Read Online THE CRADLE CONSPIRACY by Robin Perini - Free Book Online Page A

total waste. I learned a few things and made some pretty good connections.” Christopher pulled a small electronic device from his pocket. He clipped it on the phone line that had been tacked to the side of the building and tucked a small earpiece inside in his ear. “Now we’ll know exactly what the good sheriff is talking about no matter where we go. When he hears where that woman is, she’s dead.”
    “And what about the sheriff? What if he interferes?”
    “If he gets in our way, well, bullets kill Special Forces, too.”
    * * *
    T HE CLOP OF worn boots sounded on the linoleum floor of the hospital. The owner paused, just visible beneath the curtain. “Come on in, Sheriff,” Daniel said, his voice barely above a whisper.
    Galloway pressed back the fabric. “You said dawn, so here I am. Any change?”
    “The nurse woke Raven about a half hour ago. She seems better.”
    “Did she remember anything?”
    Daniel shook his head and rose.
    “I’ll watch over her,” Galloway said, his hand on his Beretta.
    “I won’t be long.” Daniel paused for a moment and sent the sheriff a sideways glance. “What are you doing in this Podunk town, Galloway? Something about you doesn’t quite fit.”
    Galloway’s lips twisted. “Pot. Kettle.”
    “Touché,” Daniel muttered with one last long glance at the sleeping woman in the bed. He’d teased her about being a sleeping princess, but damned if she didn’t fit the part. Just looking at her made his heart ache. “I’ll be back, Raven. Count on it.”
    He shoved aside the unwanted desires. He had to remember the past, the reason he couldn’t let himself care. He strode through the small clinic and out the exit. He had a job to do, and nothing, especially not his own weakness, would stop him from protecting her.
    The sight greeting him outside the clinic made him shake his head. Trouble. The fuzz face had dust and grime on his coat, but he sat there with a rag in his mouth and expectations on his face.
    “What the hell did you get into, boy?” Daniel asked, stepping forward cautiously so as not to run the skittish dog away.
    Trouble cocked his head, then dropped his trophy before taking a few steps back to his now customary six feet.
    Daniel knelt down, noticing a triangle of material looking like torn jeans. Several red splotches decorated the worn blue fabric. Blood, maybe? “Seems like you had a battle with someone.”
    His senses pinged with awareness. Raven’s attacker had worn jeans. Could he be that lucky? He raced into the hospital and returned wearing a glove on one hand and carrying a bowl of water in the other. Daniel set the liquid down. Trouble didn’t hesitate. While the mutt lapped up the drink, Daniel picked up the fabric by the corner, studied it for a moment and dumped it into a paper lunch sack. “Who’d you go after, Trouble?”
    He kept his hands by his side, kneeling down, meeting Trouble’s gaze at eye level. “You hurt, boy? Will you let me check you over?”
    Daniel focused on making his voice calm and smooth. Normally he would’ve let the dog be, but there was blood on the animal’s side.
    “I’ll be quick.” His movements slow and steady, Daniel made more effort than he had in weeks to get close to the dog. As if he understood, Trouble sat quiet but alert. Daniel ran his hands over the mutt’s fur.
    When he reached the dog’s side, Trouble yelped.
    “Someone hurt you?” Daniel’s gaze hardened, and he palpated the animal’s ribs. They didn’t seem broken, and there were no cuts, but whoever the canine had attacked had fought back.
    “Not too bad. You’ll live, boy.” Daniel tried to scratch behind the floppy ears, but Trouble’s patience had ended. He scooted away.
    Daniel stood. “You are one strange dog. I’ll drop off your little trophy and see if you tangled with Raven’s attacker.”
    He hurried in and out of the hospital. Trouble hadn’t moved. “I’m going for a ride. I don’t suppose you want to