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not a peep. You're good, Gracy. Real good,” May added and they laughed.
    "She did work undercover in Vegas Metro,” Nicholas added.
    Grace smiled.
    Once May went around the table, thanking the family and her three best friends for coming, they headed out of the dining room and into the living room.
    Grace watched as May, Phillip and their friends talked and laughed, all having a good time. As she stared, an arm went around her shoulders.
    "You were that age not too long ago,” Nicholas said to Grace and she smiled.
    "I don't remember.” Grace bowed her head to take a sip of wine but still keeping her eyes on her sister and her friends.
    "Oh, come on, you do, too. I remember you getting angry with May for sneaking into the living room when you were alone with a boy or hanging out with your friends."
    Grace smiled, but she truly had a hard time remembering, and she preferred it that way. She actually taught herself to forget. She didn't want memories. She hated the past and even though she had achieved so many wonderful accomplishments, memories always led back to that fateful Christmas night when her parents were killed and the week she was held hostage.
    Nicholas surely recognized the look on Grace's face because he turned her toward him.
    "I love you, Gracy, and I'm so proud of you, of all that you've accomplished. You know that, right?” he asked and she smiled.
    Raising her as his own, her father's best friend was more than just an uncle and Leeann more than just an aunt.
    "I know that. I love you, too. So tell me what's new?” She changed the subject while she took a shrimp from the ceramic platter and dipped it in cocktail sauce, then took a bite.
    "Same old, same old. How about you? What are you working on?” He took a shrimp just as Grace did but squeezed some fresh lemon juice on it.
    "Two separate homicides I feel are connected."
    "The Parkins’ case?"
    "Yeah. There are other cases Missing Persons is investigating right now that I feel may be connected.” Grace smiled at Leeann as she brought out a tray of more appetizers.
    "You talk to Detective Mathews from downtown yet?"
    "Are you kidding me? Apparently, he wants nothing to do with my opinion on this case. He pushed Ron off on me."
    Nicholas squinted and tilted his head. “That doesn't sound like Max. You'd better call him again. If you want, I'll contact him."
    "Don't worry about it. I can handle it. Besides, I have a meeting with the detective working the missing person's case and the girl's parents. Marquette could be part of this case."
    "Not Celina Marquette?"
    "Yes. How do you know the name?"
    "The lieutenant working the case needs a few of my men to assist. Celina's the second woman missing from the uptown district."
    "Not Lieutenant Mathews?"
    "Sure. We worked a case together a while back. He's a great detective."
    "He sounds like a real jerk to me."
    "He's busy trying to solve the crime, Gracy. Four women are missing, and I'm sure he has no idea about your cases. Get in touch with him."
    "I've left messages."
    "Hey, you two, no talking shop at this party. Nicholas, I need some help with the icemaker. The ice is stuck and the punch is getting warm,” Leeann interrupted and Nicholas winked then followed his wife into the kitchen.
    Phillip came over to talk to Grace. “How are you?"
    "Great, Phillip. So do you think she was really surprised?” Grace looked back toward the living room at May. May looked up and smiled then continued her conversation with her friends.
    May deserved the party. The short story she wrote was ranked number one out of more than three thousand entries. It was officially her first published short story. May wanted to be a journalist and she was definitely headed in the right direction. Her internship at the county newspaper was the last hurdle before graduation. Already, she had job prospects after graduation.
    "She was totally surprised. It's great. She's been so excited."
    "I bet she has. She'll make a great journalist.