Ivy-Rose Hampton, identity confirmed by passport
Address confirmed by ID card
Genetic material from the DNA sample: father’s saliva, child’s hair sample, mother’s hair sample
Dear Mr. Hampton,
We hereby confirm the result of May 13th of this year. The STR analysis of the DNA samples sent in…
The front door slammed shut downstairs. “Willa, darling?”
Oh, no!Dad was back! Shaking, I put the letter in the envelope and put it in the safe.
The STR analysis of the DNA samples sent in…
What did that mean?
“Willa? Where are you? I have food. Not from Jacques this time.”
Chapter 16
Heart racing, I closed the safe and noticed the mess. I had left the printouts everywhere even on the floor. If Dad came up now, he would catch me. It would take too long to collect the copies and hide them.
So I had no choice but to run. I ran to the gallery.
“I’ll be right there, Dad. I’ll just change quickly. I’m feeling much better.” Had I sounded euphoric enough? Why was I so scared? Even if Dad found out what I’d done, what did I think he would do to me?
I peered down into the spacious foyer. Dad was just coming into view. “I’m glad,” he said, smiling in my direction. “You look better too. You have really rosy cheeks, my child.”
I swallowed and thought of the last letter that I hadn’t finished reading. “I’ll be right there, Dad. Five minutes. What’s for dinner?”
“Oh, quite mundane: Danny’s Burger.”
“With Beluga?”
“Of course.”
I rushed back and tried to relax. I quickly gathered all the papers and shut down the computer. I was about to slip outwhen something occurred to me. If the last letter was what I suspected, I needed a copy. And immediately. I listened and heard Dad clattering dishes downstairs. He wouldn’t hear the copier.
I quickly ran to the safe, copied the letter, and put the original back so he wouldn’t notice. Then, I turned off the printer and restocked it with paper.
Just before I went out, I glanced around the study. Okay, everything was as it was before. He wouldn’t suspect anything. I locked the door as quietly as possible, put the key on the frame, and scurried across to my wing.
“Willa? Are you coming?”
Oh God!It sounded like Dad was coming up the stairs.
For a moment, I stood frozen in the hall, not knowing what to do with the papers, but then I ran into my room and tucked the papers under my mattress. That way I could at least be sure he wouldn’t find them while I was sleeping.
