The Cradle Conspiracy

The television volume rose as a news banner flashed across the screen.

Breaking news. Trouble, Texas.

The picture of a battered and bloody woman took up the entire screen.

Pamela almost cried out in shock at the sight. With a trembling hand, she grabbed the remote and pressed the volume control so she could hear.

“The sheriff’s office revealed the woman was found in an abandoned mine west of Trouble. Referred to as Jane Doe, she cannot identify herself due to a head injury. They’re asking anyone who knows or has seen this woman to contact them immediately.”

Pamela dropped the remote. She glanced at her son, then swayed. “This can’t be happening. That woman is supposed to be dead. She tried to steal my baby.”

Chapter Three

“Open your eyes, darlin’. Please.”

Daniel’s soft, deep voice soothed Raven’s senses. She wanted to do what he asked, but she couldn’t seem to function. She hurt too much. The rhythmic pulses slammed in her temples like a bass drum reverberating through her mind. She wanted to let sleep overtake her again, except for some urgent feeling that drove her to wake up and move. She needed help for some reason. His help. For something very important...

Dazed, she struggled to lift her lids. Through her lashes, unfamiliar images coalesced. The room was dark, save a low light glowing from above the headboard. An IV and monitor were hooked up by her bed. Panic started, then she heard someone speak again.

“That’s it. Wake up now. Just a little more.”

It was Daniel. What a relief. She knew his voice. Trusted his voice.

A callused finger traced her forehead, and she peered blearily over at the fuzzy double image of the man sitting beside her.

“There you go. Keep those beautiful eyes open.”

“Daniel.” His face, handsome and troubled, held her enthralled. He was familiar. The only thing that was. She reached up and touched his cheek, the one with the scar.

He clasped her hand in his and drew it away. “Don’t exert yourself. Are you really awake this time?” he asked. “Awake enough to answer some questions?”

“I think so,” she croaked.

Daniel gave her a small smile, and she could see the relief in his eyes.

“But I don’t know where I am.”

“We’re in Trouble, Texas, at their medical clinic. You had me worried, passing out like you did.”

She licked her lips. Her mouth was so dry. “My head hurts. I can’t think straight.”

“I’ll tell the nurse. Want some water?” he asked.

“Please.”

He cupped her head and held a straw next to her lips. With one sip, the cold fluid coated her throat. She smiled at him. He knew just what she needed.

Even that small movement made the throbbing restart. She lifted her hand to her temple and encountered a bandage. “What’s this? What happened?”

“Before or after the cave-in?” he asked.

“Cave-in?” Hazy images of darkness and falling rocks assailed her. The scent of panic and fear, from a...a dog and Daniel. Dust. Blood. There were some memories there, but none were very clear. She touched the bandage once more. “How did I do this? Did the rocks hit me? What was I doing in a stupid cave anyway?”

“I don’t know the answers to all your questions, but falling rocks only did some of the damage.” He leaned forward, glancing at the curtain. “Look, I don’t have much time before someone comes in, but I do want to help you. Can you try to think about being in the mine shaft before it caved in? Do you remember who hurt you?”

“Someone hurt me?” She furrowed her brow, trying to reconstruct the strange images in her mind. “Why would anyone do that?”

“Think. What do you remember?” he asked.

“My name is Raven.”

“Raven’s not your name.” The man’s expression held nothing but pity. “We made it up because you were panicked about not remembering yours.”

“That’s crazy.” She dug her fingernails into his palm. “That’s the only name I know. And I know you. You were holding me and telling me everything would be all right. We were in the cave together. You held me. I remember you.”

He squeezed her hand. “I was only holding you to calm you down. I’m sorry. We never met before today.”

“It doesn’t seem possible. You’re...you’re Daniel. I know you.” She grasped at the small straw of sanity remaining. “I was in your arms. How can you deny we know each other? Why are you lying?”

The curtain surrounding them was yanked back, the sound of the metal rings scraping like nails on a chalkboard.

A man in uniform entered the room. “Yeah, Adams, that’s something I’d like to know. You sure looked involved with her when I saw you.”

“I was trying to save her life. What was I supposed to do? Dump her and run?”

“No, but you informed the charge nurse you were together when you arrived. You were in the exam room the whole time. Didn’t look like a total stranger situation to me. So what gives?”

A deep-seated fear took hold in Raven’s chest when anger rose to Daniel’s face.

He slowly stood and faced the lawman. “My dog found her, and I tried to get her help. End of story.”

“I also warned you not to come back here alone with the Jane Doe. You make a habit of going against the law? You got a prison record somewhere I should check out?”

Daniel blanched, darkness in his eyes once more. “You go ahead and check.”

“I intend to,” the sheriff shot back. “Now, why don’t you wait outside, while I have a talk with this lady you claim not to know.”

Raven gripped Daniel’s hand. He was her only touchstone. “Please, don’t make him leave.”

“I’m Sheriff Galloway, ma’am.” His gaze sliced across Daniel. “It appears you’ve been the victim of a crime. I need to ascertain the threat. I said, step away from her, Mr. Adams.”

Daniel glanced at their intertwined fingers. “Why don’t you let the lady decide, Sheriff? She doesn’t look all that eager to be alone with you.”

“I said move away.” Galloway grabbed Daniel by the arm. “Don’t press me. You’re two seconds from a cell.”

Daniel yanked his arm from Galloway’s grasp and pushed aside the curtain.

“Don’t leave, Adams. I’m talking to you next.”

Not attempting to cloak his obvious fury, Daniel settled against the wall just outside the partition.

Raven couldn’t believe what was happening. None of this made sense.

“That man claims he doesn’t know you, ma’am,” the sheriff said, pulling a small notebook from his uniform pocket. “Yet you say you do know him. Which is it?”

Her gaze went back and forth between the two men. “I...I don’t know.”

“Did Adams hurt you?”

Did he? She was already injured when she came to in the mine. She pressed her hand against her head. That damned throbbing was getting worse, scrambling her thoughts. “I...I don’t think so.” She blinked hard against the blur Daniel’s face had become. “I think he just helped me. I can’t really remember what happened before the cave-in.”

“So he could have put you there?”

“No. He specifically told me he didn’t do that.”

“What?” Galloway strode out to Daniel. “Okay, Adams, that’s it. You’re coming with me until I sort this out.” The sheriff slapped a cuff on Daniel’s wrist.

Daniel stilled, his face stiff as he stared at the silver bracelet. “Great, just great. Good Samaritan bites the dust one more time. When will I learn?”

Raven stared at him in handcuffs, horrified. Her mind whirled in confusion. She didn’t think he had hurt her, but could she be wrong? Nothing made sense.

His gaze went flat, the light behind his eyes dimming. Expressionless, lifeless, soulless. Instinctively Raven reached out to him, needing something, anything to hold on to, but Daniel turned away from her. “I guess I know where I’m headed. Thanks, sweetheart.”

The sheriff snagged his prisoner’s free arm and snapped the second cuff closed, pinning his arms behind him. The loud click echoed in the room, and Daniel’s jaw throbbed, his neck muscles bunched together. He didn’t look back at her.

She wanted to call out to Daniel, but she didn’t know what to say. She just couldn’t remember. She had to be Raven. Didn’t she?

Then why had he lied about not knowing her?

“I...don’t...remember.” The words stuttered from her. Desperation clawed at her insides.

The sheriff gave her a sympathetic grimace. “If Adams is telling the truth, he’ll be out soon. If not...you have nothing to be sorry about. You’re safe now.”

Sheriff Galloway escorted Daniel out.

The nurse whipped the curtain closed, shutting her in. Alone. Abandoned. The cream-covered cloth fluttered still, a barrier to the world. She wrapped her arms around her body, trying to stop the aching loneliness. Her hands and heart felt empty.

She turned to her side in the bed, staring at the curtained wall. She didn’t blink. Her vision grew blurry. Why couldn’t she remember? Try as she might, just a few glimmers sifted through her. A fuzzy dog’s face, a toy box, and Daniel.

She sighed. Daniel. What had she done? Why hadn’t she defended him? Why hadn’t she fought to make the sheriff understand that she felt safe with Daniel? She reached out her hand, wishing his strong fingers were there for her to grasp.

Her belly clenched. She had the unsettling feeling she’d just made a terrible mistake in letting Daniel go. She curled into a ball. Her fingernails bit into her palm.

Oh, God, what had she done?

* * *

THE NIGHTMARE WOULDN’T end. Raven knew she was asleep, but she couldn’t escape. Wrapped in a carpet. The dust, the dirt, the blood.

She fought against the memory suffocating her, struggling to break free from the prison. Her hands clenched at her side. Not carpet. Sheets.

The clinic. And a presence watching over her. She could feel its malevolence.

She squeezed her eyes tighter, unable to battle the unexpected terror seizing her body and her mind. She swallowed and forced herself to open her eyes.

“Daniel?” she mumbled, praying he was there, despite her letting him down.

Her blurry vision focused. A man stood above her, his face half-hidden by a surgical mask. Not Daniel though and not the doctor who’d treated her before.

“Who—”

Before she could ask, he pressed his fingers around her throat, then clamped his other hand over her mouth and nose. He tightened his grip, cutting off all air.

Please, God. She couldn’t breathe. She twisted against him, each movement sending shafts of pain and light through her brain. He pressed harder, then braced himself and used his knee to hold her to the bed. He was crushing her windpipe.

Panicked, she grappled for the call button, but he yanked it from her hand. White spots filled her graying vision. She couldn’t die this way. She wouldn’t.

Frantic, relying on pure instinct, Raven used all of her remaining strength to drive the flat of her palm into the man’s nose as hard as she could. She heard the crunch of breaking bone.

Her attacker yelled and stumbled back, blood spewing over his mask.

A string of expletives exploded, and he slammed his fist into her head. Pain like a thousand pieces of shrapnel penetrating her skull shattered her control, but she had one chance to live.

Screaming for help, she clutched her head and curled up to protect herself.

Shouting and approaching footsteps sounded from beyond the curtain.

“Damn it!” Her assailant, wearing a white doctor’s coat over jeans, shoved through the curtain, covered with his own blood. He slammed a metal cart to the side and barreled over the doctor.

Raven struggled to take in air through her damaged throat. She heard frantic cries to call the sheriff, and the thud and crash of more bodies and equipment hitting the floor.

The doctor staggered to her side, blood streaming down the side of his face. “Are you all right? What happened?”

“That man tried to kill me,” Raven croaked. “I need Daniel. Someone please get me Daniel.”

The doctor yelled out some orders then bent over her. “Stay with me, Raven. Don’t give up.”

She blinked through the agonizing pain. All she wanted to do was sleep. She couldn’t keep her eyes open. She sucked in a shallow breath. She should have trusted her gut. She should have trusted Daniel.

She had made a horrible mistake. She just prayed Daniel wouldn’t hold it against her.

* * *

THE JAIL CELL was too small.

Daniel lay rigid on the bunk and stared at the tiles on the ceiling, counting the dotted patterns within them. He refused to look at the gray cinder-block walls, and he sure as hell wouldn’t look at the bars holding him in this prison.

Cringing and screaming on the floor, fighting off phantoms only he could see, would go a long way to convincing Galloway he had a psycho on his hands. If Daniel didn’t get out soon, he wouldn’t be able to hold it together. That time was coming closer every second.

His gut filled with panic until one mind-blowing thought intruded. Raven was vulnerable, and he couldn’t help her from in here—or from the psycho ward.

He’d tried not to let her get to him.

Who was he kidding? She already had.

Daniel gritted his teeth, sat up and stared through the bars, clenching and reclenching his fists, his knuckles turning white. His hands were clammy, and he fought the urge to rock in place. He rubbed his wrists. At least the sheriff had finally removed the cuffs. Just in time. Daniel had been ready to throttle Galloway to get the keys.

He hadn’t done it. He’d maintained control.

Barely.

When the bars had clanked closed, the crisscross of scars on Daniel’s back had started to burn. He’d promised himself he’d never be in this situation again. Never be incarcerated. Never be captive and powerless again.

He wiped the sweat from his eyes, restless, edgy, like he was jumping out of his skin. He should have left Raven at the clinic and moved on. He didn’t even know her. She was none of his business.

An image of her pain-filled eyes haunted him, though, hitting him harder than the echoes of remembered screams in his mind. Stronger than the memory of his torturer’s laughter. The snap of the whip. The sound of bones breaking. Those were all trumped by Raven’s small whimper of pain and the way she’d looked at him with such trust.

Good God, lady, don’t depend on me.

Unable to sit still any longer, Daniel rose and grabbed the cold steel bars and shook them, testing the lock. Nothing gave at all. He was trapped. Trapped again. He crumpled to his knees, unable to fight his demons anymore. His fingers ached from gripping the bars, and an animal sound of terror rose within him.

His shoulders shook, and he struggled not to break. Not that it mattered anymore.

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.”

* * *

LIGHTS 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.”