have a number and address, but I donât know how current they are. We havenât communicated in ages.â
âAnd why would that be, sir?â Trey asked.
âWe never did care much for each other,â Marcus said. âYou know what they say, you can choose your friends but not your family. They left after some of Terrenceâs business deals went sour. Ruined his reputation.â
âWhy Italy?â Trey asked.
âCarolynâs family had a summer home there. She inherited it when her father died. I suppose it was a good place for them to escape to.â
âIâll still need those numbers,â Trey said.
âYes, of course,â Marcus said. He shuffled through a Rolodex, finally pulled out a card and handed it to Trey.
Trey made a note of the information, then continued to write as Marcus rambled about his dwindling family. When Marcus stopped, Trey looked up, glanced at Olivia, then back at Marcus, and braced himself for another angry reaction.
âMr. Sealy, this is personal, but I have to ask. Youâve been a widower for many years, right?â
âYes,â Marcus said. âBut what does that have to do withââ
âDuring that time, it wouldnât have been out of the ordinary for you to have had an intimate relationship with another woman.â
Marcusâs face flushed, but his voice never wavered.
âBe that as it may, I did not.â
âYouâre absolutely positive that you did not father another child?â
Marcusâs fingers tightened around the arms of his chair.
âYes, Detective. Iâm certain.â
Trey glanced at Olivia. She appeared furious, and what he was going to say wasnât going to make her any happier. He turned back to Marcus.
âWhen your granddaughter was kidnappedâ¦â
âYes?â Marcus said.
âShe was missing for seven days, right?â
Marcus nodded.
Trey made a note in his book, then looked up again.
âAnd you are one hundred percent certain that the child who was returned to you was the same child who was kidnapped?â
Olivia gasped, then stood abruptly.
Marcus grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her close until she was standing beside his chair. He looked up at her and smiled, then fixed Trey with a cold, angry look.
âI know my own flesh and blood, Detective, and I think weâre done now.â
Trey flipped the notebook closed, then slipped it into his pocket. Heâd pissed them off big-time, and he wasnât done yet.
âNearly, Mr. Sealy. Thereâs just one more thing I need.â
âWhatâs that?â Marcus asked.
âWe need DNA samples from both you and Olivia.â
Olivia turned until she was facing Trey.
For the first time since heâd walked in the door, they were lookingâreally lookingâat each other, and the pain on her face made him sick.
âNowâ¦see here,â Marcus sputtered.
Olivia looked at Trey without flinching as she lifted her chin and gave her grandfatherâs shoulder a gentle squeeze.
âNo, Grampy, itâs all right. I donât mind. Itâs a small price to pay to get these people out of our lives.â
Trey flinched. Heâd gotten the underlying meaning loud and clear.
âWeâll see our family doctor tomorrow,â Marcus said.
Treyâs expression darkened. âIâm sorry, sir, but due to the seriousness of the situation, we need to have the test done in our facilities.â
âSo, Detective Bonney, where would you like us to go?â Olivia asked.
âIâll take you to the crime lab.â
âWe can get ourselves there,â Marcus said.
âNo, sir, if you donât mind, I need to be with you all the way.â
âAnd if we do mind?â Olivia snapped.
Her anger was so vivid he could almost feel the slap of her words. Through no fault of his own, heâd been put in the position of being the bearer