Page 109 of Destiny

“With all due respect, sir,” Mr. Brown says, “the Steel moneys are not tainted.”

“Maybe you and I have a different definition of tainted.” Dad swiftly writes out a check and hands it to Mr. Brown. “Here’s a retainer. That should cover this letter that you wrote and the next several hours. Let me know when you need more.” Dad stands. “Brendan, let’s go.”

I smile apologetically at Mr. Brown. “We’ll be in touch.”

“But, Mr. Murphy…”

Dad has already left the conference room, and he’s walking down the hall toward the exit sign. We plow through the reception area, and he hits the elevator button.

“Some nerve,” Dad says.

I’m not sure what to say. A big part of me agrees with my father. The Steels had some nerve paying for my place to be reconstructed as well. Dad doesn’t even know about that, and if I mention it now, smoke is liable to come out of his ears and his head might pop clean off.

We get back in the car and head back to Snow Creek.

Dad doesn’t say a word.

So I stay silent.

No reason to rock the boat.

I check my phone since Dad is driving this time. Ava still hasn’t returned my call, so I try again, this time not leaving a message. Then I send her a text.

Hey, baby. Worried about you. Please get in touch with me.

Just as I’m about to shove my phone back in my pocket, I get another text, and Dad’s phone rings at the same time.

It’s the other clinic, where we had our DNA test. They have our results.

“Dad?”

“What is it?”

“Turn the car back around. We’re heading back to the city.”

“What for?”

“The other clinic has our DNA test results.”

Dad takes the next exit, turns around, and heads back. “Can’t they give us the results over the phone?”

“Probably, but I want to see them on paper. Don’t you?”

He nods. “Yeah.”

A few minutes later, we’re back in the city, and we pull up in front of the lab, exit the car, and walk in.

“We just got a text that our results are in,” I say to the receptionist.

“Of course. Your name, please?”

“Brendan Murphy. This is my father, Sean Murphy.”

“Just a moment, please.” She taps on her computer. “Yes, we do have the results. Did you want to discuss them with someone?”

“Just looking at the report is fine.”

“All right. One moment please.” She taps again, and then she goes to her printer, pulls off some papers, and hands them to us.