Page 68 of 2nd Strike
"George?"
“The very one. Ethan is his son, but there are no missing children reports that match the date, time, and place. If he was kidnapped, his mother didn't report it. Do you think Amelia is actually the mother?"
“No. My theory is the mother paid Amelia to take him, based on things Susie told us.”
A pause. “You know that sounds ass backwards, right? Why would anyone do that?"
"No idea, but I need to talk to Taylor. Is she with you?"
“She’s still at the Bureau. I'm at the office. Do you want me to call her?"
My dinner’s getting cold, but I know I'm onto something, no matter how ridiculous it sounds. “Nah, you go home. I'll talk to her as soon as I have solid information."
I sink back in my chair with some relief. "We found Ethan 's father."
JJ smiles. "That's great. See? I knew you'd figure it out.”
I'm not done yet. “Do you remember how Lily’s popularity shot into the stratosphere when she was pregnant?”
JJ has finished his food and he kicks back, wiping his fingers on his napkin. “Sure. That's when she and Carl became America's sweethearts."
“Within a few weeks after she had the baby, the public moved on, like they always do. She was on maternity leave and Carl was still in the spotlight."
“Where are you going with this?"
I'm already dialing Taylor. When she answers, I say, “You need to check Carl and Lily's finances from fifteen years ago when their baby was born.”
Taylor's voice is strained, tired. "Why?"
“Because if you look hard enough, I think you'll find a money trail that links Lily to Amelia. I found the fake Ethan’s biological father in California where Amelia and Susie lived before they came to D.C. The mother paid Amelia to take the child and disappear, and he wasn't the only one Amelia did this with.”
"What are you saying, Charlie?”
"Lily paid Amelia to kidnap her son."
30
Charlie
“You’ve been under a lot of stress," Taylor says to me, once more forced to find patience. "You're not making sense."
Lily loves the spotlight, would do almost anything to stay in it. She lives on drama that she plays out in front of the world.
"Will you promise me you'll look into it? Please, Taylor. I know there's a connection."
Her response comes a little too fast, and drips with sarcasm. “It's not like I have anything else to do. You’re lucky Matt loves you in a platonic, sisterly type of way."
She hangs up and I toss the phone on top of my file. "I need to fax her my notes.”
JJ points at my plate. "Finish your dinner. Nothing else is going to get done tonight."
He's right, but I itch to force something to happen anyway.
I know he won't let me go anywhere until I eat, so I begin scarfing it down. It's good, and I'm so glad he made it for me.
We bat around ideas to explain my theory. It's challenging. To us, it makes no sense for someone to give their child away with a lump sum of money. "Unless the mother feels guilty and wants to make sure the baby is well taken care of," I say, swallowing a mouthful.
JJ starts to clean up, sliding a couple of carrot and celery pieces onto my plate. He doesn't resemble my mother, but I'd swear he's channeling her. "I can see that as a possibility."
