Page 35 of Destiny

“I haven’t talked to her in a while,” he says. “She and I used to work together a lot when she was active on the force, and then we stayed in touch, but it’s been nearly a year since we’ve talked.”

“She speaks highly of you.”

“She’s the best.” He grabs a clear cylinder. “So you think you’re related to this other guy, huh?”

“It’s possible. We don’t know for sure. How does this testing work, anyway?”

“We look for similar strands of DNA, try to find a common ancestor up three generations or so. Past that, it gets kind of difficult.” He pokes the needle into my vein.

The guy’s good. I hardly feel a thing.

“Got it. Well, whatever you can find out, we appreciate it.”

“Not a problem.”

“What do we owe you?”

“Not a cent. Like I said, Ruby and I go way back.”

I hold up my hand. “Let me pay something.”

“I won’t hear of it. You just give Ruby my best.”

“Good enough.” I shake his hand. “I appreciate it, man.”

It’s eleven a.m. by the time we’re done, and my stomach is starting to growl. I skipped breakfast this morning.

“Dad, feel like some lunch?”

He looks at his watch. “It’s a little early for that.”

“Make it brunch, then. Do you want to join us, Jack?”

“Sure. Where do you guys want to go?”

“There’s a Waffle House down the road,” I say. “It’s a little on the nose, but it’s inexpensive and satisfying.”

“Sounds good to me,” Jack says. “My treat, for your trouble.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Dad says.

“I’m happy to.”

Fifteen minutes later, we’re sitting at a table, drinking black coffee.

“There’s something you should know, Jack,” I say.

“What’s that?”

“Apparently your grandmother is no longer in the hospital.”

Jack nods. “Oh, yeah. I know that. Ryan Steel called my mother yesterday. Her number was listed on Wendy’s medical records.”

I nearly drop my jaw. “So you know where she is?”

“No. I don’t. All I know is that my mother gave Ryan permission to do whatever the hell he wanted with her.”

“So there’s really no love lost there.”

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