The Cradle Conspiracy. Christy Barritt

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СКАЧАТЬ still, the man himself remained silent—chillingly silent. He hadn’t said a word, yet his actions said plenty. It was the kind of quiet that made Sienna’s mind fill in the gaps with terrible yet unverified truths.

      Sienna found a burst of strength and shoved the dresser the rest of the way in front of the door—and just in time.

      The door frame began to split.

      She swung her head toward the crib. The noises were waking Colby.

      It was just as well. The two of them needed to get out of here.

      Now.

      The window, Sienna realized. It was the only way out. Her only solution and means of escape. But she had to move quickly.

      At least her house was only one story. If she climbed outside with Colby, the landing shouldn’t be too bad. She could protect the baby when they hit the grass below.

      The door frame cracked again, sending another pulse of fear through her.

      She scooped Colby up in her arms and rushed toward the window, where a dark summer sky stared back.

      She kissed the top of Colby’s soft head, praying he wouldn’t feel her terror and feed off it.

      The door frame cracked again, and the dresser moved a couple of inches. The intruder was almost inside.

      Sienna bit back a scream, unlatched the window and thrust it up just as the man shoved the dresser out of the way. He burst into the room, his gun pointed right at Sienna.

      Her life and all her unfulfilled dreams flashed before her eyes. But even more, she pictured Colby’s future. He deserved a future, and no one was going to take that away.

      * * *

      Devin Matthews blinked, wondering if he’d started to fall asleep on his back deck. The full moon shone around him, illuminating the suburban neighborhood more than usual. But the shadows within the moonlight made him tense.

      There was no wind out here tonight. Not even a breeze. So what was that movement in his neighbor’s backyard?

      It could be a raccoon or a fox, he supposed. Or maybe his neighbor had taken some trash out. He’d never seen the woman as a night owl, and it was already almost midnight.

      His restlessness was a complication of not being able to sleep. It didn’t matter how cold or hot it was outside, Devin often found himself on his back deck, staring at the stars, and thinking about life until the wee hours of the morning.

      These times were his solitude—and possibly his undoing. Devin had to get back into a schedule. He had to return to the land of the living. But doing so was much harder than he’d ever anticipated. Grief always remained at a close enough distance that his life felt stuck at a standstill.

      He’d taken a two-month leave of absence from the FBI in order to get himself straight. The way it was looking, it might take more than two months. In fact, maybe he should look for another job, one that didn’t remind him so much of the tragedies of his past.

      He glanced at his neighbor’s place again. Devin wasn’t trying to be nosy. But his deck happened to be high enough that he could see the woman’s patio and back door.

      And he’d thought he saw a shadow moving there again.

      He waited. Listened. Stood for a better look.

      All was silent—at least it was from where he had positioned himself.

      Devin knew his neighbor was single, but he tried to not talk to anyone unless necessary. He’d moved here a year ago, and Sienna Thompson had moved in six months later. The two had briefly met when she’d come over to introduce herself, but all it had taken was one encounter, and she hadn’t bothered to try and get to know him again.

      And that was fine because Devin wasn’t interested in having a social life—not in the least. He was ready for a clean slate. A new start. By himself.

      But he hadn’t been able to avoid noticing that Sienna seemed like the iconic girl next door.

      The woman was happy. Cheerful. Friendly. Not to mention nice to look at it in a sweet, modest way.

      Except for the past week—the woman had had a baby with her. Out of the blue.

      Why was that? Was the baby a nephew? Had she adopted?

       Devin, you’re just seeing things where there isn’t anything. You’re used to crime being around every corner when it’s not. This neighborhood is safe.

      He ran a hand over his face, trying to clear his thoughts.

      No sooner had he done so than a scream cut through the air.

      Devin’s mind wasn’t playing tricks on him after all. Someone was in trouble.

      He sprinted across the lawn. When he got a better look at Sienna’s house, he sucked in a breath. A window was open and someone hung out.

      Sienna.

      She screamed again, and his heart surged. He had to help. Now.

      “Take him!” she yelled.

      The next thing he knew, Sienna thrust the baby out the window. The boy screamed and kicked—obviously frightened. A shadow moved behind her.

      Devin darted toward her and took the boy from her outstretched arms. He started to reach for Sienna, too, when someone jerked her back inside. More shouting sounded. A scream. A crack.

      His pulse thrummed harder.

      Devin couldn’t simply set this child down and expect him to be safe. His gut twisted as he briefly considered his options. The child or Sienna. He didn’t have time to ponder them too long.

      Both, he decided.

      He darted across the street, suddenly wishing he had been more social. He pounded on the Wilsons’ door. Finally the sixtysomething woman answered, her gaze hazy with sleep. Her eyes widened quickly when she saw Devin.

      “Can I help you?” The retired woman pulled her housecoat tighter.

      He placed the baby in her arms—no time for formalities. “Watch him. Lock your doors. Call the police. Understand?”

      She opened her mouth as if to ask questions, but instead muttered in a shaky voice, “Okay.”

      Devin didn’t have time to expound or be polite. Not now.

      No, he had to move before Sienna ended up with a bullet through her heart.

      He rushed across the street just in time to hear another scream and a man’s voice raging, “Why did you have to do that?”

      He reached the front door and tried the knob. It was locked. Of course.

      Using all his strength, Devin jammed his shoulder into the wood. Nothing happened on the first try. He did it again and again and again until finally the СКАЧАТЬ