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“She’s not the only one who’s pissed off. I want to get this guy and kill him myself,” Sandman said then slammed his fist down on the table.
“I’m right there with you, partner, but what you need to do is stay professional, stay focused,” Duke told his brother.
“I’m trying. Really I am but this guy is getting to everyone. I don’t really think Donald is guilty. But as investigators when evidence emerges we have to look into everything. Every tiny detail or possibility. That’s how we’re going to find the real killer,” Sandman said as he headed toward the porch.
Grace stood by the railing staring out toward the woods.
“Grace. We need to talk.” He closed the sliding glass door.
“There’s nothing to talk about. I want to go home and I want you to take me there first thing in the morning. It gives you plenty of time to make the arrangements,” she said to him, still not looking at him.
“No,” he stated firmly, making her jump. She was startled as she turned toward him.
“You are staying right here with me where I can protect you and keep you safe.” He moved closer.
“You can’t make me. If I want to leave right now, I can. You have nothing to legally hold me here,” she told him, not backing down.
“Legally hold you here? For Christ’s sake, Grace, there’s a Goddamn killer out there who’s raping and torturing women. Tying them up like some kind of animal, beating them…Damn it. You only think you’re tough enough to handle this. Well you’re not.” He was so angry all he wanted to do was shake some sense into her.
“I’m tough enough to handle this. He went after Jamie. What about my mom or my sister-in-law Lindsey?”
“They’re being protected. He wants you. Only you. He wants you to come home so he can have his way with you,” Sandman told her.
“Is that what you didn’t want to tell me? He said it in the letter, didn’t he? He left a letter next to Jamie. Sandman, tell me?” she asked as she grabbed his arm.
Sandman grabbed Grace, putting her hands behind her back, pulling her close to him.
“I love you, Grace. I’m not going to hand you over to him like some piece of meat.” He slowly let go of her hands. He looked into her eyes and he could see that her anger was overpowering her fear. She wasn’t thinking straight and he knew that he needed to calm her down. Any decisions made out of anger were never the right ones.
“I need to go home. If there’s even the slightest way I can put a stop to this. I have to try,” she told him as she stared into his eyes.
Sandman took a deep breath as he held Grace close to him, hugging her against his chest.
“We’ll talk about it. Let’s not make any rash decisions. I’ll call Jim and Agent Lancaster in the morning and we’ll take it from there,” Sandman told her as he held her in his arms and kissed the top of her head.
* * * *
Early the next morning Sarah turned on the television as she made Eric his breakfast.
“The attempted murder of Jamie Friedman is being investigated currently by the FBI, specifically Agent Lancaster and Agent Sullivan who’re in charge of the case. We caught up with Agent Lancaster early this morning on his way into the Houston Police Department.” The reporter turned the microphone toward the agent.
The reporter began asking the agent questions starting off with why he felt the killer let Jamie live.
“I’d rather not give my personal or professional opinion at this time. However, I do strongly believe by this afternoon we certainly will have more for you,” Agent Lancaster said as he headed up the stairs.
“Well there you go. It looks like there may be a possible break in the case. More information in thirty minutes.” The reporter continued to talk as they went to another report from the main news desk.
“What was that all about? Do they have a suspect?” Eric asked, fastening his tie. He had a board meeting this morning at city hall. Everyone had been very supportive to him and his family during this time, and the election was looking promising because of it.
“I don’t know, Eric. That agent sounded like he might know something but the boys haven’t called,” she said as she prepared the scrambled eggs.
Eric went over to the refrigerator and took out the butter for his toast.
Sarah placed the plate in front of Eric, and then poured his coffee.
“Thanks, honey. Come sit down and join me,” he told her with a smile.
“I can’t eat, Eric. I’m so worried about Grace and Jamie. I’m going to the hospital to stay with Tod all day. The poor thing is still out of it.” She kept busy cleaning dishes in the kitchen sink.
