Page 113 of Facing the Enemy

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While I wanted to talk to Sara more about the prospective parents for her unborn baby, I bid her goodbye and joined Ms. Wright in the hall. We walked the hallway to her office.

“She’s a lovely young woman,” I said.

“I agree. She doesn’t know it, but her baby’s a girl. The adoptive couple is thrilled.”

Caution, Risa.“She told me she hadn’t decided to give her baby up yet.”

The woman opened her door and gestured for me to enter. “Sara has no choice in the matter.” She closed the door and locked it behind her.

“Why did you lock the door?”

“Habit, I guess. Often I have work that needs my attention without someone walking in.”

“I see. What do you mean Sara doesn’t have a choice? By law, she can change her mind after the baby’s placed in a home. I admit the reversal would be heartbreaking for the adoptive parents but reality.”

“The decision is out of her hands. Have a seat, Risa.” Ms. Wright sat behind her desk, and I eased onto a chair opposite her.

“You said I had a call.”

“No. I just needed an excuse to free you from Sara. She’s quite the talker.”

“Why doesn’t Sara have a choice?”

She opened a drawer, pulled out a pocket pistol, a Sig P365, and took aim at me. “You see, none of the birth mothers have a choice if I want their baby.”

“That’s illegal.”

“Keep your hands on the side of the chair. I don’t need you grabbing your phone.”

My phone recorded our conversation, and it lay next to my Glock. But my phone didn’t transmit to Gage. “I don’t understand. What is going on?”

My phone buzzed with a text.

“Hand me your purse.” I lifted it into her hands, and she pulled out my Glock, then set it inside a drawer. She removed my phone and read the text. Laughing, she texted. “It’s from Gage, and I’m telling him you are doing great.”

“Thanks a lot.”

She sneered, and an ugly side of Anna Wright met me. “I learned a long time ago to protect my assets by planting listening devices in my office. Then I got a little wiser and planted them in each girl’s room, kitchen, dining, library, game area, and even the small chapel. It’s amazing what I’ve heard through the years.”

I refused to show my frazzled nerves. “I imagine the information has paid off in rich benefits.”

“Just like this afternoon.” She texted someone with one eye on me. “We’re about to have company. He’s excited to meet you face-to-face.”

“Peter Florakis?”

“Smart girl. But we’ll wait and see.”

“Actually you’re the one who’s brilliant. This is a sizable operation. Selling babies all over the country to the highest bidder takes good connections.” Would Ms. Wright brag?

“And no one’s shut us down.” She grinned. “Others have tried, which is why I cooperated with the FBI and fingered Zonner. The doctor had abused our relationship, so nailing him labeled me a model citizen.”

“The FBI will figure this out. The doctor sitting in prison holds a get-out-of-jail-free card. He’s ready to talk.”

Wright laughed. “Wrong. He has an ex-wife and sons who are alive because of my generosity. He won’t jeopardize their safety. On the other hand, Suzi Phan confided in me about the plan to report the kidnapping to the police.”

I shrugged. “Why did you offer to help find Hai and Suzi when you were responsible for abducting the baby? That was a huge risk.”