Chapter Ten
"Robert, how great to see you and can this tall drink of handsome be your Jacob?" Hold on Turner, that's laying it on too thick. But they both seemed relieved somehow at her effusive greeting. She invited them in.
It was obvious they had come here with a purpose. Surely they couldn't know about the DNA matchup since Mick had never indicated the owner of the other donor hair.
"It's such a hot afternoon. Can I get you a lemonade or ice tea?" She was glad to be given some hostessing time in order to think what to do. Her multiple calls to Mick had gone unanswered; Guillermo swore he hadn't seen him and Josef was on the east coast or so his aide said. She quickly texted Logan, asking him to help find Mick and then took out a tray of cookies and lemonade.
"How old are you now, Jacob? 13? You've certainly grown up. That puts you in middle or junior high? Oh, yes, I've heard of that private school. It's the best in Los Angeles." She went on asking him questions, getting a feel for this older Jacob. She had really only known the frightened boy for several days so long ago and here he was, growing up with his voice starting to go deeper.
Finally, she turned to Robert, who bore the expression of a proud father on his face when she had been talking to Jacob. Now she could see he had aged quite a bit. After all he had been born in May of 1945. Oh, yes, Beth thought with a stab of jealousy, to Mick's Lila.
"How are you, Robert?"
"We've been coping, haven't we, Jacob?"
"I was so sorry to hear of your wife's passing. I saw the notice in the paper and had the D.A.'s office send some flowers. It's never easy losing someone. I know when I lost my mother ..." For a moment, Beth thought she saw a flare in Robert's eye. Does he know? She finished lamely, "If there's anything I can do to help?"
Jacob looked eagerly at his dad. Robert said, "Actually we've come to see Mick."
"Oh. Well, he's not home. He's off doing an investigation so I really don't know when to expect him. You know how caught up in these things he gets. Did you want to leave a message?"
She could see how disappointed Jacob was with the news and her heart broke. "Would you like to have him give you a call, Jacob? Maybe plan to get together?"
After looking to his father for permission, the well brought up young man nodded, yes, and both father and son got up. Robert told his son he'd like to talk to Beth for a moment and would Jacob mind waiting outside? She looked at him questioningly.
He handed her a parcel and then left.
It was an old, cracked envelope and upon opening, she could see what looked like one of those old fashioned locked diaries inside. It had recently been charred. She could still smell the smoke. Someone had tried to burn it ... but then couldn't.
She sat down and opened it. When she finished reading its contents, she texted Logan: "If you find him, keep him."