Gemini Rising (Mischievous Malamute Mystery Series, Book 1) by Harley Christensen Page A

I rattled off my email, she continued, “I’m going to e-mail you the standard medical record request form. Just fill out the basic parts and e-mail it back to me, along with a copy of your current birth certificate and driver’s license. Once I’ve got it, I’ll fill in all the nitty-gritty details—with the appropriate codes—so you get anything and everything related to your parents. Believe me, when I’m done, if one of your birth parents broke a foot and had it casted here when they were twelve-years-old, you’ll know about it.” I chuckled.
    “Anyway, I know the director over there. He owes me a favor. I’ll call and give him a heads-up, then send a messenger to place the request and your documents right into his hands. When his people are done, I’ll have him do the same back to me, and I’ll ship it to you overnight. Will that work, Arianna?”
    “Heck, yes. Th-thank you,” I stammered, before attempting to collect my wits. “A couple of questions, though?”
    Cheryl laughed. “Shoot.”
    “Don’t take this the wrong way, Cheryl, but why are you helping me? Aren’t you risking a lot?”
    Again, she laughed, but perhaps a bit more tersely. “Call me jaded. Or perhaps I’ve become too complacent over the years, but it’s been a long time since I’ve had the opportunity to the right thing for the right reasons. And this feels right. Plus, you caught me on a good day.” It was my turn to chuckle.
    “Whatever the reasons, thank you, again. This means a lot to me.”
    “I know it does. You said a ‘couple’ of questions?”
    “Oh yeah, please call me AJ? All of my friends do.”
    “Certainly, AJ. I’d like to hear how this turns out.”
    As promised, I had an e-mail from Cheryl waiting in my Inbox shortly after the call ended. I quickly filled out the section she’d highlighted, scanned my birth certificate and driver’s license and e-mailed them back with another quick thank you.
    I know I should have been ecstatic following the call with Cheryl—a part of me was—but I also worried it would lead to more questions. What is it they say about not looking a gift horse in the mouth? Perhaps said horse should just kick my butt now and be done with it.
    While I’d been talking to Cheryl, Anna had emailed Sir Edward Harrington’s home and cell phone numbers and indicated she’d given him a head’s up—he would be expecting my call—so I kept it to the basics, leaving him enough of a message on his cell to elicit a return call.
    After that, I took a couple of minutes to jot down a few to-do items I’d conjured up for Anna, Leah and myself throughout the day. I decided to wait until I heard back from Sir Edward before touching base with them regarding these items, just in case I needed to add a few more.
     
    LEAH
     
    Maxwell & Mavis Baumgardner / Sterling Joy Agency
    Question: What happened to the Sterling Joy Agency?
    Question: What “other opportunities” did the Baumgardners have in mind?
    Question: What became of the couple?
     
    Martin Singer / Bio dad
    Question: Are there other details surrounding his suicide?
     
    ANNA
     
    Jonathan Silverton / Winestone’s lawyer
    Question: What happened to Silverton’s files once he retired?
    Question: Who are the Winestone’s other lawyers?
    Question: Did the other lawyers know about Silverton?
    Question: Did Silverton procure the birth certificates and/or my parent’s address at the Winestone’s request (provided they did not come from the Baumgardners)?
     
    AJ
     
    Sir Edward Harrington / Winestone family friend
    Question: Did he know Jonathan Silverton?
    Question: Did the Winestones know my parents?
     
    Cheryl Earley / UCMC Administrator
    Awaiting records on Martin Singer and Alison Anders / bio parents
     
    Other
    Question: Did the birth certificates and/or my parent’s address come from the Baumgardners, despite Mrs. Baumgardner’s resolve to the contrary (provided they did not come from Silverton)?
     
    Once completed, I