Read Online Native Born by Jenna Kernan - Free Book Online Page B

he did. Damn it, he did.
    Gabe sauntered out and joined the conversation as Clyne wondered again how his neat world had started to spin so badly out of its orbit. Cassidy Walker’s arrival in Black Mountain was acting like the impact of a meteor to the surface of the earth. He couldn’t breathe past the billowing smoke his grandmother and Gabe were both blowing. He made his excuses and tried for a graceful exit, but his grandmother took a hold of him and extracted a promise that he drive Cassidy to their home.
    â€œShe can find it,” said Clyne. “She has GPS.”
    â€œWhich doesn’t work half the time out here. You know that. I want you to bring her.”
    Clyne surrendered and fixed a smile on his face that felt as tight as drying wax. “My pleasure, then, Grandmother.”
    She patted his cheek, making him feel about six years old and making him flush. He spun and retreated as his grandmother called out a time for him to pick up Agent Walker. He lifted a hand in acknowledgment and escaped to his offices, where he spent much of the afternoon distracted by the clock that ticked down the time until he had to pick up Walker.
    As the time approached to head for his home he grew more agitated. Here was another way Agent Walker would know them when he knew little about her. He didn’t want to know her or did he?
    He wanted his sister back and Cassidy Walker gone. But Gabe had said that to take a child from her mother was a terrible thing.
    Didn’t Gabe want his sister home?
    At the appointed time, he returned to the police station and Yepa, Gabe’s assistant, directed him to the conference room.
    â€œWhat do you think of her?” asked Yepa.
    â€œI don’t think of her.”
    That made her cock her head and give him a strange look followed by an annoying quirk of her mouth.
    Clyne reached the conference room and knocked. Someone called him in and he entered. There they sat, laptops open, files and folders strewn across the table. Juris sat beside Luke, who sat beside Cassidy. To Cassidy’s left sat Gabe and beyond him, Sergeant Salvo. Gabe peered over Cassidy’s shoulder at her laptop. Clyne narrowed his eyes at the position of Gabe’s chair. It seemed far too close to Cassidy. Clyne felt something inside himself growling. Gabe glanced up and his smile of greeting wilted to one of bewilderment. But he moved his chair away from Cassidy, who still stared at her screen.
    â€œYou about ready?” asked Clyne.
    He noted the change in her body language the instant she heard his voice. Her expression tightened from relaxed to tense and her shoulders stiffened. She did not look at him but closed her laptop and collected her papers, tucking them into a briefcase. She rose and said her farewells. Luke told her he’d see her at Glendora’s.
    She followed him out, stopping at her car to relieve herself of her briefcase. She carried no purse, which didn’t really surprise him, though it was unusual for the women in his acquaintance.
    â€œI’ll follow you,” she said.
    That suited him fine.
    â€œWhy did you agree to come?” he asked.
    She seemed as if she would not answer. “Curiosity. And my daughter asked me if I’ve met her brothers. She wants to meet you.” It was clear from her tight expression that she did not want this. But he knew that it was only a matter of time. There was no avoiding the inevitable. Jovanna was Indian and so she would be returned to her birth family and tribe.
    â€œAnd we want to meet her.”
    Cassidy said nothing to this. She hesitated beside her vehicle.
    â€œHow did they get separated, your mother and your sister?”
    Clyne drew in a breath and braced to tell the tale as quickly as possible.
    â€œMy sister was a very good dancer, jingle and fancy shawl.”
    She gave him a blank look.
    â€œThose are types of dances. At powwows?”
    She nodded half-heartedly.
    â€œThere is money in it,