“So, if Vince and Rachel were together years back, before Penny was born, then it stands to reason that Vince Rapino could be—”
“Penny’s birth father,” Navarro said in a quiet exhale, finishing her thought. “But why come to Big Frank’s and antagonize you the way he did? If he’s somehow involved in the murder, why do that?”
Navarro knew all about that unsettling incident, along with Grace’s desire that no action be taken, including filing a restraining order.
“He’s not stable,” Grace said. “I smelled booze on his breath that night, too. Vince is an idiot. Who knows what he was thinking?”
“He wanted to mess with us,” Annie suggested. “Grace said it’s like arsonists going back to a fire. They get a thrill out of it.”
“So what are you two thinking?”
“Paternity test,” Grace said. “We want Vince’s DNA.”
“His DNA?” Navarro looked like he’d been blindsided.
“That’s right,” said Annie. “If there’s a match, I think it would be enough to get Detective Allio from Lynn to give Rapino a much closer look. There’d be a clear connection between the victim, the accused, and the boyfriend. Vince is hiding something, we’re sure of it.”
“And you want the police to go on a fishing expedition, see what they catch, is that it?”
“Cast as wide a net as possible,” said Grace.
“Not a bad idea, not bad at all,” Navarro concurred. “Who knows what you might snag that way.”
“Can you force him to give it to us?” asked Annie. “He’s been arrested. Isn’t his DNA on record somewhere?”
“Sure,” said Navarro. “It’s possible, but it doesn’t mean it’s accessible to us.”
Grace’s eyes went to the floor.
“Getting Vince’s DNA from police evidence to use for paternity testing would require an emergency motion from family court,” Navarro explained. “Just because they dated in high school won’t be enough to convince a judge to issue an order.”
“Do you have a judge who owes you a favor?” Grace had hope in her voice.
“I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way,” Navarro said. “It’ll take all kinds of time and effort to chase after this—time I don’t have to give, and there’s no guarantee I’ll be successful, either. My focus has to be on the trial. We’re so close. Maybe after, Grace, but not before.”
“It’ll be too late after,” Grace lamented.
“If she’s found guilty we’ve still got our appeal,” Navarro reminded her. “I get it, I do. It’s a good idea, but it’s wasted effort, and it will be counterproductive at a critical juncture.”
“Well, what do you suggest?” asked Grace.
Now Navarro took the coffee cake. He sat at a small foldout table in the study and ate in silence. He appeared to be mulling something over.
“I know Rapino from outside this case … from here, the North Shore, from his rep. Bad hombre.” He took a bite and seemed to be chewing harder on some thought. “I can’t reveal where I got this information from, Grace. It could get me in a lot of trouble. But I know there’s a criminal probe going on about Vince Rapino right now, about his auto body shop, a counterfeit auto parts scam that he’s running. A client of mine is caught up in it, and he’s contemplating copping a plea. Honestly, I don’t want to suggest it.”
“Suggest what?” Annie asked. All three were now sitting and having cake.
“Start with the police,” Navarro said. “Go to Detective Jay Allio with what you have. Ask him to look into Maria again, and make the DNA ask on Vince. I don’t think it’ll fly, but it’s better than my plan.”
“And what’s your plan.”
A weighty look came to Navarro’s eyes and face. “Go get his DNA yourself,” he said. “His shop is local. I can’t really advise you here, you understand, right? What I’m saying … it’s all off the record.”
“I understand. But how do we get his DNA?” asked Grace. “We can’t just waltz in there and ask him for it.”
“No, but you may be able to snag something, an object, something he touched.”
“Okay,” Grace said, mulling over his suggestion, not liking it one bit.
“I get it,” Navarro said. “Mitch has done great work, but I don’t think it’s enough. The hit list, those murder fantasies she and Maria wrote—those are what’s really in our way. They speak to premeditation, and we’ve no proof that Penny suffered a psychotic episode. We are fifty-fifty here, and that’s being generous. You could be right. Maybe something with Rapino tips those scales in our favor.”