Page 72 of Destiny

Kind of a metaphor for my life right now.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Brendan

Back at my place, I stare at the documents recovered from my floorboards.

The Steels. It all comes back to the Steels.

If I were a secret cryo facility, where would I be?

And why…

Why would Wendy Madigan want my great-uncle’s sperm? Why would she use it to fertilize her daughter?

It’s not like the Murphys have money like the Steels. What would be the point?

What am I missing?

I have no doubt that Ruby could use her detective skills and figure this out, but her loyalty will always be to the Steel family. To her husband and her daughters. I don’t fault her for that.

Hell, my loyalty is to her daughter.

But I also have loyalty to my father. And now…Jack. And as much as I’ve tried to get my father to give up on his quest over the years, now I understand more than ever. I want to know what happened to my great-uncle, what it has to do with the Steels and with Wendy Madigan, and why he fathered a son twenty years after his death.

Is there a reason?

Or is Wendy Madigan just batshit crazy?

My guess is that it’s a little of both.

I pick up my phone and call the city administration building.

“Snow Creek admin. May I help you?”

“Donny Steel, please.”

“Just a minute. I’ll see if he’s in. May I ask who’s calling?”

“This is Brendan Murphy.”

“Hold on.”

Pause.

“Mr. Steel will be with you in a minute.”

Pause.

“Hey, Brendan.”

“Hey. I’m sitting here looking at these documents. I want to make sure that you remove the lien from my property as you promised.”

“Right. I’ve been working on that.”

“Any problems?”

“Only one, but it’s a big one.”

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