It was an unspoken thing, but her sharing the news about Michelle seemed to put a bow on the night. Without saying as much, they both got ready for bed. And when Kate lay down in the darkness of the motel room, she said a little prayer for her granddaughter. Even at fifty-six, she was still not sure where she rested with the whole God-thing, but she assumed it never hurt to prayto God, to the universe, or whatever might be out there listening.

And with that prayer said, she was able to fall asleep with only the weight of the Fuller case on her shoulders.

***

They started the following morning at the Staunton Womens Services building. It was primarily what Kate had always referred to as the lady doctor. When she and DeMarco walked in, she spotted three visibly pregnant women right away. They skipped by the check-in windows and went straight to the last window on the right, where a sign above it read, simply: Information.

Kate subtly slid her badge and ID across the counter. We were in contact with Waynesboro Family Medicine yesterday concerning a time-sensitive case, she explained to the woman on the other side of the window. They sent us records for a woman named Wendy Fuller. Her last medical record before she and her husband moved was a visit here, as a referral from her doctor. Who could we speak to in regards to those kinds of records?

The woman behind the desk typed into her computer and then narrowed her brow. Shes probably realizing that were looking into records that are sixteen years old, Kate thought.

In terms of the records end of things, I dont know how much help we can be, the woman said. However, the doctor that was seeing Mrs. Fuller is still on staff. Shes working today, as a matter of fact. Shes with a patient right now, but I can see if she can meet with you immediately afterwards.

That would be great, Kate said.

Kate and DeMarco were directed to sit in a secondary waiting room, likely not to stand out among a waiting room of expectant mothers or women who were already uneasy from any number of invasive exams.

Something occurred to me on the drive here this morning, DeMarco said. If the Fullers were indeed running away from somethingand thats why they made the move from Waynesboro to Detonwhy not move further away? The towns are only about fifty miles apart.

It was a good question, and one that Kate had no answers to. She was hoping it would be one of the questions they could answer while visiting Staunton and Waynesboro. Any theories yet? Kate asked.