Page 24 of Forged in Steele

Jared kept his attention pinned to her. “What about your fellow staff members?”

“What about them?” Natalie lifted her chin.

“Is there anyone who you think might be involved?” Jared asked. “Maybe not directly taking Luna, but helping someone else to do so. Maybe someone who needs money badly enough that they’d be open to a payoff.”

“I don’t know of anyone who would do that. Especially not with a baby who has blood sugar issues and needs regular feeds and monitoring. We all got into this profession to help people, not risk their lives.”

Jared knew she spoke the truth, but money woes could make people do the unexpected. “What about you? How are your finances?”

“Me?” She clutched her chest. “I’m good. I mean, I have some credit card debt. Doesn’t everyone? But nothing overwhelming or anything.”

Time to put a little pressure on. See how she reacted. “You know we’ll look into that, don’t you? So if there’s something we’re going to find, now would be the time to tell us.”

“There’s nothing. Really.” Her gaze cut back and forth between him and Bristol. “I’m just your average twenty-seven-year-old single girl trying to make ends meet in a city where rents keep skyrocketing.”

“Are you having trouble paying your rent?” Jared pressed when if she turned out to be innocent, he would feel bad for his behavior.

“No. No. Nothing like that.” She waved a hand. “But it’s why I have to put some things on my credit card and carry a balance.”

“Did anyone approach you about aiding an abduction?” Jared kept at her, putting on more pressure.

“No. For sure not.”

“How about a woman hanging around the area asking questions?” Bristol asked. “Someone who didn’t seem like she fit.”

Natalie seemed to relax at Bristol stepping in. Maybe Jared had come on too strong.

“I don’t remember anyone in particular. I mean, we have pregnant women ask questions all the time when we leave the center.” Natalie smiled, revealing even white teeth. “That’s part of my job that I like. But maybe if you tell me what she looks like I’d remember.”

“We don’t have a good picture of her.” Jared tried to be less aggressive but his sharp tone said he didn’t manage it. “But she was a shorter woman, wearing a blue winter parka and carrying a large tote bag. Did you see her?”

“Not that I know of, and I think I would’ve noticed a parka in August.” She frowned. “But here’s the thing. We’re all so busy moving from patient to patient, attending to their needs, that it’s hard to pay attention to what else is going on around us. It’s only when we step out on break that we notice there’s life outside of our suites.”

“Thank you for your time.” Jared held her gaze. “I’d like you to give this more thought and let me know if you think of anything that you believe will help.”

“Sure. Sure.”

Jared smiled at the nurse. “And it would be best not to discuss this with others in case they inadvertently change your story.”

“Okay, yeah. Sure.”

“Thanks again,” Bristol said and led the way out to the hallway.

Jared waited for the door to close, then looked at Bristol and patted his pocket. “We’ll have an agent go through all of the calls for the staff to try to place them at the time of the abduction, but she seemed on the up and up. Still, we’ll have her background run too.”

“It’s gonna take time to go through all of those call logs.”

He nodded and glanced at his watch. “I got a text telling me Sierra Rice has arrived and is working the Pratts’ room. We have enough time before the task force meeting to check in with her.”

He didn’t wait for Bristol to agree, but headed down the hallway to Room 332, where the door was propped open. The space seemed cold and empty and clinical with the two white-suited techs bent over the bassinet. He’d met Sierra Rice once, so he recognized her, even if she wore her long blond hair in a ponytail today. The other person was a young guy of average build with blond hair that was gelled in a messy style.

Jared put on booties from the box inside the door and entered. Bristol followed suit.

The pair spun to look at them.

“Oh, Jared. Bristol.” Sierra let out a breath.

The guy went back to work, and Sierra held up a fingerprint brush. “We were focused on this, and you scared us.”

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