Page 32 of Protecting the Newborn

Devin shrugged. “If you want me to give you a sample of my DNA, you can check it. I personally don’t need the results, but you might want them.” He aimed that last part at Gracelyn. “I mean, just in case the kid asks about that sort of thing down the road.”

“You don’t want to know if she’s your daughter?” Gracelyn managed to say, though her throat was very tight now.

“No,” Devin insisted. “I’m not exactly the father type. And FYI, I told Allie that when she first suspected she might be pregnant. I told her if she had the kid, it was hers, not mine. I wanted no part of any of that.”

Gracelyn hated the way he threw the wordkidaround. Then again, she hated Devin, so it stood to reason she despised anything that came out of his mouth.

“I’ll get a DNA test kit,” Duncan said, standing.

The surprise flashed through Devin’s eyes, but he didn’t go back on his offer to give them a sample. Good. This would expedite things. Since Devin had a record, they could go through the database and get his DNA, but this way, his sample could be sent directly to the lab. Then not only could they use the DNA for a paternity test, but they could see if it matched any of the evidence gathered from the multiple crime scenes. It was a long shot, but sometimes long shots paid off.

And that was why she went with another one while Duncan was getting the test.

“Last year your name came up in an investigation that dealt with a black-market baby operation,” Gracelyn stated. “You were interviewed because—”

“Because I knew the wrong person,” Devin interrupted. He huffed. “Freddy Dundee. I had no idea he was selling babies. And apparently he sold some kids to the so-called baby farm that the cops tried to bust.” He stared at her. “You were a cop. Were you involved in the investigation?”

“No,” she lied, and she watched his reaction to that. Another of the almost smiles. So, he knew she’d been involved, which meant he likely knew that Ruston had been as well.

“Probably for the best you weren’t involved,” Devin commented. “I mean, I heard it turned out bad for the cops.”

“It turned out bad for the criminals, too,” Ruston interjected. “The baby farm was shut down.”

“Well, that’s good,” Devin muttered, and this time there was no reaction at all. Gracelyn wouldn’t have wanted to play poker with this guy.

Gracelyn pushed some more. “I’m trying to work out a timeline for Allie and you. When did the two of you become involved?”

“Oh, I’ve known Allie for years. We met at a party... I’m not sure how long ago. But years, like I said.”

“When did you start a romantic relationship with her?” Ruston asked.

Devin shrugged, glanced away. “I’m not sure,” he repeated.

“Was it about a year ago?” Ruston pressed. “Longer, shorter?”

Now Devin’s eyes hardened. No more poker face. “You’re trying to pinpoint if I hooked up with her to get some insider info on the baby-farm investigation. I didn’t. And it wasn’t a romance. It was sex. Allie tried to make it out to be more than it was.” He checked his watch. “Sorry, but I forgot I have another appointment back in San Antonio. Can we wrap this up?”

Gracelyn wanted to continue to push on the baby-farm connection, but Devin seemed right on the edge. She didn’t want him walking out, especially before he’d done the DNA test.

“Have you ever had any dealings with Lieutenant Tony Franklin or Detective Charla Burke?” she asked. On the surface, it might seem as if she was changing the subject, but she was just shifting it a little.

Devin repeated the names as if trying to see if they sparked any recognition. He shook his head. “I don’t think so, but again, you know I’ve been arrested.” He stopped, smiled. “And I can’t recall all the cops involved in every case.”

She couldn’t tell if he was lying, so she used her phone to pull up photos of both Charla and Tony. And she watched to see if there was any reaction.

Maybe.

There was just a slight tensing of his jaw before he shook his head again. “I don’t know them. Why? Are they involved in this mess with Marty?”

Quite possibly. One of them, anyway. But it was equally possible that both Charla and Tony had had nothing to do with the attacks and murders. That could all be on the man sitting directly across from her.

Gracelyn wished there was something they could use to hold Devin while they continued to dig deeper into the investigation. There was his association with Marty. And Allie. But there wasn’t any proof that Duncan or SAPD could use for an arrest.

Not yet, anyway.

Duncan came back into the interview room with the test kit, and he handed it to Devin, instructing him on how to use it. Again, Devin hesitated, but he went through with the cheek swab. He handed it back to Duncan and then checked his watch.

“I need to leave for that other appointment,” Devin said, standing. “Do any of you have any more questions for me before I go?”

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