The Cradle Conspiracy. Christy Barritt

before you take him or you’ll frighten him.”

      Sienna started to argue but stopped herself. Devin was right. She was a mess right now, and her legs might turn to gelatin at any minute. She needed to get herself together.

      With Devin’s hand still gripping her arm, she closed her eyes. Inhaled deeply. Exhaled.

      Sienna repeated the process before she opened her eyes, feeling more collected.

      “Thank you,” she muttered, her gaze fluttering up to meet Devin’s.

      “I’ll walk you over.” Devin kept a hand on her arm as they crossed the street.

      He deposited her at the front door of the Wilsons’ house just as the cops pulled up. He squeezed her arm and murmured a few more reassurances before meeting the officers and explaining what had happened.

      But Sienna hardly heard any of it. No, the door opened, and her gaze fell on Colby as he rested in Mrs. Wilson’s arms.

      Colby.

      Sweet Colby.

      Her heart melted into a puddle of relief.

      Thankfully, the boy seemed calm and peaceful as he hugged a stuffed bunny rabbit. But as soon as he saw Sienna, he reached his chubby little arms out toward her. Just what she’d been waiting for.

      She took the boy into her embrace and held him close—but not close enough to scare him. As soon as the clean scent of baby shampoo and lotion filled her, her heart rate slowed even more.

      He was okay. They were okay. For now.

      But what if that man came back? Sienna would think about that more later. Right now, she wanted to concentrate on Colby and getting warm.

      “Hello, little one,” she murmured.

      Tears filled her eyes as the boy rested his head on her shoulder.

      He was okay, she told herself again.

      Thank goodness.

      Things could have turned out a lot differently.

      Thankfully, Devin had shown up when he did.

      But Sienna knew this was far from over.

      The break-in hadn’t been random. No, someone had specifically wanted Colby, and Sienna had no idea why.

      Did this have something to do with Anita’s disappearance?

      She knew the likely answer was yes.

      Now she had to figure out what to do about it. Because Sienna would keep this boy safe if it was the last thing she did.

      * * *

      Devin glanced over from the officers he was speaking with into the Wilsons’ house, which had become an unofficial meeting place. The kind couple had said it was okay, and it was better than everyone—mostly Sienna and Colby—being outside in the unusually chilly June evening.

      A CSI team was inside Sienna’s place, collecting evidence. Another team talked to neighbors, while yet another officer ran the plates on the car that had driven off.

      Devin had already given his statement, but officers were giving Sienna a few minutes to recover before telling her side of the story. The Wilsons had made themselves scarce, fixing coffee for everyone in the kitchen and staying out of the police’s way.

      His heart caught when he saw Sienna cradling Colby. The boy had fallen asleep in her arms, and she looked down at him with such a look of love in her gaze. The moment reminded him of Grace and Willow, and sadness gripped him so furiously that his chest ached.

      It still seemed impossible that the two were gone.

      He pushed those thoughts aside. This wasn’t the time to explore his grief.

      Instead, he glanced at Sienna and the baby again. What was the story between these two? He was more curious than ever.

      He’d have to wait until later to find out.

      Sienna looked paler as Detective Jenson approached. Devin watched her a moment. Noted her slender figure. Her wheat-colored hair with subtle blond highlights. How her wavy locks brushed her shoulders, and how the few scattered freckles across her nose gave her a youthful appearance.

      The woman was easy on the eyes, for sure.

      And she was terrified right now.

      Devin made a split-second decision and went to sit on the couch beside her. Though Sienna held the baby, she looked so utterly alone. Something unknown to him seemed to drive him for answers.

      “You mind if I listen in?” he asked softly.

      Sienna’s eyes widened with surprise before she shook her head. “No, not at all. I...owe you.”

      “You don’t owe me anything. I’m just glad I got there when I did.” He looked at the detective for approval. “You okay with me staying?”

      “Yes, sir.” Detective Jenson’s gaze fell on Sienna as he pulled a ladder-back chair from the corner of the living room and placed it three feet in front of her. “Ma’am, could you talk me through what happened?”

      Devin listened as Sienna told him about hearing a sound. Checking on Colby. Going into her living room and seeing the window open. Making it to Colby before the man saw her.

      Thankfully, the woman was quick on her feet. Otherwise tonight could have ended a lot differently. This could have been a very different kind of crime scene. His stomach turned at the thought.

      “You have no idea who the man was?” Detective Jenson kept his voice professional but kind as he leaned toward Sienna.

      “No idea. Of course I couldn’t see his face—he wore a mask—but I didn’t recognize his voice, either. Or his eyes.” Sienna’s voice cracked as memories appeared to pummel her.

      “Tell me about your son.”

      Sienna looked down at Colby and smiled—but it was a sad, wistful smile. “Oh, he’s not mine. He’s a coworker’s.”

      Both men stared at her, waiting for her to explain.

      She let out a small sigh, one that belied the simplicity of her words.

      “A woman I work with—her name is Anita Gwinn—asked me if I could take care of Colby for a week. She had to go out of town to attend to her mother, who just had hip replacement surgery and needed round-the-clock care.”

      “Is this Anita Gwinn woman a coworker or a friend?” Devin asked, trying to get a better feel for the situation.

      Coworker sounded cold and impersonal. People usually didn’t trust acquaintances with their children. In Devin’s experience, at least.

      Sienna hesitated and glanced at Colby again. “Honestly, more of a coworker. I know that sounds terrible to say. But I don’t know Anita all that well. She only moved to the area a few months ago, and she said she didn’t have anyone else to ask.”

      “Where do you work?”

      “I teach kindergarten. Anita was a teaching assistant in the classroom next door, but she seemed to latch on to me for some reason.”

      “What was she like?”

      “She’s probably in her early thirties. She’s kind of frazzled, but she is a single mom, so I figured that was why. No mention of a boyfriend or the baby’s father. But she loves Colby. Had pictures on her desk and on her phone. Everywhere. She always said he was the one good thing in her life.”

      “Did anything seem off about her?”

      Sienna shrugged. “Anita was quirky. But some people are, right? I mean... I don’t know. I just want to give her the benefit of the doubt.”

      “We should probably call Ms. Gwinn,” Jenson said. “Would you mind giving me her number? I’d like to talk to her.”