A Different Blue(152)

give the baby up for adoption. They did give Winona some money when you were about eighteen

months old, which Stella Hidalgo confirmed, but Winona left the area shortly after and none of

them ever saw her or you again.

[page]“Ethan Jacobsen is married with kids now, but he did give us a DNA sample back when

Winona was found dead and you were declared missing. His DNA was also uploaded into NCIS, and we

had it compared to yours as well.”

Heidi Morgan interjected, “Ethan Jacobsen's DNA was also confirmed as being a match with yours,

which was why it took us a little longer than I promised to get the results back.”

Detective Moody spoke up again, and his eyes were sober, his smile gone. “As a courtesy, Blue,

Mr. Jacobsen has also been contacted, and he has been informed that you were located. He was

pretty shaken up, understandably. He did give us his contact information and current address but

said any further contact will be up to you.”

I nodded, my head reeling. I knew the names of both of my parents. I knew what they looked like.

I had a grandmother. She wanted to see me. There was just one more thing.

“What's my name?”

Detective Martinez swallowed, and Detective Moody's eyes filled up with tears. They both seemed

as overwhelmed in the moment as I was.

“The name on your birth certificate is Savana Hidalgo,” Detective Martinez said hoarsely.

“Savana,” Wilson and I breathed together, and it was my turn to be overcome with emotion.

“Savana? Only Jimmy would truly appreciate the irony.” The words trembled on my lips.

Wilson tipped his head in question. I explained, the words catching in my throat as the tears

spilled onto my cheeks. “When I was younger, I would pretend my name was Sapana – so close to

the name Savana. Sapana is a girl in a Native American story that climbs to the sky and is

rescued by a hawk. I always said Jimmy, because of his name, was the hawk and I was Sapana. He

always claimed he was more like the porcupine man. I never understood what he meant. I thought

he was just being funny. Looking back, he probably felt guilt for not going to the police. I

think it must have weighed on him. But I'm not sorry.” I looked from one person to the other,

my eyes resting on Wilson at the end. “He was a good father. He didn't hurt my mother or kidnap

me –”

“Were you worried he had?” Wilson interrupted gently.

“Sometimes. But then I would remember Jimmy and how he was. It's like you said, Wilson. I knew

too much to doubt him. I won't be sorry he chose to keep me with him. Ever. I know it might be

hard to understand, but that's the way I feel.”

I was not the only one who needed a minute to compose myself, and we took a brief break to wipe

our eyes before Detective Martinez continued.

“You were born on October 28, 1990.”

“Only two days before Melody's birthday,” I remarked, touched once more.

“October 28 was also the day you submitted a DNA sample to find out who you were,” Heidi

Morgan offered. “Interesting how things come full circle.”

“I'm twenty-one,” I marveled, and, like most young people, I was pleased that I was older than

I had thought.

“But your drivers license still says twenty, so we won't be pub-hopping or hitting the casinoes

tonight,” Wilson teased, making everyone chuckle and relieving some of the emotional pressure