Page 13 of Facing the Enemy
“He’s responding to treatment. The Addingtons are on their way to Des Moines now. Once the baby stabilizes and the doctors release him, they’ll return to Houston. As we suspected, the kidnapping appears to be the work of an organized adoption-crime ring. One ring is closed down, another pops up.”
“Good news. What’s the story?” I said.
“The day after the kidnapping, a couple from Des Moines privately adopted the baby through a fraudulent agency there. The so-called director presented the adoptive parents with false medical information and a birth certificate. By the time Des Moines FBI agents arrived at the adoption agency’s office building, everything had been cleared out. A security cam from a nearby building caught an unidentified man leaving the office building’s parking lot in a Toyota Avalon the day after the couple adopted the baby. The car had been reported stolen.”
Jack humphed. “Sophisticated operation. What are the adoptive parents saying?”
“They paid a total of forty-eight thousand dollars to Your Heart for Adoption Agency through a lawyer who specialized in private adoptions. He’s the man videoed leaving in the Avalon.”
“These people know how to cover their tracks,” I said.
“It won’t be their last illegal operation until we catch them.” The SAC’s dark-brown eyes hardened. “I want this baby ring found and prosecuted.”
Jack glanced at me. “We have data to gather and work to do.”
“I’ll heat up my grill for your steak,” I said. “Might be an all-nighter.”
6
Jack pushed his plate back and patted his belly. “Mighty fine steak. Thank you.”
I chuckled. “Not sure that’s a compliment considering you like it cooked somewhere between tree bark and leather.”
“Yours topped the perfect list.” An evening shadow had risen on his face, adding to his bulldog resemblance. “I’m ready to work on the Addingtons’ case. CARD’s done an outstanding job, as usual. Now I want to find who’s behind the operation.” Jack carried his plate and utensils to the sink and stuck them in the dishwasher without rinsing, a true bachelor. He took mine and did the same. I liked the guy, a bit odd in his eating habits, especially when he dumped horseradish on his baked potato and ketchup on his bread. But I had my weird moments too.
I reached into my junk drawer and pulled out a pen and one of my many legal pads. “Let’s work through what we have.”
“I brought my iPad. The only way to travel.”
“Until your battery dies. Nothing beats personal notes. You should try it.”
Jack held up his iPad and shook his head.
Seated again at the table, we reviewed SAC Dunkin’s briefing,investigative findings, and interview information regarding the latest development in locating the Addingtons’ baby.
“The best news is the baby’s been found,” I said. “Michael and Sarah Addington did an interview on Fox, and I have the transcript.”
“I have the footage,” Jack said. “Seen it three times to ensure we weren’t suckers for a scam. Nothing jumped out at me except their vow to not rest until the person or persons who kidnapped their baby is behind bars. We don’t need them getting in our way.”
“I think either one of them would strangle those responsible.” My emotions took a quick dip and I internally shook off the past. “The Addingtons have been married five years. No altercations. Both are elementary school teachers. This is their first child, named after his father. I wasn’t aware newborns were given a screening test for cystic fibrosis until the SAC briefed us.”
“I did.” Jack finished a glass of supersweet iced tea. “Says here the adoptive parents, Alex and Nanette Wade, own a hardware store. Been married fifteen years. Childless. Traditional attempts to adopt were rejected due to Alex Wade’s prior conviction of a homicide before the couple were married. They learned about a private adoption agency in Des Moines. After reading the testimonies and contacting two couples who had adopted through the agency and were pleased with their experience, the Wades moved forward.
“Over the course of eight weeks, they handed over forty thousand dollars for a newborn, then eight grand more to assist the woman posing as pregnant with medical costs. Presently the Wades have been cleared of any criminal offense.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’d have researched the agency inside and out before I handed over that amount of money.”
“Think about it. Seems like the Wades felt like they’d done their due diligence, and they believed in the private adoption agency who claimed to help those who wanted a child. We’ve seen what people will do to have a child of their own. Check through the mound of parental-abduction cases our division processes.”
“Yeah, I have the stats in my head, but it doesn’t mean I think the victims used their heads.”
I swallowed my anger. “Adopting a child involves emotion. While those seeking adoption believe they are following the law, that’s not always the case. We’ll interview the Addingtons and the Wades—everyone involved. Add the authorities in Des Moines. HPD initially had the kidnapping case, and we have their records.”
Jack wrinkled his nose. “What about the Addingtons’ pediatrician and the grandmother?”
“On my list. The grandmother is cleared. The adoption ring obviously falsified information. If this ring’s been around awhile, they wouldn’t have gambled on not being researched for the short term they were in operation.”
Jack held up a finger. “I’m checking to see how long they’ve been in Des Moines.”
While I waited, I made a note for Jack and me to check Houston and Des Moines maternity homes. Often mothers or couples were approached to sell their baby. Kidnapping was cheaper for the baby ring than buying, but less risky. A woman who sells her baby isn’t concerned about the legality or reporting the transaction to the authorities.
