Page 96 of Forged in Steele

“Wearing gloves would be odd. Not being there is possible, I suppose. Especially if they were trying to keep their relationship out of the news.” His mind raced with questions. “I’m assuming you located her prints in AFIS.”

Sierra nodded. “She has an old record for bank fraud.”

“Interesting. Doesn’t seem to be related to our investigation, though. Guess we first need to find out who died. Then we can figure out the print situation, and if the fraud charge is relevant.” Jared dug out his phone and dialed Dr. Albertson, praying the woman would answer. He needed to know if Reya Isaacs was still alive, and he needed to know now.

“Calling this late means you need something important or you have a death wish,” Dr. Albertson said in way of answering.

Jared explained his need. “Can you take her prints and run them?”

“It’ll take me a half-hour to get back to the lab,” she said, not at all sounding upset by the request. “We use electronic scanners but it could still take several hours to run the prints.”

“Thanks.” Jared ended the call, praying that the fingerprints would tell them whose body was found in Reya’s home, and what, if anything, Valerie Zupan had to do with Luna’s kidnapping.

Bristol remained frozen in place on the floor, staring up at the woman who was a match to Kelsey’s sketch. From what she’d learned about Reya in investigating her, the woman didn’t own a gun. Could mean she’d recently bought it and didn’t know what she was doing. Which could further put Bristol’s life in danger.

I know I have no right to ask anything but please don’t let her hurt me so I can get Luna away from her, if she has her, and back to her parents.

“Could you put the gun down, and we can talk?” Bristol tried to sound friendly but her voice shook.

Reya narrowed her eyes and left the gun pointed directly at Bristol. “Who are you and why are you here?”

“I could ask you the same thing. You said my house, but the homeowner, Reya Isaacs died. I saw her for myself.”

“My twin sister, Valerie,” she stated with no emotion.

“You have a twin?”

“Surprise, right?” She scoffed. “We were split up at birth and adopted out to separate families.”

“When did you find out about Valerie?”

“Not until recently. When my daughter was found actually.” Reya’s eyes narrowed. “Valerie lived in Arizona. She’d heard the story about Darcy from people talking at work but didn’t watch the news so didn’t see my picture. When Darcy’s remains were found, the national news exploited it, and they plastered my picture everywhere. When Valerie saw me, she knew we had to be twins. She contacted me and then moved here so we could get to know each other.”

Reya smiled. “It was so great. Not only was she a person who didn’t judge me, but I changed my hairstyle to match hers so I could pretend to be her and get away from the awful publicity.”

“And then you killed her?” Bristol threw out the wild accusation to see how she responded.

Reya’s eyes cut around the room. “I didn’t mean to.”

Bristol stifled her shock at the reply. “But you did.”

“She was taking the baby. I couldn’t let her give the baby away when I’m alone. I tried to stop her. Give the baby to me. But she didn’t listen. So I had to use force. Don’t you see? I had to stop her.”

“That you did,” Bristol said. “But if you stopped her, you must have the baby.”

She jerked her head at the door. “She’s safe in her seat on the porch.”

Luna was outside? Really? This close.

Bristol swallowed and breathed deep to keep from losing it and scaring Reya. “Why leave her outside?”

Reya’s nostrils flared. “Because I saw you and didn’t want to put her in danger.”

“I won’t hurt her.” Bristol made sure her tone was convincing and soothing. “I’m a deputy. I would never hurt a child. Bring her in.”

“Don’t you move.” She backed to the doorway and bent for the car seat.

Bristol thought to rush Reya, but didn’t want the woman to drop the child, and besides, Bristol couldn’t get to her feet in time.

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