Read Online Consigning Fate by Jacqueline Druga - Free Book Online

Beginnings.
     
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    .
    The horse brushed by Elliott so closely, he nearly spun on his heels losing his balance. Was he not paying attention? Walking in his own world?
    “Sorry, Sgt. Ryder,” the young soldier yelled out as he continued his ride down the main street.
    Elliott watched. The horse moves side by side, to the left, right.
    He had to be new. Once and a while, a new rider would lose control. Such as the private, he had begun to scream for help.
    The Captain saw it. He knew what was happening. In fact, Hal stood at the corral fence, holding it open, laughing.
    “You released him?” Elliott asked.
    “Yes, it was funny.”
    “He could get hurt.”
    “He could,” Hal shrugged. “Net time he’ll learn to listen to instruction and poke his sword into the horse. Accident or no accident. What brings you here, Elliott? Other than to question my authority on riders. No pun intended.”
    “No pun taken. I just received a phone call from your brother.”
    Hal patted his chest, then pockets. “Shit. My phone.”
    Elliot held it up. “I took the call.”
    “See,” Hal grinned this is what makes you a good right hand man.”
    “My ability to be a secretary.”
    “Yes.”
    “Hmm.”
    “Hmm?” Hal asked. “Did you just Hmm me?”
    “I believe I did. Your brother needs you in Beginnings stat.”
    “Is there a family emergency?” Hal asked.
    “No, he said it’s for a meeting.”
    “Another meeting? Is this the same one we’re having tomorrow?”
    “No, I asked. This one’s not about the clone. It’s about something else. He wouldn’t tell me anymore.”
    “Good Fucking God, Elliott.”
    Elliott stumbled back. “Good ... fucking God. Did you just add the ‘F’ word to you stock phrase.”
    “Yes, yes, I did.” Hal snatched the phone from Elliott’s hand. “And you would too, with a brother like Frank. Him and these stupid meetings. Good …” He dialed. “Fucking God.”
     
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    “Hal!” Frank blasted in the phone. “I don’t care. No, let me repeat that. I really don’t fucking care. It’s ten fuckin miles from there to here.” He grunted. “Take a fuckin horse, or drive. Be here in one hour. Fine! Send Sgt. Ryder. But you’ll be sorry you missed it.” Frank hung up. “Fuckin asshole.”
    A single knock on the trailer door, and Robbie poked his head in. “Hey, Frank.”
    “Hey, Robbie.”
    “You were calling? I can’t get a signal in the lab for some reason.”
    “I did call. Yeah, I just wanted to have a meeting in an hour.”
    “You’re getting pretty good with these meetings.”
    “I fucking hate them. I wish everything would happen at once so I can have one meeting.”
    “And this can’t wait until tomorrow.”
    Frank cocked his eyebrows and shook his head. “So … no signal. Did you talk to Danny about that?”
    “Yeah, he said a too small space with the computers may be interfering. I needed to speak to you about something anyhow.”
    “Come in.”
    Robbie did.
    “What’s up?”
    “We have a problem.”
    “Fuck.”
    “What?”
    “Another one?”
    “Sort of. I have a problem.” Robbie pulled up a chair. “I was running a fingerprint match. I figured why waste time on searching.”
    “Run Dean’s.”
    “Exactly.” Robbie held out his hand. “I did.”
    “And?”
    “No match.” Robbie handed him a sheet of paper. “I ran it four times Frank. Dean’s prints do not match the prints on the explosive or timer.”
    Frank raised his eyes. “Would the clone have different prints?”
    “No. Same.” Robbie said.
    “This doesn’t make sense.”
    “Not at all. The clone was there. Seconds before the explosion. I thought for sure he set the device.”
    “Obviously he didn’t.” Frank ran his hand over his goatee. “You know what this means don’t you?”
    Robbie nodded. “The clone may have dropped it off. But he wasn’t the one who built and set it. I thought we had it. I was certain.”
    “Someone else was in on killing,