First Family

"DNA?"

"Yeah. Like fingerprints, only better. They use it all the time to get folks off Death Row that're innocent."

"I've committed no crimes."

"Never said you did." He looked at the pieces of paper, silently reading off the results again. "But you did give birth to a little girl twelve years ago. Gave birth but then you gave her up. Did you enjoy seeing her again today?"

The blood drained from Diane's face. "What are you talking about?"

"Willa is your daughter. Willa Dutton she's called now. She just celebrated her twelfth birthday. Her mom's name is Pam Dutton. Her adoptive mom, I mean. I had Mrs. Dutton's blood checked too just in case yours didn't match. But it did. And so did Willa's. You are, without no doubt at all, her ma."

"That's impossible," she said dully, her voice barely able to form the words.

"You got pregnant, had the baby, and then the Duttons adopted it." He waved the papers in the air. "DNA don't lie, lady."

"Why are you doing this?" she said, her voice low, but panicky.

"I got my reasons." He stood. "Would you like to see your daughter again?"

Wohl put a hand against the tabletop to steady herself. "What?" she gasped.

"I know you two just got acquainted, but I thought you might want to see her again now that you know."

She glanced at the papers. "I don't believe you."

He handed the pages across to her. "I had them put it in language folks like me could understand. The top batch test is Willa's. The one under that is yours. Read the result line."

She took the papers and read them slowly. "Ninety-nine point nine percent match for mother and child," she said dully.

She threw the papers down and screamed, "Who are you!"

"It's a long story and not one I'm willing to share with you. Do you want to see the girl or not?"

Wohl was already shaking her head, whipping it back and forth.

Quarry looked down at her with a curious mixture of sympathy and disgust. "You coulda kept the child. Guess I kind of understand why you didn't. But that doesn't mean I agree with it. Children are precious. Got to hang on to 'em. I learned that lesson the hard damn way."

Wohl straightened up. "I don't know who you are or what you want, but you have no right to judge me."

"If I were the judgmental type, maybe you'd already be dead."

This remark caused Wohl to drop to her knees, curl into a tight ball, and start sobbing.

Quarry bent down, picked up the DNA reports where she'd dropped them, and stood there watching her. "Last chance to see the girl," he finally said.

A minute passed. Finally, Wohl said, "Does… does she have to see me?"

"Ma'am, you two already met."

"But I didn't know she was my daughter," Wohl shot back. Then she added calmly, "I didn't know… I was her mother."

"Okay, I can see that."

Diane had a sudden thought. "Oh my God, does she know I'm her mother?"

"No. I saw no reason to tell her. 'Cause you're not the one who raised the girl."

"Do you know this Pam Dutton?"

"Never met her."

"But do you know if she's been good to Willa?"

"You telling me you didn't know the woman before you gave your daughter to her?"

"It wasn't that way. I really didn't have a choice."

"Everyone has a choice."

"So can I see her without her seeing me?"

"I got a way. If you're willing."

Wohl rose on unsteady legs. "I'd like to see her." Somehow this admission came out as a guilty confession.

"Give me a couple minutes."

Diane rushed forward and clutched at his arm. "You're not going to do anything that will hurt her?"

Quarry slowly removed the woman's fingers from his sleeve. "I'll be back shortly."

Five minutes later he returned and held the door open for her. She looked at it fearfully, as though if she walked through it she would never be coming back.

Sensing this Quarry said, "I give you my word, I'll take you to see the girl and then I'll bring you back here."

"Then what?"

"Then we'll just have to see. Can't promise you any more than that."