Amanda Gleason. She summoned up her composure. Im sorry to come by so late. But I couldnt leave the hospital until now. I dont have much time. Please, can we talk? I want to hire you.
Hospital? Are you ill?
No. Yes. PleaseI need to explain.
Marc pulled the door open and gestured for her to come in. Sorry for the casual attire. I wasnt expecting a client. As he spoke, a series of deep, warning barks sounded from above. The echo of padded paws announced the arrival of a sleek red bloodhound as he lumbered to the front door. He stood beside Marc and woofed at the stranger.
Its okay, Hero, Marc said. Quiet down.
Instantly, the dog obeyed.
Hero is a human scent evidence dog and part of our team, Marc explained. But if youre afraid of dogs, I can put him upstairs.
Amanda shook her head. Thats not necessary. I like dogs.
Then well head to a meeting room. He indicated the second door to the left and escorted her inside.
Hello, Marc, an invisible voice greeted him, along with a series of wall lights that blinked in conjunction with the voice tones. You have a guest. The interview room temperature is sixty-five degrees. Shall I raise it?
Yeah, Yoda, Marc replied. Raise it to seventy.
Temperature will reach seventy degrees in approximately seven minutes.
Great. Thanks. Marc gave a faint smile at the startled look on Amandas face. She was peering around, trying to determine the source of the voice.
Thats Yoda, he informed her. Hes the inexplicable creation of Ryan McKay, the techno genius of Forensic Instincts. Hes omniscientand harmless. Marc pulled out a chair. Have a seat. Youll probably want to keep your coat on until it gets a little warmer in here.
Thank you. Youre very kind. Amanda sank down into the chair, continuing to clutch her coat and her file folder. She looked like a terrified bird being chased by a predator.
Now, tell me what Forensic Instincts can do for you.
Amanda drew an unsteady breath. You can find someone for me. If hes alive.
Marc sank back in his chair, intentionally trying to put Amanda at ease, even though his brain was on high alert. Who is it you want us to find and why arent you sure hes alive?
My boyfriend. He was declared a no-body homicide. The police found his car, with blood splattered all over the drivers seat and windshield, out at Lake Montauk. There were signs that he was dragged to another car. The theory was that he was killed, and his body dumped in the ocean. The Coast Guard searched for days, using every form of sophisticated equipment they had. Nothing turned up. The case was closed.
When did this happen?
In April.
And youre first coming to us now, eight months later. Why? Do you have some new evidence that suggests hes alive?
New evidence and a new reason to find him immediately. Amanda rushed on to dispel the obvious. I know youre thinking that, if hes alive, maybe he doesnt want to be found. Even if thats true, which I dont believe it is, he has no choice. Not now.
Marc leaned across the table and pulled over a legal-size pad. He preferred to take his notes in longhand, then transfer them into the computer. Typing into a laptop was very off-putting to clients who needed a personal connection.
Whats this mans name?
Paul Everett.
And why is finding him so urgent?
Amanda swallowed, her hands twisting in her lap. We have a son. He was born three weeks ago. He was just diagnosed with SCID-Severe Combined Immunodeficiency. His body is incapable of fighting infection. He needs a stem cell transplant from a matched donor or hell die.
Marc put down his pen. I assume youre not a match?
She shook her head. The testing said Im not even a candidate. I was in a car accident as a child. Thanks to the blood transfusions I received, I have hepatitis C. So Im out of the picture. And so far, so is the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. They have no match for us. The best, maybe the only hope is Justins father. Two tears slid down Amandas cheeks. Fiercely, she wiped them away. I could give you a full scientific explanation, Mr. Devereaux. Its consumed my life these past weeks, and I seem to know far more about how a human body can fail than I ever thought possible. But we dont have time. Thanks to me, Justin already has an infection and is showing symptoms of pneumonia.
Thanks to you?
I was nursing him. Evidently, Im carrying a dormant virus called CMV-Cytomegalovirus. I passed it along to Justin. Hes started to cough and he has a fever-both of which are indicators that hes developing CMV pneumonia. Plus, he picked up parainfluenza during the two weeks he was home. His breathings uneven, his nose is running I didnt know he had a compromised immune system, or Id never have let him have visitors. Its too late to change that. Hes on antibiotics and gamma globulin. But even those can only suppress the CMV virus, not cure it. They can also be toxic to a child. As for the parainfluenza, theres literally nothing they can give him. Justin is less than a month old. His tiny body cant sustain itself for long. This is a life-or-death situation.
Im very sorry.
Then help me.
Amanda unbanded her file and opened it, pulling out a USB drive, a DVD and two newspaper clippings. She slid them across the table to Marc. Here are the obituary and a small write-up of Pauls death from the Southampton Press, the local newspaper out there. Pretty sparse. Paul was a real-estate developer with no family. The only exciting aspect to report was the alleged homicide. She pointed at the disk. A local cable TV station gave a brief broadcast when it happened. That was it for media coverage.
Marc glanced at both the write-up and the obit, making a mental note to contact both the newspaper and TV station. He slid his laptop over and popped in the USB drive. Two images appeared on his monitor, side by side. The first was of Amanda and a man-presumably Paul Everett-posing on a windswept beach in their ski jackets, arms wrapped around each other. The expressions on their faces, their intimate stance, said they were very much in love. The second image was of the two of them at some sort of formal gathering. They were smiling, looking directly into the camera as they posed for a photograph.
Now look at this. Amanda pulled out her cell phone and placed it on the table for Marc to see.
There was a photo on the screen, and Marc shifted his attention to study it. Being a cell phone shot, it was a lot grainier than the other two photos. But it was obviously the image of a man standing on a busy street corner, impatiently waiting for a light to change. He was staring at the dont walk sign, which gave the photographer a chance to catch him face-first.
Marc could see that from the facial features, the expression and the stance, it was the same man as the one in the other two shots.
When was this second photo taken? he asked. And where?
Yesterday. In Washington, D.C.
By whom?
A friend of mine, a fellow photojournalist. In this case, my friend saw the resemblance to Paul. She didnt wait to get her camera ready. She just used the closest thing-her cell phone. She emailed me the photo a couple of hours ago. I had just walked out of the hospital to take a break.
So she knew you and Paul as a couple.
Yes. She also knew Id never had a chance to tell Paul I was pregnant. She was hoping to give me that chance, along with the incredible news that Paul was alive.
Paul Everett had never known about the pregnancy, Marc thought. That eliminated one basic reason why hed choose to vanish. Still, Marc would want to talk to Amandas friend.
Amanda mistook his silence for skepticism. I have no idea why Paul would vanish without saying a word or why hed start a new life elsewhere. Once I got this cell phone shot and realized he might be alive, I was relieved, but I was also furious. I felt-I feel-betrayed. When they told me Paul was dead, I was ready to raise my child alone. But now that theres a chance he could be alive, a chance that he could save Justins lifemy pride is a non-issue. I have to try to track Paul down.
Marc was still staring intently from the screen to the cell phone, looking for additional characteristics that would confirm the images as the same man. Did you call the police about this new photo? he asked.
Yes, in the taxi on my way to your office. Two guesses whether or not they gave me any points for credibility. Amandas lips trembled and tears began sliding down her cheeks. Thats why Im here. Ive been toying with the idea of calling you since last April when Paul disappeared, hoping you could uncover a miracle. But this photo clinched it. You have a reputation for solving cases that no one else can. Please. For the sake of my baby Will you help me? Ill scrape together any amount of money to pay your fee. Ill give up my apartment, if need be. I dont care. I just want Justin to be all right. She broke down, dropping her face into her hands and openly sobbing.
This isnt about money, Marc assured her, although shed had him the minute she described her situation with her infant. Our policy is to adjust our fees based upon our clients monetary circumstances. Thankfully, they could do that. Between the astronomical bonuses they received from their more affluent clients, and the trust fund Caseys grandfather had left her, Forensic Instincts was on solid financial footing.
Then what is it? Amanda asked as Marc fell silent.
Marc didnt answer immediately. The problem was, he was in the hot seat. Forensic Instincts had an unbroken rule: they never took on a case without first having a full-team discussion and a unanimous decision.
Well, these were dire circumstances. And given that no one else from the team was around and that it would take time to reach them all and get them over here-hell, there was a first time for everything.
Its nothing I cant work out, he stated flatly. Well find Paul Everett, Ms. Gleason. If hes alive, well find him. And well do whatevers necessary to ensure his cooperation.
Amandas head shot up, her tear-streaked face displaying a glimmer of hope. Oh, thank you. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.