“Somebody once said there is no future without a past.”
Alex looked up. “Yeah? Wonder what kind of past he had?”
George sat down. “You really want to walk away now when you’re so close to the truth? At least maybe some of it?”
Alex sat silent for a time, then sighed. “Okay. Let’s go.”
George stayed by his side as they strode through the door of Adams, Ferrington Lithgow and Bolt.
* * *
The receptionist waved them past with a smile as George led Alex toward a door marked with a nameplate engraved in gold: G.A. Bronsky, Attorney at Law. As the door swung open a young woman stood up.
Alex stared. She wasn’t what he’d call beautiful, but there was something about her that captivated him instantly. She was dressed in a trim beige business suit, expensive and tailored to fit. The collar of a light blue silk blouse made a smooth line along her neck. It matched eyes that stared steadily into his. He blinked when he realized she was standing in front of him, her hand extended.
George completed the introduction. “Alex, this is Kenni—uh, Kendra Adams. Kenni, Alex Donnelly.”
Alex put his hand in hers.
“Everyone calls me Kenni, Alex. It’s good to meet you at last.”
Alex wished he’d taken George’s advice about the haircut as he watched Kenni return to her chair. George moved quickly behind the desk and waved at another chair angled beside it. Alex settled himself in it, noticing an open file on the desk. George flipped it closed.
Tucking a long strand of honey-colored hair behind her ear Kenni smiled. “How was your flight?”
“Okay,” Alex said.
“And the room? It was comfortable, I hope?”
He nodded. “Fine.” Dolt, make an attempt. He added a quick “Thanks.”
Kenni flashed a glance at George. “I know you’re probably anxious to know about the inheritance, Alex, but we do have to confirm that you’re the Alex Donnelly we’re looking for. I’m quite sure you are, but we’ll have to verify it.”
“How?” Monosyllabic moron.
“I’m going to ask you to go to a local police station.”
Alex gripped the arms of the chair.
“They’ll take a print of your foot,” Kenni continued.
“My foot?” Alex knew he was doing a bad job of hiding his tension.
Kenni’s smile beamed again. “Yes, I’m afraid so. The only positive identification we have is the footprint of baby Alex. If you and he are one and the same, your footprint will match. It will take a few days for the experts to tell us.”
Alex slumped. “I thought it would be today, this morning.”
“I’m sorry, no. Since it’s Friday we probably won’t get the results until Wednesday or Thursday of next week at the earliest. We have to be certain. I’m sure you can understand.”
Alex nodded. “Yeah. I guess. So where’s this police station?”
“George will take you there. It’s not far.”
Alex glanced at the file. He turned to Kenni and pointed with his chin. “Does that belong to me?”
Kenni’s eyes flicked to the file for a second, then back to him. “Well, not exactly. It’s the information I collected as we tried to find you.”
“My profile.” His eyes flicked to George, then back to Kenni.
Her eyebrows arched slightly. “Yes. Your profile, and other information. Once we determine that you’re the right person you’ll have access to all of it, if you want to read it.”
Alex nodded and turned to George. “Let’s go, then. The quicker we get this over with, the better.”
George stood. “Okay.” He nodded to the woman. “Thanks, Kenni.”
As she stood the smile she gave George was warm. “See you tomorrow?”
George nodded. “I’ll be there.”
Kenni extended her hand toward Alex again. “It really is good to meet you, Alex.”
As he took her hand in his again he felt like she could see right through him. But how could a woman like her know how someone like me would feel? When their hands lingered he thought she turned a very slight shade of pink. He dropped his eyes.
“Yeah. Uh, thanks,” he mumbled and followed George from the room.
In the elevator Alex turned to him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What?”
“That Kenni Adams was a woman.”
“Oh.” George shrugged. “Guess I didn’t think it was relevant.”
“Relevant? How could a woman like that not be relevant?”
The lawyer smacked the Main button on the wall of the elevator. “She’s my boss’ daughter. Not to mention about fifteen years younger than me. I don’t think of her that way.”
“Right. So what’s going on tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yeah. She said, ‘See you tomorrow.’ So what’s that about, you work Saturdays?”
“Sometimes. But this is a social thing.” George looked sideways at him.
Alex smirked. “Yeah, right.”
* * *
Kenni opened the file and noted the date of the meeting. Her hand shook a little as she jotted down a few words. She stared at what she’d written, then at the chair where Alex sat. She’d tried to prepare herself for meeting him, for the way it might stir up old memories, old scars. But she was not prepared for the way the strength of his features seared her mind. The line of his jaw, the wide shoulders that seemed tight with tension. The strong hands. And his eyes. She turned her head away, but the haunted look she’d seen there stayed with her. She knew that look well. She’d seen it often, in a small chipped mirror on the wall in a dingy bedroom.
“Oh God,” she whispered. “Help.”
* * *
The time at the police station took only about an hour, but it felt like ten. Alex forced himself to make eye contact with the officer who took the print of his foot. But he couldn’t make himself relax. If there had been any communication between the Vancouver police and the Seattle police five years ago, he’d know it pretty quick. He’d know it by the handcuffs they’d slap on him before he could get out the door.
