Cleopatra's Necklace (Devlin Security Force Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Chandler . Years since he’d last seen her—he knew to the day—just before his deployment to Iraq, but he could never erase her pixie features and free-spirit sass from his mind. A cookout at the Chandlers’. The last time the two families had been together. His gut clenched at the idea anything bad could happen to the youngest Chandler.
    A jet screaming overhead jerked him from his memories before the pause became awkward. “What is it, Admiral?”
    Thomas heard throat clearing sounds as the older man gathered himself. “She’s been shot. Is unconscious, maybe in a coma.”
    Shot. Coma. Jesus.
    He sucked in a breath against the anvil thrown against his chest. “Where? How?”
    “Venice.”
    His mind raced. He knew she’d gone to Europe. But Italy ? Had to be a coincidence. “What happened?”
    “She’s been bumming around over there for the last few years. You know Cleo. Can’t tie her down, never had any self-discipline. She—” A long pause as the other man seemed to draw inward. After a shaky breath, he continued. “Here’s what I have. The Venice police telephoned me late last night. They found Cleo just after twenty-three hundred their time. Bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head.” The admiral recited the details in a matter-of-fact manner as if reading. Maybe he was, to keep his emotions in check.
    “How did they find her?” Thomas clenched his jaw against a curse.
    “An unidentified woman called it in. Gone when the emergency crew arrived. My girl was bleeding on the street, or whatever they call it in that damn floating city.”
    “You have any more?”
    A sniff and brief throat clearing before Cleo’s father continued, calmer. “Happened outside the jewelry shop where she worked. Her phone and purse lay beside her with her passport and wallet but no money. The ambulance took her to the largest hospital in the city. They have her in intensive care. But dammit, she’s not responsive. My baby...”
    “A terrible crime. Pickpockets are to be expected in tourist spots, but Venice is usually a safe city. Robbery at gunpoint even that time of night is highly unusual,” Thomas said, giving the man—and himself—time to settle. “When do you leave? What can I do to help?”
    “I’m anchored to a hospital bed,” Chandler said. “Fell down the rotunda steps to Memorial Hall the other day and broke bones in my left leg and hip. I’m asking you to go to Venice for me.”
    His gut tightened. See Cleo again? When she woke up, she wouldn’t welcome his presence. Even under these circumstances. He could say none of that to Hoot. “Wouldn’t family be better? What about your wife? Or the boys?”
    More throat clearing. “Irene’s in Florida. Keith’s wife’s in labor with their second baby. Irene doesn’t even know about this yet. I want to get help nailed down first. And Greg’s out. I trust you to do whatever’s needed.”
    Out of the question. He had a company to run, and he couldn’t leave Andie on her own. His sister needed him. “Sir, you know I’d do anything for you. For Cleo. One of my best men is in Europe. Lucas Del Rio speaks Italian. He can fly to Venice today.”
    “He can assist you when you get there. But Cleo doesn’t know him. Your father said if I ever needed him, he’d be there for me. I don’t need his help. I need yours.”
    Dirty pool. Chandler knew Thomas couldn’t refuse now. “Sir, there’s more to this. What aren’t you telling me?”
    “Good instincts. That’s one reason I came to you.”
    “Thank you, but...”
    “I’m afraid there’s a great deal more to this matter. Another murder, in fact. Greg called me last night too, a little after eight.”
    “Before the police.”
    “That’s right. The marines have sent Greg somewhere in the Far East. Location classified. Cleo hasn’t spoken to me since she left the States but every so often she calls her mother and emails Greg. This time she left her brother a message. When he called back, he