It was almost 9:00 pm before Grace could sit down and have a complete conversation. Up to that point, all she could muster were half thoughts thrown out in rapid, incomplete sentences, over the shrill shrieks of the girls as they got settled for the night.

She walked into the family room and let out a big sigh. She fell into an overstuffed side chair next to the couch, where Michael sat watching a football game. Reggie lay settled at his feet making pitiful moaning sounds.

"Is Reggie all right?"

"Oh, he's fine. He moans when he's relaxed."

"If you say so." She sat back and closed her eyes. After a couple of minutes passed, she broached the subject that had been on her mind all evening. "I went to see Hillman today and boy was that a mistake."

Michael turned the volume down on the television. "What happened?"

Grace told him about Alex recognizing the necklace. She admitted that she over reacted with the information. "Hillman practically patted me on the head and said, 'There, there little girl.' He wouldn't even consider that maybe there was a connection between the necklaces."

Michael reached out and put his large calloused hand over Grace's delicate balled up fist. She opened her eyes. "Don't let him get you down. Reggie and I are taking this seriously, I promise." With that Reggie yawned and stretched out as far as he could. "See, he's on the job as we speak!"

Grace couldn't help but laugh. She relaxed her fist under his warm touch.

"Grace? Did your mother work? Did she have close friends? What do you remember from back then?"

She took a moment before answering. She tried to pull up as much as she could remember about that time. It was mixed with the impressions of a four-year-old who didn't fully understand the situations around her. That, coupled with the fact that her father turned inward, avoiding the subject of her mother's death, and had pulled away from their mutual friends, left even less for her to recall.

"I remember my mother loved to cook. She and her partner Karen Morgan, I think that was her last name, started a catering business. My dad worked long hours and sometimes seven days a week, but he was supportive of my mom and helped financially. It was something that they could share. My mother was very excited about getting started. My sister seemed bored with the whole thing. We both were probably overlooked a little during the busy start-up time."

Suddenly she stopped talking and stretched, lifting her arms over her head. "It's frustrating. I only recollect bits and pieces. I wish I had discussed this in more detail with Laura. I guess we took our cue from our dad. He hardly spoke of it. He loved my mom so much. It broke him down when she died. I don't think he ever completely recovered." She closed her eyes momentarily then continued. "He had a massive heart attack a few months after I left for college. I believe he was waiting until Laura and I were both on our own, and then he just gave in to his grief."

"What do you remember about your mother's partner?"

Grace sighed and took a deep breath. "Well, she was a widow with two teenage children. Sheri, her daughter used to babysit us. I think she was seventeen or eighteen. Her brother Donny was a little younger, fifteen I think. I remember a lot of yelling. Karen and her kids were always fighting loudly. My mother just floated between them, cooking and arranging like nothing was happening."

Grace stood up, "Would you like a soda?"

"No thanks."

"Well, I know the business was doing well. I think it was beginning to overwhelm my mother a bit. I say this, but again, it's just a feeling more than a certainty."

"Any more feelings?"

She thought as she popped the tab on her soda. "I remember that the boy Donny used to tease Laura. She didn't like him very much. He hung around the kitchen where my mom and Karen cooked. Karen was always yelling at him to get out of the way. He helped load the trays of food into the catering van. That's why he was there so much."

"How about his sister?"

"Sheri was friendly. Laura and I liked her. She fought with her mother and brother, but she was nice to us. She helped serve sometimes at the catering events if needed."

"Do you think you could get in touch with this Karen? Maybe she could give you more information."

She raised her eyebrows. "Well, I could try. I suppose the internet or Facebook would be a good place to start."

Michael grabbed the remote and passed it to her. "I'm done in. The TV is all yours. Thanks for getting Reggie." He switched off the lamp and headed towards the small converted bedroom off the kitchen.

"I'm turning in too. It's a long drive to Sausalito. I'm not looking forward to being away, even for a few days." She turned off the television and headed for bed. She hoped to get a good night's sleep.

"Oh, that's right!" she exclaimed. "Reggie had a new groomer. It turns out I had seen him at the campus when I was picking up Laura's things. Small world isn't it?"

"Small town," he corrected.

"His name is Ray and I don't think Reggie liked him very much. He growled at him when we left."

Michael smiled. "Well, Michelle usually grooms Reggie. I think she gives him extra treats and this new guy probably didn't. If Reggie doesn't like something he has no problem letting you know about it."

As if on cue, Reggie gave a mournful moan as he slowly got up to follow Michael to their room. "Case in point," he laughed.

"Well, good night. I'll see you in the morning." She turned again and headed for the stairs.

"Good night, sleep well."

She set her suitcase by the bedroom door, then settled in bed and closed her eyes. Ten minutes later she sat up and turned the bedside lamp back on. The fatigue she had felt downstairs had suddenly disappeared. She grabbed a book from the side table and opened it. She'd been reading for a while when the book slipped from her loosened grip, making her jump. She turned the light off and settled back in, falling into a deep slumber almost immediately.

She woke up when her alarm went off at 6:00 am. She slept through the night, but a nagging sense of dread left her feeling as if she'd had a bad dream she couldn't remember. She hoped a hot shower would wash away the apprehension invading her mood.

Grace struggled through breakfast then said goodbye to Michael and the girls. "I'll see you on Thursday when you get home from school. I might already be here when you get home," she told Charlie. "I love you guys."

Rosa arrived just as she was walking out the door. They exchanged farewells and Grace was off.

"Mijo, is Grace getting any sleep, she looks so pale and worn out?"

He nodded. It was exactly what he was thinking. A strong protective urge hit him when he heard his mother's concern. He immediately wanted to jump in his truck and go after her. He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt a little hand take his. He looked down to find Alex next to him. Not usually demonstrative, he was surprised by her approach.

She didn't take her eyes off the front door, where her aunt had just exited. "I wish she didn't go. I wish she'd stayed here with us."