“This is going to be difficult, to say the least, Grace. The pictures are pretty bad. Maybe I can just read you the report, tell you what the detectives’ and the coroner’s findings were?” Sandman asked her as she sat down at the table. If he was suggesting that, then the pictures must be horrific. She needed to trust his judgment, and the fact that he was letting her in on this much was surprising. She needed to take what he gave her in this situation.
“Okay,” she said as Sandman took a seat next to her and began reading and explaining the findings.
Chapter 12
Frank, John, Peter, and Eric sat around the kitchen table in their mother’s house.
Sarah was working at the kitchen sink peeling potatoes for potato salad.
“I wonder if Grace still likes my potato salad?” Sarah asked, as she looked out the large window above the kitchen sink.
She missed her daughter something terrible. She wanted her here with her. She wanted to hold her and love her.
“I’m sure she does, Mom. She’ll be back home soon. You’ll see,” John said, as he looked at his brothers.
“I’m sure she’s fine, Sarah. After all she is with that special investigator,” Eric added, as he gave his wife a loving squeeze.
“Yeah that guy is something else. The way he used his own body to protect her. I’m real curious about his confidential files. I wonder what that guy is capable of?” Frank asked, and the others added similar comments indicating that they all wondered as well.
“Can’t you find out more about him, Frank? Something to make us feel even more confident that she’s safe?” Eric asked.
“No, I can’t. Whatever he’s done in the past that’s labeled confidential stays confidential. I did hear Detective Jim Warner say something about Sandstone being the best. He had been assigned to a lot of high-profile government officials in the past. Supposedly he came pretty close to getting killed. The position he has now is supposed to be less dangerous. Then add in his years in the military as a commando and I’d bet he’s the best we could ever ask for in protecting Grace,” Frank told them.
“Yeah the word around the station is that he’s an expert in arm-to-arm combat. He actually prefers it to the use of a gun. But who knows if that’s just talk. He’s so mysterious, people tend to make up stories when they can’t find out anything about someone,” John told them then took a slug of beer from the bottle.
“Well, I just hope he can protect your sister. Grace must be so scared right now. Having to wear a disguise to escape the precinct undetected,” Sarah added.
The guys laughed a little.
“What’s so funny?” she asked as she looked at her sons.
“You should have seen her in that police uniform,” John said with a smile on his face then shook his head as if he were remembering the scene.
“Yeah, I’ve never seen a female patrol officer who made the uniform look that good before,” Frank added.
“I thought Sandstone’s eyes were going to pop out of his head when Grace first walked through the door,” John added.
“Donald and our eyes popped out of our heads when we first saw her, too. The guys are still taking about it.” Frank and John began laughing.
“I hope she’ll be safe with this Sandstone guy. He’s a very attractive man and big, to say the least,” Sarah stated.
“Maybe you’ll get that son-in-law you’ve been wishing for, Mom,” Frank teased and the others began laughing.
“What? You guys think something is going on between those two? He’s only known her a few days,” Eric said, sounding concerned. Sarah knew that Eric cared for Grace as if she were his biological daughter. Even when she was away, he made sure he was home whenever Grace planned on calling.
Sarah put her arms around Eric’s waist.
“Honey, you didn’t catch their reaction to one another when they first met?” Sarah told them and the men hadn’t seen exactly what she had. The instant attraction, the chemistry, and if a relationship emerged between them she would recall both of their first reactions to one another. She would never forget it and would cherish the fact that she was able to witness it. She often wondered if Grace had any relationships while she was in Europe. She never wrote about any or mentioned any over the phone. She knew her daughter was old enough to be sexually active and responsible enough but she worried about her handling the emotional part.
Grace closed herself off when Clara died. She put up a wall around her heart and she resisted emotional commitment. It would take someone strong and special to tear down that wall. Grace was stubborn, independent and strong willed. She felt she could do anything and everything on her own. She preferred it that way and probably felt content and in control relying solely on herself. Sarah was sure that Grace and Sandstone would bash heads in that category but she hoped he could keep her safe.
Sarah laughed as she went about adding the fresh celery to the potato salad. The men continued to talk about the case and still wondered who the killer could be and what he wanted with Grace.
“How are Maggie’s parents doing, John? Do they need anything?” Sarah asked as John leaned against the kitchen counter.
“They’re doing all right I guess. They have a lot of family in the area so they’ve had a lot of company the last few days. Once things settle down I’m sure it will start sinking in more.” John looked down at his shoes with his hands in his pockets.
Sarah wiped her hands on her apron and took her son’s hand.