THE CRADLE CONSPIRACY (4 page)

The other cells were empty.

“Help me, Lord,” Daniel prayed. “Don’t let me crack.
Don’t let me become like my father.
”

The doorknob separating the sheriff’s office from the jail twisted.

Daniel stood swiftly, bracing himself to bear his full weight, despite his legs shaking. He froze his emotions inside, hoping his face had gone blank.

The sheriff stepped inside and stared at Daniel.

Galloway leaned his shoulder on the jamb, his relaxed stance feigned. Daniel recognized the tension in the guy’s body. Militarylike awareness. Maybe Special Forces.

“Well, Adams, Milly at the diner verified your identity as someone she served yesterday—solo. Said you were a
lone
handyman looking for work. She didn’t have anything for you, so she sent you down the north county road to ask at one of the ranches on the outskirts of town.”

Daniel shifted his feet, the urge to shake the bars nearly overwhelming, so he just nodded.

Galloway rested his hand on his gun. “I also had a very interesting conversation with Blake Redmond, the sheriff in Carder, Texas, who said he knows all about you.”

“Fantastic.” Even a good friend like Blake couldn’t have vouched for him with all the rumors flowing during Daniel’s disappearance. He’d been called traitor until he’d been rescued from his captivity, and now he’d just gone for a walk—across the country. Blake could very well have told Galloway to throw away the key.

“Actually, in your situation, it is. The man vouched for you. Said you’re a lot more than a regular handyman. Said you possess some serious skills in a lot of areas. Not that I’m surprised. Your whole vibe says ex-military or mercenary. Doesn’t necessarily say sane.”

Daniel gritted his teeth.

The sheriff crossed one boot over the other. “I know men like you, Adams. I know about the nightmares. The panicked look when you’re trapped in a cell.” He strode over to the door and yanked out an impressive set of keys. “I’m letting you go—”

Daniel’s heart slammed in his chest.

“—but there’s a condition.”

Daniel stared down the sheriff. “Name it.”

“There are no missing person reports filed on Raven, or Jane Doe, or whoever the hell she is. Milly swears you couldn’t have had supper at the diner and made it to the mine fast enough to hurt the woman. Now me? I’m harder to convince, but my gut says it’s not you.”

Galloway stood with the key in his hand, just inches from the lock. Daniel’s breath caught.
Open the damn door.

The sheriff turned the key in the barred door. “But, Adams, I think you should keep drifting through. Just because my town’s name is Trouble doesn’t mean I ask for it. And something about you smells like trouble.”

Daniel walked through the cell door, not letting Galloway see his enormous relief or his shaking hands. He grabbed his duffel bag off the floor from where Galloway had tossed it earlier. Daniel slung it over his shoulder, then turned to the sheriff.

“Whether you believe me or not, Raven is in serious danger. Somebody left her to die. She couldn’t have escaped on her own.” If it hadn’t been for Trouble, she might never have been found. She wouldn’t have survived. The thought made him shudder. “I hope you’re better than good at your job, because when the killer discovers she’s alive, he’ll track her down.”

Galloway nodded. “She’ll be taken care of.”

“Because if something happens to her, I’ll—”

Galloway stilled, his stance poised and coiled like a dangerous animal. “You’ll do what, Adams?”

“I’ll be back to find out why,” Daniel warned.

Just then a skinny young man slammed into the room, his cheeks red, huffing and puffing. His new uniform, creased pants and bit of peach fuzz on his chin screamed
rookie.

“Sheriff.” The nervous deputy skidded to a halt in front of Galloway. “Sheriff, that Jane Doe from the hospital...someone just tried to strangle her.”

* * *

L
IGHTS
FLASHED
THROUGH
the night sky, and the siren rang out. The few people on the streets of Trouble turned their heads to stare as the sheriff’s car raced by. This time Daniel rode in the front seat.

“You said she was safe,” Daniel accused, his biting words cold as he attempted to tamp down the fury building in his gut.

“I didn’t expect someone to attack her in the middle of the emergency room,” Galloway snapped.

“You’re paid to expect the worst. She should never have been left alone.”

Galloway yanked the steering wheel hard to the right, and the car squealed into the parking lot.

Daniel leaped out and ran toward the building, despite the pain in his leg. He raced inside the clinic, to the desk. “Where is she?” he demanded. “Where’s Jane Doe?”

The shaking nurse pointed to the same examining room Raven had been in before. Daniel flung aside the wall of fabric, the squeal of the curtain rings barely registering this time. “Raven!”

She lay on the bed, her eyes closed. Bruises encircled her neck.

At the sight, rage erupted in his gut.

He sat down next to her and gently touched her hand. “Oh, darlin’. I never should have let the sheriff take me.”

Raven’s eyelids fluttered open, then her eyes widened. “Daniel.”

He scarcely recognized the raw, hoarse voice she used.

“Daniel, you’re here.” She clasped hold of his hand. “Don’t leave me, please. He almost killed me.”

“I won’t,” he promised. “Not until you’re safe.” Whoever had attacked her had come too close to cracking her voice box. “I’ll be right by your side.”

He glared at Sheriff Galloway, daring him to challenge Daniel’s vow.

The man gave a slight nod and stepped behind the curtain.

“Thank you. I’m sorry about before.” She closed her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here...” Her voice trailed off in sleep.

Daniel positioned himself as best he could to watch over her until the shuddering left her and her breathing steadied into the rhythm of sleep. He eased the still-tight grip of her hand, then stalked to just beyond the curtain to where the sheriff stood checking his notes.

Daniel crossed his arms, struggling to stay civil. “Well?”

“No one saw him come in. From what Raven relayed to the staff, someone dressed as a doctor tried to choke her. He appeared to be acting alone. She fought back and must have hit him just right. She probably broke his nose, and he ran out. Nearly took out the doc and the crash cart.”

“You get samples of his blood?” Daniel asked.

“Yes, and I can send them to Midland for forensics, but unless the guy is in one of the government databases, we’re not going to be able to identify him. As it is, it’s gonna take a while for the results.”

Daniel gave the sheriff a sidelong glance. “What if I told you I had contacts with serious forensic resources? Would you give me a blood specimen?”

“These ‘contacts’ of yours could fast-track it?” Galloway’s brow arched.

Daniel nodded. “They can hit all the federal databases a hell of a lot faster than your lab. And they’re certified. You can use the results for the court case.”

The sheriff paused for a moment, his gaze settling on Raven’s bruised throat and head wound. “I’ll get you a second sample. We keep this between us.”

Daniel agreed, then studied the small emergency department. Double doors leading to hospital rooms, a few cabinets and a second triage area. Only two or three staff members that he could see. “How’d the perp know Raven was here?”

The sheriff grimaced. “Local news picked up the story after I called into the clinic to say we were on our way. We don’t get that many emergency calls around here. A few illegals who chose a bad stretch of border to cross, some domestic disturbances and the occasional drunk driver. Can’t sneeze in this town without someone knowing about it.”

“Great.” Daniel swore again silently. “If this story has hit the news, you’ll need a guard on her 24/7. Right now whoever attacked her has all the advantages.”

“I know you’re right, but no can do,” Galloway said. “I’m down one man already, with half the damn county to cover. That’s nearly two thousand square miles. Even if I could spare the deputy I have left, he can’t watch her nonstop.”

“I wouldn’t let you put that prepubescent kid on her, anyway. He couldn’t protect her from a puppy, much less a killer.”

Galloway crossed his arms. “I can stick her in jail for her own protection.”

Daniel’s entire body tensed at the idea of Raven surrounded by bars. “She didn’t do anything wrong.”

“At least she’d be safe.”

“How do you know?” Daniel challenged. “If you can’t guard her in the clinic, how can you guard her in the jail? Someone wants her dead. All he’d have to do is create a diversion pulling you two away from the station, and you’d be leaving her vulnerable.”

Galloway tilted his head. “So we’re at an impasse. I don’t have the manpower. I don’t have the money. Unless...” He stared at Daniel for a long moment.

“Unless what?”

“Unless you really are some whizbang hotshot military type. Sheriff Redmond said you’re handy with tools a lot more lethal than a hammer and nails. And you’re one of the best trackers and investigators money can buy.”

“Blake Redmond should learn to keep his mouth shut.”

“He was trying to save your butt from an attempted murder charge. Kissing his feet is the least you could do.” Galloway paused. “Seriously, as you so delicately pointed out, I could use the help on this one. The doctor said Raven has traumatic amnesia. Her memory may or may not return. Until we know better, we have nothing else to go on except whatever clues come out of that mine.”

“And the blood sample from her attacker,” Daniel pointed out.

“That, too,” the sheriff agreed. “But, like you said, she needs someone protecting her 24/7. How about it? I could deputize you.”

“That’s a switch. An hour ago, you were running me out of town.”

“Yeah, well, things change. I just need your signature on a form, and you have to take a quick oath.”

Daniel looked back at the curtain behind which Raven slept. He’d promised he wouldn’t leave her until she was safe. He couldn’t let her fight this alone. Someone had tried to kill her twice. Daniel didn’t have a choice, and Galloway knew it. “I have your resources available to me?”

“Whatever you need, though you may have more than I do.”

“Your name makes the request more...official. And just so we’re clear, this isn’t a permanent assignment, Sheriff. You understand that? Once I find out who’s after Raven, I’m back on the road.”

“You won’t hear me complaining. I want my quiet town back.”

“If I need more help—more manpower from my contacts—can I make a few calls?”

“Exactly what are you saying?”

“I won’t get any flack for bringing outsiders into your county?”

The sheriff shot him a speculative glance. “Does Sheriff Redmond also know these mysterious
resources?
”

“Most definitely. Feel free to call him to check them out.”

“Just what are these ‘outsiders’ going to do?”

“I know people who can look in a lot of gray areas with finesse and speed,” Daniel replied easily. “Their only goal is justice.”

The men’s gazes met. They understood each other.

“I won’t look the other way, Adams, if you go beyond the law...that is, if I know about it,” Galloway said.

Daniel rolled the sheriff’s comments around in his mind. So Galloway believed in justice more than rules. Daniel’s kind of law enforcement. “Understood.”

Galloway signaled his deputy, who had brought Daniel’s duffel into the clinic. “I left your Glock in there. I imagine you know how to use it. You require anything else?”

Daniel shook his head at the dig. “I have what I need.”

“Then I’ll set up the paperwork for you to sign.”

Daniel gave Galloway a nod, then eased aside the curtain and walked over to Raven’s bed. After setting down his pack, he unzipped the duffel, pulled his Glock from its case and checked the magazine. Everything seemed set. With calm precision, he tucked the weapon in the back of his jeans, then yanked his knife and ankle sheath from the duffel’s side pocket. After one quick buckle of the sheath’s strap around his leg, Daniel was able to slip in his knife. Relieved at having his two primary weapons within easy reach, he settled down to wait.

It was odd that being in the tight enclosure in the examining room didn’t seem as bad now. Almost as if the fact that he was officially guarding someone nullified some of the usual discomforts of small places. Of course, it helped that the walls were made of cotton, not stone.

The next two hours sitting on a hard wooden chair didn’t help Daniel’s leg. He adjusted his position, but he couldn’t get comfortable. At least the twinges kept him awake.

Not that he hadn’t been mesmerized by the rise and fall of Raven’s chest or the temptation of her full lips as they parted with each breath, but the shadows under her eyes reminded him of the danger stalking her and exactly why he was here.

The curtain at the end of her bed shifted slightly. Daniel tensed. He palmed the Glock and held it at his side.

The fabric parted. A woman in pink scrubs stepped through. Daniel hid the weapon from her sight as the nurse checked Raven’s vital signs.

“How is she doing?” Daniel whispered.

“Everything seems normal.”

“What about her memory?”

The woman’s sympathetic look evoked an ache deep in Daniel’s chest. He didn’t want his concern for Raven to be so obvious. He was just worried about her safety.

None of this was personal.

It couldn’t be.

His recent stint in the jail cell had shown him just how messed up he truly was. He wouldn’t saddle anyone with that crap to deal with for life. Been there. Done that. Had his father’s spent bullet casing from his suicide to show for it. Daniel wouldn’t put anyone through that.

The nurse checked the IV needle before turning back to Daniel. “The doctor said her memory could come back anytime—or not at all,” she said. “She has a concussion, and he wants to keep her for observation.”

“Isn’t there a quieter location we could stay? A private room maybe? Away from everyone else?”
Especially murdering psychos.