The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 62

As for Hackett's sample, it would be even easier.

She was his wife; every morning, she tidied up his side of the room.

His used razor, his discarded laundry, the comb he casually tossed on the dresser...

It was all right at her fingertips.

"Harriet."

Annelise called in the housekeeper, who was busy preparing breakfast, and laid out her entire plan.

Listening to it, Harriet's face lit up with a mix of excitement and nervous energy.

"Don't worry, ma'am. Leave this to me!"

"I kept the bottle nipple little Manuel used for his milk this morning. I didn't throw it away; I tucked it away safely."

"And Hackett used a comb this morning. I just grabbed it, and there are several hairs still on it!"

Watching Harriet act like a covert agent on a secret mission finally brought a faint smile to Annelise's face, easing the tension she'd carried all night.

"Good job, Harriet."

She pulled two prepared sterile ziplock bags from her drawer.

"Put the samples in separately and label them. Whatever you do, don't mix them up."

With the samples secured, the next issue was finding a testing facility.

The Lehman family's influence was deeply rooted in the city, meaning ordinary clinics couldn't be trusted.

If word got out, all her efforts would be for nothing.

Annelise immediately thought of Vivian.

Pulling out her burner phone, she dialed her friend's number.

"Viv, I have two anonymous paternity samples, and I need an absolutely secure place to get them tested."

Vivian didn't ask a single unnecessary question; she just paused for a couple of seconds before providing a name.

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