She saw Eli Blackwood and Wrangler, his Belgian Malinois, step into view from beneath the shade of a tree.
Maren quickly climbed out of the SUV and circled around to the back to collect Haven. Rusk was already leashed and Colt was checking his phone.
Her heart bumped. “Any news?”
Tucking the phone back into his pocket, he said, “No, unfortunately.” Trying not to let the disappointment show, Maren led Haven through the parking lot to where Eli, tall and intimidating, and his handsome K-9 with his dark-tipped ears and a muscled torso stood waiting.
She made the quick introduction.
“I don’t know if this will pan out,” Eli stated grimly. He was dressed in jeans and a Henley shirt with his badge on one hip and his sidearm on the other. “This doctor’s a slippery one.”
Maren agreed. “The best we can do is pray someone inside has information that’s useful for the task force, and for finding Mia Andrews.”
They filed into the clinic with Eli taking the lead. Maren and Haven came in next with Colt and Rusk bringing up the rear. They fanned out in the lobby. There were a few patients and spouses waiting in the blue plastic chairs.
Eli met her gaze and nodded toward the receptionist.
Taking his gesture as a sign she was to approach the front desk, she and Haven stepped forward to speak to the woman behind the counter.
“How can I help you today?” the receptionist said, her gaze bouncing between the three K-9 handlers and their dogs.
“I need to speak to the clinic director,” she said. “It’s regarding Dr. Derek Rolls.”
“The director isn’t in today,” the receptionist said. “I’m Patty. I’m in charge for now. What questions can I answer?”
“Is Dr. Rolls employed here?”
Patty’s face betrayed nothing. “He is not.”
“Do you have a forwarding place of employment?”
Again, the woman’s expression didn’t so much as twitch. “We do not.”
Maren couldn’t ascertain if Patty even knew of whom she spoke. “Do you know Dr. Rolls?”
“We have no one here by that name,” Patty stated firmly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help.”
Was the woman being professional per legalities or was she in cahoots with the dirty doctor?
Eli stepped over. “He may be going by a different name. He’s my height with short red hair and beard, and wears glasses.”
“Silver-rimmed glasses,” Maren supplied, remembering what Fran at the Barren Valley clinic had told her.
Patty shook her head. “Again, I’m sorry that description doesn’t ring a bell.”
“It does for me,” a man, who’d been sitting quietly flipping through a magazine, spoke from his chair in the corner of the waiting room.
Maren, Eli and Colt turned toward him.
Colt was closest, so he stepped forward. “And you are?”
“Fred Harmony,” the man said. He looked to be in his forties, with thick, salted hair and brown eyes. He wore chinos and a patterned, button-down shirt. “My wife is in being seen by the doctor.”
Anticipation revving in her veins, Maren moved away from the reception counter to stand beside Colt. “Were you and your wife approached by Dr. Rolls?”
“Not us,” Fred said. “My wife works at the community center here in town. There’s a young girl who confided in Darcy that she was expecting. She told my wife a doctor had approached her saying he was in OB and could refer her to a low cost, maybe even free, clinic but he swore her to secrecy because he claimed they have little space and finances for more than one new patient.”
Maren’s gut clenched. Was this how the doctor lured his victims in? “This free clinic?” Maren asked, pointing at the floor.
