She was?
Curiosity piqued, Colt wanted to know what had brought the K-9 officer to the clinic. It hadn’t been pure coincidence that Maren and her sister were at the same place.
More questions bubbled in his mind. Was Maren at the clinic on police business as she’d claimed? Or was it more personal? Was she expecting? Just a checkup?
Or to meet her sister?
Suspicion reared. Was the officer telling him the truth about not knowing her twin was alive?
Shaking her head, Fran said, “Can’t say that I’ve seen anyone else who looks like you.”
Maren huffed out a breath. “We saw her enter the clinic just before the shooting.”
“I was getting coffee when I heard the gunfire,” Fran said with a shrug.
“Several people ran out the back door,” a nurse said in passing, confirming Colt’s earlier thought.
Frustrated that he’d missed his opportunity to corner Opal, Colt asked, “Can you check to see if you have any no-show appointments for the past half hour.”
Fran nodded and they followed her back to the reception desk. She checked her records. “As a matter of fact,” the receptionist said, “we have one. Anna Parker didn’t show. Or at least, she didn’t get checked in before the shooting started.”
Anna Parker. Must be the phony name Opal had given when she’d made the appointment.
Maren’s hands fisted on the reception counter. “What was she going to be seen for?”
Fran’s eyebrows hitched upward. The overhead light reflected off the silver-studded piercing in her left brow. “I can’t divulge that information. HIPAA and all that.”
Colt knew that without a warrant they wouldn’t obtain information on Anna Parker. But he could have a warrant within hours. If it meant bringing down Shadow, he would do whatever it took.
Though his goal of flipping his suspect was going to be delayed, Colt trusted that God would see justice done. But at least he was one step closer by learning the alias his suspect was going by. When he ran Anna Parker through the databases, what would surface? And would the information lead him to Shadow?
Without another word, Maren headed for the lobby.
Clicking his tongue for Rusk to follow, they jogged to keep up, stopping at the edge of the scattered, broken glass. Going any farther would be dangerous for the canines.
“What are you really doing here?” he asked Maren.
She frowned as she picked up her dog. The Doberman looked heavy in her arms. “It’s a need-to-know matter, and you don’t need to know.”
Reining in his frustration, he patted his chest. Rusk sprang up and he easily wrapped him in his arms.
Maren walked out of the building.
Colt stayed close. “Look, we’re both working toward justice. Whatever it is you’re investigating has made you a target.”
“We don’t know that for sure.” Her eyes narrowed, the shade of blue deepening. “I have people who will watch my back.”
As they moved away from the clinic toward the parking lot, he asked, “And where are they?”
Irritation marched across her face. The woman was so easy to read.
She set the dog down. Her gaze swept the parking lot. “This was supposed to be a simple interview,” she said softly. “I didn’t think I would require—”
Taking pity on her, he gentled his tone. “Look, let’s just work together while we’re here. I told you why I’m at this clinic. The least you can do is quid pro quo.”
Maren heaved a sigh. “I can tell you that I’m investigating an illegal adoption scheme where three young mothers have been murdered and a pregnant teenager is missing. One of the suspects we believe to be involved may have worked at the clinic, which I confirmed.”
Shock reverberated through him. A violent baby smuggling ring? Who would do such a thing? Disgust filled his chest. He’d always considered the drug trade a deplorable industry, but the illegal buying and selling of babies…murder…?
