There was no use in lying now, so Sandman told her about the poems left at the last few crime scenes.
She was hesitant a moment and he hoped for a second that she would decline seeing them. No such luck.
“Can I see them?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Grace cut him off. “I think it’s a good idea. Maybe I’ll see some kind of connection there. Why didn’t you show them to me earlier, Sandman?” She was angry with him for withholding the information.
He stared at her a moment. Part of him didn’t want her to experience the sick, demented obsession the killer had with her. Another part of him did, so that maybe she would drop the idea of getting further involved and just let him and his brothers protect her.
“Because the latest one mentions you. I didn’t want to upset you more, Grace.” Her eyes widened.
“What do you mean mentioned me? What did it say? I want to see it.”
Sandman rose from the table. He knew she would be even more determined to get her hands on them. “Maybe later, Grace. I think you need a little break from this. Enough for today.” He cleared his plate.
He heard her slam her hand down on the table.
* * * *
“Don’t tell me what I need. I want to help as much as I can. I want to see the damn poems.” She raised her voice now as she stood in front of him with her hands on her hips.
Sandman walked away toward his office as Duke spoke to Grace.
“I’m getting a headache just watching you two bash heads like that. You have got to be the most stubborn people I’ve ever laid eyes on. Damn,” Big Jay stated.
“I’m getting turned on by it actually,” Duke added as he leaned back in his chair and gave Grace a wink.
She shook her head.
“He makes me crazy. I looked at the files from my sister’s murder. How much worse could these letters be than that? Why is Sandman acting like this?”
“It doesn’t take a genius to see the sparks flying between all of us. Sandman’s the one who brought us together. You get to Sandman more than I’ve ever seen anyone, man or woman, get to him. I’m sure the same thing goes for you. Those letters are pretty intense, sweetheart. When you’re not used to seeing such things, it could be very upsetting. I think Sandman just wants to protect you as much as he can,” Big Jay told her just as Sandman turned the corner.
He walked up to the counter and dropped the papers onto it.
“You want to read them so badly? Here you go,” Sandman said as he went to the refrigerator and poured himself another glass of ice tea.
Grace took the letters and walked up to her room leaving the men to talk.
* * * *
“Damn she is so stubborn.” Sandman banged his fist on the table.
“Just like you. Although I didn’t think you’d give in that easy,” Big Jay teased his brother, trying to make light of the situation.
“Easy? You think I gave up easy? She wanted to see the damn things. Let her. I don’t think she realizes how crazy this guy is, Jay. Jim called and the news reports are claiming to know Grace’s whereabouts. Of course Grace doesn’t know that either.” Sandman put his hands in the pockets of his blue jeans.
“Don’t you think she has the right to know? Why shouldn’t she? It’s her life being tossed around and turned upside down. She’s not going to leave. It’s not an option,” Duke sated, suddenly not so quiet anymore.
Sandman stared at both of his brothers. “Well I’ll tell her later. Right now I want to look over these files some more.”
Sandman walked out of the room, but his mind was really on Grace and what her reaction would be to the letters.
* * * *
Grace sat in the bedroom. She was getting sicker and sicker to her stomach with each line she read. The killer was after her, wanting her. He spoke of making love to her and thinking about her as he killed.