Chapter Twenty-Six
Mick was stalling, Beth knew the signs. Maybe this whole fatherhood thing would be too much for him to handle?
"So, I don't get it, Beth, if Alison had gotten a positive hit on my DNA match with Robert, why did I get the negative result letter?"
"Best guess? Clerical error. But the point is, Alison has known something was different about you all along. She just thought it was a medical anomaly. One that could be researched further and maybe used to help mankind. And Ben ..."
"Yeah, what did Mr. District Attorney want with you?"
Beth held her temper, knowing he still felt the old rivalry with Ben Talbott. She smiled at the thought of his green-eyed jealousy rearing up again. Good, serves him right for not immediately jumping on the baby bandwagon.
"Lunch was fun." In truth, it hadn't been. Ben had changed. Underneath the smooth charm, he was suspicious, possibly even angry with her? He had explained why his office had gone after her, but it wasn't very convincing. And then when he started talking about Mick's involvement in Jacob's case, she had almost fallen off her seat.
"Ben knows about the DNA test, too."
"How? And what's it to him anyway?"
"He said your name kept coming up in so many of his ... and Josh's ... investigations that the state A.G.'s office contacted him; started a dossier on you - any kind of information like that DNA test. Plus any of your known associates."
"The list."
"No, me. I think he was trying to tell me something ... warn me that he wasn't able to cover it up anymore."
"Cover what up?"
"Our unusual association.
Oh, and he thinks you're Robert's illegimate son. He just hasn't figured out yet what that has to do with the price of tea in China. But it's all he's got ... so far."
Mick's face changed and suddenly he was grinning.
"I think we ought to invite old Ben to the christening, don't you?"