“They seem too small,” said Evan, thinking of dental films he’d seen in the past.
The forensic odontologist nodded. “They are standard child-size bitewing films. Smaller than used for adults.”
“I thought everyone used digital films,” said Noelle.
“Definitely not every office twenty-five years ago,” said Dr. Harper. “And some dental offices still don’t today.”
“So what did you find?” asked Evan, impatient for answers.
The dentist sighed. “I can’t confirm it’s Malcolm Wolff. There isn’t enough here to make a positive identification. These films were taken when he was five—two years before he was kidnapped—and show nothing out of the ordinary I can use as a marker for a comparison. I can see baby molars and part of his first adult molars. No fillings. No cavities. No distinctly shaped teeth.” She returned to the computer and clicked her mouse. “On the screen are the digital films I took today of the skull.”
“You took a lot,” said Evan.
“I wanted to be thorough. This many are not taken on a regular basis in a private practice. Especially on a child.”
There were at least a dozen films on the screen.
“The films I took today show a child with a mixed dentition,” said Dr. Harper. “He’s lost many of the baby teeth, and several of the adult ones are erupting into his mouth.”
“So you can’t compare the films, because the old ones show mostly baby teeth,” said Evan.
“Correct. Granted, I can see part of the first adult molars in the original films, but I can’t say without a doubt that they are the same first molars in the films I took today.”
Dr. Harper touched her mouse, and a wide film of the skull’s entire jaw appeared. “If I had been given the films I took today, I’d estimate this child to be closer to age twelve because of the eruption schedule. I know Victoria has said between eight and twelve, and I’ll defer to her experience. She has a lot more information to work with from the child’s skeleton.”
“Is she wrong to include the younger ages in her estimate?” asked Noelle.
“No. I’ve seen early dental eruptions happen in young kids.” She shrugged. “It happens. I’m never surprised when I see it, but I will acknowledge that it’s much less common. The reverse is true too.”
I can’t confirm to Rowan that this is her brother.
Disappointment rocked Evan.
Dr. Harper looked from one detective to the other and slightly tilted her head. “Victoria made my examination a priority. She called me in Portland and told me to come ASAP. She’s spent more time with that small skeleton than the other two. I don’t know what’s going on, but she’s put everything she has into it.”
“There is a chance that this is a friend’s younger brother who has been missing for over two decades,” Evan said quietly. “Now we still don’t know.”
The dentist nodded in sympathy. “That’s the worst. Not knowing. I guarantee Victoria has left no stone unturned in her examination of those bones. If something there could physically connect to that missing child, she would have found it.”
“Thank you for your report, Doctor.” Evan shook her hand, appreciating the sympathy in her gaze. The detectives left the office and headed back to where Dr. Peres was examining the skeletons.
“I’m sorry, Evan,” said Noelle.
“Why are you apologizing?”
“Because I know how important this identification was to you.”
“They’re all important.”
“But this could be Rowan’s brother. You’re close to her.”
I am?
Evan frowned as they walked down the hallway.
I am.
It’d crept up on him. He’d sought her out, wanting to know her thoughts and see how she was coping. He was drawn to her. Yesterday he’d taken her hand in sympathy, feeling her waves of sorrow, wanting to offer her comfort and hope.
Then he hadn’t wanted to let go.
He’d wanted to find Malcolm for her today and end her years of wondering and questions. But he’d failed. And he felt that keenly in his gut. He acknowledged that he desired to give her what she wanted most in the world. Today would not be the day he did it.
Someday. Soon.
He knew the healing power of finding a lost loved one. His sister’s return to his life had restored pieces of his soul he hadn’t realized were missing. But he’d been lucky. His sister was alive. Malcolm wasn’t. When Evan found the boy, Rowan would grieve. But then she would heal.