Page 82 of Tear Me Apart

“Honestly? I want to get on this plane so I don’t lose sight of Armstrong, and get out to Colorado immediately. But tomorrow will be soon enough. We need to get our ducks in a row before we jet off. And who knows? The DNA match was to Vivian, right? Once they get down to it, Armstrong might not be a match.”

“You don’t believe that for a second, do you?”

He shakes his head. “I believe the world is an interesting place, Starr. As for the rest, we’ll see.”

43

THE WRIGHTS’ HOUSE

Lauren is falling asleep in her living room chair when a text dings on her phone. It’s Juliet, with news.

I found Armstrong. We’ll be in Vail late tonight. Can we meet you at the house?

Panic surges through her like a flame. She is scared to death—everything that happens from here on out will have severe consequences.

Mindy is asleep in her room. When Lauren checked her last, she realized how diminished her little girl is, frail and pale under the bedclothes. The temporary excitement of the news—the hope—has worn her out, and Lauren thinks she’s slipped even further. She has a sudden urge to paint, to capture an image of her sleeping daughter. She’ll title it,A Sleep Before Death.

God, Lauren. Morbid much?

How is Mindy going to handle all of this? They have to tell her what’s happening, they owe her that much, but if Armstrong isn’t a match, then what happens?

The idea of losing her daughter kills her. It absolutely kills her.

And losing the secret she’s held for so long...having it out there, her people knowing, she feels as empty as the husk of an insect, sucked dry by a spider and left to rot on a floor behind a curtain. It has to come out, she has absolutely no other choice, but her life is going to be redefined now. She is no longer simply Lauren Wright, Mindy’s mother, Jasper’s wife, Juliet’s sister. Now she is a woman who held back the truth. A woman with secrets. A woman who lied.

From the beginning, when she made the decision to bring Mindy home, Lauren knew there could come a time when people would find out her baby was adopted. She is lucky, in a way. Her family cares so much they’ve forgiven her. Haven’t they? Or are they simply postponing her punishment until they see the outcome? Have her actions, her denials and secrets, cost the life of her child?

She holds no illusions. If Mindy dies, none of Lauren’s actions will matter. But if Mindy lives, there is a small chance at redemption.

Another text from Juliet.

Hello?

Lauren writes back immediately.

Sorry, I was checking Mindy. That’s incredible news. How quickly can you test him?

I’ll stop by Cameron’s and do a draw, get it into the system immediately. If it’s a match, I’m sure Oliver will want to run his tests first thing. We should know by early morning.

A small gasp, she can’t help it.So soon? Is that even possible?

Us science types can do amazing things if properly motivated. Just tell Mindy to hang in there.

Lauren chews her lip for a moment.Is it him, J? You can tell me.

There is a slight delay, the three dots refreshing and refreshing as if Juliet is typing a huge, long reply, until finally, only three words appear on the screen.

Without a doubt.

And then,

I know we have to have proof, but it’s him. He looks just like her. She looks like him. Now we have to cross our fingers he’s a close enough match for the stem cells.

I’m praying you’re right.

The Nashville homicide folks were very cool. They will be heading the investigation, or a large part of it since the case originates in their jurisdiction. We’ll be working closely with them.

Investigation?