Danger in the Rockies (Colorado K-9 Unit #3)

Chapter 1

ONE

Sitting on the opposite side of the mahogany desk, the older woman with dark eyes and light blond hair cropped at her chin steepled her hands. The nameplate in gold lettering facing Maren read Dr. Victoria Newton.

Maren and Haven had come here following up on a lead about a discredited OB/GYN who’d once worked at this small practice in the sleepy mountain town. Maren hoped to find out more but didn’t anticipate success.

The organized illegal adoption ring that she and her team were tracking had, so far, managed to stay one step ahead of law enforcement. Still, maybe today’s interview could get her new information.

“Dr. Newton, do you believe that stolen babies are being sold illegally in the state of Colorado?” She was curious what the doctor knew about the subject.

Her K-9 seemed to lean forward with her, as if Haven also had an interest in what the woman would say.

All sleek lines with a red-and-brown coat, the dog wore a black vest with the words K-9 Unit.

Haven was three years old and cross-trained in drug detection and suspect apprehension. And for good measure, protection.

Maren placed a calming hand on the dog’s head, though inside, she was far from feeling calm. June sunshine streamed in through the window overlooking the main street, but a chill chased down her spine.

For months, the Colorado K-9 Unit had been searching for Mia Andrews, the missing, pregnant nineteen-year-old granddaughter of the task force’s wealthy benefactor, Dodger Andrews.

In the course of the search, three deceased young women were discovered in various parts of the state, each showing signs of having recently given birth.

It was the discovery that someone was targeting vulnerable young pregnant women in that area that had that led to the task force being formed, comprising K-9 officers from around the Denver area.

They couldn’t help but fear that Mia Andrews might be the next victim of a dangerous baby smuggling ring that was killing young moms and stealing their babies. Racing against time, the task force hoped to rescue Mia before her due date in October.

“You want to know if it’s feasible that an operation like this exists?

” Victoria gave a slow nod. “Not only possible, but probable. I’ve heard rumors that there is a black market rife with this sort of underhanded and often violent practice.

Unfortunately, there are also some very unscrupulous doctors who will do anything for the large sums of cash being offered. ”

Maren sucked in a breath and slowly exhaled before asking, “Do you believe Dr. Derek Rolls could be involved?”

Victoria made a face. “Dr. Rolls lost his license two years ago and was booted from this clinic. And he left town as far as I’ve heard. He was involved in insurance fraud as well as being accused of writing prescriptions for various medications for nonpatients for a very high fee.”

That aligned with the information they had gathered. The task force had been looking into any medical professionals who’d lost their licenses in the past five years. “Could he still be practicing medicine somewhere?”

“If he is, it’s under a false identity or in some back room somewhere,” Victoria said. “No reputable medical practice would touch him with a ten-foot pole.”

“Do you happen to have a recent picture of Dr. Rolls?” Maren thought of the couple who had been spotted in a fancy SUV outside of a free clinic in Denver last month. The photo of Dr. Rolls that the task force had been able to dig up was from many years ago, when he was much younger.

A man and woman had seemed to be watching the obstetrician’s office, leading the team to wonder if the occupants of the vehicle were scouring for vulnerable pregnant teens and young women with the intent to kidnap them and hold them until their delivery.

The theory was the kidnappers would kill the women and sell their babies to unsuspecting adoptive couples who likely thought the high fees were mostly for prenatal care and the deliveries.

“No picture that I know of,” the clinic director said. “I came on board after Dr. Rolls. I only know him by reputation.” She reached forward to press a button on the desk phone. “Fran, can you come in here, please.”

Moments later, the door opened and Fran, the clinic’s receptionist, walked in.

Maren put Fran in her mid- to late sixties and a throwback to the days of hippies and flower power, a fashion trend that had resurfaced of late.

The woman had shaved the bottom half of her head, leaving a floppy top to be clipped in a colorful barrette.

She had cat-eye-shaped eyeglasses in bright red and a silver nose ring as well as gauges in her ears.

She wore a flowing top with wide-legged pants in a geometric pattern that made Maren’s eyes hurt.

She’d take her staid black pants, navy blazer and white blouse over bold colors any day.

“Is there a problem?” Fran asked, her blue gaze flicking to Maren and dropping to Haven, who stared back at her. Fran took a step back.

Haven could be intimidating even when not trying.

“You were here when Dr. Rolls was on staff, correct?” Victoria asked, drawing Fran’s attention.

“I was.” The derision in Fran’s tone made it very clear she hadn’t liked the doctor. “Good riddance, if you ask me.”

“Do you have a photo?”

Fran shook her head. “He was very peculiar about having his picture taken.”

“Can you give me a description of Dr. Rolls?” Maren held her breath, waiting to see if the description matched the man who had been seen outside the free clinic.

Fran’s brow wrinkled. “He was tall, muscular. He had thinning reddish hair that he never seemed to comb, with a full beard, and he wore the strangest-looking silver eyeglasses.” Fran touched her own glasses, adjusting them on her straight nose.

“I don’t think he needed corrective lenses, but he wore them anyway. ”

Maren nearly gasped aloud. It fit the description of their suspect.

And the man had lost his medical license in the right time frame.

There was a strong possibility that Dr. Rolls, the former OB/GYN of Barren Valley Clinic, was a part of the baby smuggling ring terrorizing the state of Colorado.

Maren lifted up a prayer of hope that linking Dr. Rolls to the baby smugglers would help bring down the criminals and allow the team to rescue Mia.

“Do you know where he went after he left here?” Maren asked.

Fran shook her head. “No. I felt bad for his wife, though. She seemed nice enough.”

Married? Could she be the woman they’d seen with him? “Do you remember her name or what she looks like?”

Fran scrunched up her nose. “No, to the name. Mousy-looking. I only met her once and briefly at that.”

Blowing out a frustrated breath, Maren stood to hand Fran and Victoria her business card with the task force’s main number on it. “If you think of anything that might be helpful or hear from Dr. Rolls, please let us know.”

Victoria walked around her desk and escorted Maren and Haven to the lobby.

Maren noted another glass door entrance out the back of the building and spotted a patch of grass, a mature tree and a picnic table in the shade, no doubt for the staff to enjoy during their lunch breaks.

“I hope you find whoever’s stealing and selling babies and make them stop,” Victoria said.

“It’s hard enough for teenagers and young women lacking family support to get the medical care they need without them having to worry about being preyed upon by the doctors who are supposed to be caring for them. ”

Maren felt a pang at the thought of her own twin not having had the support she needed, which had most likely led to her death. Regret at having drifted apart from her sister lay heavy on Maren’s shoulders.

“From your lips to God’s ears.” She shook the doctor’s hand and then exited through the double glass doors at the front of the clinic.

She murmured a prayer for God to guide her as she hurried to her personal vehicle, a Ford Bronco with a specialized compartment for Haven. Once Haven was settled, Maren slipped into the driver’s seat and fitted the key in the ignition.

However, she wasn’t eager to return to her empty home.

Ever since joining the task force, the fact that she had no social life outside of work had become abundantly clear.

But dating, romance and all the messiness that came with it wasn’t something she longed to participate in.

How could she risk any more heartache? Losing the last of her family was more than enough.

She was about to start the engine when her gaze landed on a woman walking through the parking lot toward the clinic.

No, it can’t be!

Through the front windshield Maren stared at the woman in an army green jacket and black baggy pants hurrying toward the front doors.

Leaning forward in the driver’s seat, she watched the woman, taking in the details.

Same long, light brown hair, same build and height.

Breathing turning shallow, she blinked hard to dispel the image of her twin sister, walking through the parking lot in front of her.

Because Opal was dead.

The stab of grief, as fresh as it had been three months ago when she’d learned of her sister’s death, seared through Maren.

The Colorado Springs Police Department had determined that Opal Anderson had drowned.

Her clothing and identification had been discovered beside the Arkansas River, a tributary of the Mississippi running through Colorado and known for its white water rafting.

A river unsafe for swimming because of the strong currents and rocky bottom. Especially at night.

A witness had come forward claiming Opal had been high on drugs when she’d gone into the water. And never came back out. Her body had not been recovered.

Maren rubbed her eyes. She needed rest if she was seeing her dead sister alive and walking toward the clinic.

The woman paused and looked over her shoulder as if sensing she was being watched.