“I’d say you’d know within forty-eight hours. As far as the child …” He smiled benignly. “My client is due to deliver any day. I have a feeling my call is going to ease her mind tremendously.”

By the time they had walked Silbey to the door, Mel had shed a few more tears. The moment she was alone with Sebastian, fury burned her eyes dry.

“That sonofa—”

“I know.” He put his hands on her shoulders. She was vibrating like a plucked string. “We’ll get them, Mel. We’ll get them all.”

“You’re damn right we will.” She paced to the stairs and back. “You know what this means, don’t you? They’re going to steal a baby, an infant, probably right out of a hospital or clinic.”

“Logical as always,” he murmured, watching her carefully.

“I can’t stand it.” She pressed a hand to her churning stomach. “I can’t bear the idea of some poor woman lying in a hospital bed being told her baby’s been stolen.”

“It won’t take long.” He wanted to slip into her thoughts, to see for himself just what was in her head. But he’d given his word. “We have to play this through.”

“Yeah.” That was just what she was going to do. He wouldn’t approve, she decided. And neither would the feds. But there were times you had to follow your heart. “We’d better make sure the boys upstairs got all of that.” She took a deep breath. “Then I think we should do what any happy, expectant couple would do.”

“Which is?”

“Go out and tell our dearest friends. And celebrate.”

*  *  *

Mel sat in the lounge at the Silver Palace with a glass of champagne in her hand and a smile on her lips. “To new and valued friends.”

Linda laughed and clinked glasses. “Oh, no, to the happy parents-to-be.”

“We’ll never be able to thank you.” She looked from Linda to Gumm. “Both of you.”

“Nonsense.” Gumm patted her hand. “Linda merely made an inquiry to a friend. We’re both delighted such a small gesture reaped such benefits.”

“We still have to sign papers,” Sebastian pointed out. “And wait for the mother’s approval.”

“We’re not going to worry about any of that.” Linda waved details away. “What we have to do now is plan a baby shower. I’d love to give you one, Mary Ellen, up in the penthouse.”

Though she was getting damned tired of weeping, Mel let her eyes fill. “That’s so …” Tears spilled over as she got to her feet. “Excuse me.” An emotional wreck, she rushed off to the ladies’ room. As she’d hoped, Linda followed her a moment later.

“What an idiot I am.”

“Don’t be silly.” Linda sat beside her, slipped an arm around her. “They say expectant mothers are apt to cry at the drop of a hat.”