"Sounds like you've done your homework ... wait a minute.” Max's eyes widened and he stared at Grace.
"You made plans with Mary to go to the club Celina was last seen at.” It was a statement not a question and Grace knew that. She had every right to follow her leads and she had already run it by the commander. Felix was organizing a small group of detectives to assist. Sometimes, cases put her in dangerous, or in this case, uncomfortable situations. It's not like she wasn't experienced.
"Yes, I did and yes, I am."
"No, you're not. You have no idea where this place is, if that Morticia Addams look-alike can be trusted, or the hundreds of different things that could go wrong. We have to run it by command, and I need to be sure you're experienced enough...."
"Excuse me, but you have no right to tell me what I can and can't do while I am investigating leads on a case I'm working on. This is part of my job and believe me, Lieutenant, I do have enough experience. My commander has already approved the small operation."
"You have no idea how deep this case runs and how the other victims suffered. I'm not going to stand by and let a young woman who looks like you do go into a place like that unprotected. I don't give a shit what experience you have."
"Believe me, Lieutenant, I'm well trained and do know a bit about what happened to the other victims. I have my own connections since you were so unwilling to share with me."
"I told you before, I wasn't avoiding you. Ron...."
"Ron's an asshole. and I'm trying to conduct an investigation of a murder. A young, innocent victim. Now this missing person definitely is connected to my case. The commander has given his okay and approval, Mathews, and this is how it's going down. We can work together or separate. Your choice."
Max inhaled deeply, once again eyeing Grace as if unsure how to read her, or perhaps he didn't trust her. Grace didn't care either way. This was her case, and she was working under direct orders from her commander.
"I guess I have no choice but to let you do this."
"You're right, Lieutenant. You have no choice or say in this matter. Let's put the nonsense behind us and find our killer.” Grace stood in front of him now with her hands on her hips.
"Remember, everything goes through me. Got it?” he told her with his teeth clenched, finger pointing and a look that she was positive no one ever had the guts to question.
Grace felt her cheeks burning again, but before she lost her cool completely, she brushed by the lieutenant in an attempt to ignore him. She then opened the door to shove him out, but it nearly backfired on her.
Her shoulder hit his bicep and it was she who nearly lost her balance from the impact. Grace swore under her breath as Max smirked. She should have known better than to challenge Max's strength and size. He was a tank, and she was in perfect physical condition but petite in comparison.
"Have a nice day, Lieutenant,” she barked as she stood by the doorway, leaning on it a bit too much for support, but her legs shook.
Max stopped directly in front of her with the meanest look she had ever seen and one he probably used while interrogating perps. “Don't make the mistake of crossing me, Martin. You'll regret it."
Grace tried not to show her fear, but damn this guy was good at his job. He had her shaking in her black boots, though she refused to show it.
She gave him a sideways glance as if accepting the challenge, then waved her palm toward the doorway. A sure sign she was pushing him out. Max winked. Immediately, Grace felt her cheeks flush again and her heart leaped.
Just then Grace's phone rang. She answered it and glanced back just as Max entered her commander's office.
* * * *
"Grace, it's Aunt Delores. How are you, darling?"
Grace was surprised by her aunt's call. It had been two weeks since they had last spoken and her aunt wanted her to attend a dinner party this weekend.
"Oh, hello, Aunt Delores. How are you? How is Uncle Ted?” Grace rolled her eyes knowing that a dinner party was exactly not what she was in the mood for right now.
"You will be attending the party Saturday night, won't you?"
"Yes, Aunt Delores, I'll be there. I already have the dress picked out,” Grace replied only because she knew it would please her aunt. It kept things pleasant on the home front if she made her aunt happy. It had been traumatizing enough when they found out Grace wasn't going to use her law degree.
"That's wonderful, darling, and will you be bringing anyone special?"
Again, Grace rolled her eyes. Her aunt was up to something and more than likely he was rich, handsome, and stuck up like the majority of her aunt and uncle's friends.
Grace wasn't exactly batting a hundred on her own, but her tastes were much different than her aunt's. Dating was the last thing on her mind right now.
"No, I'll be attending the dinner party alone. Listen, I'm a bit swamped right now, so if I can call you back later..."
"I hear you're doing a wonderful job for the Marquettes, darling. They have faith in you."
Grace halted a moment. How did Aunt Delores know the Marquettes?
"The Marquettes? You know them?” Grace asked.
"Why yes, dear. They're friends of your uncle's. Mr. Marquette works for the company your uncle had purchased two years ago. When their daughter went missing, Alexis and Aiden were distraught. I went to see Alexis Marquette and she said she was researching the idea of hiring a private detective to assist the police.
"Of course, I immediately suggested that she speak with you first since you do detective work in the department. That Detective Frank something or other was all for it."
Her aunt was a snob and she didn't care what anyone thought. Grace, on the other hand, was shocked at the information. She had no idea her aunt had recommended her to Alexis Marquette ... until now.
"You told her not to let me know it was you? Why?"
"I thought you might be angry. But I hear you're very good at what you do and my brother was a wonderful detective, so I assume it's somewhat in your blood. Anyway, they're happy with you."
"I'm glad they are.” Grace thought about the compliment her aunt just threw at her. That was rare, but her investigative mind reached in a different direction.
"Aunt Delores, did you attend a party a few months ago at the Marquettes when Celina was there?"
"Yes, we did. It was a wonderful event. There were many business and personal friends there. Celina looked stunning that night. I remember Alexis and Aiden were so proud of her."
"Did you notice if she was with a particular person or if she had attended with a date?"
"Why are you asking me this, Grace? You don't believe that someone from that party was responsible for her disappearance, would you?” Her aunt's voice was shaky.
Aunt Delores did not possess any of the investigative instincts her brother and Grace had. She was fragile and preferred to live life with rose-colored glasses and ignore the reality that bad people roamed the earth and murderers went free on a daily basis, despite what had happened to her brother, his wife and Grace.
"I'm just asking a question, Aunt Delores. It's what I do. So do you recall her hanging around anyone specific?"
"Not really. It was a few months ago. Maybe you could ask your uncle on Saturday night?"
Grace breathed deeply. She would have to ask the Marquettes the same question.
"Maybe I'll do that. I really have to get going. I'll see you on Saturday."
"See you on Saturday, darling."
Her aunt hung up the phone, and Grace gathered her stuff. She would have to hit the boutique before she headed home tonight and find the dress she told her aunt she already had.
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Chapter 6
Jessy couldn't breathe. She couldn't see. Her body was weak and fragile from lack of food and water. All she wanted to do was die, just leave this life and die. Her mind was fuzzy, her vision and her ability to grasp reality, fading. With every short, struggling breath, her che
st tightened and her lungs felt numb. There was no longer the pinching and pain present only days before. She lay still, her face against the dirt. The coolness wasn't even felt by her skin growing colder with each minute. She inhaled again, fighting for her last breaths.
He brought her here because he had no more use for her. Even though she did everything he asked her to do. She stayed with him, allowed him to have his way with her and then he left her for someone new, fresh, more attractive, and allowed her to die a most horrible death. She screamed and she cried out for help. The echo of the tunnel he placed her in gave her false hope that someone would hear. Someone would come to her rescue. She had to believe it.
Reality set in along with the hunger pains, the trouble breathing. She knew her body was shutting down.
Why do I have to die like this? Why hadn't anyone come looking for me?
She gasped for air, aware of the fight to live by her body's own desire but not from her spirit. She gave up hope long ago that someone would find her. That someone would be coming any moment, any time. She closed her eyes, embracing the darkness, there was nothing more she could do ... but die.
* * * *
Max stopped by District Attorney Johnny Lewis’ office. He knew Johnny was friendly with Grace Martin and he wanted to find out everything he could about her. Max told himself it was just because they were working the same case, but he had to admit he was curious about the detective's background. To say the least, Grace got on his nerves, and he didn't trust her or her so-called training.
What possible bullshit training could a young, petite woman like Grace possibly have? She looked like she was in her damn twenties.
"It's good to see you, Max. Come on in,” Johnny opened the door wider and Max entered the nice office with a magnificent view of the city. Max had been there before, but he was always impressed with the upscale setup.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Johnny, but I have a few questions for you and I was hoping you'd have the answers."
"Go ahead and ask away."
"You know the case I'm working on?"
"Sure do."
"Well, Detective Grace Martin is also conducting a homicide investigation and our paths have crossed once again."
"Ahhh ... Grace. I see,” Johnny said as a large grin formed on his face.
"Don't look at me like that, Johnny. I need to know if she can be trusted. What's her record like?"
"Sure you do. I saw the way you two looked at one another. I was certain you had met somewhere before."
Max was getting angry, even though he had thought about the moment Grace Martin bumped into him at the courthouse. He remembered everything about that moment. The way she felt in his arms, her perfume and her sophistication. He would have bet any amount of money that she was an attorney.
"Uhumm."
When Johnny cleared his throat, Max realized he was caught thinking about Grace.
"I want to know everything you can tell me about her."
"Why don't you do what the rest of us men do and ask her out? Then you can interrogate her yourself,” Johnny teased, apparently believing that there was something more than business going on between Max and Grace.
"Will you cool it, Johnny? I want to know if she can handle this case and the investigation she's doing. She's about to go undercover, and I want to know if she can take care of herself."
"Listen, Max, Grace is good at what she does. She takes her job seriously. This type of work is in her blood, and she's well trained physically, as well."
"Why is it in her blood?"
"Her father was a top-notch detective uptown. She has a law degree and chose to be a homicide detective instead of an attorney. She's tough enough and going undercover won't be a problem for her. She did a lot of undercover work out in Vegas Metro."
Max was surprised about the degree but glad his instincts were right. Grace was an attorney but why would she go through all that schooling and passing the bar exam to ditch the whole thing?
"Vegas Metro?"
"Yeah. Grace was working homicide and doing undercover work for six years in Vegas Metro. She has a great reputation. She did some major undercover work for the case we just closed the other day at the courthouse. Grace was fantastic. The other detectives involved in the task force want to use her for more undercover work from what I've heard."
"Is that so? Sounds like they were impressed. How does she work under pressure? What if we lose contact and she has to fend for herself ... can she handle that?"
"I know she has a black belt in martial arts, Jujitsu, or Tae Kwon Do, or something and she's a whiz with a gun, too."
Max looked at Johnny sideways, not understanding the second part.
"I remember one day I met a couple of cops I knew who had just come back from the shooting range. They were talking about this gorgeous brunette who put their shooting scores to shame. Anyway, it turned out to be Grace. Her uncle taught her well."
"Who's her uncle?” Max asked.
"You know Nick O'Connor?"
"Yeah, I know him well. I just saw him last week. We're working with some of his men on this case."
"Well, Nick raised her. She's more like his daughter than a niece."
"What about her parents?"
"No one knows. She never told me, and I haven't asked. I did hear once that they were murdered, but that was it. Maybe that's what motivates her to be a homicide detective. Either way, Max, I think she's fantastic and you shouldn't worry. She can handle things."
"Well, I appreciate the info, Johnny. I'll let you get back to work."
"No problem. So when are you going to ask her out?” Johnny teased as he walked Max toward the office door.
"What makes you think I want to ask her out?"
"Why wouldn't you? She's a knockout and—"
"And nothing, Johnny. Thanks for the info,” Max interrupted, then he left the office.
Was it that obvious he and Grace were attracted to one another? He shook his head in disbelief. He headed out of the high-rise and to his parking spot in the underground garage.
Why wouldn't Grace want to be working in a place like this and as an attorney? She definitely had the look. He shook his head and tried to forget about Grace Martin, at least until Friday night.
* * * *
It was Friday evening and The Cave was dark inside, except for the back room where Mary dressed Grace in some seductive outfit she would never have thought of wearing.
Grace pulled up the thigh-high stockings and clasped the garters. The stockings were black with small rhinestones that ran up the back from the ankle to her upper thigh. They ended right before the hem of the slim, tight-fitting, black leather dress.
Grace yelled from the office where she was dressing, “Mary, are you sure about this? I can hardly fit into it and my breasts are too big for the top!"
"It's fine, Grace, just trust me.” Mary sprayed her hair one last time.
Mary wore a pair of painted-on, red leather pants that revealed her trim stomach and the large diamond belly ring. Her top was tighter, all leather with spikes and the sleeves were thin metal chains connected to black leather spiked bracelets.
As always, Mary's breasts overflowed from the tight top.
Grace pulled the black leather down as far as it could go, but it was no use. The dress was short, her heels were high, and she fixed the wig and her new red hair one more time. It was short in a bop style that fell against her neck just below her ears. Her fake eyelashes brought out the deep green of her eyes and she wore a lot more makeup than usual.
She had to trust Mary's judgment.
Mary told her that if she dressed in her regular, classy style, she would look obvious and also unknowingly be presenting herself as a slave, or servant and in order to stay in control, she needed to appear dominant and in charge. That way, anyone interested would have to wait for Grace to make the first move.
Grace had no idea there was so much involved with this type of lifestyle. The hidden lin
go, the body language, the dress code, and there was even more to learn, but no time. Mary's crash course was enough to make Grace's head spin.
"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.
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