Until You Loved Me (Silver Springs #3)(100)

“I do, too. But that’s impossible. We’d need Matisson’s DNA in order to establish whether they’re truly related. Even if we had it, Jones told Hudson it’ll take a week to ten days to get the results.”

“Testing doesn’t have to take that long. I’ve checked. And there’s a lab in LA that’s AABB accredited. If we had Matisson’s DNA, we could drive it over there and still make it before five. That means we could find out as early as Wednesday.”

“But if Matisson’s out looking for someone to buy his story, even two days will be too late.”

“Not necessarily. The man I saw was a bit rough around the edges. He might not know how to go about marketing the story, probably doesn’t know who to approach. And negotiations could take some time. If he’s trying to get as much as possible, he might try to start a bidding war, which could slow things down.”

“I’m afraid that’s wishful thinking.”

She rubbed her tired eyes. Now that she was in her final trimester, the baby seemed to be sapping her energy. “Maybe it is, but I’m not willing to give up.”

“I don’t see that we have any choice. Hudson told me Matisson lives in Arizona now. There’s no way we could get his DNA any sooner than Jones. At least Jones has his cooperation.”

Dropping her head in her hand, Ellie massaged her forehead. She wished Hudson had offered Matisson a drink of some kind when he came to the house. Then they’d have his DNA right here in Silver Springs.

She lifted her head. Bruiser was saying something, but she let the phone fall from her ear. A memory had flashed in her mind. Cort Matisson had a pack of cigarettes in his pocket when he came here. She’d seen him pat his chest as if he was desperate for a smoke. And he’d walked in smelling like a chimney. She’d picked up the acrid scent all the way from where she stood on the stairs...

“Bruiser, let me call you back.” She was in such a hurry, she set her cell on the table without even bothering to hit End. She doubted she’d be as lucky as she needed to be. After all, it’d been two days since Matisson’s visit, so even if he had stood outside and smoked a cigarette before knocking on the door, the wind or the gardeners could’ve swept it away.

Still, she rushed out and searched the porch, flower beds and shrubbery. She even walked the long circular drive, looking at the edges of the grass in case he’d stamped on a cigarette as he got out of his vehicle and the butt had since fluttered to the side.

Unfortunately, she found nothing.

“Damn.” She had no doubt a cigarette butt would be a good source of DNA. She would’ve been thrilled to find one.

Shaking her head in disappointment, she started back to the house. She was thinking she’d hire a different private investigator, one who had no contact with Matisson and would simply research Julia—her birth date and medical history—when she spotted a bit of white tucked up against the foundation of the house.

She held her breath as she went over to investigate—and felt a smile stretch across her face as she bent down. She’d discovered a cigarette butt, all right, and one that could easily belong to Matisson.

*

“I hear you’re seeing someone,” Craig said.

Hudson picked up his drink. They’d finished golfing—Hudson had lost to Craig for the first time since they’d started playing together, which hadn’t improved his day—and were seated in the bar of a swanky steak and seafood place. The restaurant boasted five stars, but it was in Bel Air, not far from where Hudson had been found as a newborn. Normally that wouldn’t be a big deal. Hudson was used to living in close proximity to that neighborhood. But with everything on his mind today, he wished Craig had chosen someplace else. “I am. Her name’s Ellie Fisher.”

“She’s a scientist or something?”

“Yeah. Specializes in immunology.”

“Sounds smart.”

“She is. We’re expecting a baby this summer.”

“Congratulations.”

He was sure Craig had already heard about the baby, too. Bruiser had likely mentioned it when he’d mentioned Ellie, probably when Craig had struck up a random conversation and asked how he was doing, but it wasn’t a secret, so Hudson didn’t mind. “Thank you,” he said, forcing a smile. He had no problem doing favors for Craig—showing up at his house for parties and meeting his family and friends—but he wasn’t in the mood today. He kept wondering if he was being foolish to refuse Matisson. Was he letting his pride get in the way of making a sound decision?

That would be like him. What would he do if he opened the paper tomorrow and saw the kind of headline he feared—Famous NFL Quarterback Child of Incest?

His phone buzzed. Although it was rude to reveal how distracted he was by focusing on that call at the table, Craig’s friend hadn’t shown up yet, so Hudson excused himself to go to the bathroom. Then he checked caller ID.

It was Ellie—as he’d thought.

“Hey, I’m still with Craig,” he said. “Can I call you after?”

“I’m sorry to bother you,” she responded. “But I need to swing by and have you step out for a second to swab your cheek.”

“Whoa, wait. You’re here? In LA?”

“I am. Will you be able to give me a minute?”