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around the time of the fire. I’ll question nurses, hospital staff and other locals at the scene that night.” He hesitated. “I’ll also have to question your father, and William Hood and his family.”
    â€œThey won’t be happy that I’ve opened this up again,” Nina said.
    Slade shrugged. He already didn’t like her father or the Hoods. “I don’t give a damn who I piss off, Nina. I’m on the case now, and I will find out exactly what happened to your baby girl.”
    He just hoped to hell she could handle the truth when he did.

Chapter Three
    Fatigue from dredging up the past pulled at Nina, but hope fluttered wildly in her chest. Slade would be opening up old wounds between her and her father, and her and the Hoods, but she’d survived their disdain before and she would again.
    At least someone was finally going to ask questions.
    â€œDoes your father live in town?” Slade asked.
    â€œNo, he’s in Raleigh.” She gave him her father’s contact information, including his work number at the bank. “I’m out of school for the summer and want to accompany you when you talk to him.”
    He arched a brow. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
    No, but she wanted to see her father’s reaction. “I can handle it.”
    He gave a clipped nod. “What about William and his family?”
    â€œThey’re in Winston-Salem. William took over his father’s law practice there.”
    Slade jotted down the name of the firm, then ran his hand through his hair. “What was the name of the doctor who delivered your baby?”
    Fresh pain burned her stomach at the mere mention of his name. The delivery had been harrowing enough, but he had been a strong proponent of adoption. “Dr. Don Emery.”
    â€œDoes he still live and practice in Sanctuary?”
    â€œYes, I think so, although I haven’t seen him in months. I tried to talk to him several times, but like everyone else, he encouraged me to move on.”
    Slade’s mouth tightened slightly. “I know this is difficult, but think back to the night of the delivery and the day after. Did you notice anything strange, anyone suspicious at the hospital?”
    â€œGod, I was so scared that night and was in such a panic, that I don’t remember much. Just that I knew my baby was coming too early, and that I was afraid for her.”
    â€œYou were in labor?”
    She nodded. “I’d developed complications. They rushed me to the operating room and took her immediately.” Her heart quickened at the memory. “She wasn’t breathing at first, and they had to give her oxygen. She was so tiny and weak that I didn’t know if she’d make it…”
    His eyes held compassion as she paused to pull herself together.
    â€œWhat about the next day? Did you notice someone watching the nursery, looking at the babies?”
    Nina massaged her temple as she struggled to force the details of the hospital stay to the surface. “Not that I recall.”
    â€œDid anyone make an odd comment to you about keeping the baby?”
    Nina grimaced. “Dr. Emery agreed with my father and encouraged me to give Peyton up for adoption. They both thought that she needed two parents. A couple of nurses also mentioned that adoption might be a good idea.”
    â€œDo you remember those nurses’ names?”
    Nina rubbed her temple again. “I don’t know last names, but one nurse was Jane and the other Carrie. I saw both of them outside the hospital after the fire, but they claimed they didn’t know where Peyton was.”
    Slade frowned. Was it possible someone had taken the baby from the nursery before it caught on fire?
    Â 
    S LADE BIT BACK HIS thoughts. He hated offering Nina false optimism.
    â€œSo where do we start?” she asked.
    Slade checked his watch. “It’s already getting late. I’ll start putting