Page 59 of 2nd Strike
“I can’t give out test results over the phone, Charlie, you know that. Especially tests I shouldn’t be doing in the first place.”
“Yes or no, that’s all I need.”
“If you want them, come get them.”
He hangs up.
Bastard. I grip the phone so tight, I expect to crush it like the Hulk.
Trying to steady my breath, I point Meg to the car where Ethan and Jon still wait. “Let’s go. We’ve got lab results to pick up.”
26
Meg
Jon is Ethan Havers.
For some reason, I’m still having trouble wrapping my mind around it. It’s not so much that I don’t believe it. I do. I’m simply…shocked.
At this case.
At the last few weeks.
At the two boys whose lives have been thrown into disarray. How will they ever recover?
After leaving Jon and Ethan in the reception area of the lab, Charlie and I sit in Chuck’s no-frills, white-walled office as he reviews the analysis with us. JJ had an emergency call from his office and cabbed it to his home so he could access his laptop. Even though he’s on suspension, he still has case notes the prosecutors need. And, well, he’s JJ.
A good guy and a top-notch lawyer. Most would say ’screw you’ to the government.
Chuck, meanwhile, gives us scientific terminology that soars above my head.
From what I can tell, what it comes down to is Jon is a ninety-nine percent match to Carl.
Somehow, I’m not relieved. Yes, a huge ball of pressure has vaporized, but in its wake is the fact we haven’t yet found Ethan’s real parents. George Olsen’s DNA results may change that, but as yet, we don’t know.
I sit back and meet my sister’s gaze. “We have to tell Jon and Ethan about this. But they’re just kids. It doesn’t feel right dropping it on them.”
“I agree.”
“We should tell Carl and Lily first. Right? And probably fess up to Taylor that we—I—obtained a sample from Jon.”
Charlie smiles at me, sarcasm all but dripping from her. “Nice try. We’re a team.”
“Obtaining it was my doing. Why should you go down for it?”
She waves me off. “It won’t matter. We got the confession. Besides, the Feds will do another DNA test. And, yes, we should talk to them before we tell the boys. They’re the parents. They’ll need to decide how they want to handle the situation. For both Jon and Ethan.” Charlie shakes her head. “My God. What a cluster.”
Chuck clears his throat and stands. “I probably shouldn’t be in on this conversation. I’ll leave you two alone.”
I hold my hand up. “It’s okay. I think we’re done here.”
“We’re good.” Charlie pushes out of her seat, reaching across the desk to shake Chuck’s hand. “Thank you. I know I dragged you into this. I’m sorry for that, but we’ve done a good thing here. A very good thing.”
With that, we say our goodbyes and head toward the lobby where Jon and Ethan are leaning against a wall across from the receptionist’s desk, staring off into space.
Whatever is going on in their minds has not only silenced them, it’s paralyzed their constant need to be on their phones.
“Let’s go, boys,” I say.
