Page 45 of 2nd Strike
That’s all I need to shut my conscience up. This is about him and his right to know where he came from.
We’ve been so busy trying to find Carl and Lily’s biological son we’ve all but abandoned our original assignment of finding out who Ethan is.
He deserves answers.
And if we can connect Jon to Carl or Lily, maybe, just maybe, it’ll somehow tie back to Ethan’s real parents.
I don’t know. One step at a time.
After meeting Jon, if nothing new develops, I’ll see how Matt’s doing on the list Jerry gave us. Somewhere on it might be Ethan’s biological father. Or at least a relative.
I hop in, drop my tote behind Ethan’s seat and shove the bag in the console.
“What’s that?”
“That, my friend, is a DNA test.”
I don’t need to look at Ethan to know he’s staring at me with those inquisitive eyes that’ve seen way more than a kid his age should. He’s a smart boy and doesn’t ask who it’s for. Testing Jon’s DNA is the obvious step.
Refusing to look at him, I turn the key and make quick work of pulling out of the parking lot. “I’m going to swab him and see if Charlie can get the lab to run the test.”
“He’s a minor. You need consent.”
“What’s your point?”
“Whoa! You’re kinda badass.”
If only.
I shrug and blow through a yellow light. “I have nothing to lose. I’m a sculptor, not a cop. If we get a match on Jon, we’ll have at least found…” Lord, how to say this?
“The real Ethan,” Ethan adds.
Another light flashes to red and I’m forced to stop. I sit for a second while the silence lingers, forcing me to think when all I want is to not do that. I finally glance at Ethan who has no idea who the hell he is.
“If he’s a match, we’ll have found Carl and Lily’s biological son.Youwill always be Ethan.” I smile. “Unless you change your name to Waldo or something equally compelling.”
He snorts and the sound bursts the tension like an arrow through a balloon. Relief washes over me and I ease out a breath. This is one great kid.
The light flips to green and I punch the gas. “Ethan, whatever happens with Jon, I promise you, we’ll find your father and mother.”
Is it fair to make such a bold promise? Who knows? But we owe him that much. I won’t give up on him and neither will Charlie. No matter howdelicatethe situation with the Havers.
Who am I kidding? It’s a fucking nightmare. I can’t see them putting Ethan out though. Even if Carl did show up with a suitcase and allow Ethan to stay with me a couple days while he settled his lunatic wife down.
The man isn’t a monster. At least I don’t think he is. My take is he’s trying to limit Ethan’s exposure to his wife’s emotional chaos.
Lily? Definitely a monster.
“Yeah,” Ethan says. “I know. You guys are awesome.”
Whatever mistakes Carl and Lily have made, they’ve raised an extraordinary young man. For that, I’ll give them credit.
I hang a left onto a side street that my GPS tells me should lead to the park. On the sidewalk, two boys riding skateboards head the same direction.
Getting close.
Ethan points straight. “It’s on the next block.”
