Page 3 of Forged in Steele

Bristol listened to her cousin and took a few breaths as she approached Roderick Coglin. She’d always been struck by the hospital administrator’s perfect posture and stylish attire for a man nearing retirement. Today he wore a serious-looking gray suit and pale blue shirt fitting with the list he’d given her of colors that came across best on the TV screen. She’d chosen a blue suit with a blouse much the same color as his shirt from her oldest sister, Londyn’s overflowing closet.

“Sorry to hear about your flat tire, but glad you could make it on time.” Coglin gestured at the long table with a podium in the middle. “We’ll be right over there. You and Teagan first.”

Bristol hurried across the room and scooted to the far end of the table to sit in the stiff plastic chair. She settled her shaking hands in her lap as Teagan dropped down beside her, and the three hospital representatives dressed in conservative suits took their seats.

Mr. Coglin stood at the podium and adjusted the microphone, emitting a squeal from the speakers. “Ah, sorry about that. Thank you all for coming. I’m eager to share our newest security plans with you. I’ll give you an overview of the plan, and then you’ll hear from the representatives of Steele Guardians, the firm we chose to provide our guards going forward.”

He held out a hand, gesturing at Teagan and Bristol. She forced a smile and hoped it didn’t come across as stilted and wooden like the fear freezing her insides.

He continued on with his speech, his deep tone soothing, doing an excellent job of engaging the audience. He’d be a tough act to follow. Could Bristol do the same thing?

Nerves peppered her body and nausea formed in the pit of her stomach.

The door burst open, and Coglin’s assistant came barreling into the room. The short blond raced across the carpet, her sights set on Coglin like a locked and loaded missile.

No. Oh no.Something was clearly wrong, but what?

She pulled him away from the microphone and whispered in his ear. Coglin went white and gripped the podium. He took a long breath then stepped back to the microphone. “I’m sorry, but we need to cut this press conference short.”

An agitated hum of conversation buzzed through the reporters and gazes locked on Coglin.

Okay. Good. Seemed like a problem that didn’t involve them.Bristol sagged in relief. She didn’t need to talk after all.

She breathed deeply for the first time.

Coglin whipped his gaze to her, grabbed her arm, and towed her out of the room and down the hall to an alcove. Teagan followed them.

Bristol had celebrated too soon. Her heart started beating at lightyear speed.

“We have a Pink Alert,” Coglin whispered. “Pink Alert. Room 332 East.”

“Pink, no.” Bristol had memorized this hospital’s codes and the facility backwards and forwards and Room 332 East was in the birthing center. “A baby is missing!”

“Shh,” Coglin said. “We need to keep this quiet until your guards lock this place down. We’ll see if your company is up to the task of protecting our hospital.”

Bristol didn’t waste time responding, but kicked off her heels, pausing to scoop them up, and charged toward the security office. She tried to breathe normally as she worked out what she needed to do, but her mind seized up.

It was the first day of their hospital contract and a baby had been kidnapped.

Kidnapped!

She couldn’t imagine a worse first day in history, and she was the only person in the family to make things right.

“Pink Alert. Room 332 East,” the announcement sounded over the speaker in the hospital birthing suite.

Jared Wolfe came to his feet, his gut clenching. He shoved back his suit jacket and reached for his sidearm—a movement almost as natural as breathing to him.

“Pink alert means a baby, right?” Debra, his buddy’s wife, clutched her newborn son close to her chest. “Someone kidnapped a baby. But how? The hospital just revamped the security, and it was supposed to be better than ever.”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” At least he would do his best. Not like last time when his best hadn’t been good enough.

Deb blinked. “You can just do that? Go ask? What about jurisdiction?”

“No asking. Telling. They’ll be glad to know an FBI agent is on scene.” Or they would once he convinced them. “The sooner the bureau takes charge of the investigation, the sooner this baby is safely returned.”

The door opened, and Deb’s husband, Tim, rushed in. A former sailor, he’d served with Jared, and they’d become good friends. Tim now served as a Portland police officer. He carried himself with authority, and Jared didn’t worry about leaving his friends and their baby behind with a kidnapper on the loose.

“I heard the announcement,” Tim said. “A baby. Man. That’s rough. Thankfully I was in the hallway before they locked the center down.” He furrowed his forehead. “Glad it’s not in our wing, but it’s still too close for comfort.”

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