“Where’s this other baby?” asked George, fidgeting in his chair. “Why’d they send a note to you? If someone needs help, they should go to the police.” Anger flashed. “Although that didn’t help Kori.”
“Wait . . .” Ellen touched Cate’s arm. “You said ‘package.’ Was there more than a newspaper article?”
Cate’s stomach churned.
Why did I agree to this?
“There was a bone in the package,” Cate said, deciding to get it out. “It was the mandible of a child. It was implied that it belonged to Jade, but we don’t have absolute proof yet.”
Ellen covered her mouth with both hands, her chest heaving. George went very still, his gaze on Cate.
“I’m sorry to be so blunt,” Cate said. “But obviously the note and bone have the FBI’s attention, and they want to investigate both.”
The Astons were silent. Ellen rapidly blinked as her eyes grew wet.
Her mouth dry, Cate pulled her bag onto her lap but made no move to open it.
“Jade had little silver caps on some of her teeth,” Ellen whispered from behind her hands.
“Yes,” said Cate. “The bone does too.” Using the word “bone” instead of “mandible” was easier for her to say—more generic, softer.
Ellen gasped and covered her eyes. George got out of his chair and moved to stand behind his wife, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Show us,” he ordered.
He knows I have it.
Cate wanted to vomit. “I have a photo that—”
“You have it in your bag,” George stated. “Don’t you?”
Horror filled Ellen’s gaze. “No, I don’t want—”
“I’ll look,” said George. He glanced at the photo above the fireplace, his fingers digging into Ellen’s shirt. “I have every square inch of that little girl memorized. I’ll know.”
Cate took a breath. “There needs to be a forensic dental—”
“I’ll know,” he repeated.
Cate exchanged a long look with Ellen, who gave a small nod, resignation in her eyes.
After slowly opening the bag, Cate lifted out a large evidence envelope. She fumbled as she pulled on a pair of gloves and then opened the envelope and slid out a small plastic bag onto the table. The tiny silver crowns glittered in the light.
Ellen bit back a cry.
George was silent, his stare focused on the bone.
Cate’s heart broke for them. “I’m sorry,” she said. “But remember, it may not be Jade’s.”
There was a loud knock at the front door, and it immediately swung open. “Mom?”
The three of them turned at the voice.
Kori.
She looked the same. Pale-red hair, thin . . . but Cate immediately picked up on a confidence she hadn’t seen before. Something about the position of her shoulders and how she lifted her chin.
This wasn’t the girl who’d clung to Cate seven years ago.
Kori set aside a small carry-on and dropped her backpack on top of it. Surprise flashed in her eyes as they met Cate’s. “Cate! I wondered if I’d be seeing you before long.”
Kori’s gaze moved to the clear plastic bag on the table, and confusion filled her face. She took two halting steps closer, unable to look away from the mandible.
Oh, no.
Cate covered the baggie with her hand. Too late.