Grace (24 page)

He was stronger, but she wanted to live. Fearfully, she scanned the room hoping for some kind of weapon. As he kicked and pushed his body weight against her own May grabbed the solid brass urn from the side table. Without so much as a second thought, she smashed it across his body and his head. Mr. Marquette slumped down to the floor.

"Take that ... sir!” she stated as her body shook profusely at what just occurred.

Grace tossed and turned in the guest room. There was no way she could sleep knowing her sister was out there, a prisoner to some insane pervert. Every time she closed her eyes, thoughts of her own experience combined with the case crime scene photos filled her vision. Finally, at three o'clock in the morning, Grace received a call from Max.

"Did you find her?” Grace asked, sounding exhausted.

"We found her, baby. We found your sister."

Grace released a sigh of relief, then began to cry.

"Where is she? Is she all right? Is Uncle Nicholas with her?"

"She's at the hospital. She's fine. Actually, she's more than fine. She fought Marquette hard, tied him up, and called 911 for assistance. We got the call and headed to the location. Forensics is going through the place right now."

"Do you think Marquette is the Master, the killer?"

"He claims he's innocent and that he was just in the market for a sexual partner, someone who shared similar fantasies to his."

"That sick bastard. Did he touch her? Did he hurt her at all?” Grace asked.

"He never got that far. Your sister is pretty tough."

"She's a cop's daughter, just like me. We've taught her well. I'm going to freshen up, then tell Leeann and Aunt Delores the news. My aunt isn't taking this whole situation very well. She's acting really strange. I keep catching her staring at me. Anyway, I'll be there soon."

"I sent a car to pick you up, that way I can take you home later."

"Sounds good. I'll go tell Leeann and catch up with you later."

Grace hung up the phone and fell back down onto the bed a moment. Her whole body was filled with relief.

She smiled and rose from the bed. She freshened up in the bathroom, then opened her bedroom door. The mansion was quiet, and for a second, it was almost eerie. She walked down the hallway. Leeann's room was just around the corner.

When Grace heard the floor squeak, she froze where she was. Someone was by the staircase.

Slowly, Grace made her way down the hallway and to the stairs but not before grabbing a large ceramic lamp from a long, narrow table in the hallway.

Grace tried to relax her breathing.
There's no way the killer could be here in my aunt's house. No way.

She was just about to confront the intruder. With her arms raised above her head holding the lamp high, she jumped in front of the staircase.

The loudest screech echoed and filled the air, banging off the walls and the cathedral ceilings.

Luckily, Grace never used her weapon. She identified the intruder as Aunt Delores before she could attack.

Aunt Delores grabbed the railing with one hand while her other hand lay flat against her chest. Gasping for air, she was still in shock. Grace immediately put down the lamp and assisted her aunt.

"I'm so sorry, Aunt Delores. I thought you were an intruder."

"Thank God you didn't hit me with that thing. It's an original and worth over one hundred thousand dollars.” Her aunt was still out of breath.

Grace laughed as she held her aunt around the waist and told her the good news.

"That's wonderful, Gracy.” Aunt Delores closed her eyes. Once again, it struck Grace how bad her aunt appeared.

"Aunt Delores, are you feeling all right? You look pale.” Grace held her close.

"I'm not feeling well at all. Can you help me to my room? I have to lie down and rest a while. I'm sorry I won't be able to go to the hospital with you. Give May my best, will you?"

"Don't worry, I will. You just rest. This has been very traumatic."

Grace walked Aunt Delores to her room. At first, she was afraid she may wake Uncle Ted, but then she remembered her aunt and uncle slept in separate rooms. That always disturbed May about their relationship.

Uncle Ted and Aunt Delores weren't very close and Grace recalled Uncle Nicholas stating that Carl's sister married for money, not for love. Grace helped her lie down on the bed.

"Should I take off your shoes or help you get undressed?” Grace asked.

"No, dear. I'll stay dressed and ready just in case."

Grace smiled.

Aunt Delores took her hand. “Be safe, Gracy. I love you like a daughter, you know that, right?” Aunt Delores began to cough. Grace instantly became worried. Her aunt wasn't that old. Could she be sick and not saying anything because of the current situation?

"Aunt Delores, are you well? Should I call a doctor?"

Aunt Delores smiled. “I'll be fine. Don't be silly. Now go tell your mother the news and give May a kiss for me."

Grace kissed her aunt on the forehead and made her way out of the bedroom. She was headed toward Leeann's room, still feeling concerned for her aunt. She would ask Leeann what to do.

Not focusing on anything around her, the intruder struck.

Powerless, Grace couldn't see a thing. Everything was black. Something was slipped over her head and face.

She pushed and kicked hard, causing her attacker to hit the hallway table and knock over something, shattering it, most probably her aunt's expensive lamp.

Strong arms wrapped around her body, lifting her in the air, and she realized she was being carried somewhere.

The crash was loud and would surely wake the other members of the household.

She tried to scream but nothing came out of her mouth. Her body felt weak and her mind dizzy.
The stairs.
She was being carried down the stairs.

In an instant, she was unconscious.

The mansion filled with police and detectives. Max and Tommy walked into Aunt Delores’ bedroom while forensics took pictures and dusted for fingerprints.

A white substance lined Delores’ mouth.

"Either she took something, or our killer poisoned her,” Tommy said as the technicians finished up.

Max was concerned for Grace's life. There had to be a clue left behind by the killer. Grace's life depended on it. He had to stay focused despite the lack of sleep and the continuous nonstop events since yesterday. He wondered how the killer got the jump on Grace. How did he get into the house undetected?

Max pulled on the disposable rubber gloves and moved closer to Delores’ body. He prayed they'd missed something. Something that would tell them where the Master took Gracy.

He squinted, his eyes noting the way Delores’ hand held her sweater closed against her chest. Then he saw it. A tiny piece of yellow peeked out below the purple cashmere.

"Hey, Lucky, you get a picture of this?” Max asked the technician and the photographer took another picture. Max then removed the yellow paper.

It actually was multiple, long pages, revealing not only Delores's hidden secrets and sins but also those of the Master, her illegitimate son.

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The room in the cottage was set up perfectly. There were bars on the windows and bolts on every door. Snow was falling at record speed. He couldn't have planned this night better if he tried. It was as if someone watched over him, and the blizzard that came in by surprise was the icing on the cake. There was no way the detectives could venture out in weather like this.

His plan was foolproof. He had carefully planned for this day and for his future with his queen. Months of weekend visits stocking up on all the necessities was a thrilling time for him. The anticipation alone was enough to drive him crazy. He was losing his patience when suddenly his destiny appeared and fate led him the rest of the way. He smiled as he glanced at his sleeping beauty. Grace represented so much in his life. She was his past, his present, and his future. There was no doubt in his mind Grace was created for him.

He recalled his teenage years and the longing to have his mother's love. He followed her every move, watched the beautiful young woman who visited from time to time that he later found out was Delores's niece. He was smarter than anyone had ever given him credit for.

He approached his mother, demanding an explanation, then demanding money and retribution to keep his mouth shut. Meanwhile, he had been creating the ultimate plan of revenge. It was a shame that Grace had left the state but then again the business venture surfaced and he realized just how much power he would have. The more money, the more power, the more control he possessed.

The fact Grace returned and as a homicide detective investigating women he was responsible for abducting was satirical in its own way.

Then when she showed up at the club dressed in leather, obviously working undercover, he couldn't resist temptation. He took a chance calling her by her name, but the power he held enforced his invincibility.

The pieces just seemed to fall into place. The more he learned about Grace Elizabeth Martin, the more he knew she would complete him.

The refrigerator and pantry were stocked with enough food to live out there for months. They would pass the time together, getting to know one another slowly, intimately as only lovers could do.

He wasn't a fool. He knew she would resist at first. After all, she was brainwashed into thinking his mother cared about her. Delores was a self-centered, worthless bitch. He looked at Grace again with some concern that she may fight her fate and resist their destiny to be one.

If Grace attempted to escape, she would freeze to death.

He smiled wide. There would be no escape.

He thought about his old life one final time. Remembering the power, the control, the money he made now safely in various accounts overseas. After the investigation into Grace's abduction slowed down, they would leave the country and start their new life together. By then, she would surely be compliant.

The firewood crackled in the large stone fireplace behind him and in the distance, he could hear the snowplows way down the mountain.

They weren't headed anywhere near the cottage. It was nearly nonexistent.

The Master grabbed the two hundred dollar bottle of wine along with two glasses and headed to Grace's room.

His lovely prize lay sleeping on the king-size bed in the master suite. Her wrists were tied with enough rope so she could move around and be somewhat comfortable. He longed for the day he wouldn't have to restrain her. The day she embraced him willingly with every inch of her body.

Not to say that he would wait that long to have her or claim her as his own. He smiled, then placed the bottle of wine on the table and began to open it.

He thought about the 2004 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon vintage, a plush wine with balanced tannins that had an underlying silkiness. Harvested between mid-September and early October. Aged in new French oak for seventeen months, the results were mouth watering. This was a special wine for a very special occasion.

He glanced toward the bed as he heard the movement.

Grace slowly opened her eyes.

He watched as her long thick eyelashes fluttered open multiple times.

Grace jumped at the realization she was a prisoner and even more shocked to find out who the Master really was.

"Gracy, you've awakened just in time. A few more minutes for the wine to breathe, then we can celebrate our beginning."

"You! You're the Master?” Grace asked in shock.

Larry Sullivan smiled wide.

"I can't believe this! I can't believe what I'm hearing, Max.” Nicholas, Leeann, and May stood inside his office with the phone speakers on. May had been released from the hospital after a full exam. Phillip stayed out in the hallway with the other detectives waiting for the next order from Max.

"It's all here in the letter Delores wrote. She admitted to her illegitimate child, and making a deal with Carl and Sherry's killer to get ransom money from all of you. Plus the money left by Grace's grandfather in his will to Grace and how Delores used it to support her son, her spending habits and extravagant lifestyle. Apparently, her son tried to get her to help him capture Grace,” Max said as Tommy drove the unmarked Crown Victoria through the snow.

"I can't believe he's her son, that he's the killer. You checked his house, his condo, every place?” Nicholas asked, full of concern for Grace. It was obviously heart wrenching to lose one daughter and have her returned only to lose his other.

"His house is clean, cleared out. We were checking every floor when we found a locked door to the basement. Celina was there, barely alive. Sanchez is talking. He gave up Jasmine's location, as well. Now we have to find out where Sullivan is, where he's taken Gracy.” Max released another uneasy breath.

"Please move fast. Find her, Max, please find my daughter."

Max promised he would.

"This is crazy. How many fucking places does this guy own?” Tommy asked as dispatch patched through a call from Detective Jeffreys and the others working the case.

"One more location in the suburbs. It's about twenty minutes north of where you are,” Jeffreys responded, then gave Max the location.

"It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. It's probably empty like the others.” Tommy shook his head in frustration.

"Maybe not. If you notice, Sullivan did leave a lot of valuable things at the other places. He didn't expect us to figure out who he was so soon. I'm sure he didn't think his mother would ever give him up, write a full confession or commit suicide by drug overdose.

"He's got to be around here somewhere. We have the APB out. The airports, train and bus stations are all covered. The story is all over the news. He won't take the chance of being seen. Besides, he used the chloroform on Grace in order to abduct her. He's not going to lug her around."

"Let's hope you're right. Because we're trailing a parade of patrol cars behind us and this damn snow isn't letting up. I think the forecasters were wrong. This is a goddamn blizzard,” Tommy said