. I want her. You will do as I say or everyone will know what you did. They'll find out how you contacted Grace's father's killer, made a plan to split the money."

"Then I will tell them all about you ... my bastard son!” Delores yelled into the receiver.

"What about the trust fund, Mother? The one Grace's grandfather left to her. The one you've been using over the years to support your spending habits. Think of Grace as a payoff. You're good at that. She's my little souvenir and the last thing you'll ever owe me."

"I've more than paid my dues with you. Your education, your clothes, food for your family."

"What family? While you continued your prominent life with the rich and famous, I lived in the suburbs. The woman who raised me was a maid, a professional servant to someone like you."

Delores thought about Esther, the kind maid she and her mother paid off to raise her illegitimate child in order to secure a prominent future so two wealthy and powerful families could merge.

Delores and Ted's marriage had a foundation based on business instead of love. What did they have to show for it thirty-five years later? Now they slept in separate bedrooms, had separate lives, separate friends and were only together on business-related occasions.

Money healed her, kept her going, kept her in this lifestyle.

"Did you hear me, Mother?"

"I have to go."

"Not so fast. You'll do as I say and your secrets will remain secrets. Perhaps if I offer you money, my proposal would be more appealing?” He laughed again, low and deep and Delores cringed.

In her mind, she wondered how much he would offer.

"Be ready.” He hung up the phone.

Delores placed the phone down on its base, then ran her fingers through her hair. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror that hung to the right side of the desk. It was full-length and an obvious sign of her husband's narcissism.

She looked old, tired, worn out. The thought of going to prison at her age made her contemplate suicide. She could kill herself right now and no one would know why. She wouldn't be an accessory to an old murder or a new one for that matter, and more importantly, she would finally sever the strings to her bastard son. He was evil, living a vulgar lifestyle, selling off women as sex slaves, killing them once they were used up. He was heartless and deserved to die a miserable death.

Delores sat up straighter in the chair.

She pulled a legal writing pad from the desk drawer, then took a ballpoint pen and began to write.

Grace was at her aunt Delores’ explaining everything going on in the case and consoling Leeann. Grace couldn't help but feel responsible for what happened to May.

Then to make matters worse, Aunt Delores didn't seem to be taking things very well. White as a ghost, she looked like she would pass out at any moment.

The hours dragged, and Grace got Leeann to go to bed for awhile only after promising to wake her with any new updates no matter how small.

"Gracy ... I love you. You know that Nicholas and I love you.” Leeann had tears in her eyes.

"I love you, too. We're going to bring May home safe and sound. You'll have your daughter back.” Grace swallowed hard.

Leeann took Grace's hand.

"I know and my two daughters will be with their parents. We'll be a family again."

Grace embraced Leeann.

May slowly opened her eyes. She was tired and uncertain where she was. Then she recalled the events that took place earlier and being attacked in her car. Filled with panic, she glanced around the room. Her head felt heavy and the dizziness increased in a whirl as she brought her hand to her forehead. She realized she was lying on a bed just as she heard the voice.

"My little kitten has awoken."

May was shocked. “Mr. Marquette?"

He sat down beside her on the bed and as if in slow motion, she felt the bed dip down from his weight as she tried to focus on his face. She blinked her eyes numerous times in an attempt to clear her head and her vision. The fear and then anger that he was responsible for the attack filled her mind. What is he up to?

"Ahhh, I love the way you say my name. I think that is what I'll have you call me, my little kitten."

May wondered what the hell he was talking about.
Little kitten?

His hand touched hers, then he glided it along her forearm up to her shoulder.

She pulled away and his facial expression changed. He grabbed both her arms and leaned down closer to her body. He was a large man, thin but strong, and she felt bruises forming as his fingers dug deeper into her arms.

"Don't pull away from me. There are rules we have to establish."

"What rules? What are you talking about? Why are you doing this, Mr. Marquette?"

He smiled at her but still held her firmly. May was so scared, the dizziness and the weak feeling were diminishing with each touch and word spoken by Mr. Marquette.

In her mind, May planned her moves. “I'm sorry, I don't know what rules you're talking about."

He smiled, then softened his hold on her arms. May knew if she cooperated, he would probably let down his guard. She waited and listened to him as he spoke.

"Rule Number One, you always do as I command.” He let go of one arm and caressed her cheek with his right hand.

"Rule Number Two, always answer me with ‘Yes, sir.’ If you don't, you will be punished.” He leaned his face closer to May's with his lips nearly touching hers. She feared he would force himself on her before he got all the rules out. The look in his eyes was evil and scary. The fear of dying entered her mind.

"You are my prisoner, my ... sex slave,” he whispered, then kissed her lips.

Sex slave? Oh, my God! What the hell is he talking about?

The fear was enormous and May knew she needed to stop him. Swiftly, she wrapped her arm around his neck and simultaneously swung her leg over his waist. In one motion, she had him in a headlock, then on his knees on the floor beside the bed.

Mr. Marquette fought hard, but May was well trained. All the self-defense courses and private instructions made her ready. As he fought back, May used her skill and technique, landing blow after blow against her abductor.