Searching for Cate Read Online Free PDF Page A

was, Cate thought, she was afraid that it just wasn’t enough. A cold fear gripped her heart once again.

Chapter 4
    W hen her mother fell asleep, Cate slipped out into the parking lot and drove the five miles over to Doc Ed’s office.
    Rhonda, the nurse who had been with him for the past ten years, looked somewhat surprised to see her and even more surprised when she asked to speak with the doctor. The nurse obligingly sandwiched her in between patients.
    Cate ignored the exasperated look the woman in the waiting room gave her as she walked by and went into the inner office.
    The doctor’s terrain was as familiar as the back of her own hand. Three exam rooms huddled together, with Doc Ed’s personal office at the end of the tiny hall. All three charts were in the slots that hung on the outside of the doors. It reminded her of Goldilocks and theThree Bears, except that she was in search of something far more important than porridge and comfortable sleeping accommodations.
    She knocked once on Doc Ed’s door and let herself in before he gave his permission. If he was surprised to see her, he hid it well.
    Cate struggled to hold in her hurt and anger. “You knew, didn’t you?”
    Doc Ed put down the file he was reviewing and indicated that she should take the chair that was before his scarred desk. Old-fashioned in his methods, he put the patient before the fee and there was no computer on his desk, challenging his mind and his time. He liked only what he could put his hands on, like the files that littered every flat surface within his office.
    â€œYes,” he told her, scrutinizing her reaction, “I knew.”
    Somehow, that seemed like the ultimate betrayal to her. Had no one in her life been honest with her? “For how long?”
    â€œFrom the beginning. I was the one who put them in touch with the private agency.”
    Cate reminded herself that she was first and foremost a special agent with the FBI. That meant she had to conduct herself professionally. She was supposed to be able to gather information under the worst situations, and heaven knew, this one qualified. “What was the name of it?”
    Doc Ed shook his head. “Angels From Heaven,” he told her. “But it’s long gone.” He saw the protest rise to her lips, as if she thought he was lying. “From what I’d heard, the lawyer handling all the private adoptionswas killed in a freak accident. Stepped off a curb and right in front of a bus. Died instantly.”
    That sounded like the punchline of a bad joke. “When?”
    Doc Ed thought for a moment, trying to pin down a year. He remembered reading the story in the paper and wondering what was going to happen to all the files of the babies who had changed hands. He’d even gone so far as to try to find out. But the address on the card the lawyer had given him turned out to belong to a dry cleaner’s now. All trace of the dead man’s small office was gone.
    â€œTwelve, fifteen years ago. Without him, there was no agency.”
    She watched the doctor’s eyes for signs of nervousness. Seeing none still didn’t convince her. He could just be a convincing liar. After all, he’d allowed her to believe a lie all these years. “You’re sure?”
    Doc Ed spread his hands wide. “I have no reason to lie to you, Catherine.”
    â€œYou had no reason to keep my adoption from me, either,” she pointed out.
    â€œNot my call, Catherine.” He leaned back in his chair, an old leather chair that had long since assumed his shape. It creaked slightly as he studied her. She was a strong-willed girl, she always had been. She would get through this, but not easily. “For what it’s worth, I thought your father was wrong, keeping this from you.” He laughed softly to himself. “Big Ted was absolutely fearless, but you were his Achilles heel.”
    Her eyebrows drew together. That