Another rumor soon began to circulate in the hospital, this time about the disturbing test results of Little Boy Blue. The following day, Doctor Max confirmed the news after the morning clinic.

He walked into Kara's office, his face grim, with a sheaf of lab reports in his hand. "I want to make one last attempt to find Boy Blue's mother," he told her without preamble.

"Buzz Mrs. Parsons," he instructed, "and get her in on this."

While Kara rang Mrs. Parsons, Doctor Max paced up and down her office, flicking the lab reports against the back of his hand in exasperation.

"She's just coming," Kara told him.

Doctor Max...