Page 59 of Forged in Steele

“She is short like me, but that is all that resembles me. She has really white skin like she doesn’t go outside.”

Nurse Raney had mentioned the suspect she’d spoken to had pale skin as well, and Claudia Doyle was also fair-skinned.

On a hunch, Bristol pulled up the photo of Claudia Doyle that Hale had used for her alert. Sure, the woman wasn’t likely stealing children for Holloway, but Bristol would lose nothing by asking. “Is this the woman?”

Amelia raised a hand over her eyes, blocking the sun. “It could be, but I’m not sure. I didn’t see her for long, and it was her skin that I noticed most.”

“But it could be her?”

“I think it could be her, but maybe not. I’m just not sure.”

“Have you seen her lately?” Disappointed, Bristol stowed her phone.

Amelia shook her head. “Maybe not for a month or so, but I answered the phone when she called Mr. Holloway yesterday. She sounded upset. He told her to wait, and he would come to her.”

“That’s all you heard?”

“Yes.”

“What would you think about telling a police officer about what you heard and saw?”

“No. No.” She swung her head side-to-side. “Mr. Holloway will not like that, and I will not get my money. He might even hurt me.”

Bristol could feel Amelia clamming up, and Bristol needed to think of something to get Amelia to keep talking. “What if I could find a way for you to have your money and still keep your child?”

Amelia’s eyes flashed open. “You could do this?”

“I can try. Do you have a phone?”

“Not my own. Just one that I share with the others when we have to leave the house. Mr. Holloway monitors the calls.”

Of course he does.“How can I reach you if I find a solution where you can keep your baby?”

“You cannot come to the house. He has security cameras and knows who comes and goes.” Amelia glanced around then moved closer. “I do have a phone. One that another woman bought in secret and gave to me. Don’t tell Mr. Holloway. He will punish me.”

Punish how, was what Bristol wanted to ask but didn’t want to get off-topic. “I won’t say a word.”

“I do not keep the ringer on and must hide the phone so I will not answer right away. Then I must find a time to hide and return the call. Please leave a message and be patient.” Amelia shared her number.

Bristol tapped it into her phone. “I’ll give you all the time you need, and here’s my phone number in case you need to call in an emergency.” Bristol held out her phone to display her number for Amelia. “I promise I’ll help with whatever you need.”

She added Bristol’s number to her phone. “God has smiled on me today. You are my angel. But I must go now. I will be late for Mr. Holloway. He will be suspicious, and I could get into trouble.”

Bristol helped Amelia to her feet, feeling like a fraud and someone who might fail this woman.

God, please. I know I’ve been AWOL for a while but please hear me again and let me be the angel Amelia desperately needs.

12

Still in his vehicle, Jared stared open-mouthed as Bristol described her conversation with the woman named Amelia Gasper. The woman’s story was shocking, but the fact that Bristol had gotten her to open up? Just as surprising.

“And you think she’s legit?” Jared asked.

“Yes.”

“Let’s make sure she really is who she says she is.” Jared quickly texted Piper to do a deep dive on the woman.

“Have you ever heard of the Marshall Islands?” she asked.

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