Page 40 of Forged in Steele

“What in the world does that mean?” Bristol asked.

“Just what it sounds like.” Colin frowned in disgust. “He’s brought unmarried mothers-to-be from foreign countries to live at his home. Likely women who fear social stigma or are from impoverished families. He pays these women a nominal fee then sells the baby for a huge profit. He’s even allegedly registered them as US citizens and welfare paid for all the costs associated with the births. Our team hasn’t been able to prove the illegal adoption aspect yet, and the welfare fraud might just be where they’ll get him.”

Bristol grimaced. “How does he find these mothers?”

“Baby recruiters that he pays a finder’s fee,” Colin said. “It’s an age-old scheme. The most famous investigation involved a woman who adopted out five thousand children and five hundred children died under her care. That agency closed down in 1950. You would think this scheme wouldn’t still work in this day and age, but it does.”

Piper rested her hands on her belly. “I can’t even imagine giving up my baby. This man is exploiting those women, and he has to pay.”

“Unfortunately, without any proof we can’t bring charges,” Hunter, the ever practical one of the group, said.

Jared gritted his teeth and wanted to pound the table. “I don’t think their connection to the Pratts is a coincidence. We need to dig deeper.”

“I could go undercover,” Piper said. “Offer to sell my child.”

“No!” Bristol held up her hands. “We can’t risk anything happening to you or the baby.”

“Well, someone needs to do it.” Piper narrowed her eyes. “Either as a woman offering to sell her child or as parents wanting to adopt.”

“You and Bristol could do it,” Colin suggested. “As parents. We can set up fake IDs for both of you by morning that will hold up under any scrutiny.”

“Have either of you been caught on camera by reporters?” Hunter asked. “Because if you have, Holloway might recognize you.”

Jared shook his head. “We’ve been using the back entrance to avoid them so no worries there.”

Bristol tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. Jared expected her to object to going undercover with him.

“Even if they have Luna,” she said. “With all the public attention around the AMBER Alert, they can’t very well offer her to us.”

“But you might be able to learn enough about the guy to bring him down,” Colin said. “And if he has Luna, we can track her or cut some sort of deal with the creep.”

Jared wanted to point out that if this attorney had Luna, he might never be able to place her, and that didn’t bode well for the baby. Which meant Jared had to do everything he could to find out if Holloway arranged to have Luna taken.

“Go ahead,” Jared said. “Get the undercover process started. If we haven’t located Luna by morning, and you have solid IDs created, we’ll go through with it.”

The door opened, and Reed stepped in. He waved at Jared, his motions urgent. Jared crossed the room and Bristol followed, all eyes on them.

“Osborne finally came home,” Reed said. “He hasn’t said a word, but we have him in the interview room.”

Jared looked at Bristol. “Conflict of interest. You’ll have to wait here.”

“No worries,” she said, but the frustration in her eyes belied her words.

“Let’s go,” Jared said to Reed.

In the hallway, Jared looked at Reed. “Did Osborne come along willingly?”

“Not at first, but I persuaded him.” Reed grinned.

Jared didn’t ask for details. He was likely better off not knowing. “You get a feel for the guy?”

Reed shook his head. “Guy baffles me. His apartment smelled like weed, but he had a gym set up in his living room, and he’s built. So either he respects his body or he doesn’t.”

“Maybe the pot is a new thing.”

“You mean like he had something bad happen that took him off track?”

“Yeah.”

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