Chapter 4
The next day, AJ watched sadly as Crystal ran around the backyard. She was laughing as she kicked around a little beach ball. Her curly black hair bounced on her shoulders.
"How am I gonna raise her without her mother?" he thought, "I don't know anything, I need Brooke."
He put his head in his hands and sighed.
Crystal was at the edge of the yard. She screamed as she tripped over something.
AJ ran over to her, worried that she was hurt. She clung to him, crying because her knee was scraped.
He looked for what tripped her. He noticed a little black object glittering the afternoon sunlight. He strained his neck to see what it was.
It was a revolver.
The phone rang. AJ got up slowly and answered it.
"Yes?"
"Hello, AJ, it's Andrew. Collins."
"What? I'm kinda tired, so please make this fast."
"First of all, thank you for turning in that revolver."
"And?"
"We have news for you, Mr. Mclean."
"Yes?" prompted AJ.
"It's about Crystal."
"What about Crystal?"
" You're not her father."
"What do you mean I'm not her father?" he asked angrily.
"Well, according to a paternity test, she's not your biological daughter."
"What?! You did a test on Crystal without my permission?
"No, sir, we obtained some records from the hospital. Apparently, your wife took your daughter there to have the test."
"And when did this happen?" he asked incredelously.
"About a year ago. Would you like to know the results?"
"Aside from the fact that I'm not her real father, I don't think there's anything more surprising than that."
"Au contraire, Mr. Mclean. The tests also confirmed who her real father is. He went down there at the hospital that day with your wife and he was a match for Crystal."
"Who is he?" asked AJ.
"This may come as a surprise to you Mr. McLean," the officer paused, "According to the papers I have in my hand, his name is Howard Dorough."
