Free Grace by Laura Marie Henion Page B

ignore him. She then opened the door to shove him out, but it nearly backfired on her.
    Her shoulder hit his bicep and it was she who nearly lost her balance from the impact. Grace swore under her breath as Max smirked. She should have known better than to challenge Max's strength and size. He was a tank, and she was in perfect physical condition but petite in comparison.
    "Have a nice day, Lieutenant,” she barked as she stood by the doorway, leaning on it a bit too much for support, but her legs shook.
    Max stopped directly in front of her with the meanest look she had ever seen and one he probably used while interrogating perps. “Don't make the mistake of crossing me, Martin. You'll regret it."
    Grace tried not to show her fear, but damn this guy was good at his job. He had her shaking in her black boots, though she refused to show it.
    She gave him a sideways glance as if accepting the challenge, then waved her palm toward the doorway. A sure sign she was pushing him out. Max winked. Immediately, Grace felt her cheeks flush again and her heart leaped.
    Just then Grace's phone rang. She answered it and glanced back just as Max entered her commander's office.
* * * *
    "Grace, it's Aunt Delores. How are you, darling?"
    Grace was surprised by her aunt's call. It had been two weeks since they had last spoken and her aunt wanted her to attend a dinner party this weekend.
    "Oh, hello, Aunt Delores. How are you? How is Uncle Ted?” Grace rolled her eyes knowing that a dinner party was exactly not what she was in the mood for right now.
    "You will be attending the party Saturday night, won't you?"
    "Yes, Aunt Delores, I'll be there. I already have the dress picked out,” Grace replied only because she knew it would please her aunt. It kept things pleasant on the home front if she made her aunt happy. It had been traumatizing enough when they found out Grace wasn't going to use her law degree.
    "That's wonderful, darling, and will you be bringing anyone special?"
    Again, Grace rolled her eyes. Her aunt was up to something and more than likely he was rich, handsome, and stuck up like the majority of her aunt and uncle's friends.
    Grace wasn't exactly batting a hundred on her own, but her tastes were much different than her aunt's. Dating was the last thing on her mind right now.
    "No, I'll be attending the dinner party alone. Listen, I'm a bit swamped right now, so if I can call you back later..."
    "I hear you're doing a wonderful job for the Marquettes, darling. They have faith in you."
    Grace halted a moment. How did Aunt Delores know the Marquettes?
    "The Marquettes? You know them?” Grace asked.
    "Why yes, dear. They're friends of your uncle's. Mr. Marquette works for the company your uncle had purchased two years ago. When their daughter went missing, Alexis and Aiden were distraught. I went to see Alexis Marquette and she said she was researching the idea of hiring a private detective to assist the police.
    "Of course, I immediately suggested that she speak with you first since you do detective work in the department. That Detective Frank something or other was all for it."
    Her aunt was a snob and she didn't care what anyone thought. Grace, on the other hand, was shocked at the information. She had no idea her aunt had recommended her to Alexis Marquette ... until now.
    "You told her not to let me know it was you? Why?"
    "I thought you might be angry. But I hear you're very good at what you do and my brother was a wonderful detective, so I assume it's somewhat in your blood. Anyway, they're happy with you."
    "I'm glad they are.” Grace thought about the compliment her aunt just threw at her. That was rare, but her investigative mind reached in a different direction.
    "Aunt Delores, did you attend a party a few months ago at the Marquettes when Celina was there?"
    "Yes, we did. It was a wonderful event. There were many business and personal friends there. Celina looked stunning that night. I remember Alexis and Aiden