“For five years,” Raymond said, his thumb resting gently against Theodore’s palm.

“I hired three different private investigators before I found out she had died in a county hospital.

The baby had already been placed in state foster care.”

“Here in Bellevue?” I asked.

“King County,” Raymond said.

“The state sealed the adoption and foster records when the boy turned eighteen, and I spent ten years trying to get a judge to unseal them.”

He looked up at me, his dark eyes sharp and steady under his heavy brows.