Birthright

offices, in his network. He had a wife during the time Callie was taken. Two wives since. And he very likely had other intimate relationships. No matter how careful a man is, he talks to someone. To find out who, and what, you need to get a clear picture of the man. Who was Marcus Carlyle? What drove him?”
    “We have some of that from the investigator’s report.” Lana flipped through the file. “The name of his secretary in his Boston and Seattle offices. She’s no longer in that area. We believe she remarried and moved to North Carolina, but he hasn’t been able to locate her as yet. There was a law clerk, whom he has spoken with. There’s no indication he was involved. I have reports on a few other employees, and again, there’s no indication that any of them continued contact with him after he closed down in Boston.”
    “What about associates? Other lawyers, other clients, neighbors?”
    “He’s had interviews and conversations with some.” Lana lifted her hands. “But we’re talking about over a twenty-year gap. Some of these people are dead, or have moved, or simply haven’t been located yet. Realistically, if you want to spread out this way, it’s going to take a team of investigators, and a great deal of time and money.”
    “I can go to Boston.” Doug broke off another corner of the cake. “And wherever.” He shrugged when Callie just looked at him. “Traveling’s what I do. And when you’re hunting up books, determining whether they are what they’re advertised to be, you talk to a lot of people, do a lot of research. So I’ll take a trip, ask some questions. Do me a favor?” he said to Jake.
    “Name it.”
    “Look after my woman and her kid while I’m gone?”
    “Happy to.”
    “Just a minute.” Flustered, Lana shut the file. “Jake has enough to do without worrying about me, and I’m not sure how I feel about being referred to as ‘your woman.’ ”
    “You started it. She’s the one who asked me out.”
    “To dinner. For God’s sake.”
    “Then she just kept reeling me in.” Doug bit into a hot dog, talked around it. “Now she’s hooked me, she doesn’t know what to do about it.”
    “Reeling you in.” Speechless, Lana picked up Callie’s beer and drank.
    “Anyway, I’d feel better knowing you’re looking out for her and Ty while I’m gone. When I get back,” he added, “maybe you’ll have figured out what to do with me.”
    “Oh, I’m getting some pretty good ideas right now.”
    “Kind of cute, aren’t they?” Callie swooped a finger through icing, licked it off. “You lovebirds are really perking me up.”
    “Then I’m really sorry I can’t stay until you’re rolling with laughter and cheer, but I need to get home to Ty. The updates are in the file. If you have any questions, call.”
    “I’ll follow you home.” Doug rose, then offered a hand to help Lana to her feet.
    As if surprised to find it in her hand, Lana handed the beer back to Callie. “How long will the two of you be here tonight?”
    “Matt and Digger relieve us at two.”
    Lana looked toward the mounds of dirt, the holes and trenches, the pond, the trees. “I can’t say I’d enjoy spending the best part of the night out here. Whatever the circumstances.”
    “I can’t say I’d enjoy spending the best part of the day in Saks. Whatever the circumstances.” Callie lifted her beer. “We all have our little phobias.”
    D oug waited while Lana settled Tyler in for the night. He spent the time studying the photographs she had scattered over her bookshelves. Particularly one of Lana leaning back against a fair-haired man with his arms snug around her waist.
    Steven Campbell, he thought. They looked good together. Relaxed, easy, happy.
    The kid had his father’s eyes, Doug decided, and slidhis hands into his pockets to stop himself from picking the photograph up. And the way he was grinning, the way he rested his chin on the top of Lana’s head transmitted fun and affection, and intimacy.
    “He was a terrific guy,” Lana said quietly. She walked to the shelf, took down the picture. “His brother took this. We were visiting his family and had just announced that I was pregnant. It was one of the most perfect moments of my life.”
    She set the picture down gently.
    “I was just thinking how good you look together. And that Ty’s got a little of both of you. Your mouth, his eyes.”
    “Steve’s charm, my temper. He made so many plans when Ty was born. Ball