Corinne (Book One of The Red Diamond Saga) by Jennifer Janne Read Free Book Online Page A

he smiled patiently. “I know this is confusing.” He said quietly. He reached down and pulled down the edge of her trousers to reveal the same mark on her hip, only hers was a bright red color, while his had been etched in ink.
    “Corinne, you are a very special person.” He explained as she shoved at his hand. “I am sorry that things had to be this way, but you must understand; we had no choice.”
    “What are you talking about?” She pleaded. The confusion she felt threatened to bring back the pain that had finally eased in her head. “Who are you?”
    He lightly tapped the tip of her nose with an endearing smile. “What matters sweetheart, is who are you?”

17
    Daniel was back at the computer doing more research. This time he was comparing the name Conner with identifying marks and tattoos in the federal database. He found several tattoos that were diamond shaped, but none that exactly mimicked Corinne's. He was just about ready to give up when he pulled up the final photograph. He was shocked to see the identical shape and size of Corinne's birthmark reflected in a tattoo.
    The man's name was Conner Mitchell and he had been arrested for battery. The police report detailed a fight outside of a bar. The crime was common; it was the date of the arrest that drew Daniel's attention. It was one day before Corinne's estimated date of birth. The charges had been dropped by the victim and Conner had been released. This man, who gazed out from his mug shot with pure animosity, knew exactly who Corinne was.
    Daniel could not find a last known address, but he did find a radical group attached to his police report. Apparently he was a member of a group called The Liberation Force. It made Daniel's stomach churn to think of the kind of whack jobs these people might be. In his experience any radical group was a breeding ground for violence and emotional abuse.
    He was able to find an address for the group. What he could not find was any mention of it on the Internet, or any other media source. This particular group appeared to be non-existent and silent about their cause, but he soon found an address and Conner's police report.
    He glanced up at the clock and realized that Corinne should have been off work an hour before. He tried her cell again. Nothing.
    He frowned and decided to call her supervisor. He knew she might see it as being a bit overprotective, but he was starting to worry. When her supervisor informed him that she had not shown up for work Daniel was certain that something was terribly wrong. Corinne was one of the most responsible people he knew, and she took her job very seriously.
    On his way out the door he asked one of his friends on local patrol to be on the lookout for her vehicle. Daniel swung by his house, and then her apartment, with no sign of her at either place. He was growing more concerned by the moment.
    When his cell phone rang he answered it quickly hoping that it was Corinne. Instead it was the patrol officer, reporting that they were pulling Corinne's car out of a nearby lake. Someone had spotted it rolling into the water and called it in. When Daniel arrived on the scene he was terrified that he would find her body inside. Instead, to his relief the car was empty.
    “You think she was running from something?” The officer asked him as casually as he could.
    “No.” Daniel replied as he glanced down at his notepad with the name The Liberation Force staring up at him. “I think someone took her.”
    The officer stared after him in shock as he stalked back to his car and squealed away.

18
    The man unshackled her as she peppered him with questions. “What do you mean, who am I?” She asked as she jumped to her feet the moment she was free. He circled her as if she was a wild animal, his dark eyes piercing into hers as he spoke sternly.
    “I am not going to treat you like a prisoner. But if you can't keep yourself calm, you will have to be restrained.” He paused as he noted the