“And what about her sister?” Everett asks.
“She didn’t have a sister. The woman only had one baby. Though she complained enough that you thought she had seven. She told her husband that she was done. They were only having the one. I think she meant it too.”
Our grandmother wasn’t lying. “Thank you, Ms. South. We appreciate your talking to us.”
“Oh, it was nice to talk to you. I get so few visitors. My family is always busy. They moved out of state, so visiting me here is a challenge for them.”
That breaks my heart. “Thank you.”
She hands my phone back. “My pleasure.”
As soon as we step into the hallway, Everett says, “That can’t be possible.”
“Did that woman look like she was lying to you?”
He closes his eyes.
I do that too sometimes when I'm focusing on the images in my head for small details.
“No. She seemed nice. There were no tells.”
“Exactly.”
“Where does that leave us? Because my mom didn’t spontaneously appear out of thin air.”
No, she didn’t. “We need to find out about the doctor.”
“What? Why?”
I step closer, blocking my face from any video cameras that might be around, and engage the jammer that I always carry with me. “Because you were raised in a military bunker. And organizations like that have been known to do things that aren’t quite legal. The doctor who helped our grandmother get pregnant could be the next clue about what they were doing there.”
“Oh…maybe we shouldn’t ask.” Everett glances down at his feet.
“I’m asking, but what you need to get through your head is that this is happening whether you like it or not. I will find my aunt’s killer. I will find the men who are threatening you and our mother. And I will wipe them off the face of this earth.”
His mouth opens and closes like a fish's.
“My patience is wearing thin. You need to start learning to trust us.” I march off to go see the woman who isn’t my nonna again.
Everett catches up just as I go to open the door.
I quirk an eyebrow at him.
“We’re in this together.”
Finally!!! I nod and walk inside.
“Who let you back in here?”
She really is cheerful. “I came to ask that question.”
“Make up your mind already. Do you want to ask me something or don’t you? Stupid man.”
Don’t let ignorant people get to you. How many times has Dad had to say those words? One time is too many. “I need the name of the doctor who helped you have a perfect baby.”
“Why would you want that? It’s not like he can wipe your father’s DNA from your body.”
Deep breath in.
