Chapter 41

FORTY-ONE

Excitement thrummed through Beth as Carter pulled the white SUV to the curb outside the discreet entrance to the Big Hearts Adoption Agency. She glanced over at him. The blond hair had remained but she'd added a mustache and long sideburns. She'd given him brown contacts to cover his distinctive emerald-green eyes. He looked natural, with the black Stetson, a collared shirt, well-tailored black jeans, a sports jacket, and black boots polished to a high shine. She stuck to the new boots she'd purchased recently, her best jeans, a brand-name shirt, and a fitted leather jacket with a belt. She wore a dark brown short-hair wig, brown contacts, and had enhanced her features with makeup. She'd placed her mother's plain wedding band on her finger, but had added an expensive gold bracelet and earrings.

"Ready?" Carter took a wedding band from his inside pocket and slipped it onto his finger. He shook his head slowly. "This belongs to Styles. I gather he told you about his ex-wife. I'm wondering why he kept it. I'd have tossed it down a drain."

Beth recalled the hurt in Styles' eyes when he told her about his wife. "Maybe deep down he still cares for her?"

"I very much doubt that." Carter turned in his seat to look at her. "I know you don't like people touching you, but if we're going to convince these people we're a loving couple, I'll need to hold your hand. Maybe even hug you." He raised one blond eyebrow. "You're not gonna freak out if I do, are you?"

Wondering what Styles had said about her, Beth shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. I'm not sure what Styles has told you about me."

"Nothing, only that you don't appreciate being touched." Carter held up both hands. "He doesn't gossip about anyone. He's not like that and neither am I."

Gathering her courage, Beth met his gaze. "My father is a serial killer. I guess you already know that, but what you don't know is that I was abused constantly in foster care. This is why I so want to bust this pedophile ring wide open. Personally, I'd like to see all of them dead, but jail will suit me fine."

"Oh, Lord." Carter whistled and shook his head. "I'm so sorry." He gave her a long look. "We'll get them." He thought for a beat. "You know, Jo was a great help to me. I was off the grid suffering from PTSD. I'd lost touch with people and she dragged me back and set me to work. If you ever need to talk to someone, she's great."

A shiver went down Beth's spine at the thought. "No, I'm good. Wolfe has offered to chat with me and I have Nate as well. Both are covered by patient-doctor privilege, so anything I want to say won't get back to the director."

"Trust me." Carter chuckled. "There's nothing you could ever say to me that would get back to the director. Man, I've flown so close to the fire myself I'm surprised I'm still working." He glanced at his watch. "Time to go. We don't want to be tardy."

The Big Hearts Adoption Agency was a clean, almost hospital-like building. After stopping at the front counter, they were escorted to an office. Inside, they were introduced to Marybeth Hadley.

"Betty and Tim Carson." Ms. Hadley waved them to a seat in front of her desk. "It's good to meet you." She tapped away on her computer. "The initial funds have arrived, thank you, and you'll be happy to know your credentials check out."

They went through a grilling and handled it with ease. Carter was as smooth as silk and was winning over Ms. Hadley.

"That's all we need. You are the perfect fit for our babies." She smiled, showing a line of expensive porcelain veneers. "We can't be too careful when young lives are at stake." She looked from one to the other. "I can see you're a special case. We have provisions in place for people like you."

"Maybe you need to explain?" Carter leaned forward.

"There is a way to cut through the red tape, but it's expensive." Ms. Hadley folded her arms on the desk and smiled. "It's our way of getting our babies into the best families."

"How fast can you move things along, for the right price?" Carter smiled. "You can see how anxious my wife is to have a baby."

"I can make it happen before the end of the week." Ms. Hadley beamed at Beth.

A shimmer of rage slid through Beth and she swallowed hard. "That's good to know. Do you have a baby expected in the next week or so?"

"Indeed we do." Ms. Hadley beamed at her. "Twins are due, but we don't mind splitting them up."

"We'll take them." Carter took Beth's hand and squeezed. "You'd like that wouldn't you, darlin'?" He looked at Ms. Hadley. "Price is no option whatsoever, as long as our names are on those babies." He nodded slowly. "We can do a Bitcoin transfer to your wallet today if need be."

"Okay." Ms. Hadley consulted her computer and then wrote a figure on a piece of paper and slid it to Carter. "This is our fee. Everything is included, all the legal paperwork as well. You'll just need to sign the paperwork and the judge will do the rest."

"That's fine." Carter took the note, looked at it, shrugged, and dropped it into his pocket.

Beth leaned forward. "I need to speak to the doctor who will deliver the twins. I want to hear it from his mouth that they'll be fit and healthy." She took a tissue from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. "I lost all my babies, you see. I can't go through that again." She looked at Carter. "Make that part of the deal, Tim. Pay them what they want, but do this for me."

"I'm sure that can be arranged for you. Can you be back in town tomorrow morning? I know it's Sunday, but the doctor is in town right now." Ms. Hadley smiled.

"That's not a problem." Carter nodded. "We need to make this happen as soon as possible."

"As luck would have it, the doctor is due here first thing in the morning for a meeting at ten." Ms. Hadley tapped away on her computer. "I can make an appointment for eleven? His fee will be one hundred thousand in advance. Can you arrange payment by then?"

"That's fine." Carter smiled. "Although, I'm no fool. I'll pay you half the agreed amount for the adoption of the babies tomorrow—if my wife likes what the doctor has to say—and the other half when the papers are signed."

"Agreed." Ms. Hadley stood. "I'll make the arrangements. Drop by again at eleven in the morning and the doctor will see you."

Excitement slithered through Beth and she looked at Ms. Hadley. "What is his name?"

"Dr. Clint Brewer." Ms. Hadley smiled. "Out of Rainbow. It's a small mining town. He just set up practice there, but he's been working with us for years. He's a great doctor. You'll love him."

Oh, I'll love him to death. Beth smiled. "Thanks."