Ashes to ashes, p.11
Ashes to Ashes, page 11
“I didn’t lie about the hysterectomy. I bled so much, and they couldn’t stop it, so they took it all out. I was unconscious for three days and then too weak to even feed myself for almost a week. Emery and Darra wanted babies so badly – and they were amazing moms to the girls. Those two are really incredible humans and that’s because of their mothers. Not because of you and me.”
“I need a drink. I’m going to get a beer. You want anything?” Max asked as he got to his feet.
“No, my stomach is churning. I feel relieved that you finally know – and sick because how do I explain all of this to the girls?”
“The same way you told me. I went from shock to fury to empathy and understanding. I feel off-kilter, to be honest.”
“I’m shaky. I’ve been holding on to this for so long, I don’t know what to do now,” Evan said. “I don’t know how to tell the girls and not have them hate me.”
“You were acting as a surrogate for your sister,” Max said. “That’s the truth, in a nutshell. We can frame it so that’s what they hear. That they were wanted so badly that you nearly died to give them to your sister and Darra.”
“And what about you as a father?” Evan asked.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the young women they’re becoming. I lucked out. I just hope they feel lucky to be part of my family, too. My mom is going to flip – in a good way.”
“I need to go get them so we can all talk, but my legs are still shaking,” Evan said.
“I’ll get them,” Max replied and walked down the hall to knock on their doors. “Girls, could you come to the kitchen?” He didn’t stand around to wait for an answer, just went back to sit beside Evan.
The twins came into the room and took the two seats opposite Max and Evan.
“So, you’re our bio dad?” Hayden asked.
“Yeah, I am. I didn’t know until today,” Max said.
“What does that mean, then?” Harper asked.
“It means we’re not just chosen family, but we’re also blood family. But there’s more you two need to hear, and I’m counting on the intelligence and love that I’ve seen you both show so many times since I first knew you as babies. Can you take a breath and listen before you speak? Give us a chance to tell you what we just told each other?”
Hayden nodded, and Harper bit her lip before she whispered, “Okay.”
“Max and I were living together in Boston. I’d applied for Quantico and he had just started with the State Police. We weren’t sure how things were going to work for us if we ended up in different places, and then I found out I was pregnant. Scared and positive I wouldn’t be any good as a mom, I ran away. I went to Emery and Darra, and told them what had happened. Em had just had her second miscarriage after trying insemination and they told her she couldn’t safely carry a baby to term. By the time I’d figured out I was expecting, it was too late to do anything other than carry the baby. Emery and Darra asked if I’d give them the baby if they helped me get through the pregnancy. I agreed. They wanted to be parents so badly and it was the last thing I felt capable of handling. We went to Maine, to the house on the coast. Then we found out it was twins, and I got really sick. I was on bedrest most of the pregnancy and you two were born by c-section. I almost died and they had to do a hysterectomy because I wouldn’t stop bleeding.”
The girls were silent, their eyes huge as they listened. Evan took a sip of her cold coffee and continued.
“You two were in the neonatal intensive care unit for a while and I was in the hospital for a while. When you were sent home, Darra and Em took you back to Haven and bought this place. I stayed in Maine and healed and got back into shape, then went to Quantico. From the moment they asked if they could have you, they were your moms. I never was. I was a surrogate for them to have the family they wanted so badly.”
“I didn’t know Evan was pregnant,” Max said. “Back then, I would’ve tried to do the so-called right thing and probably ruined all of our lives. I wasn’t ready to be a father, and Evan and I both had a lot of growing up to do. However, I am beyond proud to know that not only are you two chosen family, you’re also blood. I’m not going to try and be a dad to you now unless that’s something you want. I’d be honored if you decided you did want me in your lives as more than your auntie’s boyfriend. There’s a whole Prescott clan that’ll be thrilled to know you if and when you’re ready for that.”
Harper looked at Hayden. Hayden looked back at her, then they both gave a nod.
“We sort of talked about this on the drive home,” Harper said. “We don’t know what it means to have a father, but we both like and respect you, so if you want to try it out with us, we’re cool. And it’d be nice to know what it’s like to have grandparents.”
Hayden turned to Evan. “You gave our moms something precious and we had the best moms we could have wanted. We know we were loved and wanted every single day. I’m sorry you had such a rough time, but I’m glad you’re here with us now. You’re still our Auntie V, and we love you.”
“We both wanted to have a temper tantrum about it. We got mad and yelled, then we realized it was probably a lot more complicated than we thought and got smart about it. Family is really special and we’re not about to go shitting on the family we’ve got, no matter how it all fits together,” Harper said.
“How are you two only seventeen?” Evan muttered and shook her head, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I’ve been carrying this secret for so long, I feel strange now that you all know the truth. It should have never had to be said. Emery and Darra were your parents. I was just the incubation tank. I did feel bad that I didn’t tell Max, but as time went on, I figured he’d get married and have kids and go on with his life. Then the accident happened and…well…” Evan bowed her head, tears falling onto the table.
“You love us, right?” Hayden asked.
“More than anything in the world,” Evan said.
“Then it’s all good. Harper and I are going to go clean out the moms’ room. We’ve been getting boxes and stuff together in there and we’re going to start sorting things. It’s time. You two talk and don’t let the pot roast burn.”
The girls got up and gave them each a hug, then left them alone once more.
“Wow,” Max said.
“They’re a lot more like you than like me,” Evan replied.
“I’m going to go for a walk down to my place. I’ll be back in about half an hour. The pot roast is fine for at least another hour and a half or more. Get a glass of wine and go relax, okay?” Max said.
“Wine sounds good. Take my keys so you can lock up and get back in,” Evan said.
Max leaned over and gave her a slow kiss. “I still love you.”
Evan didn’t speak, just kissed him back. She got up and found the wine, then listened as Max went out and locked the door behind him. Evan carried a glass and the whole bottle with her into the study and shut the door. If there was ever a time to get nicely drunk, it was now.
Chapter sixteen
Life in general didn’t change much with the revelation of where the twins got their biological parentage. The girls seemed more comfortable around Max and Evan, and the feeling of impending doom that had hovered over them for so long had finally dissipated.
Evan admitted to herself that that feeling had probably all been in her head, but not having that weight to carry made life a lot easier. Cases were being handled, work got done, and Max and Evan started to date publicly. Their first date was to go to Edgar’s for dinner for Valentine’s day. Evan got her hair done at the salon and Maggie took her to the high-end shops to get new makeup and perfume.
She wore an emerald green silk sheath and her one pair of black Louboutin’s, her hair up in a twist and held with a gold and emerald hair pick she’d found in an antique store in France. Around her neck was a delicate gold chain that held a V-shaped piece of art where gold vines and leaves with tiny emerald chips looked like a cluster of fairy branches against her collarbone. On one wrist, she wore a delicate gold watch that had belonged to her mother, while on the other wrist was a gold bangle she’d given to Emery a few years back. It was February and still cold, so she wore a long, black wool coat until they got to the restaurant.
When Max helped her take off her coat, he froze in awe for a moment before he smiled and held out his elbow. “I’m escorting a queen. That’s the only answer for how incredible you look tonight.”
“I may not get dressed up often, but I do know how to present myself appropriately,” Evan said with a smile. Knowing how much he appreciated all of her hard work made it all worthwhile.
They were seated in a corner near the fireplace where they could see the room and the view of the ocean through the wide windows. White linen tablecloths and small votive candles with fresh flowers made the whole thing seem elegant and special.
“Have you eaten here before?” Max asked.
“Once, shortly after it first opened. Emery and Darra brought me for my birthday. That was years ago, though. I only remember that the food was excellent.”
They fell silent as the wine was poured and Max asked Evan to decide if it was to her liking. They ordered appetizers and discussed what to get for their main courses, when Evan’s phone vibrated across the table.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to shut it off with the girls at home alone,” Evan said. She turned it over and read the message, then closed her eyes and let out a breath.
“Do we need to go?” Max asked.
“No, but there’s been another murder that fits the Huntsman’s profile. Derek is going to go check it out and he’ll send me the information. This one is in Savannah, Georgia.”
Max reached out and took Evan’s hand where it lay on top of her phone. “As horrible as this news is, it’s also a good thing. That means we found him again and we have another chance at getting him.”
They both felt her phone vibrate again and he released her hand so she could look at the message. “How do you feel about going to DC with me tomorrow? I need to see if Maggie can have the girls for a few days, but my boss, Rachel Lincoln, wants to see us both in person.”
“Let me go call Clint and let him know what’s going on. Don’t eat all of the stuffed mushrooms before I get back,” Max said with a smile as he got to his feet and headed for the door. “I’ll be right back.”
While Max was gone, Evan sent a text to Maggie and got her assurance that she’d have the girls without any trouble.
“WTF are you doing, texting me while at dinner? You’ve got other plans, girlie.”
“I know,” Evan texted back. “But I just got asked to go to DC with Max by my boss, and he’s outside, calling to make sure it’s okay.”
“The girls are almost eighteen years old. They can be alone overnight. Get yourself some lovin’!” Maggie sent back and Evan chuckled.
“Yes, ma’am,” Evan replied and put her phone back down.
“You’re grinning. Good news, I hope?” Max said as he returned to the table.
“Maggie said she’d take the girls and told me to make sure I spent the night at your place tonight. I can go back to your place, but I need to go home so I can pack and get them ready in the morning. Rachel will get her assistant to book us the flight and we’ll get a text with the information in an hour or so.”
“How about we stop by my place and I pack, then we go to yours and I spend the night with you there. That way you can get up and tend to the girls and we can leave for the airport together.”
“Are you sure? You’ve not wanted to spend the night with the girls at home before,” Evan said.
The appetizers were delivered and they waited until the server was gone before they continued.
“I wanted to, but it felt strange. Now? It just makes sense. Besides, the girls are used to us being a couple and they’re okay with it,” Max said.
“Oh, gods, these are the best stuffed mushrooms,” Evan said around a mouthful. “And what are those? Shrimp bites?”
“Coconut shrimp bites. Here, dip one in this and taste it,” Max stabbed one with a fork, dipped it and held it out to Evan to taste.
She didn’t speak, just rolled her eyes as she ate the bite of food.
“Amazing, right?” Max said. “So, how long will we be in DC?”
“Figure on three days. That’s the usual,” Evan replied.
“What about accommodations?”
“We’ll be put up at the Harrington. It’s only a couple of blocks away from the Hoover building. It’s clean and cheap,” Evan said.
“That’s not what I was asking,” Max said, the tone of his voice a low rumble.
“Oh, uh…probably two rooms because we don’t need the snide commentary from people who’d see it as inappropriate. We’re not paying for it anyway.”
“You don’t truly expect to have a whole bed to yourself, do you?” Max teased.
“We can take turns mussing up the beds so housekeeping doesn’t report back,” Evan teased back. “Let’s not ruin this meal with anymore work talk. I’ve been thinking about this steak and shrimp combo for days.”
They enjoyed their meal and talked about trips they’d taken and college friends they missed. When they stopped by Max’s house, Evan waited in the car and texted Derek to let him know she and Max would be in DC tomorrow.
“I’ll be back in DC tomorrow, too. This Georgia one? It’s definitely our guy. And he left DNA behind with this one. It’s on the way to Quantico’s labs already.”
“Here’s hoping it blows this case open,” Evan texted back.
“From your lips to the Powers That Be’s ears,” Derek replied.
They landed in DC and picked up the rental car to head to the Hoover Building on Pennsylvania Avenue. Evan’s ID got them into the garage and they left their bags in the trunk before they headed inside.
“Not what I expected,” Max murmured to Evan. “It’s so normal looking. Kinda boring, actually.”
“What did you expect? Trench coats and fedoras everywhere?” Evan teased. She led them into a conference room near the middle of the building where Rudy was already seated.
“Hey, Rudy. Where’s the rest of the crew?” Evan asked.
“On the way. Grab coffee and whatever because Derek threatened to eat the whole tray if we didn’t order him a sandwich. Apparently his flight got in just before yours and there was no food,” Rudy said.
“Nice to meet you in person, Rudy,” Max said as he held out a hand to them.
Rudy got up and shook Max’s hand. “And you. You’re taller than I thought.”
“Hard to tell height when we’re sitting behind a camera,” Max replied.
“Any updates?” Evan asked as she got her coffee, a bagel and some fruit.
“Derek went to grab the DNA report off of his computer and Rachel is finishing up a conference call before she joins us.”
“They got the DNA that fast?” Max asked.
“Three days. Serial killers get top of the pile,” Rudy said.
A man stepped into the room and Rudy’s eyes went wide. They jumped to their feet and offered a nod of their head. “Director, how can we help you?”
Evan turned and she, too, got to her feet. “Director,” she said.
Max got to his feet as well, albeit a little slower, and stood silent.
“Where’s your boss?” the Director asked.
“She’s finishing up a conference call and will be here shortly, sir,” Rudy said.
The Director, or to be more accurate, Assistant Director in charge of the Criminal Investigative Unit, Anderson Michaels, turned to Max. “You must be Lieutenant Prescott of the Haven, Massachusetts police department. Thank you for coming and being a part of this investigation.”
Max blinked once, then gave the man a nod. “Thank you for including me in the investigation.”
Michaels then turned his attention to Evan. “Agent Wylder. My condolences on the loss of your sister and her wife. I’m glad we were able to figure out a way to keep such an excellent agent on the team while still making accommodations for your family’s needs. Keep up the good work.”
“Th...thank you, sir,” Evan stuttered. Her boss’s boss knew her name? That blew her mind a bit.
Rachel and Derek stepped into the room together, and Evan saw Rachel’s pause when she noticed Michaels’ presence.
“Hello, sir. Did you need me for something?” Rachel asked.
“Yes, I wanted to stop in and see where your team was with this Huntsman case. Senator Putnam was asking if we’d made any progress. He’s concerned that his great state of Connecticut will be forever tarnished by this case. And yes, those are his words, not mine. I just wanted to find out if there were resources you needed that you weren’t getting access to, or if there was any other way I could help,” Michaels said.
“Thank you, sir,” Rachel said. “At this time, we seem to have access to all of the resources we need. Now we just need to figure out how the DNA of a man who has been dead for at least six years was found on the body of a girl three days ago.”
Derek made his way around the table and handed Evan a copy of the lab results. Evan and Max leaned together to read the report and both shook their heads.
“This is insane,” Evan muttered.
“A twin?” Michaels asked.
“That’s the only answer we’ve come up with so far,” Rachel said. “But we can’t find any record of Matteus Chase having a twin.”
“DNA doesn’t lie, we all know that. But it’s also tricky if we rely on it as the final answer to every question. Keep digging. This is one of the best teams I know and I trust you’ll find the killer,” Michaels said. “I’ll leave you to it. Rachel don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” Rachel said.
Michaels walked out of the room and Rachel waited a beat before she closed the door behind him.
“Holy fuck,” Rudy muttered.
“My sentiments exactly,” Rachel replied. “Okay, people. Let me get a coffee while you fill me in on where we are. Derek? Tell us about Georgia.”
