Most Wanted

Chapter Fifty-four

“Marcus, please.” Christine sank into the chair, crestfallen. “You have to get this in perspective, you just have to. We can’t keep it secret anymore and-”

“No, it’s not that.” Marcus reached down and caressed her shoulder. “Honey, I have news for you. Zachary Jeffcoat is not our donor. He’s not Donor 3319.”

“What?” Christine asked, dumbfounded.

“What did you say?” Tanya said, shocked.

Marcus looked down at Christine, his expression soft. “Gary got Homestead to tell us. He spoke with the parent company today. They offered to settle our lawsuit. They confirmed that Zachary Jeffcoat is not Donor 3319.”

Christine felt confounded. “That’s not possible. I mean, he told me he was. He matched the profile.”

Tanya nodded, frowning in confusion. “Yes, and I asked him directly. He told me he was, too.”

Marcus pursed his lips. “The truth is, he is not Donor 3319.”

“Then who is?” Christine felt absolutely bewildered.

“Homestead wouldn’t say.” Marcus’s expression remained gentle, his tone heavy. “That’s not part of the settlement. They won’t breach the real 3319’s confidentiality. We agreed to settle if they would confirm or deny that Jeffcoat was 3319, and they confirmed that Jeffcoat is not 3319. He may look a lot like 3319, but that’s a coincidence. In fact, Homestead took the real 3319 sample off the shelves because other patients were calling about the similarity. I left the office as soon as Gary told me, to bring you home. I was almost here when I got the call that you were in the hospital.”

Christine shook her head, trying to process the information. A million thoughts raced through her brain. She felt herself slump, looking down. Her entire body ached. Her head thundered. She’d gone through hell and back, for no reason. Zachary wasn’t her donor. She wasn’t carrying Zachary’s baby. She didn’t know who their donor was, after all that. She looked up at Marcus. “So we’re back at square one?”

“No, not at all.” Marcus frowned slightly, buckling his lower lip.

“How so?”

Tanya interrupted, stricken, “I don’t know how this could happen.”

Griff raised his arthritic hand. “Let’s go ask him.”

“Now?” Christine looked over at Griff, and so did Marcus and Tanya.

“Yes. Lawyers have twenty-four-hour visiting privileges. I was going to go over, I was waiting for you, Christine.” Griff rose, pressing himself up by a hand on his desk. “Let’s go.”

“Okay,” Christine said, dazed.

Marcus took her hand and helped her to her feet.