Page 35 of Forgotten Girls

“I have a meeting with the adoption agency as well, but ours is tomorrow morning at ten.” Jo smiled. “It seems the older kids, as in ten to twelve, are not in such high demand as babies right now. When I explained our mission in life as wanting to educate and find the best placings for our children, she seemed to understand my meaning. The woman transferred me to another person, and she wanted referrals. Those names you gave me worked like a charm. They dropped the legitimate-business act and got straight down to work. I must admit being given a Sunday appointment was unusual, but they seemed very keen to see us.” She smiled. “Then she asked for a ten-thousand-dollar deposit just for a meeting to discuss our options.” She looked at Beth. “Now where are we getting the ten grand?”

Beth smiled. “Leave that and the clothes to me. I’ll need to raid a few closets to get the clothes we’ll need for you and Styles. Jo, feel free to take what you need from my closets. I still have a ton of things from when I lived in DC and we’re the same size. I’ll go and see TJ and Matt. Between them, we should get the look we need.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Jo smiled. “I just packed the necessities for a week here.”

“I’m good.” Styles gave her a smile. “I have Sunday go-to meeting clothes in my closet. I’ll dress slick and I have a selection of dress boots as well if Carter needs them.”

“Great, well, do that first. It will save time if you have clothes for Carter as well.” She glanced at her watch. “When will we need to leave, Carter? I assume we’re all traveling to the ranch together?”

“Yeah, be ready by noon. We’ll fly to the airport in Helena. We’ll need both choppers just in case we get split up and anything unexpected happens.” Carter indicated toward Styles. “I’ll go with Styles and sort the clothing and then we’ll do the preflight checks. Can you arrange supplies, Jo? I don’t know how long we’ll be away. Two or three days maybe?”

“Sure.” Jo nodded. “How do you plan on tracking the doctor if you get to meet him?”

“I have a number of tracking devices we can use.” Styles folded his arms across his chest. “Tiny, we could drop one into his coat pocket, into his bag if he has one with him, and I figure most doctors carry bags of one description or another.”

Being able to pick pockets went both ways and Beth could place the tracker. She smiled at Styles. “I can do that. I’m very good at sleight of hand.” She shrugged. “Just get me in the same room as him, and I’ll get the job done.”

Leave me alone long enough with him, and I’ll cut his throat. Beth looked away as her dark side fought its way to the surface. She had seen what the doctor was capable of doing, delved into his darkest secrets. He was a monster and if it meant she risked her own freedom, she’d take him down once and for all. It would be worth it.

“You okay, Beth?” Styles cleared his throat. “I know it will be difficult coming face-to-face with an animal like him.”

Trying to act nonchalant, when her heart was hammering in her chest, Beth lifted her gaze, hoping she appeared normal and not like some crazed lunatic. She nodded. “I’m fine. He’s just another monster we need to take down. We’ve faced much worse. This time he’s dealing with adults, not defenseless kids.”

“Okay.” Styles straightened. “Let’s get to work.”

FORTY

Beth enjoyed the scenery as they flew to the ranch in Helena. They followed the mountain range for some time and the way the trees seemed to walk up the side of the mountains intrigued her. The sky stretched out in an endless sea of blue with the odd puffy white clouds on the horizon. A multitude of rivers meandered throughout, like shimmering snakes crawling toward each small town along the way. Herds of elk were making their way through the forests to the green pastures on the lowlands. Tall wheatgrass moved in a sea of golden green. The tops moving like waves on the ocean as the chopper went overhead. They spooked a herd of bison and it took off in a brown arrow in the middle of the grass, throwing up a cloud of dust behind them. At the beginning of their journey, she’d walked toward Carter’s chopper and received a very strange look from Styles. Unable to interpret his sudden change of mood, she’d turned on her heel and walked back to him, making a joke about heading to the wrong chopper. She’d noticed him relax as he grabbed her bags and placed them in the back of his chopper before he settled Bear. It seemed that Styles took the fact that they were partners very seriously. She believed she should say something and considered her words very seriously. She adjusted her headset. “It’s going to be very strange working with Carter.” She smiled at Styles. “You’re used to my idiosyncrasies. He might just believe I’m batshit crazy.”

“I personally figure it’s like leaving matches and sticks of dynamite with a child.” Styles flicked her a glance. “They call me a maverick because I use my hands rather than shoot people. Carter always appears to be laid-back and easygoing, but in truth he’s as sharp as a whip.” He turned his attention back to flying the chopper. “He knows you can be a little impulsive at times, but so can he. Having you together facing danger alone isn’t something I’d advise.”

Concerned, Beth stared at him. “You really believe we’re irresponsible? That’s a little harsh.”

“Carter is with Jo because she’s a calming influence on him.” Styles shrugged. “It’s worked and he’s a better agent for working alongside her. You’re the opposite. Heck, you even encourage me to take crazy risks.” He snorted. “Okay, they’ve worked fine so far, but you must admit we’ve come a little too close at times. We’ve skated round the rules more often than I would like to admit.” He flicked her a glance. “Like now. This is an unsanctioned investigation. No one knows we’re here. If it all goes to hell, we don’t have backup in place. We’re literally on our own.”

Shaking her head, Beth raised both eyebrows and stared at him. “We’ve literally been on our own since I arrived in Rattlesnake Creek. This is the first actual mission we’ve gone on with the Snakeskin Gully team. Loosen up, Styles, it’s all good. We’ll catch these guys and put them away for a long, long time.”

“I hope you’re right.” Styles landed the chopper at the Helena airport behind Carter’s bird. “There’s no more time to think it over. It’s game on.” He looked at a chopper parked a short distance away. “That’s our ride to the ranch. Nice and inconspicuous. We’ll be able to drop our things and drive into Helena for the meetings.”

Beth gathered her things as the chopper propellers slowed to a halt. She climbed out and took her bag from Styles. “Are you two going to argue over who is the pilot?”

“Nope.” Styles pushed on his hat and smiled. “I’ve been to the ranch before, so I was the natural choice. You’ll feel safer with me piloting, Carter takes risks.”

Beth frowned. “I heard it was the opposite. You’re the crazy one.”

“Only when I need to be.” Styles led Bear to the other chopper. “We’ll dump our things and I’ll do a preflight while Carter does the paperwork. There’s coffee inside. Do you remember where to go?”

Beth nodded. “Yeah, are you taking a break before you leave?”

“Only while our choppers are being refueled.” Styles walked away to speak to Carter.

Beth headed toward Jo. “I guess we’re on our own.”

“Yeah, there’s nothing for us to do here.” She looked around. “Restrooms?”

Beth led the way inside. “Yeah, over there. I’ll get coffee and sandwiches. I figure it’s going to be a long afternoon.”

They arrived at the ranch an hour later. Beth was surprised to see the place deserted. She turned to Styles. “Who cares for the cattle?”

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