Page 78 of Forged in Steele

“I understand the risk.” Bristol eyed him. “As I said, it’s not my first rodeo. Let’s move before she has a chance to hurt Amelia or her baby.”

Jared wanted to go in before Bristol to minimize the risk to her, but FBI agents didn’t often go into such dangerous situations. Patrol deputies lived the life each and every minute of their shift, and Bristol had entered more homes than he had in his career, giving her the greatest experience here.

She tried the knob. It turned under her hand as she’d requested of Amelia. Bristol pushed into the house, her gun in hand.

“Police!” she called out.

Jared trailed her down the tiled hallway, his own gun out and ready.

Olive stood in the living room talking to Amelia, who flinched and tried to back away. Olive grabbed Amelia’s hand and jerked it behind her back.

“I knew you two were too good to be true.” Olive glared at them. “But I wanted to believe in love. Shame on me for being so gullible. Stay where you are, or I’ll hurt her and the baby.”

Jared scanned Olive. No sign of a weapon, but he wouldn’t charge her. She could still hurt Amelia or the baby. Better to negotiate than risk that.

“You don’t want to do that,” Bristol said to Olive, obviously thinking the same thing, but still keeping her weapon drawn. “Why don’t we sit down and talk about it?”

“Hah.” Olive raised her chin. “You lied to me once. Made a fool of me. Why should I believe you now?”

“Because we want to make sure Amelia’s okay,” Jared stated plainly. “Let her sit down. Rest. You don’t want to trigger preterm labor.”

“Hah!” Olive said. “Why do I care?”

“You could go down for murder if the baby doesn’t make it,” Bristol said.

Amelia burst into tears. “Please. Please let me sit.”

“Come on, Olive.” Jared used that soft tone that seemed to impact women. “Please let Amelia rest.”

“Olive.” She snickered, but kept hold of Amelia. “Two can play at the fake name game.”

“What’s your real name then?” Bristol asked.

“Like I’d tell you.” She snarled at Bristol. “Put your guns away, and I’ll let Amelia sit down.”

Jared glanced at Bristol, and she nodded. Since Olive wasn’t armed they could afford to holster their weapons, but be ready to draw again.

Olive watched them carefully. Jared hated to comply, but he did and the moment they put their handguns in their holsters, she sat on the sofa and jerked Amelia down next to her.

Perfect.Olive couldn’t run now, and without a weapon, she wouldn’t seriously hurt Amelia. Still, she could give a swift punch to Amelia’s belly, and that could end in disaster.

“Where are the other women?” Bristol asked.

“In the sunroom,” Amelia said. “They made me come out to see what Olive or whatever your name is, was shouting about.”

Jared smiled at Olive. “Just tell me your first name. Can’t ID you from that.”

She tilted her head as if considering telling them. “Pam. It’s Pam.”

Of course it had to be a common name so the odds of locating her details based on the first name were not in their favor. Their only viable option was to get her talking.

“Well, Pam, mind if I sit down across from you?” Bristol asked.

“Stay where you are!”

“Okay. Okay.” Bristol held up a hand. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here, and we can go from there?”

“Looking for Everett Holloway.” She spit his name with a burst of anger. “He owes me a big chunk of change, and I can’t find him. Thought he might be hiding here to avoid me.”

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