Page 88 of Forged in Steele

“Can’t leave my fish alone on the grill.” Her grandad crossed his arms, and Bristol felt a battle coming.

“It’ll be fine.” Her gran slipped her arm in his. “Just tell Jared or Bristol what to do.”

He grumbled, but his eyes twinkled. “It’s good for a few more minutes, then it needs to rest. Just put the grilling baskets on the cookie sheet when the timer rings.”

He reluctantly backed into the house as her gran dragged him along. Jared cast Bristol a fun-loving glance. Her grandparents were always guaranteed to bring comic relief. Not that they tried. They just had such joyful spirits and were very content in their shoes.

Bristol took a seat next to Amelia, her mind still on her grandparents. She’d always wondered what they were like when they were young. Adventurous she knew, but if her grandad was in her position right now, would he be intense or try to make things lighter? She just didn’t know the answer, but she did know he’d been a top-notch law enforcement officer.

Jared took the chair next to her just as her gran brought out two glasses of tea. She placed them on the table in front of them, gave a lingering but pointed look at Bristol that she couldn’t interpret and then headed back into the house.

Jared looked at Katana. “We found your phone and reviewed it. You frequently communicated with Olive Wallace.”

Katana crossed her arms. “So what?”

“So what did you talk about?”

Katana leaned back, but her body was rigid. “This is none of your business.”

“You don’t seem to understand that you could be charged for your participation with Holloway,” Bristol said. “But if you cooperate, things can go easier for you.”

Katana glared at them, but her body relaxed. “Fine. I’ll tell you, okay? She was helping me learn how to recruit mothers-to-be. After I have the baby, I planned to move back home to find other women Holloway could help.”

Bristol tried not to let her revulsion show. “And you would be paid for doing this?”

“Yes. Holloway would pay me for each woman who comes here.” She tightened her arms and jutted out her chin at Jared. “I would be doing nothing wrong. Just helping these women who want help and make a living to stay in the only home I’ve ever known.”

“From our earlier conversation, you must now realize what you would be doing would aid Holloway to sell these babies, thus breaking the law,” Jared said. “Have you referred any women yet?”

She shook her head hard, her gaze darting around.

If Bristol was reading Katana right, fear lingered behind the bravado. “You labeled the phone calls with Olive’s name, but they go to a prepaid phone like yours so we can’t track her. We know Olive is a fake name, and her first name is Pam. Do you know her real last name?”

“No,” Katana said. “I only talked to her on this phone and when she came to the house. She always used the name Olive.”

Jared looked at Fae. “Do you know how to find Pam?”

“No.” Fae held up her hands. “I have never even talked to her.”

“What about Holloway’s receptionist?” Bristol asked. “Do any of you know her name?”

“Melissa,” Fae said.

“Gibson,” Amelia said eagerly. “Melissa Gibson.”

“What can you tell us about her?” Jared asked.

“She worked for him for ten years,” Fae said. “Respected him and would protect him with her life, I think.”

“Do you know how to find her?” Bristol asked.

“I know Holloway paid her well, and she lives in Arlington Heights,” Amelia said. “She said it’s a really expensive place, but I do not know the address.”

“Thank you,” Bristol said. “That should be enough information to track her down.”

The grill timer dinged, and Bristol got up to place the baskets on the large cookie sheets. Her gran was right about the quantity. Her grandad used any excuse to grill fish so he could go catch more, and he could gladly eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The rest of the family, not so much.

She returned to the table. Her grandad watched through the patio doors, and she gave him a thumbs up.

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