Starting Over (A Linstead Story)

Chapter 8

Jay was out on an assignment with Adam Ruzek when he got the phone call he had been waiting for. It came from an unknown number, so he answered with no knowledge of who was calling.

"Jay Halstead."

"Good morning, Mr Halstead," said a female voice. "My name is Andrea Young, calling from SafeTest Clinic."

"Oh, morning," he said as a mixture of excitement and apprehension hit him. This was the call with the DNA test results. He was about to officially find out Jess was his sister. Or not. It struck him how badly he wanted the news to be good.

"Your DNA test results have come in, sir. The nature of your query was to find out if you are related to a Ms Jessica Sutton, correct?"

"That's right."

"The results confirm that you are related."

Just like that, he thought in delight. Jess really was his half sister. Her mom had told the truth.

"Oh, amazing! Thank you!" he said.

"You're welcome. Have a good day, sir. And thank you for your business."

"I will! I mean, you're welcome. Thanks again."

"Good news?" Adam asked from the driver's seat of his car as Jay ended the call. They were heading to track down a witness on their current case who was needed for a second interview.

Jay looked at his good friend and colleague, and he couldn't help grinning like a Cheshire cat. "That was the clinic where Jess and I got DNA tested the other day. They've just confirmed we are related. She really is my sister."

Adam smiled too and pulled the car over. Whether their journey took a couple of minutes longer was of no importance. "That's brilliant news," he said once the car was stopped. "Do you want to call her quickly before we get on with this?"

"Good idea," Jay said appreciatively as his brain started to catch up. As always, he was thankful for Adam having his back. "I should have thought to ask them if they've called Jess yet."

"If they hadn't before they called you, I assume they'll be doing it right now."

That was logical. Even so, Jay found Jess's number in his contacts list and tapped the icon to call it. His call went through and the ringing sound started. As he waited, he began to play out in his mind how he might break the news if she hadn't received it already. Disappointingly though, he didn't get an answer and voicemail picked up his call.

"This is Jess Sutton. Leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

Jay ended the call before the beep. He wasn't going to leave their DNA test results in a voicemail. He imagined she was working on cleaning a crime scene somewhere, and would get back to him when she took a break.

"Do you mind if I call Erin real quick?"

"Have at it. We're stuck in traffic, right?" Adam said, looking studiously out of the windshield at the almost empty road.

Jay chuckled and called Erin's number. She was probably in the bullpen. That was where she had been when he and Adam had left less than ten minutes earlier.

"Hey," Erin said. He could tell just by her tone that she was indeed still in the bullpen.

"Go in the locker room for a minute," Jay requested. He didn't think Voight would go ballistic about the personal call if he found out about it, but he figured there was no point taking the chance.

"Alright," Erin said. Then a few moments later, "Okay, what's up?"

"Just got a call from the DNA clinic. They confirmed Jess is related to me. She really is my sister, Erin. Her mom's story was true."