Page 17 of Montana Justice

I stared at the money, then back at her face, looking for signs of deception. But all I saw was bone-deep exhaustion and a wariness that spoke of someone who’d been running on empty for far too long.

“What do you need baby formula for?”

The question came out harsher than I’d intended, driven by suspicion and the old hurt I’d thought I’d buried. Piper’s hands moved to the front of the coat—my coat—and slowly, carefully, pulled down the zipper.

Strapped to her chest in a worn baby carrier was an infant. Dark hair, maybe a couple months old, sleeping peacefully against her chest.

The sight knocked the wind out of me completely.

Piper had a baby.

Chapter 6

Lachlan

I staredat the top of the baby’s head, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing. The infant was so small, almost fragile-looking, dark hair peeking out from under a tiny knit cap, completely oblivious to the tension crackling through the break room.

“What’s going on here, Piper?”

“I’m babysitting.” The words tumbled out quickly, like she’d been rehearsing them. “For my cousin. She had to go on a trip for a few days, and the formula she left us was making his stomach upset. He’s been crying for hours, so I thought I’d try the hypoallergenic kind to see if it helps.”

Every instinct I’d honed over years in law enforcement was screaming that something was off. The explanation was too neat, too convenient. And the way she avoided my eyes while she spoke, focusing instead on adjusting the baby carrier with trembling hands—classic signs of deception.

“And you just happened to stop to buy formula in Garnet Bend?”

“I was already heading through this area.” She zipped the coat back up carefully, her movements protective around the sleeping infant. “I didn’t want to wake him by taking him out of the carrier, so I kept him under my jacket. That’s why I put things in my pocket instead of using a basket. I forgot the formula was there when I went to check out.”

The story had holes big enough to drive a truck through. But the baby was real and clearly needed care. And despite everything that had happened between us, I couldn’t bring myself to believe Piper would use an innocent child as part of some elaborate con.

Could I?

I studied her face, looking for tells, for the subtle signs that would give away a lie. But exhaustion had carved deep lines around her eyes, and her skin had a gray pallor that indicated genuine fatigue rather than nerves about being caught in deception.

The baby stirred against her chest, making soft sounds, and her hand immediately moved to support his head through the fabric of the coat. The gesture was so natural, so protective, that it made something twist in my chest.

“Stay here,” I said finally. “Don’t move.”

I stepped out of the break room and found Dave pacing behind the customer service counter, his anxiety written in every line of his weathered face.

“Well? What’s the story?”

“She says it was an accident. Claims she was trying to keep her hands free by putting items in her pockets instead of a basket, forgot the formula was there when she checked out.” I kept my voice neutral, professional. “She’s got a baby with her—says she’s babysitting for her cousin.”

Dave’s expression immediately softened. “Look, if she’s got the money to pay for it and it really was just an oversight…”

“She’s got the money.” I glanced back toward the break room. “Thirty dollars cash.”

“Then let’s just call it a misunderstanding and move on. I don’t want to press charges over something like this, especially not with a baby involved.”

Relief flooded through me, though I couldn’t entirely say why. “You sure about that?”

“Positive. Life’s hard enough without making it harder over an honest mistake.”

Honest mistake. I kept my mouth shut.

I nodded and headed back to the break room, where Piper sat exactly where I’d left her, one hand resting protectively on the baby carrier. She looked up when I entered, and I caught a flash of hope in her eyes before she quickly looked away again.

“Dave’s willing to let this go as an honest mistake. You pay for the formula, and we’re done here.”

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