The Cradle Files

by Delores Fossen

  A gunshot.

  Lexie hadn't thought her heart could beat any faster, but she was obviously wrong. She wanted to call out to Garrett, but knew that could be a fatal mistake. It would draw the gunmen right to him, to her. And to the baby. Lexie had done some difficult things in her life, but staying put, not going after him, was one of the hardest.

  She listened, trying to ignore the heavy pulse stabbing in her ears. No footsteps. No gunshot. But she did hear something.

  A police siren.

  The two thoughts hit her almost simultaneously. Their backup had arrived, but the sound of sirens might cause the gunmen to panic. They probably wouldn't want to leave witnesses—especially a cop.

  Lexie tightened her grip and braced herself for whatever was about to happen.

  She heard the footsteps again. Fast and furious, they were coming right at her. The sirens got louder as well, drowning them out, but she had no doubt that the runner was headed in her direction. She moved away from the car so that if there was gunfire, it would be aimed at her and not the vehicle.

  "Don't shoot," she heard someone say.

  It was Garrett.

  She barely got a good look at him before he launched himself at her, dragging her to the floor. He didn't stay down with her, however. He came up on one knee, ready to fire.

  "Where's the nanny?" he asked, not taking his attention from the garage entrance.

  "In the trunk."

  He gave a grunt of approval. "The officers are in pursuit of the gunmen. They probably aren't anywhere near here."

  But Garrett obviously wasn't taking any chances. Lexie released the breath that she hadn't even realized she'd been holding. It wasn't over, not by a long shot, but at least they weren't fighting this alone.

  "Is the baby all right?" he asked.

  "Yes. I think so."

  He made an audible sound of relief. "There's an ambulance on the way. Just in case."

  That was good. But Lexie could only think of one thing, now that she knew Garrett was okay. "She smiled at me."

  He looked at her over his shoulder, and then his gaze drifted to the vehicle.

  "I moved over here, away from the car," Lexie explained. "In case there were shots."

  "Good thinking."

  Lexie heard another siren. Definitely an ambulance.

  "My memory returned," she told him.

  He glanced at her again. "All of it?" he asked, obviously surprised.

  "I think so." He probably had lots of questions. However, with that ambulance siren getting closer and closer, there was only time for her to answer the important ones. "I don't know anything that can be used to prosecute the people who took the baby. I didn't see or hear anything during the delivery that can help. But I do remember us."

  The loud approaching siren cut off anything Garrett was about to say. The ambulance sped toward the house and came to a stop in the driveway. Two medics exited, and both of them raced toward her.

  "Don't worry," Garrett assured her. "I know them. They aren't fakes."

  Good. Because after the incident with the "cop" trying to run her off the road, Lexie didn't want strangers touching her baby.

  The medics were rushing, and their sense of immediacy didn't do much to steady her nerves. Lexie felt as if she were being swept away in a surge of adrenaline and emotion.

  "My baby," she managed to say. She pointed to the infant car seat. "I think she's okay."

  One of the medics nodded. "We'll make sure."

  That wasn't the hearty reassurance she'd been hoping for. Of course, a trip to the hospital was probably just a precaution, but considering everything they'd been through, even that was frightening.

  Lexie and Garrett watched as the medic scooped the baby into his arms, put her in the ambulance and drove off. And the hollow feeling in Lexie's heart, the one that had disappeared the moment she touched her daughter, returned.

  Chapter Seventeen

  "The baby's going to be okay," Lexie assured him one more time.

  But Garrett wasn't buying it.

  For one thing, Lexie was pacing and fidgeting, exhibiting the same nervous behavior he was. Too bad all that nervous stuff was leading them nowhere. All they could do was watch while the doctor examined their baby.

  She had to be all right.

  Because there was no acceptable alternative.

  Man, she was little. Her head fit right in the doctor's palm. She was too small to have had such a crummy start to life. Still, she looked well. Okay.

  Actually, she looked amazing.

  She had a dusting of reddish-brown hair and a round face. Garrett decided she was the most beautiful baby he'd ever seen, but he wasn't sure he could trust his opinion on this. Love seemed to play a huge part in his reaction, and there was no mistake about it—he loved this little girl.

  His daughter.

  He couldn't help but smile at the idea. He'd never planned for fatherhood, but he wouldn't go back and change what had happened. Not for anything.

  "I have to draw blood now," the doctor informed them. "It'll be a little uncomfortable for her—a lot uncomfortable for you—so you might want to look away."

  Not a chance. Garrett wasn't going to take his eyes off her. Lexie obviously felt the same, because she stayed put. But just in case Lexie got woozy, Garrett slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.

  With the doctor busy drawing blood from the baby, Garrett made a visual check for bruises or any other marks. Since she was wearing only a diaper, he was able to get a good look. There wasn't anything that he could see.

  Thank God.

  Because if he'd seen one, just one, he would have found Irving Kent and torn him limb from limb.

  There was a tap at the door. It opened, and Brayden stuck his head inside. He glanced at the baby a moment and smiled before bringing his attention back to them. "Can I talk to you for a few seconds?"

  Since he seemed to aim that question at both of them, they went into the hallway. But Garrett kept the door open so they could see the baby. Except he did have to look away when the blood was drawn. The baby whimpered. Kicked. Garrett mentally whimpered, kicked and agonized right along with her.

  "We found Irving Kent right where you said he'd be—locked in the closet at his house," Brayden informed them. "We have him at headquarters. We're interrogating him, of course, but unless he confesses, I seriously doubt we can charge him with kidnapping."

  That got Garrett's attention. "He knew where the baby was."

  "Yes, and he'll claim he knew that, but that he had no idea the adoption wasn't legal."

  This wasn't a surprise, but it was damn hard to hear. Garrett wanted someone to pay for what had happened to Lexie and their baby. He wanted that person to be Kent. Unfortunately, the evidence he'd used to find their daughter might not serve another purpose. Still, what a purpose it had served already.

  "We've also brought in Dr. Linnay Blake and Alicia Peralta, the nurse from the Brighton Birthing Center who spoke to you about Dr. Darnell," Brayden continued. "They're at headquarters undergoing interrogation."

  Even with all the stress, Garrett could appreciate how quickly his brother had sprung into action. "I want to question them," Garrett insisted.

  "You can't. Personal involvement aside, you've been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of your actions." Brayden paused, cursed softly. "Garrett, you could permanently lose your badge. For now, you'll just lose it temporarily."

  He nearly told his brother where he could shove that badge, but it wouldn't be fair to Brayden, and it would be the anger talking. Oh, yeah. Garrett was angry. Furious, actually. But aiming that fury at his brother would only make things worse. He wanted to aim it at Irving Kent and those two gunmen.

  Garrett knew the drill from witnessing other officers in hot water. He knew what had to be done. He unclipped his badge from the waistband of his jeans and removed his weapon from his shoulder holster. He handed both to Brayden. It was like losing a pi
ece of himself. It also hurt to know that this had to disappoint his brother.

  "I'm sorry," Lexie said. She touched his arm, rubbed gently.

  Garrett was sorry, too. About the badge, but not about saving his baby. If he had to make that decision a million times, he wouldn't have changed what he'd done.

  "You'll get this back," Brayden promised.

  "What are Linnay Blake and Alicia Peralta saying in the interrogation?" Garrett asked. Best to focus on what needed to be done rather than what had just happened.

  "They've all denied any wrongdoing. I can't blame them. We don't have any evidence we can use to charge them."

  "What about what I personally witnessed?" Lexie asked. "Someone at Brighton stole our baby. Wouldn't that be enough to hold Dr. Blake and Nurse Peralta?"

  "It's thin at best, and they both immediately lawyered up. I don't think we're going to get them to say much. It's the same for the two guards and the nanny. All have lawyers, and none are talking."

  "So then what?" Lexie demanded, her voice barely under control. "You just let them all walk?"

  "For now, we have to let Dr. Blake, Kent and Nurse Peralta go. We can hang on to the guards and the nanny awhile longer, but their lawyers are already claiming they had no idea the adoption was anything but legal."

  "Then why did they try to run when they saw us?" Lexie asked.

  "They said they fought back because they thought they were victims of a home invasion."

  So there might be a charge against Lexie and him. That wasn't totally unexpected. The guards and the nanny would probably do anything to keep up the pretense of being innocent.

  Brayden gave him a brotherly jab on the arm. "But we'll continue our investigation. And this time, we won't cut corners. Now that the baby is safe, we can go about this the right way, with warrants and surveillance. Whatever it takes. And if we can't nail them for what they did to you, then we'll see what else we can charge them with."

  Garrett silently cursed. It wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. But he also knew that he'd had a major role in tainting that evidence.

  There was some movement in the examining room. The doctor stood, draped a white hospital blanket around the baby and picked her up.

  "Everything appears to be fine," he said, walking toward them. "You've got a healthy baby girl here. Eight pounds, thirteen ounces."

  He handed her to Garrett, who was unprepared for something so monumental. He had a split second of panic that he'd drop her, but she settled right into his arms. No shrieks. No squirms. Her gray-blue eyes met his. She squinted a little, as if trying to focus, and it appeared she was studying him. The incredible moment lasted only a few seconds before her eyelids drifted down.

  Garrett looked at Lexie. She, too, was a little panic-stricken. And totally in love with the baby. They shared a smile.

  "You'll be glad to know that her footprint matches the one in the file," the doctor stated. Garrett had to force himself to pay attention. No easy task with the warm bundle snuggled against him, and with Lexie snuggled against his arm.

  "Blood type?" Brayden questioned.

  The doctor hitched his thumb toward Garrett. "The baby's blood type matches his."

  "So she's definitely an O'Malley," Brayden declared, looking at Lexie. "We O'Malleys have AB negative. It's very rare."

  "I knew she was an O'Malley when I saw her picture," Garrett said.

  Brayden nodded. "Yeah. She resembles her aunt Katelyn."

  "Lexie's hair, though," Garrett commented.

  Lexie joined the conversation. "Garrett's mouth."

  The doctor cleared his throat, probably to get their attention off the baby musings. "I also collected DNA from Lexie, Garrett and the baby and performed a DNA test. I'll do a rush processing. A private lab should have the preliminary results for you late tomorrow." He turned to Brayden. "Unless you need the results for some criminal prosecution? If so, that'll take a lot longer."

  "Do both," Brayden insisted. "And do everything by the book. No shortcuts."

  "Wouldn't think of it. I'll run the blood work myself, but I don't anticipate any health problems. The baby was well cared for and well fed."

  That was something at least, but it wouldn't dissolve all the fear and anger Garrett still had steaming inside him. Another few minutes and the nanny and guards might have had the baby out of the house and on the way to the airport. If that had happened, he certainly wouldn't be holding his little girl in his arms.

  The doctor excused himself to take care of the blood tests, and Brayden didn't say anything until the man was out of earshot.

  "I don't want anyone to know this, but I want Lexie, you and the baby back at the safe house. With a police guard," Brayden added.

  Garrett didn't need any clarification. If all their prime suspects walked, that meant one or more of those suspects might be gunning for them. After all, one had already murdered Darnell and tried to kill them.

  Brayden checked his vibrating pager, and then his watch. "I'll arrange for diapers, formula and bottles to be delivered, but I want you three to stay put."

  "We will," Lexie promised.

  That apparently wasn't good enough, because Brayden turned to Garrett. "You'll stay put," he repeated.

  Garrett brushed a kiss across his daughter's forehead. "We'll stay put." He looked at his brother. "Thanks for everything."

  Brayden brushed his finger over the baby's cheek. "You have a name for her yet?"

  Garrett and Lexie exchanged glances. They shook their heads. "Not yet."

  "Better do it soon before Mom and Dad start making suggestions. You could end up with some obscure Celtic name like Bodelia." He paused and made a sound to indicate he wasn't totally joking. "As soon as things settle down, they'll want to see her."

  That was a given. The O'Malleys were a tight-knit family, and they'd want to cuddle and spoil the latest addition. Too bad that family bonding would have to be delayed because there was a killer out there.

  A uniformed officer rounded the corner and motioned to Brayden. "I'll be right back," Brayden told them, and he walked down the hall to meet with the man.

  Lexie snuggled against Garrett's arm again. "We did it, Garrett. We got her."

  Yeah. And he had to smile in spite of the uncertainties that lay ahead. Not just uncertainties about the investigation, either. There were personal things to work out. Like calm-headed interrogations, he kinda sucked when it came to that sort of thing. But he figured Lexie and he were looking at shared custody.

  Well, until they could figure out where this whole attraction thing was taking them.

  Of course, if the killer wasn't caught, they'd have to remain at the safe house indefinitely. Though Garrett wasn't looking forward to being excluded from the investigation, Lexie and he could use the time to work out the issues surrounding the baby.

  Lexie pressed her own kiss to the child's forehead, and that's when Garrett realized he was being selfish. He leaned toward Lexie and deposited their daughter into her arms.

  "You didn't hold her back in the garage, did you?" he asked.

  "No. There wasn't time."

  So this was Lexie's first physical contact with their baby. He watched her face. Man, she beamed. He totally understood how she felt, and he was able to get that same high sensation by watching her reaction.

  "I'm scared," she whispered.

  "So am I."

  She frowned. "You're admitting that?"

  "Seems silly not to. But don't worry—I'll protect her, Lexie."

  "I never doubted it."

  Somehow, her absolute confidence shook him. And pleased him.

  "We're her parents," Lexie said, her voice an odd mix of pride, defiance and love. "We made her."

  "On a coffee table." Which didn't really add to the moment. "But we'll keep that part to ourselves."

  Because the situation seemed to call for it, he bent his head and touched his mouth to hers. Lexie gave a sigh—part relief, part satisfaction. She slid her free hand ar
ound the back of his neck, and probably would have returned the kiss if they hadn't heard Brayden approaching. They quickly stepped away from each other.

  "We have some news," Brayden said, walking toward them.

  Garrett shook off the effects of that kiss and tried not to sound annoyed at the interruption. "It'd better be good."

  "It has potential. The nanny wants to talk. In exchange for immunity from prosecution, she's ready to name her boss."

  Chapter Eighteen

  For Lexie, it was a strange feeling—holding her precious baby while Garrett and she were escorted into police headquarters. She wanted to get her daughter as far away from the suspects as possible. However, she and Garrett had to learn the truth. They couldn't get on with their lives until they'd solved the riddle of who wanted them dead.

  "You don't have to do this," Garrett reiterated. "You can wait at the safe house with a police guard. That's what Brayden wants us to do anyway."

  "I know he does. But I have to do this. After everything we've been through, I have to hear what the nanny has to say. If the woman gives names, then this could all end here." And if so, Lexie wanted to be there, to celebrate with Garrett.

  Brayden led them down a corridor lined with offices and interrogation rooms. "You'll be able to watch through a one-way mirror. You won't be able to question her." He aimed that remark at Garrett, who responded with an acknowledging humph.

  Brayden opened the door to the observation room, but before they could step inside, Lexie heard someone call out.

  It was the nurse, Alicia Peralta.

  Garrett positioned himself protectively in front of the baby and her, but Lexie didn't think such measures were warranted. For one thing, Alicia had no purse that she could use to carry a concealed weapon. Besides, she'd likely been frisked. But Lexie wasn't about to rule her out as a danger.

  "Ms. Peralta," Brayden said in greeting. "You should be in the waiting room."

  "I was. But I needed to use the ladies' room." Her gaze landed on the baby, and she stepped forward. Both Brayden and Garrett blocked her from going closer.

  "Oh," she said, her face flushed. "I'm sorry. Of course you're concerned about safety. I don't blame you after everything you've been through."