A Crying Shame (139 page)

Karl smiled. He leaned back in the chair and rubbed his eyes.
No, Miss Breaux, there is not. I ... will admit, I am both relieved and disappointed—from a medical standpoint, that is, not personally. Your blood is perfectly normal. And I do not understand that, since the samples of your brother's blood we obtained showed the same cell structure as the Links's blood. Basically, that is.”

Karl was thoughtful for a moment.
I should like to ask some questions of a delicate nature, Miss Breaux, if you don't object.”

Go right ahead. I'm so relieved that I'm normal, nothing you could say would shock me.”

Karl smiled.
I'm glad you feel that way. Was your mother a promiscuous woman?”

I beg your pardon? Certainly not!”

It was not my intention to offend you.”

I'm sorry. I see what you're driving at. No, my mother and father were devoted to one another.” She was silent for a moment, remembering something; some bit of hush-hush family gossip from long past.
But she was raped, though.”

Oh? When was this?”

I'm not certain. About thirty-five years ago, I believe.”

And how old was Paul?”

Thirty-five.”

And where did this assault take place?”