room erupted.
Stephanie asked if it could be an accident.
Daniel demanded to know whether the lab had mixed up samples.
Patricia said nothing.
Dr.
Grant raised one hand.
“We initially assumed an internal handling mistake.
That’s why I authorized an immediate audit.
But then we discovered that the accession record had been manually edited using a temporary administrative credential.”
Andrew frowned.
“Someone changed it deliberately?”
“That’s our current concern.”
Natalie turned to him.
“So Caleb’s DNA wasn’t tested?”
“Not in the report you received.”
The relief was so sudden Natalie nearly lost her balance.
She caught the edge of a chair.
Andrew stared at the floor.
He did not apologize.
Not yet.
Dr.
Grant continued.
“There is another complication.
During the audit, we reviewed the raw genetic profile attached to the substituted specimen.
It was not random.
The sample came from a child with a close biological connection to an individual already present in our database.”
Patricia’s fingers tightened against the back of the sofa.
Natalie saw it.
So did Daniel.
“Mom?” he said.
Patricia’s face went rigid.
Dr.
Grant opened a second document.
“Mrs.
Patricia Mercer, your telephone number appears on a sample-transfer authorization logged the same afternoon the specimen was altered.”
The room went silent.
Patricia recovered quickly.
“That’s absurd.
I’ve used that laboratory before.
My information may still be in your system.”
“You did use Northbridge before,” Dr.
Grant said.
“Seven years ago, for an ancestry and kinship panel.
That’s precisely why our system recognized the relationship.”
Andrew looked between them.
“What relationship?”
Dr.
Grant hesitated.
“The substituted child’s profile is consistent with being a close relative of Mrs.
Mercer.
Most likely a grandchild.”
Natalie felt the air disappear from the room.
Patricia had three adult children.
Andrew.
Daniel.
Stephanie.
Only Andrew was known to have a child.
Everyone slowly turned toward Daniel and Stephanie.
Stephanie looked horrified.
“I don’t have children.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
“Mom,” he said quietly.
“Whose sample did you use?”
Patricia snapped, “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Daniel stood.
“Whose child?”
Patricia refused to answer.
Dr.
Grant closed his tablet.
“I should clarify that the laboratory cannot establish the identity of the unknown child from genetic data alone.
We can only confirm the biological relationship.
Northbridge has suspended the employee credential used in the alteration and referred the matter to our compliance counsel.”
Natalie looked at Andrew.
“I want Caleb retested.
Tonight if possible.
With both of us present.”
“Absolutely,” Dr.
Grant said.
“We’ll collect new samples under witnessed chain-of-custody procedures.”
Andrew nodded immediately.
For the first time since Natalie entered the house, shame entered his face.
“I’ll do it.”
Natalie met his eyes.
“You’re doing it because you still need proof?”
Andrew flinched.
“Natalie—”
“No.
I want to understand.
You believed a secret test over your wife before you even asked whether the result could be wrong.
You gathered your whole family to watch you accuse me.”
Andrew had no answer.
Caleb reached toward him from Natalie’s arms.
“Da.”
The single syllable broke something in Andrew.
He covered his mouth.
Natalie turned away.
The second test was performed at Northbridge’s Richmond facility less than an hour later.
Dr.
Grant personally observed the collection.
Natalie swabbed Caleb’s cheek while a technician documented the sealed tube.
Andrew provided his sample beside her.
