“Elisa Vandersteel’s DNA is on the neckerchief, which makes sense since it was hers. And we got Carrie’s DNA on it and also Temple Gault’s.”

I’m certain I didn’t hear that right. It’s so loud and volatile out here, and a part of my brain knows what’s coming even as I deny it.

“I’m sorry …” I start to say.

“I know what you’re thinking. But you heard me,” Marino says. “We got a hit on Gault’s DNA in the database because he’s never been purged due to open cases the Feds are still trying to tie to him. And of course we got a hit on Carrie because she sure as hell’s in there.”

“This is impossible. How would Temple Gault’s DNA get on the neckerchief unless Carrie has some source of it and deliberately contaminated—”

“No.” Marino is slowly shaking his head side to side, water dripping, his eyes wide. “No, no, you aren’t getting it, Doc.”

“What am I supposed to be getting, Marino?” I don’t want to believe what he’s about to say.

“At first we didn’t understand why Desi’s DNA wasn’t on the bandanna, the neckerchief, whatever you want to call what was tied around his neck. His DNA should be on it,” he begins to explain as I get an incredible feeling.

It’s like condensation clearing from a window and finally I see what’s on the other side. Little Desi with his angular face and mesmeric blue eyes.

“His DNA was on the bandanna after all …”

No one is a better fisherman than Carrie. She knows what to do. She knows how to wait and when to tug the line. Gotcha.

“Do you understand what I’m saying?” Marino asks, and the rain has turned into a roar as I remember what Lucy told me about Natalie’s pregnancy.

SHE USED A SPERM donor and a surrogate mother she’d carefully selected, but the fact is the process could have been tampered with.

That would be child’s play to Carrie, and there would be no reason for Natalie knowing the truth about Desi’s DNA. It would have to be run through a criminal database to get a hit on his biological parents, and that wasn’t likely to happen. But Carrie has forced the matter to a conclusion, and it’s one that I never anticipated.

“She must have saved Temple Gault’s sperm, frozen it or whatever.” Marino turns as the wind blows, keeping the rain off his face. “You know like these military wives do when their husbands go off to war …?”

“I know what she must have done, and I can see her doing it,” I reply. “Have we confirmed this with Desi’s DNA? He was swabbed for exclusionary purposes.”

“Yeah. It’s confirmed. Carrie is Desi’s mother. Temple’s the father.”

“Biologically only.”