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She said brightly, “Well, since you’re part of the family there’s no reason I can’t tell you. In fact, Mr. Robins would have if you hadn’t walked out that day at his office.”

As she filled him in, Rhett nodded approvingly. When she came to the part about him inheriting Mindy’s share if she were not pregnant with his father’s child, he chuckled.

“And here I was bad-mouthing my father.”

“But I suppose Mrs. Templecouldbe pregnant with his child?” Cole said hesitantly.

“It would have been thesecondimmaculate conception.”

She laughed. “You obviously know more than I do.”

“So how will the process work? I mean, she might be pregnant, for all I know. But you have to determine whether my father is the one, even though he couldn’t be.”

“With her permission we spoke to her ob-gyn and were provided with definitive test results that show she’s pregnant. The question of paternity can be determined by a simple blood draw from the mother and DNA from the father, usually by a cheek swab.”

“My father is dead. How are you getting his DNA?”

“Your father had provided the firm a DNA sample, but since his death has been ruled a possible homicide, a postmortem was done and tissue samples taken. I suggested to Mr. Robins that DNA should be extracted from those official samples to use in our situation, so no one can challenge them later.”

“Meaning Mindy?” When she nodded, he said, “That was smart of you. And you sound well read on the subject of forensics.”

“I actually want to be a criminal defense attorney. However, I got roped into working trusts and estates with Robins for the next year. But my time will come.”

“And does Mindy have to agree to provide her baby’s DNA?”

“If she refuses, her share of the estate goes to you. The will wasn’t clear on when she had to provide the proof. You can do a DNA draw from the amniotic fluid starting at seven weeks and then up to the first trimester. But she’s asked for us to wait until the baby is born. Mr. Robins hasn’t agreed to that but he probably will. I mean, the money will be there months from now regardless—the pie will have just grown larger because of bond interest and dividends and capital appreciation.” She took a sip of her wine. “I take it your father was concerned with… infidelity?”

“Since Mindy’s pregnant, he was right to be.” When she looked at him curiously, he added, “My father had a vasectomy years ago. Irreversible. It’s in his medical records. So no way the baby could be his. Hence my ‘immaculate conception’ comment.”

“Then I wonder why she was so confident,” said Cole thoughtfully.

“When the stakes are high enough some people will try anything, no matter how ridiculous, Ms. Cole.”

She drew a bit closer. “Please call me Lindsey.”

“And I’m Rhett. Lindsey? Beautiful name, so it matches you well.”

“Is that a standard line of yours?” she said coyly.

“I don’t think you’d find a man to disagree with me.”

“Wow, you are good.”

“Well, maybe you can find out just how good I am.” He touched her hand. “I appreciate the information, Lindsey. And you will find me grateful in many ways. I think you’ll make a terrific defense attorney. Maybe I can finance your practice if you go out on your own.”

“Now that is worth discussing. Are you free now?”

“No, but I will be tomorrow.”

He paid the bill and saw her into an Uber. She waved from the car window and then vanished into the darkness of a city winding down for the night.

As Rhett walked to his penthouse, he assumed that he might be needing a criminal defense attorney one day. And why not retain one lovely enough to sleep with?

Then he, too, disappeared into the darkness, finally feeling good about things.

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