The Cradle Conspiracy, page 17
Sienna shifted uncomfortably in the front seat, glad it hadn’t come to that. She wasn’t sure if Anita was referring to the officer or Sienna. It didn’t matter. One more death—whoever it might be—would be too many.
“What are you going to do once you get Colby, Anita?”
She didn’t think Anita would actually get her hands on the boy, but she wanted to get inside the woman’s head and figure out what she was thinking. It was only smart.
“I’ll take him somewhere new and start again. Start fresh. Maybe we’ll really have a chance this time.”
“Like where?” Sienna knew if Anita shared information on an exact location, that meant Anita planned on killing Sienna. There was no way she’d tell her otherwise.
She held her breath as she waited to see how Anita would respond.
“Somewhere far away,” Anita said, her eyes taking on a distant look.
“I see.” So maybe Anita didn’t plan on killing her. A brief flash of relief rushed through her.
“I was thinking about Alaska. I’ve always wanted to see that part of the country.”
Sienna’s stomach clenched. That flash of relief was premature. Anita didn’t plan on letting Sienna walk away from this.
“Did you befriend me from the beginning with the intent of using me like this?” Sienna asked, trying to ignore the tremble in her voice.
“I hoped it wouldn’t come to this. I mean, I really did like you. Everyone likes you. How could they not? You’re Ms. Perfect.” Anita’s face clouded like she had a bad taste in her mouth.
“I’m far from perfect.”
Anita didn’t seem to hear her. “But then that reporter showed up, and I knew everything was over. I could see the recognition in her eyes. I had to come up with a plan. I could see how kind you were, and I knew you were the best chance of finding someone to help me.”
“I see. So kindness is a weakness.” Sienna just couldn’t understand the way this woman thought.
“Your kindness made you a target. I’m really sorry I had to do this to you, Sienna. I am. But nothing is going to separate me from my child. Nothing.”
Sienna swallowed hard and tried to choose her words wisely. She kept her voice even as she said, “He’s not your child, Anita.”
Anita’s eyes flashed with anger. “He is my child! And he always will be! Just because I didn’t give birth to him doesn’t mean he’s not mine.”
Sienna licked her lips. “What about the Brightons?”
“I feel badly for them, but we all can’t have Colby. This is just the way it has to be.”
“Why’d you pick him?”
Anita shrugged. “Because he was adorable.”
“And how did you manage to snatch him without leaving any evidence behind?”
“They left their keys in the diaper bag one day. I sneaked away during my lunch break and made a copy. Easy-peasy. Now, I’m tired of talking. Your boyfriend has forty minutes to get back here. I really hope I don’t have to enact the second part of my plan.”
“The second part of your plan?” Sienna’s throat tightened. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
“That’s right, sweetie.” Anita smiled, but the action lacked any sincerity. “That’s the part where you die.”
* * *
As Devin watched the police officer pull away, he had a change of plans.
He couldn’t simply confront Anita. No, that would never work.
He needed leverage.
With that thought in mind, he hurried through the woods back to Justin and shook him. The man’s eyes fluttered open as he startled awake.
“What? Where? How—”
Devin jerked the man to his feet and showed him the gun. “There’s no time for questions. Just walk.”
“Where are you taking me?” Justin tried to shake him off and pull away.
Devin wasn’t going to let that happen. “You’ll see.”
He shoved the gun harder into Justin’s side to remind him it was there.
He led the man back to the downed tree in the road. Remaining in the woods, they walked behind the trees and well out of sight.
“You can’t do this,” Justin said. “Angela is smart. She’s not going to let you get away with this.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah, man. You have no idea what you’re doing. We’re all going to end up dead.”
The man looked like he was over it. This wasn’t his mission, Devin realized. No, Justin was just acting as Anita’s minion, and he looked on the verge of giving up.
“You love her?” Devin asked.
“Angela? Yeah, of course I do. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“You’re willing to go to jail for her.”
He kept his chin up. “I’d do anything for her.”
“Sounds like true love then,” Devin muttered. “Now we’re going to see how much she loves you. I have a feeling she doesn’t share the sentiment as much as you think.”
Justin stared back, his lips parting with surprise. “Of course she does.”
“Then why didn’t she leave Colby with you when she had her surgery?”
“Because...because...it just made more sense. I’ve never raised a kid before.”
“Keep thinking that.”
Moving swiftly, he shoved Justin until they were at the truck window. Then he hit the glass with his gun.
“Get out of the car, Anita,” Devin ordered.
Anita jerked her head toward them, her eyes widening as the processed what was happening. Her expression morphed from surprised to angry.
“Justin...” She cracked the window. “You’re back. Where’s Colby? What’s going on?”
“I’m calling the shots now. Let Sienna go, and I’ll spare your boyfriend.” Devin glanced over. Saw Sienna. Saw that she was okay.
Relief filled him.
That was enough. For now. Devin just needed to know she was still alive and not hurt. He’d deal with the rest of the details later.
“You’re out of your mind. Don’t you remember what I told you?” Anita’s nostrils flared.
“Oh, I remember. But you’re not getting Colby.”
“I’ll be the one who decides that,” Anita said.
“Get out of the truck, Anita, or I’ll shoot Justin.” Devin was tired of letting Anita think that she had the upper hand here.
With a scowl, Anita climbed out, pulling Sienna behind her. Sienna’s face twisted with pain as her weight came down on her leg.
Anita didn’t care. She kept the gun at Sienna’s side, near her heart. One pull of the trigger, and everything would be over for Sienna.
Devin’s heart pounded with agony at the thought. He couldn’t let that happen. He had to keep control of this situation.
“Now, let’s do a trade,” Devin said. “You give me Sienna, and you can have Justin. You two can go on your merry way, and we’ll pretend this didn’t happen.”
Devin knew he couldn’t let this go like that. But he had to get Sienna back somehow.
Colby was safe. Colby would remain safe as long as he stayed with Rick and Trina.
“That’s not going to happen.” Anita’s voice came out as a low grumble. “I want my baby.”
“You can’t have Colby.”
“I will get Colby. He’s mine.”
“You need to think this through, Anita.”
“Anita, just let Sienna go,” Justin said. “We’ll think of another way.”
“There is no other way!” The woman sounded on the verge of losing it—even more than she had earlier.
“There’s always another way,” Justin continued, his voice pleading. “We’ve been through so much. Let’s just go away and start again.”
“Not without Colby.”
“He’s going to kill me, Anita. If he doesn’t kill me, he’ll send me away to jail for the rest of my life.”
“They won’t catch us. Now stop talking!”
“They will catch us. I’m tired of running. I’ve done everything you’ve said. Now it’s time to move on.”
“Listen to yourself! Can you hear how pathetic you sound? I thought I was dating a man. Now I realize that you’re just a boy.”
“No, I’m a man who’s trying to use his head right now. We’re in over our heads. Enough is enough. Please. Please.”
Anita’s scowl deepened. “Now you’re relying on cowardice. Do you know how much I hate cowards?”
“It’s not cowardly to want the woman you love to be safe,” Justin said. “Let’s just talk this through.”
“There’s nothing to talk through,” Anita growled.
In an instant, she raised her gun and fired.
TWENTY-SIX
Sienna gasped as she watched Justin fall to the ground.
Anita had just shot him.
She’d shot him.
Sienna could hardly breathe as she peered down at the man, her heart racing out of control. Using her other hand, she wiped her rain-drenched eyes.
Justin lay on the ground, gasping and clutching his chest. His expression showed his agony as he croaked out one word. “Why?”
Anita sneered, leaning closer. “Because you have no backbone. I can’t trust you anymore. You’re not in this with me.”
“I...loved...you,” he said, his breathing heavier and more labored with each passing second.
Then his eyes went still, his body stiff, and Sienna knew he was dead.
If this woman would kill her boyfriend in cold blood, she wouldn’t think twice about killing Sienna or Devin. Sienna didn’t find comfort in the thought.
Anita’s gun was back at her side, and she turned to Devin. “Did you really think that was going to work?”
Devin’s jaw visibly tightened. “You’re more coldhearted than I gave you credit for.”
“I told you, nothing is going to stand in my way. Especially not a man. Now we’re going to have to do something else here, aren’t we?” She jammed the gun into Sienna’s temple until Sienna yelped.
Trembles raced through her. Just what was running through Anita’s head? Sienna wouldn’t put anything past her.
And that thought was terrifying.
“There’s no need to do anything else drastic here,” Devin said, lowering his gun.
“Give me your gun,” Anita demanded.
“Killing us won’t get you anywhere.” Devin squatted to the ground and placed his gun there. A calming tone overtook his voice.
“No, I need to use you first and then kill you,” she said with a satisfied smile. “Don’t worry. I’ve thought this through. I’ve had nothing better to do as I’ve been recovering from surgery. But I didn’t give you enough credit, Sienna. I thought you’d be easier to manipulate. But time after time you’ve thwarted whatever my plans were. Not this time.”
“It doesn’t have to be this way, Anita,” Sienna said, still keenly aware of the gun at her head. “You need help. Colby needs his parents.”
“I’m his parent!” Anita smacked the gun across Sienna’s face. “And I never want to hear you say otherwise again!”
Sienna grasped her cheek, feeling a new ache forming. Pain radiated from the point of impact, and she tasted blood in her mouth.
Devin’s gaze caught hers, and Sienna saw the concern there. Saw that he wanted to reach for her. To help.
But they were at the mercy of this woman—this crazy woman.
“Now we’re going to have to do things the hard way,” Anita growled. “We need to start walking. And if you try anything again, FBI man, I will kill her.”
Anita stared at Devin until he nodded.
As Sienna took a step forward, pain radiated up her leg. Her face ached. She wasn’t sure she could make this walk in her current state. She had no choice but to try.
How were they going to get out of this now?
Sienna had no idea.
But she really hoped that Devin had some kind of plan.
* * *
Devin’s heart ached when he saw the pain Sienna was in. It wasn’t just physical pain. It was emotional and mental. This situation would test every part of them.
A person didn’t quickly recover from seeing someone die in front of them—even if the person was an enemy. Plus, Anita was so desperate to get Colby back that she’d become hyperfocused. The woman wasn’t even frantic, which made her even scarier. No, she didn’t seem to feel much at all. She just wanted Colby.
Devin hadn’t anticipated Anita shooting Justin. He’d thought the woman had cared about him, that she’d loved the man. But all she obviously cared about was herself.
And that made this even more difficult.
“We’re going to have to go around the tree,” Anita said. “Try anything funny, and you’re both dead. But first you’ll watch Sienna die. It’s always a horrible thing to witness, isn’t it, FBI Agent Matthews? Having a loved one pass away and feeling helpless to do anything about it...”
His spine clenched. So Anita had done her research. She knew about Grace and Willow. And the fact she was gloating about it only made his blood boil even more.
“Move!” Anita demanded, shoving Sienna to the side of the road.
Sienna let out a gasp and started to reach for her leg when Anita jerked her upright.
“This is no time to be a wuss!” Anita yelled.
“She’s hurt.” Devin’s heart leaped into his throat. “Let me help her.”
“She’ll manage fine on her own.”
“I don’t think she will. She’s hurt.” Devin had seen Sienna limping along and knew she was in agony. He wanted nothing more than to help her.
He should have insisted that she be checked out earlier, right after she’d cut her leg and they’d gotten out of the woods. Maybe they wouldn’t be in this mess if he had. But it was too late to go back.
“You can hold on to her arm,” Anita finally said. “Or she can hold on to your arm. But that’s it. I just can’t afford for her to slow us up.”
Devin extended his hand to Sienna, and she took it, holding on to it like a crutch as she limped forward. It felt good to touch her. To have her close. He only wished he could offer more.
He looked into the distance. The rain was starting to let up some, and the first signs of dawn were beginning to show on the horizon.
Hopefully backup would be here soon. But, even when help did arrive, it would be hard to reach them with that tree in the road.
“What’s your plan?” Devin asked, trying to get inside Anita’s mind.
If he knew what she was planning, maybe he could stop her.
Maybe.
“You’re going to get me inside the complex,” Anita said. “And then if I have to shoot everyone in sight to get to my boy, I will. I have two hostages that will be killed if people don’t get out of my way.”
The bad feeling in Devin’s gut only grew in intensity.
He had no doubt the woman was telling the truth. She wasn’t going to stop at anything until she had Colby back.
Dear Lord, I could use some wisdom right about now.
He heard Sienna moan beside him and glanced over. Her face was stretched tight with pain.
He’d been crazy not to swoop this woman away when he’d had the chance. And, as soon as he did have the chance, he was going to tell Sienna that. If the thought of losing Sienna shook him up this much, then Devin knew it was time to act on his feelings.
Grace would approve. Deep in his gut, he knew she would. It had taken all this for him to know for sure.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered to Sienna.
She quickly glanced up at him, her face cinched with pain. “For what?”
“For holding back. When this is over...”
She squeezed his hand. “Tell me when it’s over. You’re going to have the chance. We can’t think differently.”
He pulled his gaze away from her and nodded. “You’re right. We will.”
He wouldn’t tell her goodbye. Not now. This wasn’t over yet.
“Stop chatting, you two,” Anita muttered. “We’re almost there.”
Devin looked in the distance. Sure enough, the entrance to the Jennings Center waited ahead.
He cringed at the thought of anyone else getting hurt. He couldn’t let that happen. Yet he couldn’t get close enough to Anita to take her down. She was on edge, and her gun was aimed at Sienna. It was too risky to approach her until he had a clear opportunity—and he didn’t.
Just as they were ten feet in front of the entrance, something ran from the woods.
Before Devin could see what it was, Anita screamed.
It was a bear, Devin realized.
A black bear.
And it was headed toward Anita.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Sienna watched in horror as the bear charged toward Anita. The woman seemed to forget what was happening and took off in a run. The bear ran after her.
“Devin...” Sienna whispered, fear sweeping through her.
“Come on.” He grabbed Anita’s gun—she’d dropped it—and then swooped Sienna up in his arms. He ran with her toward the gate, where a guard stood, looking puzzled at the turn of events.
“I’m Special Agent Devin Matthews. Rick and Trina are my good friends, and we need your help.”
“Come on in.” He nodded them through.
Devin placed Sienna on the ground before stepping out of the gate and closing it.
Panic raced through her. “Devin, no! What are you doing?”
“I have to make sure Anita doesn’t get away again,” he said. “I have to end this.”
“But the bear...”
“I’ll handle the bear. And the police are on the way. It’s going to be okay.” He went back to gate and pressed his face into it. “Sienna, I love you.”
