Page 43 of Ten Years Later
Keaton Young used his brother’s name because he had a record, including stalking.
He thought Emily was his dead daughter, Vivian.
Keaton befriended Emily, talked with her on the phone, and texted with her.
He allowed her to sleep in his daughter’s room.
Keaton hid Emily in an RV.
He took her hair for a DNA test.
Keaton hired an investigator to look into Mia and Dana.
He thought one of them kidnapped Emily all those years ago.
To top everything off, Emily believed all of this to be true.
Apparently, though, Keaton had done this a few times before. Mia held tight to that last bit of information, praying it held this time.
Patiently, she answered every question Detective Sparks asked.
When did you adopt Emily? How did you know Dana Zielchrist? Do you have Emily’s birth certificate? Her adoptionfiles? A copy of Dana’s will? The name and number of the woman from Children Services who contacted you? Why don’t you have any photos of Emily as a baby? Where did this fire take place that took Dana’s life?
And on. And on. And on.
My God, did they think Mia lied? Did they think she kidnapped this girl, Vivian? Did they truly think Vivian was Emily?
Vaguely, Mia registered the detective saying they’d do a DNA test there at the station. What if it came back positive? How could that be so?
None of this made sense.
Dana gave birth to Emily…didn’t she?
A technician came into the room to do a cheek swab on Emily. A window overlooking the station took up part of the wall. Dazed, Mia watched the goings on—phones ringing, cops talking, someone in handcuffs escorted by.
Mia stared, her mind ticking the years, trying to sift the details, when a woman walked through the security door escorted by a cop. Petite with long dark curly hair, she stood against the wall as the cop crossed the busy area, coming toward their room.
The petite woman tracked the cop’s movement, her attention gradually focusing through the window and onto Emily. Though Mia couldn’t hear, she noted the gasp that crossed her face.
The door to their room opened. The cop said, “Cora’s here.”
30 /CURRENT DAY
Keaton drovefor hours looking for Mia’s vehicle. Finally, defeatedly, he drove home.
Over Bluetooth, his phone rang. Tessa Gray’s name lit up his screen.
Fresh hope surged through him. “Hello?” he answered, his voice showing every bit of desperation he felt.
“I’m so sorry I’m just calling you back now. It has been a crazy day.”
“DNA?”
“No. I’m sorry.”
His heart paused in beating. “No?”
“Oh, I mean, no, I don’t have the results due to a hiccup at the lab. They’ll have it tomorrow.”
