Page 60 of Forged in Steele

He nodded and finished his text. “I came to learn about the Marshallese people on a human trafficking investigation. We have a large community of Marshallese in Salem. I’d heard many of the adult workers have moved here, not only because there are no jobs, but due to climate change. Apparently, the warming, rising tides are causing the islands to sink, and they could even disappear.”

“That’s sad.” Bristol clasped her hands on her skirt. “I could tell Amelia was homesick for her country.”

“Which means she could be vulnerable.” Jared’s stomach knotted. “I’d hate to prey on that, but do you think if you spent more time alone with her that you can turn her to our side?”

“If I keep remembering that we’re helping her, then I think there’s a chance I can do it.” Bristol took a long breath. “One problem though. Holloway placed security cameras in the house and is watching the women. I don’t know when we could talk to her again. If we can’t arrange something soon, we’ll have to move on. Luna can’t wait.”

“Then let’s pressure Holloway to come through for us.” Jared got out his prepaid phone assigned to his undercover identity and dialed Holloway’s office. His assistant put Jared through.

“Mr. Holloway.” Jared made sure he came across as cheerful. “Sorry to trouble you. I know we just left, but I wondered if there was any additional information you might need to speed up our application.”

“It would be highly irregular to short-cut things,” Holloway said.

But he didn’t say impossible so Jared went for the kill. “My wife was so encouraged by our meeting that I had such hope. Unfortunately, she started wondering if you’ll accept us as clients and how long it might take and her good mood disappeared. I want to give her everything her heart desires and can’t stand to fail. Perhaps if we pay a finder’s fee for a timely resolution to our issue you could expedite our case.”

“You’re very eager, Mr. Young.” An accusing tone had crept into Holloway’s voice.

“That’s a kind way of putting it. More often I’m called pushy.” Jared chuckled. “I’m used to succeeding at whatever I put my mind to. To be honest, this has thrown me for a loop.”

“Let me see what I can do for you,” Holloway said. “But you have to understand that I need to do my due diligence. We can’t place a child with just anyone.”

“Of course not.” Jared didn’t have to work hard to sound outraged at the prospect as he was sick to his stomach after hearing about the women at Holloway’s house. “But still, I’m sure you must have a way to expedite things.”

“I do.” Holloway let that linger in the air. “What kind of finder’s fee did you have in mind?”

“How does a fifty percent bonus sound to you?” Jared sweetened the pot so much the man couldn’t refuse.

“That could persuade me to reassign my workers. Would you be available for a home visit in the morning? Say nine o’clock?”

“What about this afternoon?”

“Hah!” Holloway said. “Don’t push it, man. It’s nine a.m. tomorrow or nothing.”

“Then nine it is. My wife and I will be at home waiting.” Jared hung up and looked at Bristol. “Looks like we need to perfect our skills in the marriage department by the morning.”

Eyes narrowed, Bristol opened her mouth, but Jared’s ringing phone stopped her from saying anything.

He looked at the screen. “It’s Sierra.”

He tapped the button to accept the call. “Putting you on speaker.”

“Good,” she said. “I’m glad you answered.”

“Sounds like you have something important for us.” Jared leaned closer to his phone.

“I do.” She drew in a long breath. “The blood and touch DNA on the blanket returned a match in CODIS. Your suspect doesn’t have a criminal past, but I have her identity. If you’re not sitting down, you should be.”

Two hours later, Jared trailed the black SWAT van toward Reya Isaacs’s house just three blocks from the hospital. Bristol watched out the front window, her face still holding the shock of this woman’s identity, and his likely did too.

“How could a woman who lost her own newborn put another mother through this?” Bristol asked. “That was rhetorical. I know the answer. She’s likely lost touch with reality. It’s just hard to think about. Especially after watching all the news stories about her missing daughter for the past six years.”

“Seeing her hope to have her newborn returned only to go six years before the baby’s remains were found?” Jared let the stories play in his mind. “The pain she must’ve felt is really unfathomable.”

“And yet the investigators still don’t know who kidnapped the baby.”

“It was nothing like Luna that I remember. They believed the family was targeted after a birth announcement went in the paper, and they put a sign on their lawn announcing the baby’s arrival.”

Bristol shook her head. “The family was just so happy they had to share.”

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