“That’s not—” Nick begins, and again, my mother cuts him off.

“And you have my word that if the paternity test is negative, the Clifford PD will release an official statement to that effect. If that’s what Jake wants.”

For one long moment, silence stretches from the kitchen. And finally, Brother Bill speaks up.

“Grace, that might be worth considering. This could clear his name.”

I have no idea why he’s talking to Jake’s mom. It isn’t her decision.

My mother’s mouth opens, but then it snaps closed again, and I recognize that impulse. She started to disagree that a paternity test would clear Jake in any criminal investigation, but then she changed her mind.

I lean in a teeny bit more, just in time to see Grace take her son’s hand.

“Jake, is there any chance …?”

“Of course not,” he says. “I’ll sign the form.”

“I don’t think—” Nick begins, but Jake speaks over him.

“It’s my choice. Give me the damn form.”

My mother waves Officer Green forward, and he pulls a folded sheet of paper and a pen from his pocket. Jake signs the form without reading it—he hasn’t read the warrant either—then he hands it back. And opens his mouth.

Officer Green unseals the swab and takes a DNA sample from the inside of his cheek. Then he slides the swab into the clear tube, which he drops into an evidence bag and seals and labels in front of everyone.

“How long will that take?” Grace asks.

“Less than a day, once they get started.” My mother shrugs. “Robert will drive it down to the nearest state lab tomorrow, but I don’t know how soon they’ll get to it. It could be as little as a few days, as much as several weeks, if they’re backed up. Okay.” She turns back to Jake and pulls her phone from her pocket. “I only have one more question for you, since you’ve confirmed that the bag is yours. Do you recognize this shirt?”

I can’t see the picture she’s showing him, but that turns out not to matter, because—

“If it helps …” Officer Green pulls a notebook from his pocket and reads from it. “It’s a navy Tennessee Titans licensed T-shirt, made from Dri-FIT cotton, with the Titans logo screen printed in a three-dimensional font. Size large. It’s available for purchase in the NFL store online, and in several brick-and-mortar gift shops across the state.”

“Yeah, I know the shirt.” Jake shrugs. “A bunch of us bought one like that at the Titans game on the senior class trip.”

“How many is ‘a bunch’?” my mother asks.

Another shrug from Jake. “Half the guys in the senior class. It was the most affordable souvenir, other than key chains and postcards. And shot glasses. Which the teachers wouldn’t let us buy.”

“When was that trip?” Green asks.