Chapter 10: The Wire

"No," I said.

The caseworker stopped halfway up the steps.

"She stays with me. If you want a swab, you take it where everyone can see, with her mother and me in the room."

"Mrs. Tierney..."

"I'll ride in my husband's car. You can follow us to the station with every one of those cameras on the sidewalk."

Behind her, six phones were already pointed at us.

The caseworker looked at them, then at Hal, then at the baby in my mother's arms.

"That's reasonable," she said.

Hal's smile finally slipped.

The station lobby at nine a.m. was full of people waiting to report lost wallets.

I stood at the front desk with my daughter on my shoulder and let a nurse swab the inside of my cheek.

The captain came out of his office, a gray man with his sleeves rolled up, and looked at me for a long moment.

"Mrs. Tierney," he said. "You've been on the news for three days."

"I know, sir."

"Detective, why wasn't I told your wife was alive?"

"I only found out last night, sir," Ryan said, which was almost true.

Behind the captain, Hal had come in and stopped by the water cooler, studying the floor.

I watched him not look at me.

"Results by tomorrow noon," the nurse said, and handed me a cotton ball for my cheek.

"Thank you," I said.

Then I leaned toward my husband and spoke into his collar.

"She texted you."

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