Chapter 11 - THE DNA TEST
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Rocco refused to trust a single document.
He arranged for the newborn's DNA sample to be collected by an independent specialist, with Dominic and Dr. Reed present as witnesses. The sample would be compared against Rocco's genetic profile and, if necessary, against the archived records of his late son.
Valentina demanded to be included.
“You cannot conduct tests on a child connected to my family without my consent,” she said.
Rocco looked at her across the study.
“You abandoned the child, according to the evidence.”
“I did not.”
“Then you should welcome the test.”
Valentina's face tightened.
“You're allowing a maid's daughter to control your judgment.”
“No. I'm allowing evidence to control it.”
She stepped closer.
“You've changed, Rocco.”
“Perhaps I finally started paying attention.”
Valentina left the room.
Two days later, the results arrived.
The infant was not Rocco's biological son.
The report showed no paternal relationship.
But the results confirmed a strong maternal connection to Isabella Hart's archived medical sample.
Rocco read the findings in silence.
He had been wrong about the baby's identity, but not about the crime. Someone had used the hospital bracelet to connect the child to a false record. Someone had wanted him to believe the baby was his son.
Why?
Dominic placed a second report on the desk.
“The bracelet number was copied from Matteo's record. Whoever did this wanted you to investigate the old hospital case.”
“Or wanted me to stop investigating something else.”
“Exactly.”
Rocco looked toward the nursery.
The baby slept peacefully, unaware that adults had turned his identity into a weapon.
“What happens now?” Dominic asked.
“We find his mother.”
“And if she's dead?”
“Then we find whoever made her disappear.”
That afternoon, Sophia overheard two guards discussing the DNA result.
She found Rocco in the library.
“Does this mean Leo isn't your son?”
Rocco closed the folder.
“Biologically, no.”
“Are you going to send him away?”
“No.”
“Why?”
He looked at her for a long moment.
“Because someone tried to throw him away once. I won't help them do it again.”
Sophia considered that answer.
“Then can I still call him Leo?”
“Yes.”
She smiled and ran back to the nursery.
Rocco watched her go, feeling a strange ache in his chest. The child was not his, but he had become responsible for him in a way that no contract could explain.
That evening, Dr. Reed discovered another anomaly in the laboratory records.
The original sample associated with Isabella Hart had been entered into the system under a false date. Someone had manipulated the database after her supposed death.
The laboratory technician who approved the change was still employed at St. Helena.
Rocco called Dominic.
“Find the technician.”
“Name?”
“Margaret Ellis.”
Dominic paused.
“Boss, Margaret Ellis died three years ago.”
Rocco stared at the report.
“Then who has been using her credentials?”
The answer arrived before midnight.
The hospital system had been accessed from a private office inside the Bellmont Foundation.
The office belonged to Victor Sterling.
Rocco rose slowly.
“Prepare the cars.”
“Where are we going?”
“To visit my father-in-law.”
May you like
He buttoned his jacket.
“And this time, I'm not asking him any questions he can afford to lie about.”
