After speaking to Sean on the phone, Grace strolled down to the hardware store to see Dan. It was nothing new to step over a snoring Jinx as she entered the shop; the sunlit area was the dog’s favorite spot to sleep. All of the store’s regular customers knew to check the threshold before walking in to avoid tripping over the big lug.

The older Malone was still fighting his cold but, as always, was too stubborn to slow down. She was happy to hear he was feeling a little better and seemed to be getting his energy back. Jimmy, the college student who worked for him part-time, was picking up extra hours so Dan could at least go upstairs to his apartment for a nap before returning to close the shop at six.

Grace explained to him that she was joining Sean and Suki for dinner, and asked to borrow the key to the beach house so she could start making dinner if the other two were running late. Dan gave her a spare and told her to keep it.

“Are you sure, Dan?”

“You may not be blood related but you’re still family,” he replied with a grin. “Feel free to use the cottage anytime you want.”

She kissed him on his cheek, then laughed when he asked, “What was that for?”

“For considering me part of your family. It’s very sweet of you.”

Blushing, he waved his hand at her. “Well, it’s true. You’re the niece I never had.”

Grace made a spur-of-the-moment decision. “Can I ask you something, Dan? It’s personal, so you can tell me it’s none of my business if you want.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“You lost your wife at such a young age. I know it must have been hard in the beginning, but didn’t you ever think of getting married again?”

Dan smiled warmly. “I only had two wonderful years with Annie. You know, we eloped after knowing each other for only a few weeks.” Grace smiled and nodded. “And you’re right, it was very tough in the beginning—I thought we’d grow old together, but fate threw us a nasty curveball. Thankfully, I had family and friends who made sure I didn’t bury myself right along with her. I was still in my late twenties then. Before she died Annie made me promise that someday I’d date again.”

Leaning against the counter, Grace raised her brow. “And did you?”

He shrugged, fiddling with a display of fishing lures he kept in stock for the local anglers. “Here and there, starting a few years after I lost her. I just never found anyone special. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know—just curious I guess.” She was suddenly hesitant to ask about his and Bonnie’s relationship so she changed the direction of her questioning. “When you first met Annie, when did you know she was ‘the one,’ and how?”

“Now that’s easy.” His face lit up. “The moment her eyes met mine the day we met, I knew. Not sure how I knew, but it was almost like my guardian angel was sitting on my shoulder saying, ‘That’s your future wife, in case you were wondering.’”

Grace laughed. “Really?”

“Really. Now, who’s caught those pretty, hazel eyes of yours, hmm?”

“Nobody!” But she answered too fast and too vehemently to convince the old man, and he just raised his eyebrows at her. She felt her cheeks redden. “That obvious, huh?”

Dan nodded and tilted his head. “It wouldn’t happen to be my nephew by chance?”

She didn’t even have to ask which nephew he was referring to. “At first I just thought it was my teenage crush coming back . . .”

“But you’re no longer a teenager,” he finished for her.

“Exactly. Please don’t say anything to Sean . . . or Aunt Bonnie, for that matter. I’m not sure what’s going on between us just yet. I mean we’ve had a good time this past week, but it’s not like we’re dating.”

“Well, I won’t say anything to Sean, but your aunt already figured out there was something going on between the two of you,” Dan informed her. When Grace’s eyes went wide at his statement, he laughed. “Come on, we might be old but we’re not blind.”

Grace chuckled. “No, I guess you’re not.” She gave him another peck on the cheek. “And the two of you are not old, just a whole lot wiser than the rest of us.”

By the time Sean and Suki arrived a little after five thirty, Grace already had the grill warmed up and three potatoes wrapped in foil cooking on it. As the profiler was in her bedroom changing out of her business attire, Sean stood in the kitchen with Grace. She loved how he looked in his suit with his tie loosened, and the top button on his shirt undone. Leaning against the counter next to her, he looked like a male model on the cover of GQ magazine. With those bedroom eyes, the dimple on his left cheek, and those oh-so-kissable-lips, ladies of the world, eat your hearts out!

“Thanks for going to the store for me,” he said, stealing a slice of cucumber from the cutting board in front of her and popping it into his mouth.

She smiled and continued to cut the vegetables she’d bought for a salad. “No problem. I had plenty of time to do it—you would have been in a rush.”

He hesitated a moment, then put his arm around Grace’s waist, pulling her closer. When she didn’t resist, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. The electricity between them sparked to life again, only this time it was stronger and not a surprise like their first kiss. This time they both knew it was coming and craved it. Grace dropped the knife she was using to cut tomatoes and ran her flat palms up Sean’s chest and shoulders. God, how she loved the feel of him!

Grace felt her body start to hum from head to toe, and everywhere in between. She’d been hoping for a chance to kiss him again and here it was. He tasted sweet, like the Pinot Grigio he had taken a sip of, but with something else that was all Sean. He probed her lips with his tongue, silently begging her to open them and allow him access to her mouth. Grace was just about to do that when they heard, “Whoops, don’t mind me.”

They jumped apart at the sound of Suki’s voice. She laughed and walked over to where the wine and a clean glass awaited her. “I said ‘don’t mind me.’ Feel free to continue. I’m just grabbing a glass of wine and going into the living room. You two love birds just forget I’m here.”

Blushing, Sean and Grace looked at each other and chuckled. They’d both forgotten there was someone else in the house and if they hadn’t been interrupted, things may have heated up very quickly. Sean leaned forward and gave her a swift kiss on the lips. “I’m going to take a quick shower and change. Be right back.”

“I’ll be here,” she responded with a sexy grin.

Grace finished the salad and heated up some broccoli as Suki began to set the table. The large flat screen TV above the fireplace was on channel four and the evening news would be starting in about fifteen minutes.

“You know, Sean is really smitten with you,” Suki said while she gathered up silverware from one of the kitchen drawers.

“The feeling is mutual.” Her blush returned at the admission.

“I’ve known him a while and have never seen him this taken with a woman. I’m happy for both of you, but I’m also little protective of him, so if you break his heart, I’ll have to break your legs.”

Grace’s head whipped up to look at the other woman. She relaxed when she realized Suki was grinning.

“I’m kidding,” Suki reassure her. “He’s a tough guy and can take care of himself. I always thought the woman who won him over would be very lucky, but as I get to know you, I think he’s the lucky one.”

Grace wasn’t sure why, but having the woman’s approval felt good. “Thank you. But to tell you the truth, we haven’t even been on a real date yet. I like him a lot, but worry he doesn’t feel the way I do. I mean, I don’t do causal when it comes to relationships.”

“And you’re worried Sean just wants a fling?” She nodded and Suki continued, “I can’t speak for him, but I can tell you this is the happiest I’ve ever seen him, despite the case we’re on. You’re good for him and I think he knows it.”

As Suki left the kitchen, Grace thought about what the other woman had said and hoped she was right because being with Sean felt like where she belonged.

* * *

When Sean returned from his shower dressed in a comfortable pair of faded jeans, black slippers, and a grey, long-sleeved T-shirt, he found the two women chatting in the kitchen about some TV show. Happy they seemed to be getting along, he grabbed the plate of steaks Grace had prepared and headed down to the patio to throw them on the grill. It was a beautiful night out, cooler than it had been during the past week, but clear and crisp. Stars were already filling the sky and a half moon hung low in the east. He took a deep breath and savored the salty air. He loved this place and now that he was home, he wondered why it had taken him so long to return for good.

He shut off the gas to the grill and was just putting the steaks and potatoes back on the plate when he heard the door up on the porch open. Suki’s voice reached him. “Sean, you better get up here. We’ve got big trouble.”

Griping the plate tightly, he ran up the steps two at a time. Suki held the door open for him, he entered looking wildly for Grace, thinking she was hurt. But she was fine and standing behind the couch staring at the TV. Confused, he looked at Suki. “What’s wrong?”

“The news. Apparently they have new information on our case—an exclusive. It’s coming up next and I don’t think we’re going to like it.”

Sean set the plate of food on the dining table, strode over to the couch and sat on the edge, leaning forward in anticipation. He picked up the remote and raised the volume a few notches. Grace came around and sat down next to him while Suki perched herself on the arm of the loveseat. They waited impatiently through two more commercials before the newscast started. The co-anchors introduced themselves and some of the upcoming stories before the male anchor announced, “But first, a Channel Four exclusive from our own Jessica Daly.”

The picture switched from the news desk to an outdoor shot of the blonde reporter outside the Dare County Medical Examiner’s Office. Sean immediately recognized her from the press conference. She wore a very serious expression as she began speaking. “This is Jessica Daly for the evening news, reporting to you from the Dare County Medical Examiner’s Office with a Channel Four exclusive.

“Investigations into the strangling deaths of three county women continue. At this time local law enforcement have very few leads. Sources inside the Dare County Sheriff’s Department report the Seaside Strangler mutilated the torsos of his three victims with a knife before killing them. The word he carved into their abdomens is an expletive that cannot be repeated on television.

“Apparently all three victims had been out partying with friends at different locations before encountering the vicious sadist who took their lives.

“This reporter has also discovered this is not the first time this savage has struck. The FBI was called in last summer by the Philadelphia Police Department after three women in three months were found strangled and with the same expletive cut into their torsos. That information was never made public and no other homicides were reported. The killer apparently went into hiding until a little over two months ago when Becky Travis was brutally murdered. Is this barbarian finished slaughtering the women of Dare County or has he just begun?

“Channel Four is warning its female viewers to be extra vigilant and to use every precaution available to keep themselves safe.

“If anyone has any information regarding these brutal crimes please contact our tip line at Channel Four or the Dare County Sheriff’s Department.

“This is Jessica Daly. Back to you, Ken.”

“Son of a goddamned, fucking bitch!” Sean roared as Suki took the remote control from him and lowered the TV volume again. After knowing him for over two years, she was surprised he waited until the end of the broadcast before blowing up. He was usually cool and in control, but when something like this set him off, look out. “Where the hell does this bitch get her fucking information?”

Since it was obvious the two women had no answer to his question, Sean stood and stormed into the kitchen to retrieve his cell phone. Locating Brad Lynch’s number, he pressed send and paced back and forth in the small room. The phone only rang once before the call was answered. Without even saying hello, Lynch told him, “I just saw it. Who the fuck is she getting her information from?”

“That’s what I want to know!” Sean bellowed into the phone. “The Seaside Strangler? Is she fucking kidding?” Taking a deep breath, he lowered his voice, but the angry tone was still there. “Brad, this isn’t a slow leak anymore—this is going to cause a flood. The only thing not public now is the pennies.”

“I know, I know. Shit, Griffin’s cutting in. I’ll talk to you in the morning. There’s nothing we can do now.” The detective clicked off as he took the other call.

Sean stopped pacing and found Grace and Suki staring at him from the kitchen doorway. As furious as he was, he realized Brad was right. There wasn’t anything they could do about it now. By 11:00 p.m. every other news show would be repeating what Jessica Daly had already reported. And first thing tomorrow morning, she would be getting a visit from the FBI—specifically Special Agent Sean Malone.

Running his hands down his face, he brought his temper under control and pasted a wry smile on his face. “I can’t do anything about it tonight, so we might as well go eat while it’s still warm.” Unfortunately, he’d lost his appetite.

* * *

That bitch! That slutty, little bitch! What had she called him? A vicious sadist? A savage? A barbarian? How dare she label him that way! The great George Wallace was none of those things. He was just a man ridding the world of despicable whores—someone had to. Those sluts deserved to die. Their promiscuous lifestyles had sealed their fates, just like that bitch on TV had sealed her own a moment ago. If she wanted to call him a savage then he would gladly show her just how cruel he could be.

He slowly brought his anger under control. Acting on impulse would only lead to mistakes. “Think, think, think,” he said out loud. “Take your time, think, then plan your revenge.”

Pacing the living room, it only took a few minutes for him to formulate a plan of action—a plan of retribution. Grabbing a newspaper from the recycling bin, he carefully pulled out the sports section by the upper corner. He hated sports and never read about them, but now that portion of the news was perfect for his plans since it wouldn’t have his fingerprints or DNA on it. While his DNA wasn’t on file, his fingerprints were. He retrieved a pair of scissors, glue, and a piece of blank paper from his desk in the spare bedroom and placed them next to the sports section on the dining room table he rarely used. Finally, he pulled out a pair of rubber gloves from under the kitchen sink. He usually used them when he washed the dishes, but tonight they would be keeping his fingerprints off the note he planned on sending to that blonde-haired bimbo who called herself an investigative reporter.

He’d show her! He’d show them all!