Brazen Virtue

noticed the slight tremor in Grace’s fingers and knew she couldn’t turn away. “Do you want to walk outside? It’s a nice day.”
    “All right.”

    Tess led the way out, then leaned against the banister. It pleased her to remember that she’d met Ben for the first time in this spot, in the rain. “Washington’s at its best in the spring. Are you staying long?”
    “I don’t know.” The sun was bright, almost too bright. She hadn’t noticed it on the drive over. “I’m having a hard time making decisions.”
    “That’s not unusual. After a loss, most of us float for a while. When you’re ready, things will click back into place.”
    “Is it usual to feel guilt?”
    “About what?”
    “About not stopping it.”
    Tess sipped her coffee and watched a scatter of daffodils wave in the breeze. “Could you have?”
    “I don’t know.” Grace thought about the card she carried in her purse. “I just don’t know.” With a half laugh, she lowered herself onto the steps. “This sounds like a session. All we need’s a couch.”
    “Sometimes it helps to talk to someone who isn’t involved.”
    Grace turned her head, shielding her eyes with her hand. “Ed said you were beautiful.”
    Tess smiled. “Ed’s a sweet man.”
    “Yes, he is, isn’t he?” Grace turned back to clasp her hand over her purse again. “You know, I’ve always been able to take things as they come. I’m even better at making them come out the way I like. I hate this. I hate being confused, I hate not being able to decide whether to turn left or right. I don’t even feel like the same person anymore.”
    “Strong people often have a more difficult time with grief and loss.” Tess recognized the squeal of brakes and glanced over toward the parking lot, thinking that Ed must be driving. “If you’re in town for a while and need to talk, let me know.”

    “Thanks.” She put down her coffee cup and rose slowly. As she watched Ed approach, her palms grew damp and she rubbed them against her jeans.
    “Grace.”
    “I need to show you something.”
    Ben slipped his hand over Tess’s and started inside.
    “No, please, wait a minute.” Grace let out a long breath and opened her purse. “I found this when I was going through the sympathy and florists’ cards this morning.” She took out the plain white envelope she’d slipped the card into and handed it to Ed.
    He drew it out, turning it so Ben could read it as he did. “Does this mean something to you, Grace?”
    “Yes.” She closed her purse, wondering why she felt nauseated. She hadn’t eaten. “That was the name Kathy was using for Fantasy. Kathleen was Desiree. That was her cover, you see. Her cover so no one would know who or where she was. But someone did. And he killed her.”
    “Come inside, Grace.”
    “I have to sit down.”
    Tess nudged Ed aside and pushed Grace’s head between her knees. “I’ll bring her inside in a minute,” she said over her shoulder.
    “Come on.” Ben pushed the door open and laid a hand on Ed’s shoulder. “We’d better get this to the captain. Tess’ll take care of her,” he added when Ed didn’t move.
    “Take some deep breaths,” Tess murmured as she massaged Grace’s shoulders. With her free hand, she monitored her pulse.
    “Dammit, I’m sick of this.” Grace fought back the weakness inch by inch.
    “Then you’d better start eating instead of living off coffee, and you’d better start getting some rest. Otherwise, this is going to keep happening.”

    Grace kept her head down but turned it until her eyes met Tess’s. She saw sympathy there and understanding, mixed with cool common sense. It was the exact combination she needed. “Right.” She was still pale when she sat up, but her pulse was stronger. “The bastard killed my sister. No matter how long it takes, I’m going to see him pay for it.” She pushed her hair back with both hands as she took one long breath. “I think things just clicked back into place.”
    “Are you ready to go in?”
    Grace nodded and rose. “I’m ready.”
    In short order, Grace found herself seated in Captain Harris’s office. Very slowly, and with a coherence she’d just found again, she related the story of Kathleen’s involvement with Fantasy.
    “I was concerned at first with her talking to some creep who might give her trouble. But she explained the system, how no one but the main office had her number. And how she didn’t even use her own name. Desiree.