Free A Baby Changes Everything by Marie Ferrarella

now. So much so that she and her siblings were concerned that something might be wrong.
    Their speculation in no way pointed toward the ludicrous idea of murder. They thought that perhaps his marriage to Lily, his third wife, who had coincidentally also been his childhood sweetheart, wasn’t working out for some reason, causing their father pain and concern.
    Sometimes, she knew, the dream was better than reality.
    But she wasn’t about to give Gabe or the curly-hairedbrunette he was with anything to work with. If for some reason her father’s marriage wasn’t working out, it was none of their business.
    â€œMy father has been acting like my father. There’s nothing strange about his behavior.” Her tone indicated that she considered the subject closed.
    She might have, but apparently Andrea didn’t. The woman took a small notepad out of her jacket pocket and referred to notes she’d taken earlier.
    â€œSome of the people who work for him say he’s been acting preoccupied lately. Distant.”
    Vanessa lifted her head, a tigress ready to defend her cub.
    â€œMy father is in charge of a great many things. At times, it’s hard keeping everything straight. Especially when you want to give a hundred and ten percent of yourself in all aspects.” She looked at Gabe to back her up, since in her judgment he’d be more acquainted with Ryan Fortune’s dealings than the aloof Matthews. “If he’s guilty of anything, it’s working too hard and being too generous.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Andrea. “I can supply you with a list of charity foundations he either heads or is on the board of, if you like.”
    â€œThat won’t be necessary,” the detective told her tersely. “We’re not looking for contributions, only answers.”
    Taking a cue from the words, Vanessa drew herself up. “Do you have anything specific to ask me, Detective Matthews?”
    â€œNo.” Gabe cut in before Andrea could answer. Right now, they were merely on a fishing trip, trying to get a feel for things. They were still looking into reports filed on missing persons and if any of those had unusual birth-marks. It wouldn’t do to demand a verification of the town’s richest and most well-respected man’s whereabouts and dealings for the last two months.
    Andrea glared at him, but made no contradiction. That surprised him.
    â€œAll right, Gabe.” Vanessa deliberately ignored the other woman in the room. “Why don’t you get back to me when you do? Until then…”
    Gabe knew Andrea was annoyed by the snub. Stepping closer to Vanessa, she took out a four-by-five photograph of the corpse. There wasn’t much to recognize, but the birthmark that had been discovered above the man’s right buttock had been digitally enhanced. She held it up for Vanessa to view. “Do you recognize this birthmark?”
    Vanessa had no desire to look at a body that had been submerged until hardly anything of him had been left to recognize. As she struggled with her anger, her eyes locked with Andrea’s.
    â€œYou already have the answer to that or you wouldn’t be here in my house, asking not too subtle questions about my father. Do I have a missing relative who had one of those birthmarks? No. Do I have an idea who this person is? Again, no. And it goes without saying that I wouldn’t know who would want to kill him.” She spared a glance toward Gabe. “Or if he even was killed. Maybe he fell off a boat somewhere, drowned and wound up washing ashore here.” To her, it was as good a theory as any.
    â€œHe might have fallen off a boat,” Andrea informed her tersely, putting the photograph away again, “but he didn’t drown. He was shot first.”
    Vanessa had had just about enough of this. “My fatherdoesn’t shoot people. My family doesn’t shoot people—even when we’re