Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline

I’d love to talk to a geneticist. I did some research of my own.”
    Christine looked over, surprised. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI read some things online, last night.”
    Michelle nodded. “Okay, but Lucy is not a geneticist. A geneticist is an M.D. Lucy is a genetics counselor, she has a master’s degree. She conducts risk assessments for hereditary conditions, whether the child is conceived via a third-party or not.”
    Christine translated the jargon. A third-party conception was one involving either an egg donor, a sperm donor, or a gestational surrogate, which was a woman who carried a couple’s child to term though she made no genetic contribution. “So why do you want us to talk to her?”
    â€œWe ask her to consult from time to time, and I think the world of her. She’s full of useful information.” Michelle turned to Christine. “Would you like her to join us? Or would you rather we talked alone, then you can meet with her at another time? Christine?”
    â€œI’d like that, and now is fine.”
    â€œWhy wait, right?” Marcus answered, motioning at the door. “Send her in.”
    â€œTerrific.” Michelle half-rose, reached for a landline on the desk, and pressed an intercom button. Silence fell, and Christine tried to not let it bother her. Normally their sessions with Michelle were so chatty, they’d often run beyond their allotted hour, but the air in the room felt newly charged, so that it came as a relief when someone knocked.
    â€œThat must be Lucy.” Michelle rose and opened the door, admitting a petite, wiry woman in her sixties, with fluffy gray hair, silver hoop earrings, and steely, wire-rimmed glasses, which she had on with a beige pantsuit, giving her a clinical appearance that was mitigated by a flowery silk scarf.
    â€œHello, Christine, Marcus,” Lucy said, smiling tightly as she shook both of their hands, then sat down in the last chair next to Michelle.
    â€œThank you for inviting me into your session. I’m always happy to consult with Michelle, whom I’ve known for twenty years.”
    â€œWe walk together,” Michelle added. “Lucy got me into her walking club, and I can barely keep up with them.”
    Christine smiled. “I find that hard to believe.”
    â€œDon’t,” Lucy said simply, and the three women laughed.
    Marcus shifted impatiently.
    Lucy’s smile faded. “Now, I’ve been given your case background, so let’s jump right in, shall we?”
    â€œFine.” Marcus nodded.
    â€œYes, please,” Christine said, liking Lucy’s demeanor. The genetics counselor linked her slim fingers in her lap and spoke deliberately, which seemed somehow reliable and comforting.
    â€œI understand that Homestead can’t confirm or deny the donor’s identity for an anonymous donation, so we’ll have to work with the hypothetical, if we can. Can we?”
    Marcus frowned. “We have no other choice. Our question is, if our donor has a predilection for violence, is that an inherited trait? Also, our donor could be a sociopath. I read that a lot of serial killers are sociopaths. Or thrill seekers. Is that inherited?”
    â€œFirst, some background is in order.” Lucy held up a hand. “I don’t get a lot of psychological issues, and I’ve been a genetics counselor for twenty-nine years. The problem with psychological disorders is that there’s no test, such as a blood test or tissue test, that I can perform for them.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œUnfortunately, yes. So, there is no psychological test or clinically available testing I can perform that can answer your questions. However, I collected and reviewed the current population data and studies, at Dr. Davidow’s request. I would be happy to send them to you, by email, and I can summarize my conclusion from these articles, right now.”
    â€œPlease