Page 46 of Poison Evidence

Mara scooted closer to Erica and rested her head on her shoulder. From this close, she could smell Grace. Newborn baby smell—slightly sour milk, baby soap, and love.

Grace’s fine lashes rested on her cheeks as her head tilted up toward her mother. Perfect contentment on the infant’s sleeping face.

“I’m pregnant.” She whispered, partly to avoid waking Grace, but also because this was the first time she’d told anyone outside immediate family.

Erica let out a soft squeal, causing the baby to stir.

“It’s early yet—only nine weeks—so we’re keeping it quiet for now. But Curt’s going to announce he’s stepping down in a few months.”

“Curt is quitting?”

“He feels it’s time. And I am so ready to have him for more than a few hours a week.” Mara reached out and stroked Grace’s soft hair. “Especially if we’re going to have one of these.”

Erica sniffled. “Gah. It must be the new-mom hormones that are making me cry. Everything makes me cry. But I’m really happy for you. That you’ll get more Curt time. That Grace will have a little buddy.” She laughed. “I guess that means basically, I’m happy forme.”

Grace woke up and let out her own cry.

“Now that she’s awake, do you want to hold her?”

“Sure, offer her to me when she’scrying.” But she reached out and lifted the disgruntled bundle from Erica’s chest. She hadn’t held Grace in a week and had been suffering baby Gracie withdrawal.

She climbed to her feet and gently bounced the baby as she paced Erica and Lee’s house. They’d moved in to the old house in Alexandria right before Christmas. They had a yard and room for Lee to move his business to a home office so he could be there for the baby twenty-four seven.

Grace quieted in Mara’s arms. “She’s put on weight.”

“She outgrew most of the newborn clothes before she even wore them.” Erica stood and stretched. “Oh! I can give them to you. Are you and Curt going to stay in the city after he leaves the Justice Department?”

“We haven’t decided. We might move closer to a Metro line for my commute.” She flashed a grin. “I saw a For Sale sign up the street on our way here.”

The back door opened, and Lee and Curt stepped inside. Curt approached Mara and dropped a kiss on Grace’s head before kissing her. He was as eager to be a dad as she was to be a mom, which was unexpected because when they’d first married, they’d agreed to forgo parenting altogether. Her biological clock had slammed into her with a vengeance about two years ago, but they’d agreed to wait until Curt was ready to quit. His job was all-consuming, and they both wanted him to be present for their family.

“The grill is ready for the fish,” Lee announced.

Grace lifted her head at the sound of her father’s voice and smiled.

“She’s only been smiling for a few days,” Erica said. “And Lee always gets the best ones. She already knows how to wrap her daddy around her tiny finger.”

Lee cooed to her. At six-five, he towered over Mara. There was something adorable about watching the giant of a man melt over his baby girl.

“That’s because my Gracie is as smart as her mother,” Lee said in a singsong voice directed at the baby.

Mara passed Grace to Lee and gave Curt a sheepish look. “Remember how we promised not to tell anyone yet? I sort of slipped.”

Lee laughed. “So did Curt. I was playing it cool.” He leaned down and kissed Mara’s cheek. “I’m so happy for you both.”

Mara’s cell phone vibrated. She’d usually ignore her phone, but with Ivy’s situation, that wasn’t possible. She frowned at the work number on the display. With an apology to Erica and Lee, she took the call and stepped into the kitchen. Curt followed.

She answered using the speaker feature. “Mara, this is tech security. Fifteen minutes ago, CAM stopped transmitting.”

Adrenaline shot through her system so hard and fast, it made her nauseated. “Do you know if it was turned off, or destroyed?”

“No clue. One second the signal was solid. The next it was gone. We spent ten minutes rebooting. I’ve made a call to see if we can get real-time satellite images, but by the time they come online, the boat could be long gone.”

“If Ivy did it willingly, she’ll get in touch with me—if she can. I should get off this line.” She met Curt’s gaze.

“Mara and I will be there as soon as we can,” Curt said. “If you need to reach us, call my cell.” He gave the number, then hit the End button.

They gave hurried apologies for bolting before dinner to Erica and Lee. The couple knew about Ivy’s situation and understood. Before Mara had her coat on, her cell phone rang again.

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