It had been three days since Terry had passed. Enough time to do a comprehensive paternity test even on a fetus. He slit open the flap with his finger. He skimmed the results and gave the letter back to Donatti.

Chris took the letter with shaking hands. He read the report. If he had had any doubts, they were now torn to shreds. Which only made him feel worse. Anger was easier than heartache. The fetus had been nine weeks of age. He thought backward. Right around the time they first had sex. Did it happen with the quickie in the shower? Was it when he raped her? Maybe it was later on, when she came to him that night, while he was working, to thank him for his help and they made love for real. Sweet, sweet love. He decided that was the time. When they had joined as one in total harmony and bliss. He reread the contents. “It was a girl.” A pause. “Why didn’t this happen years ago? Why now?” A shake of the head. “God is one sick bastard.”

Decker laid a hand on Chris’s shoulder. “I am so sorry.”

Donatti didn’t respond. He put the letter in his pocket. Then he took out a vial of medicine. “Sleeping pills. You want one?”

“I’m okay.” Decker paused, then said, “You shouldn’t be taking meds, Donatti. You drank a lot.”

“That was nothing. Right now, you’d need an elephant tranquilizer to knock me out.” Donatti shook out two tablets and swallowed them dry. “These should kick in within a couple of hours. I’m going upstairs to sleep … to Gabe’s room. I just can’t … There’s still too much of her in my bedroom.”

“You can use the bedroom down here,” Decker said.

“No. Gabe’s room is comfortable. I’ll be fine.” He pointed to the office bedroom. “You should sleep there. It’s way more comfortable than a couch.”

“I may take you up on it.”

“There’s coffee and juice here. Will that hold you until I wake up?”

“As long as I can get to the police station by two.”

“I’ll be up before then.” Donatti paused. “How’s she doing? Talia.”

“She’s behind bars. I want to keep her that way.”

He exhaled. “You know … it pains me to say this … but … if I was in her position, I would have done exactly the same thing.”

“She’s a nasty one,” Decker said.

Donatti said, “She learned from the best.”

CHAPTER 34