Free Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline Page A

investigation—”
    â€œDoc, is it him or not?” Marcus raised his voice, still controlled.
    â€œThey won’t confirm or deny.”
    â€œLevel with me. They won’t tell you ? They’re your subcontractor, for God’s sake!”
    Dr. Davidow cleared his throat. “I know this is hard to understand, but they can’t disclose that information to me. They have a legal relationship to the donors and it’s sacred to them.”
    â€œDo you really not know, or you don’t want to know?”
    â€œI don’t know. I did ask them, but they wouldn’t confirm or deny.”
    Christine slumped against the headboard, noticing that Murphy had crawled over to her, resting his head on her thigh. She put her hand on his soft, furry head, not knowing who was comforting whom.
    â€œDr. Davidow, did they do an investigation after they spoke with you but before they took him off the shelves?”
    â€œI don’t know that.”
    â€œDid they take him off the shelf while you were speaking with them?”
    â€œNo. 3319 was available when we were on the phone, and we spoke for maybe fifteen minutes, about a half hour or so ago. I don’t know when 3319 was taken off the shelves, but it was still available when I was speaking with them, so I’m sure it was in response to my call.”
    â€œDoesn’t that mean it’s him?”
    â€œNo, it doesn’t. It means they’re going to investigate.”
    â€œBut how much investigation can it take? They have the guy’s name on file. It takes three minutes to look at a file.”
    â€œNo, Marcus, I’m sure the files concerning the identity of the donors are protected, if not encrypted. Not everyone in the Homestead office may have access. The assistant director may not even have access. We don’t know.”
    â€œOkay, that I’ll buy.” Marcus stopped pacing, then nodded.
    â€œLook, I’ve never had this situation before, or anything like it. I care about you and Christine, and I think you should come in tomorrow and we can talk this over.”
    â€œAre they going to call you back and tell you the results of their investigation?”
    â€œNo they’re not. I asked them to and they declined.”
    â€œBut I have a right to know that information.” Marcus started pacing again. The dog swiveled his head around, watching him, too.
    â€œIt’s not a question of whether you have that right. It’s a question of what Homestead is obligated legally to tell you. Look, I just got off the phone with Michelle. I think you both should come have a session with her, at four o’clock.”
    â€œI don’t need a therapy session, I need an answer. My wife could be carrying the baby of a serial killer.”
    Christine felt the words like a blow. Hearing Marcus say it aloud made it so real. Tears sprang to her eyes. It was real. It was true . And she was lost, all was lost. Her dream of motherhood, of parenthood, of their new family, was over. Her thoughts raced. She knew Marcus would never think of the baby as his, would never see himself as the father, and the baby’s father was a killer, a murderer. But she was carrying the baby, it was still her baby, and she and the baby were all alone, on their own. She was holding the bag .
    Marcus and Dr. Davidow kept talking on the phone, but their voices grew far away. Christine couldn’t hear anything they were saying, she couldn’t feel the dog’s head under her palm. Marcus was turning toward her, his forehead buckling in alarm, but she couldn’t speak. The bedroom fell away, the heavenly blue walls and soft lamplights vanished, and she felt herself slipping into blackness.
    She didn’t have another thought before she fainted dead away.

 
    Chapter Seven
    The entrance hall buzzed with last-day activity as Christine entered the school building. Teachers’ aides hustled back and forth to the office