the timing of all this.”
“It doesn’t make any difference to me. I don’t want anyone else to be Jamie’s father.”
“Forget about the DNA for a minute. Is there any chance you had sexual relations with Abby around nine months, plus or minus, before she was born?”
“I’ve no idea. All that took place years before the night she hit me with the news. I’ve been all through this. Her biological father isn’t involved emotionally or legally in this. That’s the way I want it. I don’t want him involved in her life.
“When did you participate in the DNA test?”
“I didn’t participate. They tested Warren and got a positive result.”
“For chrissake, Kevin, you’ve had some pre-med education, yet you sound like some ignorant hillbilly. That isn’t how they do it. You must give a sample as well. That’s what paternity testing is all about. You, Abby and Jamie must all three give samples for the DNA to be valid.”
“She didn't say anything to me about that.”
“What about all her unprotected sex with other men during your marriage? Warren might have been her partner now and again for years. I’ll bet there were other men as well. God only knows who all those guys in turn slept with and what you were subsequently exposed to.”
“I definitely was concerned about that part when I found out. I had tests immediately for HIV and a complete STD screen. I’m totally clean.”
“At least you had sense enough to do that. And there’s been no sex with Abby since?”
“Of course not!”
“You don’t trust Abby. Why do you believe her when it comes to the most important thing in your life?”
“I don’t want to know absolutely, definitely, that Jamie isn’t mine.”
“You can’t go through life with your head in the sand. It’s important to know. You have to find out for sure. I think we should dig into this. Tell me about the divorce.”
“She ran around, but it was my fault as well. I could’ve been a better husband. Sort of silly...I got hooked on Rubik’s Cube.”
“Wait, wait, wait. She screwed other men. You tried to solve Rubik’s Cube. You think you both are guilty of destroying the marriage?”
“Usually she would get all dressed up and go out in the evening to meet a girlfriend, but one night we were home watching TV, one of her shows. I just wasn’t that interested and had the cube in my hands twisting it around. It was a challenge for me. She blew up and told me she was tired of seeing that dumb cube and she told me where I could stick it. I suppose there were other times when I could have done something with her. The entire Rubik fascination lasted only a couple of weeks.”
“You found the puzzle more interesting than her.”
“That wouldn’t take much. In the divorce, we agreed she got half of everything, including the house I practically built before the marriage. Later, she agreed to give up custody of Jamie in return for all of the house. I jumped at the deal. I would get Jamie. I could always get another house. Jamie also was in heaven over the arrangement. The kicker came later. Abby told me after the house deal got settled she was going back before the judge and get custody of Jamie on the grounds she had a house for the child and I didn’t.”
“Leaving you with nothing and Jamie taken away.”
“She didn’t really want Jamie. She did it because she knew Jamie and I wanted to be together. So I changed my mind about giving her the house. She’ll still get it, I suppose, but I’m going to fight it.
“So you think you’re a failure as a parent because of all that. You’re going to get her back permanently, I’m sure of it. I’ll help you. I just put it on my to-do list.”
“That’s great but we have to find her first.”
“You absolutely must get a valid DNA paternity test.”
“You said we need Abby’s DNA and Jamie’s DNA as well as mine. Abby would never give a sample and Jamie isn’t around.”
“I’ll get their DNA. You’ve been watching Abby’s house every chance you get haven’t you?”
“Sure, and no sign of Jamie.”
“I’m going to go inside.”
“Inside Abby’s house? You think Jamie’s in there?”
“That’s a long shot although with Abby who knows. The house has never been checked. Is there more than one bathroom?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” He saw she expected an answer. “Okay, there’s a bathroom off the master bedroom and one in the hall.”
“Jamie uses the one in the hall, right?”
“Right. I’m glad we cleared up the bathroom layout. What are you up to?”
“I can obtain DNA samples from their toothbrushes. We’re going to continue searching for Jamie while waiting for the test results. I want to nose around in her house anyway. Stuff on her computer. Messages on her answering machine. An address book. Something lying around. Anything that might lead us to Jamie.”
“You know she has a gun?”
“The cops took it. At least they took one gun—she may have another. If you phoned her, say tonight, could you get her out of the house for an hour? I’m not certain just how I’ll get in. I can probably do it. Often there’s an unlocked window or something.”
'Why don’t I just tell you where the backdoor key is hidden?”
“That’s too simple. More fun to break a window. I’m kidding...where’s the key?”
“In the hanging flower pot on the back porch. She leaves it there for Jamie. How can I lure Abby out of the house?”
“Make up something about visitation or custody. Tell her there’s some problem. Will that work? Phone her now.”
She waited while he phoned Abby. He began nodding his head. After a few minutes, he flipped his phone shut and smiled. “No problem. Seven tonight. She was surprised. She’s coming over to the Ramada. I told her I’d buy her dinner. She thinks I want to get her in bed.”
“Do you? Hey, just once more for old time’s sake?”
“I’ve already drunk too much water from that poisoned well.”
Chapter Fifteen
Shortly before seven that evening, Sandy parked down the block and watched as Abby left her house and backed out of the driveway. When her car was out of sight, Sandy pulled far up the driveway so her car wasn’t visible from the street.
On the back porch, she found the key in the hanging flowerpot. She unlocked the door and stepped inside the kitchen. It was growing dark outside. A yard light mounted on the garage illuminated the rooms at the back of the house. She could see with no problem. She walked through the small house directly to the bathrooms. An electric toothbrush was in its stand in the master bathroom. She snapped the brush out of the end and wrapped it in the little square of clean paper she’d brought. In the hall bathroom, she found a small brush with Yogi Bear for a handle. She wrapped it also and stuffed both deep into the pocket of her jeans. Next, she checked the bedrooms, opening each closet thinking how satisfying it’d be to find Jamie there gagged and pleading with wide eyes.
That’s when she heard something. Something from the kitchen. Like the click of a closing door. Had she locked the back door after she came in? No, she wanted it open for a fast getaway. She waited there in the hall. Quiet. Nothing. The sound had possibly come from outside. She stepped softly across to the dining room window to look out at her car. A chill raced along her spine. Oh Christ, now a white SUV was parked in the driveway.
She heard shuffling and a loud grunt behind her. She started to turn. Some cloth, it felt like a dishtowel, was flipped over her head and pulled hard around her neck. Definitely someone strong behind her. She jerked back against him. Tried to scream. The towel twisted tighter around her neck. She choked and tried to get her fingers under the towel. Too tight. She flayed about trying reach back to find his face with her hand. He pulled harder. All she could do was to kick and twist and claw at the towel around her throat. She felt faint. Could no longer struggle.
