“Oh shit, that’s the case you’re working on? That’s some pretty brutal shit, bro. What the hell kind of monster cuts up gorgeous women, tortures them, and then kills them?”
/> “Exactly what I’m trying to find out. Jim Warner had called me. There was this latest case.”
“A model right?” Big Jay asked, and Sandman knew that his brother had been paying attention to the news.
“Exactly. The killer left a picture of a woman there. His next victim possibly. Anyway, it turns out that this woman has been out of the country for nearly three years. Gorgeous photographer who left Texas and headed to Europe at twenty-two years old. She had found her missing dead sister.”
“Shit, I heard about that. Are you in charge of protecting the woman?”
“If things get worse before they get better, I just may need you and Duke to help me out.”
“Hey, are you into this chick or something?”
“What?” Sandman asked, surprised that his brother would ask something like that. They weren’t even face-to-face. They were conversing over the phone, with a bad connection before Sandman boarded another plane home.
“You heard me. You sounded differently when you described her. You sound like you care.”
“Oh, fuck you if you don’t think I care about potential victims or victims’ families. It’s my fucking job.”
“You do care. But you’re also a hard-ass, a quiet, keep-to-yourself ex-Marine. Don’t give me any of your bullshit. What’s the deal?”
“No deal. She’s in danger right now and I’ll know how deeply once I return to Houston. Just be prepared.”
“I’m always prepared. Later, bro.”
“Thanks, Big Jay. See you in twelve hours.”
* * * *
Grace insisted that she leave her mom’s house. She didn’t want to put her through any more upset or danger. Her brothers agreed but decided that Grace should stay with one of them.
They wanted to be sure she was with someone most of the time, so John decided that Grace should stay with him and his roommates in a house they rented down by the local marina.
She wasn’t too happy about living with the four bachelors but the marina was beautiful and drew in a lot of tourists with its little boutiques and specialty shops.
Grace had been there for two days and she already loved the little place on the corner that made funnel cakes and fried zeppoles as well as the coffee hut next door to it.
Charlie had gone with her for a jog this morning and they sat together on a bench down by the water.
“It’s going to be hot today. It’s only 6:30 a.m. and that thermometer over there is reading eighty-eight degrees,” Grace pointed out and Charlie checked it for himself.
“Damn I’m glad I’m working inside the office today. John and I have some new rookies we have to break in,” Charlie told Grace.
“Well with it being so hot today you may want to break them in outdoors if you two can handle the heat,” she teased him and he smiled.
“You’re too much, Grace. I like your thinking though. I guess we’ll see how cocky they act first.”
“I’m sure you guys were just as cocky when you were accepted into the SWAT team unit. I have a couple of pictures of John posing in the mirror in his bedroom. Of course he had no idea I was snapping pictures.” Grace laughed at the memory.
“Oh man. I’d love to see those. He’d go crazy if he knew that. I love it. Were you like one of those real annoying little sisters who kept nagging their older brothers and wanting to hang out with them and their friends?”
“Kind of. I was mostly the prankster. Clara was the one who wanted to follow Frank and Peter around. She thought their friends were cute.” Grace looked toward the water again, thinking about her sister. The memory was vivid.
The five of them had so much fun together. She wondered if her sister would be the same way today if she were alive.
“I’m sorry, Grace. Does it still hurt a lot to talk about her?”
“I’m sure it’s always going to hurt a little but I’m glad I decided to come home in spite of the current situation. I’ve missed my brothers and my mom so much. I’ve been away nearly two years and my brothers act as if it’s been only two weeks.” She smiled at Charlie.