Look Again - Lisa Scottoline [83]
She still had one DNA sample to collect, but she could do that after the Lego castle.
Chapter Sixty
Ellen scanned the directions for the DNA sample while Will stood at the kitchen sink and rinsed his mouth with warm water, his small fingers wrapped like a gecko’s around the glass tumbler. Though she had to use the nonstandard test for Carol and Bill, she was collecting Will’s sample by the conventional method, and she had to get it tonight because all the samples had to be sent to the laboratory together.
“Spit, Mommy?” Will asked, his eyes trustful over the rim of the glass.
“Two more times, pal.”
Will took a second gulp of water and spit it into the sink. “Is this good?”
“Yes, and we have to do one more thing.”
“Okay.” Will took his third gulp, letting the water dribble out of his mouth and down his chin for fun.
“Good, thanks.” Ellen wiped his wet grin with a napkin, then took the glass from his hand, set it on the counter, and turned to face him, placing a hand on his little shoulder. “Now open up, sweetie, just like you do for the doctor.”
“Is it gonna hurt?”
“No, not at all.” Ellen took the Q-tip in hand. “I’m going to rub the inside of your cheek with a Q-tip, that’s all. It’s the same kind of Q-tip we use to clean your ears.”
“Are you cleaning my mouth?”
“Yes.” Sort of.
“Why is my mouth dirty? I brushed my teeth this morning.”
“Ready to open up?”
Will opened his mouth like a baby bird, and Ellen rolled the swab on the insides of both of his cheeks for about a minute, making sure to cover most of his inner cheek. Then she withdrew the swab and set it on a folded piece of paper to dry, according to the instructions.
“Good job, sweetie.”
Will began jumping up and down.
“We just need one more, okay?”
“Why?” Will opened his mouth again, and Ellen picked up another Q-tip and swabbed the inside of his cheek.
“Just to be sure. All finished. Great job.”
“Now can we have dessert?”
“We sure can.”
Anything but lime Jell-O.
Chapter Sixty-one
Ellen had just stepped out of the shower when her cell phone started ringing. She ran into her bedroom, picked up her BlackBerry, and checked the display screen. It was a 215 area code, a Philly phone number she didn’t know. She pressed Answer.
“Hello?” It was Marcelo, and Ellen warmed to the sound, sinking onto her bed and drawing her pink chenille robe closer around her.
“Hey, hi.”
“I got your message. Sorry I couldn’t get back to you until now. Are you at home?”
“Yes, I’ll be back to work tomorrow, like I said. If you’re free, we can meet in the morning and talk over this thing with Sarah.”
“I don’t think it can wait. I’d like to come over tonight, if I may.”
Wow. Ellen checked her watch—9:08. Will was in bed, fast asleep. “Sure.”
“It’s not a social call,” Marcelo added, and she felt herself flush.
“Understood . . .”
“I’m on my way. I’ll be there in half an hour.”
“Great,” Ellen said, and as soon as they hung up, she bolted to the closet. She changed her clothes four times, ending up with a light blue V-neck and jeans, but instead of a tank top underneath, she went with a lace-topped ivory camisole.
Though her underwear was the last thing on her mind.
Chapter Sixty-two
By the time Marcelo knocked on the door, Ellen’s hair had dried loose and curly to her shoulders and she had doused herself with perfume, made up her eyes, and patted concealer on her telltale sunburn.
“Hello,” Marcelo said, unsmiling as he came inside.
“Good to see you.” Ellen knew she couldn’t kiss him hello, but she didn’t want to shake his hand, so she settled for closing the door behind him. “Can I take your coat?”
“That’s okay, I won’t be staying long.”
Ouch. “Would you like a drink or something?”
“No, thanks.”
“Do you want to sit down?”
“Thanks.” Marcelo crossed to the couch and sat stiffly down, and Ellen took the chair catty-corner to him. He said, “I thought it would be better to