“Hey, Brant,” Sam said when she ended the call with Lindsey. “Would you please let them know outside that Drs. Harry Flynn and Lindsey McNamara will be coming over shortly?”

“Sure, thing, Mrs. Cappuano. No problem.”

“Thanks.”

“Who was that you called?” Josh asked.

“The District’s Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Lindsey McNamara. She’s a friend and a colleague. I trust her to be discreet.”

“I thought medical examiners worked on dead people.”

“Usually they do, but she’s also a medical doctor and handles DNA testing for us.” She glanced at the stairs. “I need to check on my husband. He’s not feeling well. I’ll be right back down.”

Sam went upstairs to the bedroom, where Nick was exactly where she’d left him. She placed her head on his face and was stunned by how hot he felt. Running back downstairs, she called Harry again and got his voicemail. “Harry, it’s Sam again. He’s scary hot. I’m worried. Let me know if you think I should take him to the ER.”

Sam’s phone rang, and she pounced on it, hoping it was Harry. “Mrs. Cappuano, this is Mrs. Perry at Eliot-Hine. The school nurse asked me to call to let you know Scotty’s not feeling well. He has a fever of one hundred point two. Is it okay if we send him home with his detail?”

Sam’s heart sank at the news that Scotty was sick too. While she’d rather pick him up herself, the agents could get him home faster. “Yes, please. Send him home.”

CHAPTER THREE

SCOTTY NARROWLY MISSED throwing up on Sam when she met him on the sidewalk in front of the house. Fortunately, she saw what was happening and jumped out of the way in time for him to puke on the street rather than on her. She patted his back and took tissues from Darcy, one of his agents, to wipe his mouth when he was done.

“Sorry,” he muttered. His face was so pale he barely resembled her robustly healthy son.

“Don’t be sorry. You can’t help it, buddy. You okay for now?”

“I think so.”

Sam wrapped her arm around him to lead him inside. “How long have you felt lousy?”

“About an hour. I was fine and then my head was spinning and my ears were buzzing. Then my stomach started hurting, and I felt really hot.”

“Whatever it is, your dad has it too, and Harry’s on his way.”

Scotty closed his eyes and leaned his head against her. “Okay.”

“Oh my goodness,” Shelby said when Sam brought him inside.

“You need to get out of here while the getting is still good,” Sam said. “Whatever they’ve got is the last thing you need.”

“I can’t leave you to deal with this by yourself.”

“Yes, you can. Go, Tinker Bell. That’s an order.”

“If you’re sure,” Shelby said tearfully. Everything made her cry these days.

“I’m very sure this is no place for a pregnant woman.”

“All right, I’m going. I’ll check in after a while.”

In a low voice only Shelby could hear, Sam added, “Please don’t say anything to anyone, even Avery, about what Josh told you.” Sam wanted to say especially Avery, but she showed some restraint. The last thing she needed was Shelby’s FBI agent fiancé catching wind of possible accusations against his boss. Shelby hadn’t put Hamilton plus Hamilton together to get Troy Hamilton, but Avery was apt to.

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Um, should I go too?” Josh asked, eyeing Scotty warily.

“No, you stay. I’ll be back down as soon as I can.” With her arm still around Scotty’s shoulders, she guided him to the stairs. “Come on, pal. You gotta help me out here.”

“Sorry.” He climbed the stairs in slow steps. By the time they reached the top, he’d broken into a sweat.

Sam wrangled him into his room, helped him out of his coat and sweater. “Do you want to do the jeans?”

“You can,” he said in the smallest voice she’d ever heard from him.

That her thirteen-year-old wanted help with his pants said a lot about how sick he really was. A pang of fear struck her heart. Where the hell was Harry?

She got Scotty out of the jeans and into a pair of flannel pajama pants that had the Batman logo all over them. He was asleep before she finished dressing him.

Sam pulled the comforter up and over him, tucking him in. She’d no sooner gotten him settled when she heard retching noises from her own room. She ran for the hallway.

“Is he okay?” Darcy asked from her post outside Scotty’s door.

“I don’t know. Doc is on his way.”

Sam went in to help Nick, who’d fortunately made it to the bathroom. Wetting a washcloth, she bathed his face and cradled his head against her chest between bouts of vomiting.

“Scotty has it too.”

He moaned. “Haven’t felt this bad ever.”

“I’m scared for you guys.”

He wrapped an arm around her, thinking of her first as he always did, even when he felt like hell. “Don’t be. Just the flu or something.”

It was the “or something” that scared the crap out of her.

“What happened at the hearing?” he asked.

“Suspended for four days, but don’t worry about that now. It’s no biggie.”

“Yes, it is. You’re not upset?”

“Nah. This too shall pass. I’m not sorry I slugged him. He had it coming.”

“He certainly did.”

“You ready to go back to bed?”

“So ready.”

It took both of them to get him up off the bathroom floor and back into bed. Sam tucked him in and sat next to him, stroking his hair and thinking about what to do with Josh.

With Nick asleep again, she crept out of the room and placed a call to Freddie.

“Hey, did you talk to Gonzo?” he asked.

“Jesus, I totally forgot. You won’t believe what’s been going on since I left HQ earlier.” She brought him up to speed on the situation with Josh Hamilton.

“Holy cow,” he said softly. “Director Hamilton’s son is accusing him of being a kidnapper?”

“We don’t know anything yet, other than Josh Hamilton closely resembles the age-progression photo the family released to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the kidnapping, and his thirtieth birthday is coming up. That’s all we know. Lindsey is coming to take a swab, and I’ll ask the lab to rush it. I’m going to reach out to the Williamson County people to let them know we might have a lead for them. Once we have the DNA, we’ll send it to Williamson County to see if it’s a match to the missing baby’s parents.”

“What if it is?”

“One thing at a time.”

“What can I do?”

“It’s kind of a big thing, but I need someone on Josh until we know what we’re dealing with. I’m sure you have plans this weekend—”

“Actually, Elin is going wedding dress shopping with her friends for the weekend, so I’m on my own.”

“How do you feel about hunkering down in a hotel with him until we know more?”

“I’d much rather hunker down in a hotel with Elin, but since that’s not happening this weekend, I can do it.”

“Are you sure? I’m technically not allowed to ask you to do anything, and I’m not sure how the OT will work. I’ll clean it up later with Malone.”

“Don’t sweat it. It all comes out in the wash.”

“In case I forget to tell you, you’re the best.”

“Yeah, yeah, so you say until you get mad with me and I’m not the best anymore.”

“When was the last time I was mad with you?”

“Um, when I tuned up Elliott?” he asked of the man who’d assaulted his fiancée.

“That was a very specific instance of you doing something stupid.”

“Sort of like you punching Ramsey?”

“Just like,” she said with a laugh. “Touché.”

“Where’s Josh now?”

“My living room.”

“Seriously? You brought him home with you?”

“Where else was I supposed to take him? HQ is off limits to me at the moment, and I wanted him somewhere that no one could get to him. This place is like Fort Knox these days, so where better?”

“I’ll come get him.”

“Enter at your own risk. Nick and Scotty are down hard with something that could be the flu but more closely resembles the bubonic plague.”

“Ah, damn, that’s too bad.”

“Puts a damper on my plans for a restful break,” she said as she looked in on Scotty and then Nick. Both were sleeping peacefully—for the moment.

The doorbell rang, and Sam headed for the stairs, praying it was Harry. “I gotta go. I’ll see you when you get here.”

“I’ll be there within the hour.”

“Thanks again.”

“No problem.”

It was a huge problem and an even bigger imposition, but he wouldn’t say so, and that made him the best partner she’d ever had. He did whatever she asked of him, no matter how outrageous the request.

She reached the living room as Brant ushered Dr. Harry Flynn into the house. “Thank God you’re here. My boys are sick as dogs.”

The handsome, dark-haired doctor kissed her cheek. “Boys plural?”

“Scotty came home with the same thing Nick has. They’re both scary sick.”

“Dr. Harry’s on the job. Lead the way.”

“Be right back,” Sam said to Josh as she took Harry upstairs, first to Scotty, who hadn’t budged since she tucked him in.

Harry took his temperature with a thingie he swiped over the boy’s forehead. “One-oh-three. That’s one heck of a fever. Did he mention any symptoms other than the vomiting?”

“He could barely hold himself up, let alone talk.”

“And he was fine this morning?”

“They both were—and then they weren’t.”

“It’s going around. We’ve seen it in the office.”

Sam felt slightly better to hear her guys hadn’t been taken down by something random.

“It’s usually a miserable day or two before they start to rebound.” He finished examining Scotty. “Let me take a quick look at Nick.”

“Right this way.”

Nick woke up while Harry was taking his temperature. “What’re you doing in my bedroom?”

“I came to seduce your wife since you’re not capable at the moment.”

Nick groaned and attempted a smile. “Hands off. She’s all mine.”

“One-oh-two,” Harry said, reading from the LCD. “How did it come on and what’re your symptoms?”

“I was in a meeting and my head started to buzz and my stomach started to hurt and within five minutes, I felt like I was going to pass out. Fortunately, Melinda saw it happen and was all over it. She and Brant got me out of there before I could puke in the White House.”

“Did she have her hands on you?” Sam asked of the blonde bombshell agent she called Secret Service Barbie.

“Relax. I didn’t feel a thing other than the need to puke.”

“I love how she’s jealous even when you’re sick as hell,” Harry said with a laugh.

“That’s my girl,” Nick said, his eyes closing. “True blue.” His hand found hers, and he linked their fingers.

No matter what the circumstances, he always knew how to handle her, and Sam didn’t mind being handled as long as he was the one doing it.

“I don’t think either of them needs more than rest and fluids. Unfortunately, it’s got to run its course. If they get any worse, don’t hesitate to call 911 and get them to the hospital.”

“That’s it? That’s all we can do?”

“For now. I’ll be checking in with you, and we’ll keep tabs on how they’re doing. Try not to worry. I know it’s hard to see them so sick, but you should see a big improvement by tomorrow. The most important thing is keeping them hydrated. Push the fluids.”

“All right. If you’re sure.”

He kissed her forehead. “I’m a phone call away if you need me. I promise they’re going to be fine.”

For the first time since she’d seen Nick looking like death warmed over, Sam relaxed ever so slightly. She wouldn’t completely relax, however, until they were both back to normal.

After she and Harry checked once more on their sleeping patients, she walked him downstairs and gave him a hug at the door. “Thanks for coming.”

“Anytime. Don’t hesitate to call me if they get any worse, okay?”

“You’ll be the first to know.”

He passed Lindsey McNamara on the ramp, and they exchanged a few words before Brant admitted Lindsey.

“Is it safe to come in?” Lindsey asked.

“Enter at your own risk,” Sam said. “We’re down hard with the flu.”

“Yikes.”

“At least my suspension is well-timed. I’m needed here for the next few days.”

“Silver lining,” Lindsey said with a smile. She glanced at Josh, who sat on the sofa, his leg still bouncing nervously. “Are you going to tell me what this is about?”

“I can’t. Not yet anyway. But suffice to say it’s a matter of paternity, and if it turns out to be something, it’s gonna be huge.”

“Say no more.”

Sam introduced her to Josh, and Lindsey explained the process of obtaining a cheek swab to test his DNA.

“How long will it take to get results?” he asked.

“I’ll put a rush on it, but it could be four or five days.”

“How will you know if someone is a match to my DNA?”

Lindsey glanced at Sam before she replied. “The basic DNA fingerprint or profile that we use for law enforcement or human identity purposes is called the nuclear or autosomal STR profile. STR means short tandem repeat, which describes repeating segments of DNA code at particular locations on the human genome.”

Josh’s eyes glazed over as Lindsey explained the technicalities.

“We’ll be looking for a match to your biological father,” she said when she seemed to realize she’d lost him. “The Y chromosome is passed down from father to son. The Y-STR profile for a father and a son should exactly match, except in rare cases of mutation. So this wouldn’t work for identifying a daughter, because a girl wouldn’t have the Y chromosome. The lab will rely upon a combination of information from autosomal STRs and the Y-STRs to make a determination of father/son. You see?”

Judging by his baffled expression, he didn’t see. He didn’t see at all. But he said, “I think so. Thank you for explaining.”

“No problem.”

“Thanks so much for coming, Lindsey.” Sam walked her to the door. “Let me know the second you have anything.”

“You know I will. Even with a rush it’ll be a few days.” Lindsey glanced at Brant guarding the door and lowered her voice. “I don’t know what you’re up to here, Sam, but you need to be careful. I heard Forrester is seriously considering assault charges.”

“So I’ve been told. And don’t worry. I’m being careful. This isn’t an official MPD case. He asked me for a favor. That’s all it is.”

“You’ve involved me, which involves the department.”

“No one knows that but you and me.”

“Be careful.”

“I hear you.”

“I’ll get back to you as soon as I have anything.”

“Thanks again, Lindsey.”

Sam returned to the sofa and sat next to Josh. “So here’s what I’m thinking. I’m going to reach out to law enforcement in Williamson County as a professional courtesy. I’ll tell them what I know so far and that we’ve taken DNA. I’ll strongly suggest they refrain from contacting the family until we know for sure there’s a match. That way if you’re not a match, we haven’t raised their hopes for no reason.”

“What do I do in the meantime?”

“We’re going to put you in a hotel with police protection until we know what we’re dealing with.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“If I didn’t think it was, I’d never ask you to do it.” Sam chose her words wisely. “If this turns out to be true, you’re sitting on a powder keg because of who raised you. If he was complicit in this, it’ll be the biggest BFD in the history of BFDs. You got me?”

“Yeah.” Arms on knees, he dropped his head and sighed. When he looked up at her, she saw his anguish. “You don’t really think he’d harm me or anything, do you?”

“If you’d asked me this morning if Director Hamilton had possibly raised a child kidnapped from another family, I would’ve said no way. And I remain ninety-nine percent skeptical that’ll turn out to be true. But if the one percent pans out...I have no idea what’ll happen, and I want to ensure your safety.”

He ran his fingers through his hair repeatedly.

“The choice is definitely yours, Josh. If you don’t want to be under police protection, you don’t have to be. But if I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t take any chances, especially since it’s only a matter of time before that photo goes viral.”

“You really think that’ll happen?”

“People are always interested in missing kids.”

“I wish I hadn’t seen it.”

Sam leaned in to put her hand on his arm. “If it turns out to be true, will you still feel that way?”

“I don’t know how to feel about any of this. Before I saw that picture, it never occurred to me that something like this was even possible. Now... Well, now I’m wondering if my whole life has been a lie. Did they just pretend to care about me when they were lying to me the whole time?”

“You’ll know soon enough, and until then, I recommend you let us keep you safe.”

“You and who else?”

“My partner, Detective Freddie Cruz. I trust him implicitly. You’ll be in very good hands with him, and as soon as we have the DNA results, we’ll get you some answers.”

“Fine. Okay. I’ll go with your partner.”

“I think that’s the wisest choice, especially since this place is overrun with the flu.”

“And you’ll let me know what’s going on?”

“I’ll be in touch with you the second we have anything concrete. I promise.”

With his face set in a grim expression, he nodded, seeming pacified for now. Sam entered his phone number into her contacts and gave him her number in case he needed her for anything. Freddie arrived a short time later, and Sam introduced him to Josh.

Josh shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. I guess we’re going to be roommates for the next few days.”

“Looks that way,” Freddie said. “You like the Skins?”

“Of course I do. Born and raised right here in D.C.”

“It’s Cowboys weekend, so at least we have something fun to watch.”

“I’ll spring for the beer.” Sam handed her credit card to Freddie. “Put the room on that too.”

“Your personal card? Will they let me do that?”

“Have them call me if you need to.”

“I could use my department card.”

She shook her head. “I’m keeping this separate for the time being. I’ll work out the expense side of it later.”

“You’re the boss.”

“Not right now, I’m not. Check in with me later.”

“Will do.”

CHAPTER FOUR

AFTER THEY LEFT, Sam went upstairs to look in on Scotty and Nick. They were both sleeping soundly, so she went downstairs to get something to eat while she could. Shelby had left a big salad and a pot of meatballs on the stove, so Sam had some of both along with a glass of water when she’d much rather have had a diet cola.

While she ate, she picked over the details of the case Josh had dropped into her lap. Though she probably should’ve technically declined to help him in light of her suspension, there were no rules she knew of that dictated personal favors outside of work. And technically, it wasn’t even an actual case, so she wasn’t violating the terms of her suspension.

Calling Lindsey might’ve crossed the line, but Lindsey’s connections with the lab would ensure a speedier turnaround than they would’ve gotten from an outside doctor. With the possibility of Director Hamilton’s involvement or culpability, she needed to do things by the book. At some point, the chain of custody on the DNA might matter, and who would care then that Sam had technically been suspended when she requested the swab?

You’re justifying yourself, baby girl. Sam smiled at the sound of Skip Holland’s voice in her head. Thinking of him made her want to talk to him, so she called down the street to see what he was up to.

“Hi, honey,” her stepmother said. “How’re you?”

“We’ve been struck by the flu over here. First Nick, then Scotty.”

“Oh no, are they okay?”

“They’re asleep for the moment, but they’ve both thrown up.”

“Poor guys. I’ll make some soup for when they feel up to eating again.”

“I’m sure they’d appreciate that it came from you rather than me.”

Celia laughed. “Probably.”

“Is Dad up for a chat?”

“He sure is. Let me get him for you.”

“What happened at the hearing?” Skip asked.

“Hello to you too.”

“Spill it.”

Sam smiled at his sauciness. She expected nothing less from him. “Suspended for four days and a thousand-dollar donation to the widows and kids.”

“That ain’t bad, all things considered.”

“I guess. I hear Forrester is considering assault charges, but I’m not worrying about that until it happens.”

“You should worry. He’s got a valid case, and you know it.”

“Maybe so, but I’d do it again. And don’t tell me I’m better than him and should’ve risen above it. I heard you the other ninety times you’ve said that.”

“It’s true.”

“I’ve got bigger fish to fry with both my guys down with the flu.”

“Aw, crap, that’s too bad. Wish I could come help you take care of them.”

“You’re far better off over there away from the germ pit. I sent Shelby home to get her out of here.”

“Probably for the best in her condition.”

“So I caught an interesting new case today. Or a potential case.”

“How’s that possible when you’re suspended?”

Sam filled him in on Josh Hamilton’s story and his connection to Director Hamilton.

Skip’s low whistle came through the phone loud and clear. “Are you shitting me?”

“Would I shit you, Skippy?”

“Holy... Sam, you gotta be so careful here—you know that, right?”

“Yes, Dad, I know that.”

“What’s your plan?”

“First step was getting the DNA. Next I’m going to call Williamson County and give them a heads-up that we have a guy who closely resembles the composite. We’ll go from there.”

“God, those poor people. Thirty years wondering where their kid is.”

“I know. It’s unimaginable. You think it’s possible Director Hamilton could’ve been part of something like this?”

“Shit, I don’t know. I only know what I’ve read about him, but he has a good reputation in law enforcement circles, as you know.”

“Yeah, Avery thinks the world of him.”

“I can’t even begin to get my head around the implications of what this guy is saying.”

“Neither can I. But the picture... The resemblance is uncanny.”

“There’s a whole lot of speculation involved in the production of those age-progression photos. Just remember that.”

“I’m operating on the presumption that Josh Hamilton is not Taylor Rollings until I have proof otherwise.”

“Good plan, but you also need a plan for what you’re going to do if he is Taylor Rollings.”

“What would you do with that info?”

“I’d go directly to Farnsworth. Don’t pass Go, don’t collect two hundred dollars. Don’t do anything but go right to him.”

“Right. I agree. That’s what I’ll do.”

“This might be the craziest thing I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard a lot of crazy shit in my life.”

“I know—me too. Well, I’d better go make that call to Tennessee.”

“Keep me posted, baby girl, and be careful not to get yourself into another pot of hot water with the department over this.”

“I do so love a good hot bath.”

“Sam.”

“Yes, sir. I hear you. I’ll be careful.”

“Let me know how Nick and Scotty are later.”

“You got it. See ya, Skippy.”

“Bye, baby.”

Before she made the phone call to Tennessee, Sam went upstairs to look in on Scotty, resting her hand on his forehead, which was still burning hot.

He opened his eyes. “Hey.”

“How’re you feeling, honey?”

His eyes went wide all of a sudden, and Sam wondered if he was going to be sick again. “What is it?”

“I, um, that’s what my mom—my first mom—used to call me.”

“Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“No, it’s fine.” He forced a weak smile. “I like it.”

Her heart had never actually ached with love the way it regularly did for this sweet boy. She returned his smile and brushed the hair back from his forehead. “You need anything?”

“Some water maybe.”

“I’ll be right back.” She went downstairs and brought two glasses of ice water back up. Leaving Nick’s on Scotty’s bedside table, she helped her son sit up and take some sips.

“Was Harry here, or did I dream that?”

“He was here, and he said that despite how bad you feel, you’re going to live.”

“That’s good.”

Sam kissed his feverish cheek. “That’s very good.”

“How’s Dad?”

“Out cold the last time I checked.”

“I hope he’s okay.”

“He’ll be fine, and so will you.”

His eyes went wide all of a sudden. “TJ’s party! It’s tomorrow night. I have to go! Everyone is going.”

Sam hated to disappoint him, especially after all the hoops they’d had to jump through with the Secret Service to make it possible for him to attend. “Let’s see what tomorrow brings before we decide anything. You wouldn’t want your friends to get sick if you go out too soon, would you?”

“No, but...” His chin quivered ever so slightly. “I really want to go.”

“I know. Maybe you’ll feel a thousand times better by tomorrow.”

“I hope so.”

“Me too. Now get some sleep, and call me if you need anything. I’ll be close by.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Sam leaned over to kiss his cheek again before tucking the comforter in around his shoulders.

“You’re a good mom,” he said so softly she almost missed it.

Her heart skipped a beat. “Really?”

“Mmm-hmm. The best.”

“You make it easy for me.”

His eyes were closed, but his lips curved into a smile.

Taking the other glass of water with her, Sam left his door propped open so she could hear him if he called for her. She went into her room where Nick was exactly where she’d left him—curled up on his left side sound asleep. Other than their honeymoon, when they’d done nothing but eat, drink, sleep and have sex, she’d rarely seen him asleep at this hour of the day. It was unsettling to see her unstoppable husband felled by anything, let alone something as pedestrian as the flu.

At times, she’d wondered if he had superpowers that he kept secret from her. How else to explain the way he managed to get so much done while also taking excellent care of her and Scotty? Sam kissed his cheek, and even though she knew she shouldn’t, she kissed his lips too.

“Mmm, not tonight, babe.”

Sam laughed out loud.

His eyes popped open.

“I think that’s the first time you’ve ever said no to me.”

Clearing his throat, he said, “I take it back. I never say no to you.”

“You’re allowed to today. How you doing?”

“Never better.”

“Now you’re lying to me?”

“Don’t want you to worry.”

“Too late for that.”

“How’s the boy?”

“Worried about TJ’s party.”

Nick winced. “Ahh, crap. That’s tomorrow, right?”

“Yep.”

“What are the odds that we’re going to be free of this plague by then?”

“Slim to none.”

“He’ll be so disappointed.”

“We’ll make it up to him—somehow.”

“I’ve got to go make a call, and then I’ll come back and tell you a story you won’t believe.”

“’K.” His eyes were already closed, his breathing heavier, his muscles relaxing as he drifted back to sleep.

Sam went into the bedroom they now used as an office, since the Secret Service had commandeered their downstairs study. She fired up Nick’s computer, then knocked a few of his rigidly organized files out of alignment, smiling at the thought of him discovering her handiwork when he felt better. She did a search for Williamson County law enforcement, clicking on the link to the Franklin, Tennessee police department.

The age-progression photo Josh had seen online and a paragraph about the photo being released on the thirtieth anniversary of Taylor’s kidnapping appeared on the department’s home page. The write-up ended with the phone number to call with information about the case.

Sam felt unusually nervous as she placed the call. Rarely did her work cause jitters, but everything about this situation was odd—from Josh happening upon the photo on a random website to the way he’d singled her out to investigate. And then there was his connection to Director Hamilton.

“Franklin Police.”

“I’d like to speak to the detective in charge of the Taylor Rollings case, please.”

“Who’s calling?”

“Lieutenant Holland, Metro PD in Washington, D.C.”

Dead silence.

“As in the vice president’s wife?”

“As in Lieutenant Holland, Metro PD.”

“Ah, I got it. So you don’t play the VP card, huh?”

This guy was lucky Sam wasn’t his boss, or his ass would be grass and she’d be the lawn mower. “Could I please speak to the detective?”

“You sure can. Just hang on one second. And may I say it was an honor to speak to you?”

Since her head was about to explode with aggravation, she decided it would be wise to remain silent. The phone clicked to hold music that was even more annoying than the MPD’s, and that was saying something.

“Detective Watson.”

“This is Lieutenant Holland, Metro PD in Washington, D.C. Are you the detective in charge of the Taylor Rollings case?”

“I am.”

“I may have something for you.”

After a long pause, he said, “Define something.”

“A possible match for the age-progression photo you circulated. I’ve had someone make contact who believes it’s possible he may be the person you’re looking for.”

“Can you send me a picture?”

“Not yet. We’ve taken a DNA swab and will have a report for you in the next few days. If there’s a match, we’ll proceed from there. You’ll understand that he’s not interested in raising the hopes of the Rollings family without definitive proof.”

“I do understand, and that’s the last thing I want either, believe me. I appreciate the call and the heads-up. Is there anything else you can tell me about him?”

“Just one thing—his thirtieth birthday is next week, so the timing lines up. But if the DNA doesn’t match, there’ll be no point in discussing it any further.”

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