Emmett rubbed his chin, his gaze on Maren. “It’s safe to surmise this Shadow believes that you are your sister.”
“That’s what we’re thinking,” Colt confirmed.
With a nod, Emmett leaned a hip on his desk. “Shadow’s men may come after you again.”
“We’ll be ready for them,” Maren assured her boss.
Colt liked that she included him in her statement.
“Is there any reason to suspect Shadow is involved in the illegal adoption ring?” Emmett asked.
“I wouldn’t put it past Shadow,” Colt stated.
“Okay, then stick close together.” Emmett glanced at Colt. “I’ll talk to your boss about bringing you on to the task force.”
Not sure he was understanding, Colt questioned, “You want me on the task force?”
“We’re using every available resource to track down the villains who are dealing in the buying and selling of babies and if your case can help us solve our case, then that’s what we’ll do.”
“I’m glad to help if I can,” Colt said. “But my mission is to find the drug kingpin.”
“I have faith you can accomplish what you set out to,” Emmett said. He shifted his focus to Maren. “Concentrate on finding your sister. You said the clinic receptionist mentioned Derek Rolls had a wife?”
Maren nodded. “She couldn’t remember her name, only that she seemed like a timid woman.”
Emmett frowned. “I’ll put Eli on tracking down Mrs. Rolls. Good work, Maren.”
“The informant who gave you information about my sister,” Maren said to Colt. “He’s in Denver, correct?”
“He is,” Colt confirmed, wondering where she was going with the question.
Emmett stood. “Have Eva do research for this informant as well as any information she can get on Opal’s whereabouts. If there is a connection between Shadow and our baby smuggling ring, I want to know about it. Mia Andrews is counting on us to find her.”
Thinking of the missing pregnant teen that Maren had told him about, Colt fisted his hands. “Of course. If my hunt for Shadow leads us to Mia and helps bust the adoption ring, all the better.”
“Including bringing my sister back safely,” Maren added.
They bid the FBI agent goodbye, then Maren led the way to Eva Gomez’s office. The task force’s tech analyst’s domain was a hub of electronics. A pretty woman sat at a bank of computers. Her long, wavy hair was captured in a clip at her nape. She turned dark eyes on them as they approached. “Well, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Hi, Eva, this is DEA Agent Colt Dawson. He’s working with us on a possible connected case,” Maren said, briefing Eva on what they suspected. “We need some information on one of his CIs.”
Colt gave the woman the name of his confidential informant. “Steve Loren. The guy sent me looking for Opal at the motel in Barren Valley. He’s one of Shadow’s minions but apparently had a soft spot for Opal.”
“I’m on it.” Eva spun back to her keyboard; her fingers flew over black keys. An image popped up on the computer screen with a long rap sheet.
“Yep, that’s him,” Colt affirmed.
“Can you send me that address?” Maren said.
Eva’s fingers worked quickly. “Done.”
“Thanks,” Maren said. “We appreciate you.”
Colt and Maren made their way back to the training center to release their K-9s from their kennels.
“Do you think Steve will cooperate?” Maren asked as they climbed into his truck.
“That will depend on if he’s more afraid of us or Shadow,” Colt told her.
