Mindfield (Sideways Eight Book 1) by A Wallace

nursery.” She cleared her throat.
    Murphy tipped his glass to his lips and stalled. “You did what? Why?”
    “Parentage.”
    “That wasn’t part of the warrant.”
    “Duh.”
    He huffed. “It’s illegal, Faraday. What were you thinking?”
    “Okay, Boy Scout, listen, okay? I destroyed the physical evidence.”
    “I can’t believe you did this.” He leaned back on the bar chair, rubbing his face. “Now I’m implicated.”
    “I’ll never admit I told anyone. You’re safe.” She swiped her hand. “You didn’t know.”
    He tapped his chest with his index finger. “I do now, which makes me as guilty as you.”
    “Oh please, you’ve never gone against procedure or protocol to solve a case?”
    His clamped jaw twitched.
    “Do you want the results or not?”
    “I dunno.”
    “All right.” She swirled the glass, admiring the golden liquid.
    He crossed his arms. “Is this standard procedure for you? If so, I can’t work with you.”
    “Your choice. You’re free to leave.”
    “I get it now.” He glared. “You planned this.” He jabbed his finger at her. “You used this to dismiss me as your partner. Place a black mark on my record. You want to ruin me.”
    Charley shook her head. “No. I wouldn’t do that. I’m many things, but vindictive isn’t one of them.”
    Murphy sighed as his eyes burned into her. “Tell me the results.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “No, but I’m knee deep, I might as well hear the answer.”
    “I ran a DNA parentage test using PCR.”
    “PCR?”
    “Polymerase chain reaction. It’s lab equipment used to simplify DNA.”
    Murphy leaned on the table. “You can do that?”
    “Yes. That’s why I went to UVA.”
    Murphy punched his finger on the table. “Wait a second, you told me you were going to UVA to visit a college friend.”
    “I did. Who do you think runs the genetics lab in the biology department?”
    Murphy folded his hands at his chin. “All right, and what were the results?”
    “I ran the test twice to make sure. Baby Robert isn’t Steven Senters’ son, but he is Bonnie’s child. Emma is Robin’s biological mom, not Bonnie.” Charley took a deep breath, chewing her lower lip. “Are you ready for the next revelation?”
    “After this, how could it get any more insane?”
    “Steven is Robin’s dad.”
    Murphy’s mouth dropped. “Holy shit, Faraday.”
    “There’s something else.”
    “There’s more?” Murphy covered his mouth as he shook his head. “That… oh, man… I’m no prude, but that’s just…”
    “I went into the Senters’ master closet.” Hesitant, she inhaled. “I found monthly magazine issues for swingers and wife-swapping. They came from a club located an hour southwest of here. Membership only.”
    Murphy stiffened his shoulders and rubbed his chin. “Whoa.”
    “I did a little digging. There’s an urban legend which originated in Berlin, Germany. It dates back to World War II. Swinger’s who sacrifice.”
    “The ritualistic crime scene display, okay, I understand the connection. Where’re you going with this?”
    “Go to the club and search their records for a connection to Berlin.”
    “What?”
    “It’s the only way.”
    “How will we do that?”
    “Extract files from a safe or computer. Without being caught.”
    Exasperated, he growled, “Are you insane? Are you aware of how many federal laws would be broken?” He counted them off on his fingers. “Theft, breaking and entering, criminal misconduct, that’s just three, which come to mind. Give me a few minutes and I’ll list them all.”
    “Suspicion isn’t enough for a warrant. This isn’t North Korea, Murphy.”
    “I won’t do this.”
    “Just listen,” she pleaded. “I’ll request the architectural plans from the county planning office.”
    “Is this a common practice for you? Let’s add, invasion of a private business, and the big one, no warrant.”
    “No.” With an anxious frown, she dropped her head. “This is new for