Page 74 of One Night Years Ago

Natalie nodded. “We would like all Sharp’s Cove male residents aged thirty to sixty to come to the hospital this week and provide a DNA sample.”

“All of us? That is absolutely insane, Sheriff!”

“You have no idea where to look!”

“You can’t force us to do that! This goes against our constitutional rights!”

For a moment, Hunter thought Natalie might lose control of the meeting. But then she started speaking again, and people hung to her every word.

“Settle down, everybody. Nobody is going to force you to do anything. I’m hoping you will all volunteer your DNA sample. Think of what’s at stake. There will be a dedicated member of staff at the hospital all through this week. Mayor Hutchins went to the hospital this morning. He was the first person to volunteer a sample.”

Behind her, the Mayor smiled beatifically, even though he was way past the perpetrator’s age range.

“Is the convict going to stop by the hospital as well?”

“I assume you’re talking about Hunter Fowler. He has been cleared from all three crimes, but yes, he has also volunteered a DNA sample.”

A few voices rose in the crowd, grumbling.

“Think of your daughters, everyone,” Natalie said. Again, that seemed to quiet people down.

“I think it’s a very good idea, Sheriff,” a tall man said, standing up from the third row. Hunter recognized Dr. Ford, though without the white coat it took him a moment. “I will be happy to participate.”

“Thank you, Dr. Ford,” Natalie said, flashing a rare, wide smile in the doctor’s direction.

“You pretty much live at the hospital anyway, Ford, it’s no hardship for you!”

“If anybody has trouble getting to the hospital, we can come to your work or home to test you. We need all of you to participate.”

“Is that all you’re planning on doing, Sheriff? Forgive me, but it doesn’t seem like much.” That was Helen’s voice. Hunter winced.

“Thank you for the question, Helen. We are following different avenues of investigation, rest assured, and this is only one of them. But I do want to make sure anybody who has any concerns raises them now.”

“I’m afraid of needles,” an older man said.

“Thank you for sharing that, Roy. I’m sure we can find a way around that. We can address individual concerns on a case by case basis. Now, anybody have any other questions for the group?”

There were no other questions, so Natalie closed the meeting. She kept her composure until most people had departed the gym and only then let her exhaustion show.

Hunter hobbled over to the stage. Natalie smiled lightly.

“Hunter. How’s the foot?” Rob asked. Hunter was surprised to detect no animosity in the man’s voice.

Hunter smiled, pointing at the below-knee removable cast Dr. Boyle had put on him.

“It’s a calcaneal fracture, apparently. I won’t be doing any running for the next six weeks. Listen, I … I wanted to thank you, Rob, for what you did. I can’t imagine what it took to keep the boat steady in the middle of that storm.”

Rob swelled with pride. “I always told Natalie she needed a sailor like me, somebody who knew water. But I think I should be the one thanking you for jumping in after Emma. She would have drowned if you hadn’t been there.”

Hunter nodded, uncomfortable with the praise.

“Are you okay, Natalie?” Hunter asked, seeing how distracted she was.

She nodded slowly. “Just wondering what the chances are that this will work.”

“I’ll head to the hospital now myself, to get my own sample done, and take Mr. I-m-afraid-of-needles with me so he can get it done as well,” Rob said. “Susan and I will keep careful track of who shows up.”

“Thank you, Rob, Susan. Let me know if there are any updates. I’m going to pick Emma up from the hospital and take her home. Would you like a ride, Hunter?”