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.”