The little boy was pale, his breathing shallow and quick.

Dr. Harrison carefully inserted the needle into the boy’s small arm.

Leo didn’t even cry. He only whimpered, his tiny fingers twitching.

Matteo stood by the window, his back to us, watching the city lights blur in the rain.

Dr. Harrison withdrew the needle and transferred the blood into a vial.

“I will take this to the private lab immediately,” Dr. Harrison said.

“Enzo will go with you,” Matteo said, not turning around. “He will watch you run the tests.”

Dr. Harrison’s shoulders dropped slightly, but he nodded.

“Of course,” the doctor said.

They left the nursery, leaving only Matteo, Mrs. Higgins, and me.

Mrs. Higgins stood near the door, her hands folded over her apron.

She looked smug.

She knew my room had been searched, and she knew I had nothing to show Matteo.

If she had my notebook and the jar, she could plant them anywhere.

I had to find where she put them.

“Mr. DeLuca,” I said. “I need to wash my hands before I sit with Leo.”

Matteo gave a brief, tight nod.