The Cradle Conspiracy. Christy Barritt

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       THREE

      Devin felt the tension pulling across his shoulders as he drove into the night with Sienna beside him and Colby sleeping in a car seat in the back of his SUV.

      They’d left the warm lights of suburbia and headed west, deeper into the Rocky Mountains. Homes and businesses were sparser out here, making it ideal as a hiding spot. Yet these mountains within themselves were a beautiful danger, one that needed to be appreciated and respected.

      Devin had grown up in Colorado, almost five hours away from this area, but had moved here when the FBI stationed him in Denver. His little town of Woodard’s Mill was on the outskirts of the city and felt like the perfect place to relax after a stressful day at work—whenever he finally went back to work. Things like this didn’t happen in neighborhoods like his.

      Except this had happened. Right next door.

      He couldn’t stop reviewing tonight’s events. Why things had played out as they had. What this story could possibly be. Those questions were what motivated him to solve every case he’d been handed while working in the criminal investigative division: answers that would ultimately lead to justice.

      He glanced over at Sienna, at her heavy eyelids as she stared out the window, and his heart panged with compassion.

      Truth was, he hadn’t exactly been friendly to the woman. She’d seemed nice enough. And maybe that was part of the reason he’d chosen not to speak and had only nodded curt greetings in passing.

      Getting close to people—and then losing them—was so hard. It was beyond hard.

      It was heartbreaking.

      Images of Grace and Willow filled his thoughts again, and a radiating pain began in his chest. What he wouldn’t give to have them beside him again. If he could go back and change time...

      But that was just wishful thinking that would get him nowhere.

      “Thanks for doing this,” Sienna murmured. She pulled her sweater tighter and glanced away from the window a moment.

      The somberness in her gaze spoke volumes. Tonight had shaken her to the core, yet she’d still remained graceful and kind. His respect for the woman grew.

      “It’s not a problem.” Devin stole another glance at her and saw her exhaustion. “I know you’ve been through this with the police, but could you tell me what you know about Anita?”

      Detective Jenson had told them that Anita Gwinn didn’t exist until four months ago. That had just been a preliminary finding, of course. The police would contact the school system and find her records there. They’d track down her Social Security number. There was still a good chance that the woman was real and did exist. It was too early to say.

      Sienna let out a heavy breath, as if carrying the burdens of the world. And, in a way, she was. She was carrying the burdens of Colby’s world, at least.

      “I wish I knew more,” she started, her voice soft and almost fragile. “I really do. But I only worked with Anita for a few months. She’d just moved here from Arizona. I had the impression she was leaving a bad situation. Maybe an abusive husband or boyfriend? She didn’t like to talk about it.”

      “You said there’s no father in the picture?” He glanced in his rearview mirror and saw the headlights behind him.

      Was it someone following them? Or was it just another traveler headed the same way? Devin hoped it was the latter. Prayed it was.

      “By all indications, there is no father,” Sienna said, clueless about the potential danger on their heels.

      Devin would keep it that way for as long as he could. The woman had already been through a lot. And there was no need to alarm her for no reason.

      He drew his gaze away from the rearview mirror as they climbed higher and the road became narrower. “Where did her mom live? You said her mother was having surgery?”

      “Anita told me her mom was out in Kansas. I didn’t ask questions. Figured Anita didn’t have a reason to lie to me. And maybe she didn’t lie. Maybe she’s a victim here or she was in a car accident or... I really don’t know what to think.” Sienna swung her head back and forth, her features pinched with anxiety. “Maybe all СКАЧАТЬ